How to Clean Art Brushes

Many artists have their own systems and rituals for cleaning thier important tools, their brushes. And like these many artists, I also have my own methods. This article will deal with cleaning oil painting brushes.

I have found that the best cleaning liquid for my oil painting brushes is baby oil. That's right. Just regular, inexpensive baby oil that you can purchase at most grocery, department or dollar stores. This has many advantages versus more traditional cleaning solutions. Most artist use paint thinner, or odorless paint thinner. While paint thinner works great for removing oil paint from your brushes, it's an awfully toxic substance. Even when handled per manufacturers instructions there is still danger present. Paint thinners produce extremely dangerous fumes, and some painters compound the problem by using "brush beater racks" that atomize the paint thinner into a visible cloud, ready for inhalation. This is where baby oil has an advantage. Even when using a brush beater rack (I don't recommend using one indoors), baby oil is far to thick to easily atomize like paint thinner. Also, there are no harmful fumes and it's not a big deal if it gets on your skin. Baby oil is also an excellent conditioner for your brushes.

Here's my method and tools for cleaning brushes with baby oil:

1. Appropriately sized coffee can or metal baby formula can.

2. Cleaning screen. Many types are available from different manufacturers. Check your local art supply store.

3. Baby oil. Just regular, cheap unscented baby oil.

4. Bags to line your cleaning can. I use 1 gallon storage bags. Not the ziplock type but the type of bag that requires a bag tie.

5. Place a bag into your can, then place the cleaning screen in the can. The bag will keep your can clean and make things super easy when it's time to change your baby oil.

6. Fill the can until the baby oil covers your screen by about 1/4 inch.

7. Scrub your dirty brushes against the screen.

8. For smaller brushes, simply dry the brush on a paper towel or rag. For larger brushes, take the brush outside and beat against a pole or a brush beater rack to remove the largest part of the baby oil. Then use paper towels to squeeze the remaining oil from the brush. You won't be able to remove 100% of the oil, but the left over oil will condition your brush and help it to maintain a proper shape.

To summarize, baby oil offers the following advantages over traditional paint thinners:

Safer to handle, cheaper to purchase and provides additional conditioning for your most important tools.

Source : ezinearticles