Tip for using traditional oils with WM oils

[greywolf-art]

Like many people in this section I use WM oils because I'm asthmatic and need to avoid solvents, however there are some colours that are not quite the same as those available in traditional oils, mostly due to the use of different pigments, I particularly like ultramarine violet for example which is not available in artisan oils, I also prefer the Naples yellow used in Artists quality paints to that of the Artisan range.

so I often find myself using traditional oils with my Artisans, but then you are left with the problem of cleaning up afterwards, there have been people talking about using zest it and other solvents to clean your brushes, but there is actually a simpler way of cleaning your brushes without the use of any solvents at all.

All you need to do is wipe as much excess paint off with a rag as you can, then dip the brush into some Artisan Water mixable Linseed Oil, rub the oil thoroughly into the brush so that the oil paint dissolves into the Linseed oil, then you will find that the brush can be cleaned with soap and water just like your WM oils can!

I've been using this technique for a while now and it definitaley works - even with Liquin and Alkyd paints :)

[couturej]

Graham, thank you so much for sharing your tip on cleaning your brushes when using traditional oils with WMOs. I haven't tried it yet but I do have some W&N Artists oils that I hardly touched and might give them a try with my WMOs some day. It seems a shame not to use them. :)

[Lulu]

thankyou so much for that! I mix a few traditionals too.

[mawdwyn]

I've been using M. Graham's walnut alkyd because it works well with with trad. and wm oils - I've got both types and don't want to let the traditional oils go to waste. I use some walnut oil from the grocery store to "rinse" the paint out of the brushes (Spectrum brand). When I need something stronger (for paint dried in the brushes or on the palette) I really like Aquasol (non-toxic cleaner).

[karenlee]

This is just the help I needed today! thank you all! I just got some Naples yellow (and other colors) from Vasari, and their Naples is a beautiful yellow. But I forgot how difficult it is to get regular oil out of the brushes! Now I'm saved...whew.

[dbclemons]

Personally, I don't have a problem using odorless mineral spirits for cleaning brushes that have non-modified oil on them. You can use any sort of oil, like cooking oils, to displace the pigment in the brush, it's just a matter of washing it out.

I'm wondering how well the W&N thinner works as a cleaner for regular oils? Has anyone tested that? It might be a bit more economical than using your medium for that.