Chroma Archival Odourless Lean Medium is a very fluid, general-purpose oil painting medium designed to thin paint, increase transparency, and improve glide and spreadability. It is ideal for underpainting, first layers, and any stage where you want a leaner paint film that moves easily and covers smoothly without heavy brush drag.

This medium is made with fast-drying alkyd resins and uses odourless components that evaporate far more slowly than turpentine. That means less harmful vapour during painting sessions, making it a healthier, more comfortable option for home studios, classrooms, and artists who paint for long periods.

Because it is fast drying, Archival Odourless Lean Medium is also excellent for layering, helping earlier stages set up sooner so you can progress your painting with confidence. By increasing transparency and flow, it supports clean glazing and creates a subtle gloss-like finish that enhances depth and colour richness.

Use it to:

• Reduce oil paint viscosity for smoother application

• Increase transparency for underpainting and thin layers

• Improve glide, spreadability and brush control

• Create fast drying layers for efficient painting workflows

• Support glazing with clearer, more luminous colour

How to use:
Mix a small amount into oil paint on your palette and adjust as needed. As a “lean” medium, it is best used in early layers and underpainting, then followed by fatter layers as your painting develops.