An Artistic Endeavor

Posted By Slade on May 26, 2010

No Solvents!

For years I have been using safflower oil to clean my brushes with excellent results. It’s an effective brush cleaner, conditions the bristles, and best of all it’s completely non-toxic. In fact, it’s edible!

Note: Safflower oil will make your brushes a bit more “slippery” but after the first piece you’ll find that you’ve adjusted with absolutely no negative consequences.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Brush Washer – I use a “Richeson Deluxe Brush Washer”. I’ve replaced the inner metal strainer with a small plastic spaghetti strainer because porous metal wears down bristles faster than non-porous plastic.

Safflower Oil –  Currently I’m using Doak brand Safflower oil. Since the paint settles at the bottom below the strainer, I’ve found that I only need to fill the brush washer once a year.

I’m currently experimenting with walnut oil. Walnut oil has a thinner consistency that I find very appealing. Safflower tends to be more syrupy. I’ve read interesting articles about specific grocery store brands being just as effective as their more expensive artists grade counterparts, so I’m looking into it…I’ll post my findings.

Liquid Hand Soap - Dial is my preference. Not for it’s brush cleaning ability (any should work), but that’s what we use in our household to wash our hands.

Hair Conditioner – Any should work.

Solvent free brush cleaning process:

I keep the brush washer next to my palette while I paint. If an undesirable amount of paint has built up on a brush, first wipe away the excess with a towel. Just wiping the brush clean should suffice if you’re using a “like” color or switching from a lighter to a darker value or from a lower to higher chroma. If you are moving to a drastically lighter value, lower chroma or different hue, you should clean your brush.

For a complete clean – swirl it in your brush washer, gently dabbing it on the strainer, then dry the brush on a towel being careful not to mash the bristles.

Safflower and Walnut oils are both great for daily brush cleaning, but if you plan to let your brushes sit for more than 24 hours, the oil will begin to solidify, so I’d suggest a final cleaning with hand soap. First pump a little onto the tip of the brush, then carefully dab and swirl the bristles, rinse, and repeat until there is no visible pigment in the rinse. Be careful not to over-work your brush while cleaning. It’s very easy to hurt the natural shape of your brushes.
Finally, add a very small amount of hair conditioner to the bristles and reshape the tips with your fingers. The conditioner will harden and keep the natural form of your brushes and potentially condition and repair the bristles. The conditioner washes away cleanly when dipped in the brush washer oil before the next use.

Category: No Solvents!!!
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