and Thank You. I work with oils straight from the tube and do not add a medium or uses solvents. You may be concerned about the pollutants and fumes that go along with using solvents like mineral oil and paint thinner. 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. Click to see full answer. . Hi Neil, yes it remains a mystery what Vasari puts in their paints, although I have never asked them – they might well tell us. 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. Subsequently, one may also ask, how do you clean oil paint brushes without paint thinner? Learn how your comment data is processed. Varnishing happens when the kids are out, with the door/windows wide open. I hate the technical and chemistry type rules I would read and it always made me feel like I was not a real artist because this is not how Rembrandt did it or so and so… did it. , How To Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner. I added the same medium to michael hardings french yellow ochre and it looked and felt the same as well. 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. Keep up the great work! Wrap the brush. Thanks again. I too stayed away from oils because I hated all the stories that sounded like oil painting was more like a science project than art. 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. I generally do not paint with a medium and use paint straight from the tube. So toxicity, just like most things, is a relative thing. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Those are also very fluid in texture and work very nicely. For other pigments it is mostly dangerous if the dust is breathed in. Hi Tim! Dip your paint brushes in the linseed oil … A simple, safe, non-toxic way to clean oil paint out of your brush without using any harsh solvents. So what do you use if you want to avoid solvents? There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ solvent I think. Learn How to Clean Oil Paint Brushes Without Paint Thinner. And oil painting without toxic materials is much easier than you think! Depending on the reasons you want to remove toxins from your studio, there are a few things to implement easily. I might have missed it, but how do you clean your brushes when you need to from one color to the next? I don’t think it is suitable for impasto work. Hi Brooke! You might be sensible enough to wash your hands, but your baby will not be. Empty the dirty paint thinner … and solvents! That’s what I do it for! Hi Sophie, Thank you so much for such a wonderful blog. The little bit of stand gave it the vasari sheen and drag. Allow the citrus solvent to set … 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). Thanks again for these awesome encouraging posts!! If you do this with each layer of paint, you end up adding a lot of oil to your painting. That said (sorry Vasari) I have W&N, MH and Mussini and many other brands as well. Replace toxic pigments with alternative coloursThere are plenty of options if you want to replace your lead whites and cobalts. 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. On top of that their colours are really gorgeous. I am not aware of any paint that contains solvent and don’t think it should be in paint either. Thanks for stopping by. This post was originally published in 2017 but has been rewritten and updated in 2019. 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. I didn’t hear anyone mention “Gamblin” brand yet… this is a highly safe brand that prides itself on making non toxic products ! Yes, the colours will handle slightly differently and the colours are never exactly the same, but you will learn how to use them to their best advantage. If you need a more fluid paint, you can also consider changing brands. Their reds are to die for. I suppose it all depends on you, your situation, your studio, your children, your health etc. And you don’t even want to think about them picking up something hazardous. I’m fairly new to all this and am finding my nose “runs” whilst using traditional oil painting materials, probably mostly due to the mediums (should that be media?) 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. Do note that one can be perfectly safe AND use toxic materials in the studio. So stick to titanium white and cadmium alternatives. For most toxic paints there are alternatives out there. Nearly there now, just tweaking here and there… and no doubt I’ll play with it forever anyway…, Wow…so happy to see your latest article of oil painting. Whether a paint colour is toxic is not always stated on the tube, so you might have to do some research. I got the original thick Michael harding rosebud mixture and added a touch of the ref/stand medium to it, It wasn’t very long before I got exactly the same consistency, drag, opacity and luminosity without the waxy look. If you want to ban all hazardous materials you need to ban all toxic paints. Make sure any toxic material is put out of the way in a place no pet or child could EVER reach or open it. Composed of mineral spirits, turpentine, and acetone or other solvents, paint thinner effectively does its job of thinning oil-based paints and cleaning tools like brushes … However, next to each other I noticed that Michael hardings look a touch more waxy and Vasari looks for glossier and luminescent. It is preferable to use paint straight from the tube. Oil painting without using solvents or toxic mediums; can it be done? If you used shellac, use denatured alcohol. Hey, fellow safe painter! Absolutely. It won’t cost you a penny extra. Just wondering if the paint will dry at all without drier? 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!! PS. For brush cleaning I’d opt for oil+water/soap or use a brush soap like Master’s Soap. For natural bristle brushes, I use the minimalist approach with 2 cans of paint thinner and a jar: pour just a tablespoon or so of paint thinner in the jar, and work the brush around very thoroughly. Interesting links: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/. It is super easy, non-toxic, and feels pretty much like normal oils. 11 Best Palettes for Oil Painting Reviewed. That said, if you want to sand your painting, for effect, or to prepare to paint over it, you are loosening dust particles and must be careful. Yes I do like Blockx, they are super smooth. There are also safe brush cleaning soaps on the market, such as Masters soap (which is what I use). Thank You for your article about painting without solvents! Put on your gloves, safety glasses and dust mask, then pour the paint brush restorer into a metal bucket. Next, take an old hairbrush, or a specialized brush comb you don’t use anymore and brush out the rest of the paint by running it repeatedly through the bristles. Thank you so much for the reply Sophie, really interesting! They cannot get absorbed by the skin by merely having a smear on your finger. Have you tried Blockx? On another note. Remove brush and wipe on a paper towel or newspaper. It will explore how to keep your studio safe for children, pets and your own health. Shake off the Paintbrush. thinner, brush cleaner and volatile painting medium for oil-based paints and artist paints. Don’t have anything lying round that would invite little hands or dog mouths to explore. . Thanks !!!! Best to maximise being eco friendly! Hello great article, thanks! If you are sensitive to paint thinner, then it is possible to clean your oil paint brushes without it. That means no cadmiums, no cobalts, no lead or cremnitz white, no naples yellow, or chrome yellow. This can lead to losing out on your paint brush’s lifespan and drying out bristles. She paints portraits and still life and specialises in painting drapery and lace. So only you will know whether it suits your style, palette and subject matter but I do love them. Fill a small cup or jar with regular (non-foaming) dish soap so it is slightly deeper than the head of your brush. Mix your brush in the soap, coating as many bristles as possible. How to Clean Oil Paint from a Brush Without Solvents. This hypo-allergenic formula without essential oils has been used successfully for chemically sensitive persons for more than a decade. I have never tried to scrub on an under painting like you have without using a thinner so I will definitely give that a go! If dust or grime gets onto the painting, it lands on the varnish and not the paint. You don’t need to use all those additives! But solvents do have toxic fumes and therefore it is recommended to always keep the jar closed. Learn to use paint straight from the tube Learn to work with oil paint straight from the tube. It would be a shame if any of you would avoid it because of its supposed toxicity. I have worked with Winsor & Newton’s Artisan Oils and quite enjoyed them. 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 got to Vasari because it was recommended to me on a forum (wet canvas.com) and I couldn’t resist. Wrap it around the metal where the bristles connect with the brush (known as a “ferrule”). 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!). You will have to decide how far to go. It is not a good idea to use oil as a thinning agent in an underpainting, as it would make the paint too oily (‘fat’) and you might get into trouble with the ‘fat-over-lean’ rule. 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