Oil Paint
Do You Need Liquid Clear for Bob Ross Technique?
Liquid Clear is a transparent oil medium used in Bob Ross-style wet-on-wet painting, especially over dark or prepared canvases where the first color layers need extra slip.
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Liquid clear is one type of base medium. It is used for different reasons. Some important reasons are:
- As a base coat, it creates a transparent layer on the canvas, so the paint color is not affected by the background color(white), which the liquid white does.
- In the wet-on-wet technique, it can add a liquid clear layer on top of the paint layer. The liquid creates a clutch surface which helps new paint stick to the surface.
- Liquid clear increases paint flow without adding more paint and pigment.
- It can be used to make paint thin.
So following the mentioned points, you need liquid clear.
In other articles, I already explained:
Which liquid clear does Bob ross use? Alternative?
Bob Ross Liquid Clear is a branded clear oil medium, while similar effects can be created with compatible wet-on-wet mediums formulated for the same painting technique.
| Grade | Note | |
| Bob Ross Liquid Clear | Artistic and Bob Ross brand | Bob Ross use it |
| Winsor & Newton Refined Linseed Oil | Artistic | Most common oil for painters. Can be used as an alternative of liquid clear. |
Why does Bob Ross use liquid clear?
Liquid Clear creates a thin wet surface that helps color move and blend over dark or prepared grounds, making it useful when a white base would change the intended effect.
It also applies between layers, so the upper layer paint does not affect the bottom layer.
Liquid clear has the ability to not dilute the color with the background, which is very important for black canvas. Also, he applied liquid clear to make a smooth and slippery surface.
Additionally, he uses liquid clear to make the paint thin and increase color flow.
How do you apply liquid clear on your painting?
Apply Liquid Clear in a very thin even layer, then wipe away excess so the canvas remains slick rather than visibly wet or pooled before adding color.
- Base coat
- Paint medium
- Create a layer on a painting
How do you apply liquid clear as a base coat?
It is very easy to apply.
You need
- Liquid clear
- A paint brush
- Soft clean rug
How to apply?
Step 1. Preparation: Put a very small amount of liquid clear on a paint Palette. A small amount is enough. If you add too much, the canvas will be oily, and paint can not stick to it.
Step 2. Apply: with a paintbrush, separate the liquid all over the canvas. Start from one side and spread it all over the canvas.
Step 3. Remove the extra liquid: Take a clean dry rag or paper towel and rub it smoothly with not high passer and not low passer to remove extra liquid.
This is a tutorial video; you should watch it.
How do you apply liquid clear as a paint medium?
You can mix titanium white with liquid clear and create liquid white. As well as you can mix the liquid clear with other colors. Which makes your paint thin and strong.
You need to follow just one rule for transforming your paint thin and strong, which is ½ any color and ½ liquid clear. To achieve the different thicknesses, you can increase or reduce the ratio of liquid clear and paint.
What is Magic Bob Ross Liquid Clear used for?
Bob Ross Liquid Clear functions as a transparent wet-on-wet base medium, helping oil color glide and blend while preserving the value of dark or prepainted backgrounds.
What can I use instead of Liquid Clear?
A compatible clear wet-on-wet medium is the closest substitute; plain drying oils can behave differently in flow, drying, and film strength and should not be treated as exact equivalents.
Related Articles
Compare the base coats and mediums used around the Bob Ross wet-on-wet method, from liquid clear to liquid black and gesso.
What Does Bob Ross Use as a Base Coat?
Why liquid white and other wet base coats matter for blending and paint flow.
Liquid Clear vs. Linseed Oil
How liquid clear and linseed oil differ in processing, thickness, and painting use.
Why Does Bob Ross Use Liquid Black?
How liquid black works as a wet base coat and changes color blending.
What Does Bob Ross Use to Prime His Canvas?
How gesso prepares the canvas before wet-on-wet base coats and oil paint.