Solvent Free Oil Painting & Clean Up

Learn how to get rid of the toxic turpentine fumes from your studio by working solvent free.
This method will not only help you paint in oil more healthy, but more environmentally friendly too.
I also show you how to clean your brushes, palette and work area solvent free afterwards leaving your brushes soft, studio smelling fresh and your hands hydrated.
solvent free oil painting, non toxic oil painting, how to paint without solvent, how to paint without turps, safe oil painting, art class, art tutorial, art tips, nolan clark, paint basket, online art lessons

[@katemccarthy2463]

This is one of most helpful videos I have seen on clean up of oil painting. Thank you. I am also enjoying your classes and courses.

[@PaintBasket]

Wow, thank you!

[@Blick_Art]

This is really great- more and more artists are looking for alternatives to hydrocarbon solvents, and many classrooms are excluding traditional paint thinners and turpentine altogether. While some artists choose non-drying oils like mineral oil or baby oil, or semi-drying oils like food grade cooking oils, we think linseed oil is a good choice for this practice because there's no concern with residual oil in the brush affecting the natural drying of the paint. (Non-drying oils, if present in too high a concentration, could interfere with drying and result in a weak, soluble film.) We're very glad you included the warning about combustion risk. We asked one of the Utrecht Art Supplies Product Information team members, and they said that crumpled, oil-saturated rags, paper towels, gloves, or steel wool can, as you correctly indicated, generate heat sufficient to catch fire. This can happen with cooking oils, too. The risk is greater yet when driers are added to the oil, because this accelerates oxidation. A single rag can be lain flat to dry on a table, because heat disperses quickly, just like on a painting surface. The metal lidded bin is a terrific item for the oil painter's studio, especially for productive artists who generate a lot of used rags. If the bin interior is coated, you can add a little water to the bottom as an added safety measure Thanks for this video!

[@PaintBasket]

Thank you for the additional info. Maybe you could stock the fire buckets in your stores and sponsor my videos 😉

[@brendamaas4293]

I use baby oil to clean my brushes, works very well also to clean my hands. Then wash with soapy water. Nice clean brushes and hands, no smell as I buy unscented baby oil. I clean the palette and table in the same way. I keep my leftover paint in the frig or freezer in a closed cover container, it says fine for days.

[@PaintBasket]

thanks for adding your method too Brenda. I am sure it will help many people :)

[@boyandbelugee]

Thank you very much for this tutorial.

[@PaintBasket]

Glad it was helpful!

[@christinegalysh7433]

This is now my method of non solvent painting with oils. Thank you. Wanted to also say the suggestion you gave about saving our paint was spot on . Just scoop up paint not used with palette knife and stand the tube of paint upright tap on table and into the tube goes the paint. Awesome tip. Thank you and All the best.

[@PaintBasket]

Isn't it great not having the whole studio smelling like turps anymore? The saving paint tip was shown to us by a student many years ago and has saved me many tubes of paint in total over the years.

[@jayjoseph3104]

THANK YOU SIR FOR THE GREAT WAY TO CLEAN UP BRUSHES. 👍❤👍

[@PaintBasket]

You are very welcome

[@miettepaints9481]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@PaintBasket]

Awesome, good luck with using this healthier way of painting. Just be sure to wash your brushes thoroughly after each painting session with soap and water to ensure there is no more oil in them.

[@christinegalysh7433]

Hi Nolan, this video is very helpful. will be changing to this method for sure. Also, to thin your paint , the gamsol product is good. All the best. and thank you

[@PaintBasket]

Let me know how this method works for you Christine.

[@andywesselsphotographyart]

Gamsol is a solvents as well..... may not smell, but is not something you should breath in a lot

[@shilpimandal7446]

Thanks 🙏

[@PaintBasket]

You’re welcome 😊

[@ElenaNinolaki]

Excellent teaching and video. For the residual linseed oil I use no towel paper, cause fire may happen as you informed. Instead, I have a small bucket filled in with cat's extra clogging Bentonite. I drop the residual there and within minutes the oil clogs with the Bentonite. Inexpensive, environment friendly and safe solution.

[@PaintBasket]

Great tip! I will give that a try

[@noname-nu6oo]

Please do a tutorial on this.

[@lada7539]

👌👌👌

[@PaintBasket]

Thank you :)

[@mattylamb658]

This is great, I will try this method for cleanup! By the way, in the UK there is a turps substitute called Zest-It, which is Citrus-based and can be used for painting with as well as cleaning tasks. It contains no solvents.

[@PaintBasket]

Great tip thank you! I will give it a try

[@michellehall8734]

I find Zest it odor to strong. I’m going to use safflower for cleaning brushes.😊

[@mattylamb658]

@@michellehall8734 Actually, I ordered something by mistake, which is really good. It is called Zest-It Citrus-Free. It smells like normal thinners but is not harmful. I use it for the initial layers of the painting. For cleaning, I am using a brush dip composed of culinary walnut oil with a few drops of clove oil, so I never clean my brushes. I just wipe them on paper towel before use.

[@mspainter53]

YOU COULD USE A FUNNEL LINED WITH PAPER TOWEL TO FILTER IT AS WELL WHEN YOU POUR IT INTO THE SECOND CONTAINER.

[@PaintBasket]

great suggestion. I was thinking of trying a coffee filter. I will let you know how it works.

[@otacos4106]

Thank You for this 🙏

[@PaintBasket]

You're welcome 😊

[@noname-nu6oo]

I use razor to scrape up paint then alcohol to clean up my pallet. Cleans really well.

[@PaintBasket]

Thank you for the tip :)

[@maxlinesartist]

Hi very true I started using the raw linseed oil ( from mitre 10 ) I have used turps but have to use it out side and it takes a bout two days to fully evaporate off the brush's so I let them sit out side also which is inconvenient ,I am going to switch to the linseed oil method. I have not yet tried the Handy Andy but I will try that also . I use hand soap to clean brush's after as well works well . Some one told me I can put left over paint on the palette in the fridge for the next day not sure about this concerned about contamination of food and if it will work what do you think about that ? Mean time thanks for the tips . Hope the lock down has been ok for you . Its not so bad for us artist makes us stay home and work .

[@PaintBasket]

I do store paints in the fridge, but not the food fridge, a little bar fridge

[@maxlinesartist]

@@PaintBasket Thanks for that I have a spare small fridge might do the same

[@jonmahashintina]

i dont know if I have any place that sells linseed that doesnt add a dryer to it, but the all purpose cleaner was a good tip, i just need a spray bottle.

[@PaintBasket]

It's not critical that you get raw linseed oil. It is just the ideal :)

[@carlswanson8041]

I have used regular cooking vegetable oil to the same effect and even less costly than the raw linseed. Use as he demo's and clean with soap and water after

[@ceciliagao4493]

y el residuo de pintura se puede usar para grisallas. Un saludo

[@PaintBasket]

Merci :)

[@lorjo_lovetopaint]

Have you tried baby wipes? I use ones made with water and I add rubbing alcohol to the package.

[@PaintBasket]

thank you for the tip :)

[@noname-nu6oo]

That's smart

[@annmartinez4898]

I use Cobra paints, clean up with soap and water.

[@PaintBasket]

Using water mixable oil paints is also a solution :)

[@annmartinez4898]

Cobra is Royal Talens brand of water mixable paint 😀

[@DrawingClasses]

@@annmartinez4898 yes :)

[@annmartinez4898]

@@DrawingClasses They are really nice paints, you should think about doing a class with them.

[@stephanieleeb4242]

Is there a more environmental friendly way instead of using paper towels??

[@PaintBasket]

You could use an absorbent cloth and then wash it every time. Ideally you would wash it by hand and hang it out to dry instead of using the washing machine and tumble drier for best environmental effect. Remember to not let the water go down the drain, but rather wash in a hand basin over the grass.

[@hookedbycrafting5348]

Doesn't the raw oil spoil?

[@PaintBasket]

Not that I have noticed. I bought a large bottle of linseed oil probably 8 years ago now and am still using it today :)

[@hookedbycrafting5348]

Oh awesome. I can save the hard won self refined for my medium then.😊