Description

Zest-it was born in 1995 from a very practical need. Jacqui Blackman, a working artist and oil painting workshop facilitator based in the UK, found that the turpentine and white spirit used by her students caused persistent headaches and sore throats in the studio. Determined to find something better, she set out to develop a solvent that was non-toxic, non-flammable, pleasant to use, and genuinely effective. The result was the now iconic Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner , a formula built on Aliphatic Hydrocarbon and pure food-grade Citrus Oil extracted from the zest of citrus fruit. The name itself comes directly from that citrus zest and the concept of ‘cleaning it’, simplified to Zest-it. The Registered Trademark was secured in 1996, and from that point the brand grew steadily in both range and reputation.

Manufactured in the United Kingdom by J. & T. Blackman Ltd., Zest-it products consistently deliver low VOC content, zero CFCs, zero Aromatics, and a pleasant orangey-citrus fragrance rather than the harsh chemical odours associated with traditional solvents. By the late 1990s, Zest-it had been reviewed and endorsed by major UK art publications, including Artists and Illustrators, Leisure Painter, and The Artist. Educational institutions such as the Leith School of Art adopted the range early and continue to use it today. Zest-it has since expanded far beyond its original solvent into a comprehensive studio range covering acrylic cleaners, dip pen and fountain pen solutions, cold wax mediums, dry media additives, printmaking supplies, pencil blending fluids, and glazing mediums, all built on the same founding principle: safer solutions for artists.

Zest-it Glazing Medium Light delivers all of these qualities in a formula that integrates naturally with the Zest-it approach to safer studio practice. The medium thins oil paint to a smooth, flowing consistency that levels easily on the canvas and produces a clean, transparent film on drying. Richer, more oil-heavy mediums or final varnishes are reserved for upper layers once the foundation has dried thoroughly. The Light classification indicates a thinner, more fluid consistency suited to delicate glazes and fine detail work.