Zest-it Testimonials and Reviews from published articles and magazines.

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Reviews between 1996 and 2014 can be found below.


Artists and Illustrators Magazine page March 1997	Published Article as a triple page spread - pages 47 to 49 Tole Painting by Jacqui Blackman Giving a little history of Tole painting and in-depth on the one-stroke techniques using oils.

V. Tait. Scotland. June '97	Renny and I have been very happy with Zest-it since we started using it about a month ago mainly for brush cleaning. We have become very sick of the smell of turpentine and breathing it's fumes day after day after day. We find Zest-it much less offensive! I have also started to use it as a painting medium in the early stages of an oil painting where before I would have used turpentine. Again I find it much more pleasant to use than turps because of it's smell and also the fact that it's slower to evaporate. Yours sincerely,

G. Graham. North Wales. March '98	After trying out Zest-it for about three months, I feel I must write and congratulate you on a first class product. It seems to have all the good qualities of turpentine and a few extra for good measure. I'm particularly pleased with the way it mixes with all the usual mediums, and the paint finish is superb. All this combined with it's pleasant aroma makes it a pure pleasure to use. Thank you, George

Full Report on page 34 Leisure Painter Magazine Report: Robin Capon Issue: February 1998	Extract from the Report. "My own experiments with Zest-it were entirely successful in the sense that it behaved exactly how I wanted it to when diluting and manipulating the paint. For example, I had no problems thinning paint to a weak wash or, contrastingly, using it in an impasto way. I also tried other techniques, such as applying the paint with a painting knife, sponge and so on, and again the response was fine. My impression was that this medium flows more freely than turpentine and, depending on the ambient temperature and humidity, it dries a little slower than white spirit. Additionally, the product is suitable for cleaning brushes and other painting equipment."


R. D. Nelson. Cumbria. January '99	I feel I must write to you with some comments on the product "Zest-it" which I recently purchased from you. As an artist who works mainly in oils, I use quite a lot of artist quality turps and ordinary white spirit. The drawback being the smell they have. I have used "Zest-it" for, (A) Cleaning my brushes, I feel that your product has a slight edge over white spirit in its cleaning qualities. (B) As a medium for doing initial washes over a white canvas, I found this to be excellent, even though I have found it does take longer to dry which, is not really a problem. (C) As a medium when mixed with one part linseed oil, three parts Zest-it, for slightly thinning the paint or when used as a wash on the canvas, it gives excellent results. The extra bonus for me, is the aroma it lets off, it is far better than the smell of turps. I now do not have to burn a couple of scented candles whilst I am painting. Many Thanks.

Full Review on page 37 of Leisure Painter Magazine. Review: by Robin Capon. Issue: February 2000	Extract from 'Flowers in Oils' review. " Here is a clear, detailed and helpful guide for anyone wishing to paint flowers, or indeed any other subject in oils, using a wet-in-wet technique." Zest-it Clear Painting Medium.


Maureen Feb.01 Soar Valley Artists	Thank you for such an inspiring and educational site, but thank you most of all for introducing me to Zest-It: This has proved the solution to all my problems with oil painting, it is BRILLIANT! No more strong [painful] odours! I now recommend it to everyone I come across who paints with oils. I am a much happier painter now...Maureen. I'm so pleased for you Maureen, and thank you. Jacqui

Art Express Quartley Issues: 2000 - 2004	A number of reviews covering use of various Zest-it products.


Parchment Express Pauline Loweth 2004-5	Pauline wrote a number of articles and reviews in Parchment Express and was perhaps the main instigator of the addition of Parchment Blend to our range.


American Painter in Oils Issue: Spring 2005	Using Zest-it Brush Cleaner was a pleasure, tried it in many different way, it works just as good as turps, although, slightly slower drying. Highly Recommended.


Alex Jul.05	I have used Zest-it thinners for the first time, & it is a huge relief not to suffer any of the unpleasant reactions that I associate with turps. I mixed it into oil-paint without linseed oil and I really appreciate its properties - notably more even glazing, improved handling, clarity & drying time. Once dry, the colours are a very matte. This has removed a long standing problem of reflections when subsequently photographing & reproducing. Another plus. I have then oiled out to give a finish to the painting and shall varnish in 6 months time. Will there be any long term problems with stability by using this method, please? Many thanks for your help and for your product. Thank you Alex and there will be no problems, as in my e-mail to you, Jacqui

Eric Wilson Jun.06	I highly recommend Zest-it to all oil painters who dislike the smell of turps. Eric Wilson. Wildlife Artist in Oils Thank you Eric, Jacqui

Aileen Childs UK 01.Jul.08	Hi, I just needed to write and say how very impressed I am with your speedy service. From order to delivery just two days. Wonderful, thank you. I will of course be telling everyone I know in the Parchment craft world. Usually we use something called Dorso oil but I bought some of your Zest-it a year or so ago and much preferred the smell so used it sparingly not realising I could just find you online. Can you tell I am pleased by any chance? Thank you again, Regards, Aileen Childs Parchment Tutor Thank you for letting us know, much appreciated, Jacqui

Judith UK 09.Jan.09	Hello Jacqui. This is to say a big thank-you! I just discovered whilst 'surfing' that you are the founder of wonderful Zest-it! I became a convert several years ago when I found it in our local art shop being sold as a brush cleaner. Being an avid parchment-crafter, it was like a godsend, as I really hated using white spirit to blend oil-pastels. I was interested to read on your website the method for blending pencils with Zest-it. I design for Parchment Craft Magazine and also sell patterns on my own website. I always recommend Zest-it when I run courses so thanks again for Zest-it! Judith. Thank you Judith, see my email to you, link on Stockist page, Jacqui

Beverley UK 19.Oct.09	I've been using zest it to substitute odourless thinners with my genesis heat set paints and they have worked just as well with the added bonus of actually smelling nice too. Thank you for letting us know, much appreciated, Jacqui

JH UK 27.Jun.11	It works great. (Pencil Blend) Many thanks for speedy and easy purchase. I received the "Zest it" safely today and it works a treat! Super service. Thank you very much, Jacqui

Australian Artist Palette Three published articles 2012-13	First article in 2012 is Kevin Rogers painting portraits using pencil and graphite with Zest-it Pencil Blend and Blending Sponge. The second article is Oil painting using Zest-it Brush Cleaner of a super outback scene. 2013 saw another article from Kevin about oil painting using Zest-it for 'Back to Basics'. Our thanks to Kevin and S&S. Jacqui

Our thanks to everyone for their support and taking the time to express their views.

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Full Review on page 43 Leisure Painter Magazine Marketlink: Jane Stroud Issue: December 1998	Extract from article. "Independent laboratory reports have shown it to have proven stability with no detrimental effect on the paint quality."


Full Review on page 48-49 Artist and Illustrators Magazine Oil Mediums and Solvents Issue: September 1999	Extract from the article. " Zest-it citrus-based alternatives to turpentine............ there is also a clear painting medium and a brush cleaner."