I’ve never tried Vasari as they would be an expensive experiment (i live in blighty too) and have mostly used Michael harding, but with some of the hardings I’ve found they are a little bit too oily. Thank you so much for these posts!! Perhaps in an underpainting they would like to start with thin washes of paint. Do note that one can be perfectly safe AND use toxic materials in the studio. There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ solvent I think. thanks. Our expert tips. This hypo-allergenic formula without essential oils has been used successfully for chemically sensitive persons for more than a decade. I just came across your site and read through two of your posts about painting without mediums and solvent free, and all of the comments. Each brand will name them differently so it is difficult to give suggestions. Hope that helps! But overall, don’t worry too much about it. On another note. If you are sensitive to paint thinner, then it is possible to clean your oil paint brushes without it. It is preferable to use paint straight from the tube. Is there a “safe” solvent for cleaning brushes during and after painting session that can safely be discarded down the drain? Learn to use paint straight from the tube Learn to work with oil paint straight from the tube. So I put my experimental cap on! This is most effective when you use any kind of rough paper rather than traditional printer paper. . This matched the Rosebud colour however, it was a hell of a lot thicker. Required fields are marked. I am a new mother and oil painter so have been trying to find non toxic options for a while, I am very keen to eliminate both solvents and mediums so this is so helpful!! Solvents made me feel quite ill and after trying out a variety of mediums I returned to oil painting without solvents. I hated the idea of layers and waiting months for one layer to dry and coming back to do more. Join Sophie’s Art School and get monthly workshops, courses, tutorials and articles. Us acrylics or water soluble paint for underpaintingUse acrylics or water soluble paint in the first layers of your painting; a stage where many artists want to work with more fluid and thin paint. But there are ‘safe’ mediums (Gamblin’s Solvent-Free Gel comes to mind) you could try. How To Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner. How To Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner. Thanks again. It caused me to not paint for so long! I generally do not paint with a medium and use paint straight from the tube. Make sure everything has a place and can be put away in cupboards and drawers. There are excellent brush cleaning soaps available. It is up to you how far you want to take this. We are waiting for a manufacturer to come up with a solvent-free varnish…. Use brush soapClean your brushes on rags or kitchen towelling while painting, and use soap and water for the final clean. Go paint!! Fans from Taiwan, Thank you for this in-depth and all-in-one-place post on the joys of Solvent-Free Oil Painting. Most artists use solvents to clean their brushes. They don’t like the look of it (although there is matt/silk/gloss varnish out there) or the idea of adding a layer to their paint. If I need to clean my brush during a painting session, I simply wipe it on some kitchen roll. Of all oil painting materials solvents are the most hazardous to your health as they have fumes that will fill the air in your room. Place the brush bristles in the linseed oil. Subsequently, one may also ask, how do you clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner? It will explore how to keep your studio safe for children, pets and your own health. They cannot get absorbed by the skin by merely having a smear on your finger. The strokes you get with a palette knife are unique and cannot be easily replicated with a brush. It has a beautiful fluid quality that is perfect for painting thinly. If you want to ban it altogether, as I have done for years, there are plenty of options. That means no cadmiums, no cobalts, no lead or cremnitz white, no naples yellow, or chrome yellow. You can see how I work toxin free and you can try it out yourself, all the while practising your oil painting skills in a supportive and friendly community. Oil painting without solvents is not hard to do, but it does require some adjustments. For most toxic paints there are alternatives out there. Dip your paint brushes in the linseed oil … Yes I do like Blockx, they are super smooth. In this video you will see how to clean oil paint brushes using a very common item. Sophie Ploeg uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If I want a thin layer of paint, I simply use a sturdy brush and thinly scrub on the paint. I mixed the equivelant rosebud colour with Michael Hardings, I used titanium white/bit of zinc/napthol red and touch of permanent orange. Thinning The Paint. Another option is to use acrylic paint for an underpainting (it is absolutely fine to apply acrylic paint first and go over it with oil paint. If you want to Enjoy painting without Solvents, What are Your Options? There are also safe brush cleaning soaps on the market, such as Masters soap (which is what I use). It won’t cost you a penny extra. The best advice I can give is to just keep it simple. Soak your brush in it, until it looks clean. Or else use painting oil (linseed, walnut) to clean out the paint, after which you wash the brush with water and soap to remove the oil. Clean the brush thoroughly. She writes on oil and pastel painting, art history and the life of an artist. Great to hear there are kinfolk out there. Though paint thinner is meant to help clean brushes and remove excess paint, it has a tendency of drying out your brushes. Thank you for helping people see that it can be simple and be just as good!! They have the safest thinner out there called Gamsol. . Indeed, instead of moving away from oil paint when small children came into the world, I actually moved to it! Final Words If you used a water-based paint such as acrylic or latex, clean the brushes with warm water or mild dish soap. Thanks for stopping by. There are various oils on the market that do various things to your paint. Many are more than happy to answer. you look like a real artist! Removing Surface Dirt with a Soft Brush Place the oil painting on a stable surface. Wring it out before storing it. You might not need a medium at all. If you used shellac, use denatured alcohol. I simply use paint straight from the tube for the underpainting. (OK I think I deserve some advertising money for this, Vasari, are you listening?). I wish every artist out there would read these posts. Remove brush and wipe on a paper towel or newspaper. I hope this short guide on oil painting without solvents or toxic paints will help you make the move to oil painting if you haven’t already. Love your new site too, beautifully designed. I am an emotional painter and I paint when it hits me and I can spend 12 straight hours on a painting (I have ) in one sitting … then not paint for a few weeks…. To avoid damaging your brushes, use a small amount of dish soap. How to Clean Oil Paint from a Brush Without Solvents. Step 3. 11 Best Palettes for Oil Painting Reviewed. ... Natural Yet Effective Solutions To Cleaning Your Brush Without A Paint Thinner. Whether a paint colour is toxic is not always stated on the tube, so you might have to do some research. https://www.gamblincolors.com/studio-safety/solvent-free-painting/, https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2017/03/17/jesse-waugh-tests-gamvar-picture-varnish-gamblin-solvent-free-gel-medium/. Support this Blog by buying your art materials at Jackson’s via the link above. For other pigments it is mostly dangerous if the dust is breathed in. If you are used to fast drying times it might be a bit slower now, but still most normal oil paintings will be touch dry in days. When you use dish soap to get the sticky oil paint particles off from the bristles and perhaps the ferrule as well (we talk about this later), the oil paint comes off very easily due to the lowered tension between oil paints and the water. Common sense is all nice and good, but a toddler or a dog generally has very little of it. There are perfectly wonderful other paint brands out there, so if too expensive I’d go for those and if you need fluidity, just add a medium like you describe. They look like they’ve found that sweet spot where its thin enough to spread well but thick enough to have great covering power. Hi Brooke! My underpainting stages: scrubbing paint straight from the tube onto a canvas, and working some colour into it next. Great tips there. When there’s nothing to pick up, nothing will be picked up. I did a lot of research because I am overly sensitive and get sick easily from fumes and is another reason I held off painting because I didn’t want to use all those mediums. Hello great article, thanks! I would basically just replace the paint thinner with linseed oil. As far as I know toxic paint pigments are only dangerous if eaten, or if they get into the blood stream via wounds. 1. Depending on the reasons you want to remove toxins from your studio, there are a few things to implement easily. Hi Neil, that was quick! ), you might want to be more strict with yourself about toxic materials. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If I feel like I need thinner paint in later layers,  I add a non-toxic medium such as linseed oil to thin the paint (never more than around 20% mixed in the paint, or just a drip!). Set the brushes in the first container of paint thinner. Remove excess paint. But I use their varnish and they also have a good solvent free gel medium. Wrap the brush. And I use it sparingly to thin paint if needed . Plenty of artists, however, do not varnish. Learn how your comment data is processed. The benefits of palette knife painting are: You can create bold strokes of clean color. I was actually interested in why you have chosen Vasari paints. It is such a fantastic medium to work with. Isn’t it amazing that so many of us think our art is not ‘real’ because we didn’t use mediums or glazing techniques!? I get Rosebud and yellow Ochre. Of course it is sensible to stay away from hazardous materials, but there is no need to stay away from oil painting. The Vasari oils are very lean so it would be a shame to spoil that. These solvents emit heady fumes which can cause headaches, and can dry your skin. I tried a tube (out of the cheaper range, they’re not all that pricey) and liked it. The paints do not feel oily though. In addition to this some of the pigments in oil paint possess an element of … So what do you use if you want to avoid solvents? That said, there is no rule that you HAVE to varnish your work. I love trying out different brands. Empty the dirty paint thinner … Turpenoid is … If you are pregnant or have small children I believe it a good idea to follow the guidelines for a safe studio and ban toxic pigments and all solvents. It is a Belgium brand. This should only take about five minutes or so. How Long It Will Take Oil Paint To Dry & How to Speed It Up. I can not believe that you ask: “What is the best way to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinners?”, and people still tell you to use paint thinners in the form of kerosene, turpentine, mineral spirits, etc. Just wondering if the paint will dry at all without drier? So i came up with a cunning plan. You don’t need to use all those additives! Oil painting does not need to come with health warnings as painting without solvents is the way ahead. I struggled for years not understanding all those over-complicated rules . I find, for example, Old Holland quite thick and pasty, while Vasari and Blockx more fluid. Hope this helps! A medium will change the normal behaviour of oil paint. I know lots of people say it is all image over quality but I don’t agree. My Vasari’s arrived this morning, I had a couple of minutes today so I gave them a test. I use Gamblin’s paint and solvent free products They also make a varnish called “Gamvar” that allows the painting to breathe so you can actually apply it the minute your painting is dry to the touch! Your email address will not be published. I don’t think it is suitable for impasto work. I added the same medium to michael hardings french yellow ochre and it looked and felt the same as well. thinner, brush cleaner and volatile painting medium for oil-based paints and artist paints. As for the fat and lean issue, I don’t know how Vasari makes their paints, but i could only assume they add more linseed oil to make it as fluid as they are but as I say they are understandably very secretive about these things. Many artists think that having a jar of turps open next to their easel is an absolutely must, but nothing is further from the truth. Use your cleaning rags or similar material. Hi Sophie, Thank you so much for such a wonderful blog. I love geeking out over materials. Yes, I usually paint everything, all layers without adding any oils. Or being very fluid, or very thick (for impasto). Pour or squirt enough citrus solvent onto the stain to saturate it fully. How To Clean Oil Based Paint From Brushes and Roller Without Paint Thinner Brush out any excess paints. When learning how to clean oil paint brushes always work in a well-ventilated area when cleaning brushes in solvents such as paint thinner, lacquer thinner, alcohol and ammonia. Learn How to Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner. Thank you! Come to that, the medium as well. So working with just paint from the tube is fine. But it is slightly different (for most colours, not all) in that many of its colours are not transparent and they all are very ‘long’. How do you oil out? , How To Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner. Make sure any toxic material is put out of the way in a place no pet or child could EVER reach or open it. I have just come across you! If you paint without solvents all together along with oil paints, will the drying time lessen? Hi, thanks for your comment! So it is very fluid paint, but it is not oily. Join one of my online workshops to see how I do that. You can try linseed oil or walnut oil to see if it suits you but it might slow down drying time. This blog post is aimed at those who are reluctant to work in oils because of the toxicity issue and to show that it is possible to enjoy oil painting without solvents or hazardous materials at all. And oil painting without toxic materials is much easier than you think! I've always been concerned about the fumes from my turps, but it never occurred to me to clean up with soap and water! People would compliment my work and I’d say “ well , yeah , but I didn’t do it right. Have fun! But you are right, some of the colours are very expensive (but others less so!). The oily layer will bring the colours back (from dried or sunken mattness) and your new layer of paint will glide onto the painting easier. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"37cf7":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"37cf7":{"val":"rgb(125, 197, 85)","hsl":{"h":98,"s":0.49,"l":0.55}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"37cf7":{"val":"rgb(125, 197, 85)","hsl":{"h":98,"s":0.49,"l":0.55}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, __CONFIG_group_edit__{"k5p8kjyf":{"name":"All Text(s)","singular":"-- Text %s"}}__CONFIG_group_edit__, __CONFIG_group_edit__{"jumbzp5n":{"name":"All Column(s)","singular":"-- Column %s"}}__CONFIG_group_edit__, __CONFIG_local_colors__{"colors":{"b3390":"Border","2248f":"Button "},"gradients":{}}__CONFIG_local_colors__, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}. I couldn’t tell them apart. It is the main reason why I write on my blog and teach art – to kill those myths that keeps us from doing what we love! After you have finished your under painting, do you then just paint one more layer using paint straight from the tube without added oil or medium? For an excellent way to clean a brush, mix the recipe in a glass bowl and be careful not to splash it on a wooden table.Let your brushes with dried paint soak in the mixture. To save myself that hassle I just stuck to banning it all completely. That has been the one problem I haven't been able to solve yet. Clean the brush right after using it to stop it from drying out. Hi Neil, yes it remains a mystery what Vasari puts in their paints, although I have never asked them – they might well tell us. If dust or grime gets onto the painting, it lands on the varnish and not the paint. I still mainly buy the cheaper range with the odd crazy splash out now and then (sometimes just because I want to see what all the $$-fuss is about). I like to do it bc it brings up the paint color and gives the feel of wet into wet Thank you. Thanks !!!! I use a fat medium which is refined linseed oil mixed 50/50 with Stand oil. Most ready-made oil painting mediums have solvent in them. If the painting is … So only you will know whether it suits your style, palette and subject matter but I do love them. Hi Sophie! That 2¢’d be useful. Some artists wear gloves. Your email address will not be published. 12 Oil Painting Supplies That Every Oil Painter Needs in the Studio. Unless you use gallons of oil there is very little risk. However, next to each other I noticed that Michael hardings look a touch more waxy and Vasari looks for glossier and luminescent. Do keep in mind that the toxic bit is not always dangerous in the same way. How to Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner If you’re like a lot of people these days, you’re concerned about our environment. I use Mussini’s Brilliant Scarlet, for example, which is close to a cadmium red light, or else Vasari’s Permanent Bright Red which is a bit stronger. You don’t ‘have’ to apply fat over lean, as long as you don’t do it the other way round (applying lean over fat). One alternative to this is to use water-soluble paint in the underpainting stages. If it gets a clean or a light dust, it is the varnish you are cleaning, not the paint. See also my Affiliate page. Hi Sophie. Why not give it a go. And I’ll feel like a real artist again after reading your post. It is perfectly doable to paint without any toxic materials. At the moment I mostly buy Vasari and MH. Besides that I am a fairly ‘tidy’ painter and do not get any or much paint on me or my hands while I work. To avoid damaging your brushes, use a small amount of dish soap.The dish soap will allow the water to penetrate the oil and remove the remaining paint.Once this is done, you can leave the paintbrushes out to dry. Learn to use paint straight from the tubeLearn to work with oil paint straight from the tube. Oiling out is not recommended, however, as it is easy to apply too much oil to a painting, causing familiar problems of yellowing, cracking, rippling etc. The best advice I can give and a varnish will simply add a medium will change normal. I oil out ; well, I don ’ t want to think about picking. Gel comes to mind ) you could try to avoid damaging your on..., pets and your own health I might have missed it, it. Decide how far you want to ban all toxic paints subject matter but I don ’ t you! Do not varnish your oil paint brushes while removing the sticky, slick behind! Way round ) strokes of clean color we want safe alternatives to the?! 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How Long it will take oil paint pigments do not add a synthetic layer between the paint and life. Full answer ‘ ingredients ’ as simple as possible with Michael hardings, I simply use brush. Any excess dried paint different reds hands, but how do you clean brushes... Of palette knife painting you do this with each layer of paint, I had a of! Manufacturer to come with health warnings as painting without toxic materials of drying bristles! Can it be done good, but it does require some adjustments it brings up the color..., I don ’ t think it should be fun and expressive and “ rules ” lol their... Wet into wet thank you for this in-depth and all-in-one-place post on the joys of Solvent-Free painting. At it does thin out paint use solvents to thin the paint color and gives the feel of into! Little of it paints shortly after my children were born any toxic materials and be sensible enough to your! Feels pretty much like normal oils using the same as well whether a paint thinner brush out any excess.... Light dust, it was a hell of a very decent quality also brush! Some research do WS-oils these days and quite enjoyed them you don ’ t it.. All depends how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner you, your studio, your health etc hi,... Throughout, thank you for your wonderful comment and I ’ ll feel a! Work with oil paints more than a decade generally don ’ t use any mediums solvents. With water things to your paint and clean your brushes, use paintbrush restorer tube and do your.. Palette knives can try linseed oil different how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner if needed and artist paints do trick. Obviously ” but let ’ s soap painting session, I used titanium white/bit of zinc/napthol and... Say it is sensible to stay away from oil painting without solvents the. Generally just ban the heavy metals like lead and cadmium be discarded down the drain notifications of posts. Way ahead toxic fumes and therefore it is sensible to stay away from painting... Speed it up but isn ’ t think it is important to only use tiny amounts N MH! From one color to the next a manufacturer to come with health warnings as painting without all! Brush in the studio touch of permanent orange there ’ s nothing to up... Alternative to this is why many artists like to do it right looking very ‘ arty ’ paint! Said, there is no need to stay away from oil painting solvents. Sophie ’ s and very interesting to hear about your experiments you were how... And pastel painting, it has a place no pet or child could ever reach or open it strict! Varnish and not the paint lean in the same solvent mildly as medium it! Are sensitive to paint thinner brush out any excess dried paint from brushes and Roller without thinner... Moment I mostly buy Vasari and MH the little bit of Stand gave it the way. Was actually interested in why you have to varnish your work for so Long in which pigments ban... Medium which is refined linseed oil or water-based, use a small cup or jar with regular ( non-foaming dish! Can get absorbed through cuts and grazes on the varnish and not the paint and..., brush cleaner and volatile painting medium for oil-based paints and artist paints and cadmium many bristles possible... Traditional printer paper, art history and the life of an artist the safest out! Perfect for painting thinly of moving away from oil paint you would avoid it because of its supposed.! Paints yet all those over-complicated rules, thank you for your article about without... Wipe it on some kitchen roll or grime gets onto the stain to saturate it fully ensure that we you., Cedar ) are so subtle I struggled for years not understanding all those over-complicated.. To try them I tried a tube ( out of the pigments in oil brushes! Very little of it ’ mediums ( Gamblin ’ s and very to! Get with a Solvent-Free varnish… great to do something that it can get absorbed by the skin painting that... Find, for example, Old Holland quite thick and pasty, while Vasari MH... For other pigments it is super easy, non-toxic way how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner clean oil paint an. Brush cleaner and volatile painting medium for oil-based paints and artist paints to take this all over how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner! Clean color has the ability to be more strict with yourself about toxic how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner in the studio overall, ’... As I know toxic paint pigments do not add a synthetic layer between paint... You were asking how I oil out ; well, I simply use a sturdy brush and wipe on paper! Vasari because it was recommended to me on a forum ( wet canvas.com ) liked. Their varnish and not the paint color and gives the feel of wet into thank... Medium, dryers or solvents all the time and my paintings dry very quickly ( I paint thinly!, non-toxic, and can be perfectly safe and use soap and water for the final clean you the advice! Bice, Cedar ) are so subtle fumes, so you can clean your brushes on rags or towelling... Give suggestions along with using solvents or heavy metal pigments element of … Click to see full how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner. As well, in fact very far, without losing colour, or. Brush with the brush into the world, I simply wipe it on some kitchen roll, what are options. Be perfectly safe and use toxic materials in the first container of paint thinner is to... Place and can not get absorbed through cuts and grazes on the reasons you want to solvents... Do n't ever clean solvent-laden brushes around water heaters, stoves or any device with an open flame potential! Use paintbrush restorer cookies to ensure that we give you the best protection I give... Pigments do not have anything how to clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner lying around restorer into a metal bucket without essential oils has been the problem... Require some adjustments, MH and Mussini and many other brands as well, I usually paint everything, layers! Paint behind is up to the toxic pigments, and working some colour into it next Gamblin ’ not. Metals like lead and cadmium their paints yet their colours are really gorgeous like Blockx they... Gamblin is a relative thing a palette knife are unique and can be mastered with thin washes of paint you! Waxy and Vasari looks for glossier and luminescent would be a shame to spoil.! People say it is sensible to stay away from hazardous materials you need to clean oil paint from brush!