I hope you enjoy my process for cleaning my oil painting brushes this method takes around 10 minutes at the end of a painting day (depending on how many brushes I get through). You can get full length tutorials at my online academy and even join in my live workshops. To find out more check out mazartacademy.com/
Thank you so much Marion. I also use two brushes for light and dark but this shows me how quickly I can change my colours. I absolutely love your methods.
Thanks for posting this. I have been cleaning my brushes with baby oil since your first video on this. I didn't realize I needed to clean them with soap and water after. I will start doing that right away. I also like that you added what you use to clean the brushes while painting. Thanks again!
Glad I could help! Yes I didn’t used to bother because I was convinced I’d removed all the baby oil (which is non drying) but this new method ensures that there’s no baby oil getting on the painting.
Thank you so much for this video. I am currently planning my new studio and will be incorporating many things you have taught me. I shall now look to see how you store your paints.
Glad it was helpful! I store mine on a peg board with clips. I have OCD for keeping things tidy 😉. You can get custom peg boards sized from eBay etc so if you have a wall it’s worth getting one to fit I then buy the clips and hang all my paint in the same order that I lay out my pallet. Seeing what I have at a glance has stopped me buying duplicate paint tubes (which I used to always do when I stored them in a drawer). ☺️
I like your idea. I've got 2 jars currently and keep trying to use my cleaner as my medium. Might be time to switch it up. Just started trying to go solvent free so still working out my meathod
What I don't like with all these processes is that it forces to use lots of wipers, + wipers that have absorbed oil or solvents are dangerous (fire hazard). Hope there are safest options that don't use that much things
This is a interesting way of cleaning . Never used baby oil . I use safflower artist grade oil in a steel washer and then another large steel bucket which holds the brushes upright and not touching the the bottom and they just soak bristles only until I paint again . Never need to wash the brushes they keep perfect but if did then would just do the brush cleaner like yourself .
I started oil painting with Bob Ross's "beat it to death" cleaning method .. that didnt last long and I ended up along your line. I use OMS vs a medium since OMS doesnt bother me and I'm in a garage. I also found the joy of using a mineral oil and lanolin based final cleaning. I like the idea of using plastic bag liners.. I think I will borrow that idea :D
Hello! Marion, Thank you for your prompt reply to my message on baby oil, I so appreciate the time and effort you give of yourself to us all.. I had started many years back a landscape oil painting but never got to finish it, I have been encouraged by your help with your tutorials but wondering with the fat over lean do I continue with thinning the paint a little with the medium (I think I have approximately a couple of layers that I painted on originally) but not sure after all this time being set aside should I start again with thinning the paint a little or straight from the tube. Thanking you again. Many Blessings. Sylvia 😊
I use lean medium in the underpainting stages. Then I “oil out” with a very very thin layer of fat medium for each state afterwards. I prefer to work on a slightly wet canvas for each layer. So if you’ve left it a while do an oil out layer first then work into that.
Thank you so much for this video, I thought I'd tried everything there is to clean brushes, didn't even know baby oil was an option until my drawing teacher mentioned it, so I Googled it and here you are! 🎉 🎨 So awesome! Do you think I could use the Zest it to clean brushes during a painting session, and still use Liquin or linseed oil as my medium? (Those are my 2 preferred mediums I use as I paint). Thank you for sharing with us! 😊
Hi Maz , thanks a bunch for all the info on cleaning brushes . Talking brushes where can I get the paint brushes that you use ? Keep up the good work.June x
You can visit my shop for my brushes (buy one set get one free as I’m having clearance sale because I don’t plan importing anymore too complicated after covid). www.mazartstudio.com/shop
The medium you use during painting does it help in the drying process? If not how long does it take your paintings to dry? Have you used gamsol or Galkyd?
Yes it does but I use very little medium. I particularly use zest it lean for my underpainting stages. When switching colours I wipe the brush so there’s next to no medium on there. I find I’ve more control over the paint if I don’t make it too wet with medium so always use it sparingly. I’ve not used the mediums you mentioned but believe they are superb and will do the same job as zest it (I don’t like strong smells so that’s why I use zest it ). My underpainting is dry overnight and most other paintings dry within a week (touch dry not cured).
The mediums and Gamisol oderless medium give me a headache too! What can I use for a medium that doesn’t smell? I also like to keep the paint wet but what I’m using dries really fast🤷♀️
Hi Marion. I'm a beginner after retirement and really get alot of value from your videos. I was wondering of reason to wash out mineral oil? Surely its good for the brushes but maybe not a good medium to get into paints later. I'm lazy and thought it good to later dab the brush into linseed or lavendar oil before painting to remove the mineral oil residual. Is this a bad idea? Thank you for your work.
The main reason is mineral oil is non drying so you don’t want to risk it getting into your painting. I find the soap I use is very conditioning for the brushes & I have the reassurance any trace of the oil is removed. I’m guessing the lavender oil you use is in the same container each time so you are really unsure if the baby oil is also getting into the lavender oil as well? But even so in the past I simply wiped my brushes so I think your method could be ok and if it works for you then stick with it. You just have to feel confident you’ve removed the mineral oil. ☺️
@@MazArtStudio Thank you and you make a good point. I don't paint enough to know the consequences. But i did find out the hard way when I used canola oil before I saw your video, I had a reaction in one of my paintings and it took me awhile to figure out what may have happened. Better safe than sorry. Thanks again
Great question; I too didn't know the deal with baby oil staying on the brushes....so, it's a danger if it gets onto the next painting. Thanks for that information.
I hardly ever clean my brushes, I have a few in darks and a few in lights and I just put them in water layed in a decorators roller tray so the bristles dont bend, they will stay wet for months, years even. Just wipe the water out on a rag when you want to use them. When I want to change colour during painting I use odourless solvent but I think I will adopt your method with the linseed oil, it looks better. Very occasionally if I do want to give my brushes a good cleaning [ rare ] a quick swill in odourless solvent and finish with swarfega which gets them very clean [ and my hands ]
I’m glad you’ve found a cleaning method that suits you. I can’t stand Oms. The smells give me headache and I remember my dad using swarfega I’ve not heard of it in years as I remember that’s a bit smelly too. 😂. Thanks for sharing your method
Hi!! I really appreciate your tutorials and advice with oil painting, I haven’t painted with oil paints for sometime now because of the cleaning part of the brushes mainly, however after watching your video on the cleaning, will give it another try, with the baby oil does it have to be unscented ? I do have some baby oil here which is scented, would that be ok? I tried to find the container of the baby oil you use on eBay but unable to find that particular one, but can purchase the other. Thanking you once again for your tutorials, very helpful indeed. Cheeers Sylvia 😊
Good morning, When I work with David the Paint Policeman, We use the BR odourless. Can you use this oil to thin out colours? What type of baby oil do you buy? I'm just starting out I've done 5 paintings with The PP, travelling to and from Ayrshire to Preston each time, I'm looking at practicing at home between lessons. Thank you.
David is wonderful you are in good hands. But his method of cleaning brushes is different to mine. I don’t use thinners. However you cannot use baby oil in your painting it is non drying oil so can’t be used in a painting I only use it at the end of the painting session to loosen the oils for cleaning & then finish with soap and water to remove baby oil. If you are looking for a safe alternative to thinners (OMS) then try zest-it cleaner or Gamsol. You’d be able to use both of those in the same way David uses OMS. Hope this helps. Maz.
Hi Bob. I’ve had a look and I can’t find it now either and my history on my eBay doesn’t go back that far. Very annoying. Sorry I can’t help you with the link. If you search on bulk baby oil there are some good deals that pop up but I still couldn’t find the 5l one.
Baby oil stays on your brush . you don’t want to mix baby oil with your oil paint . Yes walnut oil or any other artist oil is more expensive but that’s the proper way to do it .
I hope you enjoy my process for cleaning my oil painting brushes this method takes around 10 minutes at the end of a painting day (depending on how many brushes I get through). You can get full length tutorials at my online academy and even join in my live workshops. To find out more check out mazartacademy.com/
Thank you so much Marion. I also use two brushes for light and dark but this shows me how quickly I can change my colours. I absolutely love your methods.
Thank you hun. Always trying to improve my work flow 🥰
Thanks for posting this. I have been cleaning my brushes with baby oil since your first video on this. I didn't realize I needed to clean them with soap and water after. I will start doing that right away. I also like that you added what you use to clean the brushes while painting. Thanks again!
Glad I could help! Yes I didn’t used to bother because I was convinced I’d removed all the baby oil (which is non drying) but this new method ensures that there’s no baby oil getting on the painting.
Thank you for being diligent to help us know your improved way of cleaning your brushes. You took the time, so thank you !
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for this video. I am currently planning my new studio and will be incorporating many things you have taught me. I shall now look to see how you store your paints.
Glad it was helpful! I store mine on a peg board with clips. I have OCD for keeping things tidy 😉. You can get custom peg boards sized from eBay etc so if you have a wall it’s worth getting one to fit I then buy the clips and hang all my paint in the same order that I lay out my pallet. Seeing what I have at a glance has stopped me buying duplicate paint tubes (which I used to always do when I stored them in a drawer). ☺️
I like your idea. I've got 2 jars currently and keep trying to use my cleaner as my medium. Might be time to switch it up. Just started trying to go solvent free so still working out my meathod
Glad you found it useful. This method is working great for me and I’ve no smelly studio (and no headache 🤕). ☺️
What I don't like with all these processes is that it forces to use lots of wipers, + wipers that have absorbed oil or solvents are dangerous (fire hazard). Hope there are safest options that don't use that much things
This is a interesting way of cleaning . Never used baby oil . I use safflower artist grade oil in a steel washer and then another large steel bucket which holds the brushes upright and not touching the the bottom and they just soak bristles only until I paint again . Never need to wash the brushes they keep perfect but if did then would just do the brush cleaner like yourself .
Great suggestions Thanks for sharing
I started oil painting with Bob Ross's "beat it to death" cleaning method .. that didnt last long and I ended up along your line. I use OMS vs a medium since OMS doesnt bother me and I'm in a garage. I also found the joy of using a mineral oil and lanolin based final cleaning. I like the idea of using plastic bag liners.. I think I will borrow that idea :D
Glad you can use some of the information. Take what’s useful and discard the rest. Happy painting friend ☺️
Hello! Marion,
Thank you for your prompt reply to my message on baby oil, I so appreciate the time and effort you give of yourself to us all.. I had started many years back a landscape oil painting but never got to finish it, I have been encouraged by your help with your tutorials but wondering with the fat over lean do I continue with thinning the paint a little with the medium (I think I have approximately a couple of layers that I painted on originally) but not sure after all this time being set aside should I start again with thinning the paint a little or straight from the tube. Thanking you again. Many Blessings. Sylvia 😊
I use lean medium in the underpainting stages. Then I “oil out” with a very very thin layer of fat medium for each state afterwards. I prefer to work on a slightly wet canvas for each layer. So if you’ve left it a while do an oil out layer first then work into that.
Thank you for your constant efforts in educating us in painting. I can't wait to try this new method!
You are welcome 🤗
Me parece este video pertinente porque la información que nos dá es muy útil. Muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia y sus tips personales. 🌞🌞🌞
You are very welcome 🤗
Thank you so much for this video, I thought I'd tried everything there is to clean brushes, didn't even know baby oil was an option until my drawing teacher mentioned it, so I Googled it and here you are! 🎉 🎨 So awesome!
Do you think I could use the Zest it to clean brushes during a painting session, and still use Liquin or linseed oil as my medium? (Those are my 2 preferred mediums I use as I paint).
Thank you for sharing with us! 😊
That’s what I do 😃
Hi Maz , thanks a bunch for all the info on cleaning brushes . Talking brushes where can I get the paint brushes that you use ? Keep up the good work.June x
You can visit my shop for my brushes (buy one set get one free as I’m having clearance sale because I don’t plan importing anymore too complicated after covid). www.mazartstudio.com/shop
The medium you use during painting does it help in the drying process? If not how long does it take your paintings to dry? Have you used gamsol or Galkyd?
Yes it does but I use very little medium. I particularly use zest it lean for my underpainting stages. When switching colours I wipe the brush so there’s next to no medium on there. I find I’ve more control over the paint if I don’t make it too wet with medium so always use it sparingly. I’ve not used the mediums you mentioned but believe they are superb and will do the same job as zest it (I don’t like strong smells so that’s why I use zest it ). My underpainting is dry overnight and most other paintings dry within a week (touch dry not cured).
The mediums and Gamisol oderless medium give me a headache too! What can I use for a medium that doesn’t smell? I also like to keep the paint wet but what I’m using dries really fast🤷♀️
If you use conditioner, do you need to wash the conditioner off before next use? Thanks
Yes I would. You don’t want anything other than oil paint it oil painting medium going into your artwork. ☺️
Thank you so much. I really love the video. It is clear and simple.@@MazArtStudio
Hi Marion. I'm a beginner after retirement and really get alot of value from your videos. I was wondering of reason to wash out mineral oil? Surely its good for the brushes but maybe not a good medium to get into paints later. I'm lazy and thought it good to later dab the brush into linseed or lavendar oil before painting to remove the mineral oil residual. Is this a bad idea? Thank you for your work.
The main reason is mineral oil is non drying so you don’t want to risk it getting into your painting. I find the soap I use is very conditioning for the brushes & I have the reassurance any trace of the oil is removed. I’m guessing the lavender oil you use is in the same container each time so you are really unsure if the baby oil is also getting into the lavender oil as well? But even so in the past I simply wiped my brushes so I think your method could be ok and if it works for you then stick with it. You just have to feel confident you’ve removed the mineral oil. ☺️
@@MazArtStudio Thank you and you make a good point. I don't paint enough to know the consequences. But i did find out the hard way when I used canola oil before I saw your video, I had a reaction in one of my paintings and it took me awhile to figure out what may have happened. Better safe than sorry. Thanks again
Great question; I too didn't know the deal with baby oil staying on the brushes....so, it's a danger if it gets onto the next painting. Thanks for that information.
I hardly ever clean my brushes, I have a few in darks and a few in lights and I just put them in water layed in a decorators roller tray so the bristles dont bend, they will stay wet for months, years even. Just wipe the water out on a rag when you want to use them. When I want to change colour during painting I use odourless solvent but I think I will adopt your method with the linseed oil, it looks better. Very occasionally if I do want to give my brushes a good cleaning [ rare ] a quick swill in odourless solvent and finish with swarfega which gets them very clean [ and my hands ]
I’m glad you’ve found a cleaning method that suits you. I can’t stand Oms. The smells give me headache and I remember my dad using swarfega I’ve not heard of it in years as I remember that’s a bit smelly too. 😂. Thanks for sharing your method
@@MazArtStudio I reckon your linseed oil method is the way to go. The swarfega I use is the orange one, its got a lovely fresh orange smell.
Great! video Thankyou so much
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent episode. Thanks 🙏🏻
Thank you ☺️
Hi!! I really appreciate your tutorials and advice with oil painting, I haven’t painted with oil paints for sometime now because of the cleaning part of the brushes mainly, however after watching your video on the cleaning, will give it another try, with the baby oil does it have to be unscented ? I do have some baby oil here which is scented, would that be ok? I tried to find the container of the baby oil you use on eBay but unable to find that particular one, but can purchase the other. Thanking you once again for your tutorials, very helpful indeed. Cheeers Sylvia 😊
It won’t matter if it’s scented because you’ll be washing the oil off with soap and water afterwards ☺️
Good morning, When I work with David the Paint Policeman, We use the BR odourless. Can you use this oil to thin out colours? What type of baby oil do you buy? I'm just starting out I've done 5 paintings with The PP, travelling to and from Ayrshire to Preston each time, I'm looking at practicing at home between lessons. Thank you.
David is wonderful you are in good hands. But his method of cleaning brushes is different to mine. I don’t use thinners. However you cannot use baby oil in your painting it is non drying oil so can’t be used in a painting I only use it at the end of the painting session to loosen the oils for cleaning & then finish with soap and water to remove baby oil.
If you are looking for a safe alternative to thinners (OMS) then try zest-it cleaner or Gamsol. You’d be able to use both of those in the same way David uses OMS. Hope this helps. Maz.
Love this video, Maz. Tried to find the 5l baby oil on ebay but failed. Could you give me a link?
Hi Bob. I’ve had a look and I can’t find it now either and my history on my eBay doesn’t go back that far. Very annoying. Sorry I can’t help you with the link. If you search on bulk baby oil there are some good deals that pop up but I still couldn’t find the 5l one.
this is for oil brushes or acrylic brushes? thank you
It’s for oil brushes only. You only need soap & water for acrylic brushes
@@MazArtStudio thank you very much :)
Excellent. Thank you
You are welcome!
Thank you for the wonderful info
Glad it was helpful!
so much better thank you 💖
You're welcome 😊
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Also, the safflower oil-- are you referring to the cooking safflower/sunflower oil? Thanks much!
I am using baby oil otherwise known as mineral oil.
@@MazArtStudio thank you! Is this safe for our lungs?💖🙏🏼
Where did you get the plastic tub from? x
It’s a Bob Ross plastic bucket. I’ve had it ages. I think if you Google you’ll get one with the grill on the bottom. The tin is from the Saa.
@MazArtStudio I have the grill. Had that for years. I also have the tin. Just need to find a plastic bucket now 😆 thanks Marion x
So boring 3 hours to clean
No baby oil better use walnut oil
It takes about 10 minutes to clean up. Walnut oil will also work well (though much more costly).
Baby oil stays on your brush . you don’t want to mix baby oil with your oil paint . Yes walnut oil or any other artist oil is more expensive but that’s the proper way to do it .