bump :d
bump, need fast advice 
Haven’t priced it in a while, but I think real turp costs a lot more than the synthetic stuff–also it stinks! (I love the smell of real turp, actually, but most people find the odor offensive–not such a good idea if you;re painting in your living space.) I clean my brushes by alternative a series of turp soakings, then cleaning by soap (which helps reshapes my brushes–it harden into the shape I want), followed by more turp soaking, etc., all preceded by brute force squeezing onto a paper towel of the gross matter.
Hi, thanks for your reply. I understand now how to clean the brushes, but I’m still a bit uncertain as to whether I should go with Winton’s traditional oil colours or some Artisan water miscible oil paint.
My main concerns are:
- Is there a difference in color / depth / lightning etc. in the paint, between Water mixable oils and trad. oil?
2: I’m gonna be painting in my bedroom, and I’m not sure if it’s so healthy. Do both trad. oil and mixable water oil give off a smell? And are they bad for you?
3: I’m VERY unsure on what to use to clean your brushes. Some have told me they use terpentine (which is toxic?) and some use turpenoid, others (I think) said that they use some kind of oil to cleanse them?? And others again just use soap and water. So: Is it really neccesary to use turpentine / oid, or can you do with something more natural? I’m not really in for the toxic stuff 
Thanks alot for all replies
bump
If you use oil-based paint (i.e., not water-soluable oil paints) then turp (or synthetic turp) is necessary for cleaning.
Hi, I JUST asked on another forum, and a lady there told me turp is not neccesary if your brushes are not 200$ each or something. And that paint soap and water / a towel is sufficient…
This is confusing. 
I use soap and water extensively, but there is always residual paint on my brushes unless I use turp. Turp is a must.
DaVinci brush soap.
Schmincke for oilpaints
These are my two recommendations, product-wise. Especially the soap.
(and I find that Schmincke oils are really nice. You can buy a standard set of 8 colours (their Akademie range), I’d add a prussian blue to it (a darker richer blue), and there’s usually never enough white paint, so I’d probably invest in another of those as well. ;D )
It’s worthwhile having decent oils. Cheap grade oil paints is like trying to paint with clay. Literally, for some of them.
Book:
Color and Light: a guide for the Realist Painter (sample of contents here) by James Gurney.
Take a few evening classes, and have fun learning.
Just adding some additional info.
I´d reccomend using dispensable rubber gloves while painting, especially if you have sensitive skin.
I only use turpentine as a thinner, never to clean brushes. For that you can use mineral spirits, wich are cheaper and reusable.
In addition to turp, buy some linseed oil, as a thickener. I also like to add a little walnut oil.
Some prepare a painting medium beforehand of turp and oil, but I prefer mixing straight on the palette, for more flexibility, altough it´s a bit more messy.
Always prepare your canvas. First sign of a novice oilpainter is bleedthrough on the back of the canvas.
For colours I´d reccomend old holland, rembrandt, sennelier or michael hardings (my fav.)
If I think of something else I´ll pop back in.
Good luck!
I forgot to add, as a novice, use synthetic flat brushes. They are adequate and you won´t have use for filberts, fans or anything else yet.
Oh, and you have to paint from thin to thick. That means from lots of turp to lots of oil, basically.
Someone taught me years ago: “thin on thick will never stick.”
The way I learned it: “Fat over lean.”
Can I suggest, if you’re a beginner at painting altogether, that you start simple? Don’t worry about the depth of color. Your first many many many paintings won’t be good enough for that to be a worry. Go for what is easiest. If you’re painting in your bedroom, then water-soluble oils will be much less smelly.
The person who told you not to bother with turp (or equivalent) except with very expensive brushes: well, sure, if you want to buy new less expensive brushes every few weeks.
I started with just black and white, and just tried painting shapes: spheres, cones, pyramids. Just to get the feel of the paint and the brushes. Then I added a few colors. When you’re starting out, you don’t need a wide variety. Your initial goal is to learn how to use the paint and brushes, you won’t create a Manet-like masterpiece on your first shot. And that way, you won’t be spending a great deal of money (to say nothing of the stink of turpentine in your bedroom) for something until you know that you like it and can do it.
That´s a nice quote. I remember seeing a big oil painting, an ugly piece of work, oil seeping through the unprepared canvas. I noticed flakes of semi-dry paint falling off the canvas, both acrylic and oil. Apparently the artist had “prepared” the canvas with oil, then painted with expensive acrylics and oils with no thought as to how it would turn out.
Anyway, on painting in your bedroom with oils: Don´t do it. Your clothes will stain, your head will ache every morning, and in a worst case scenario your brain wil turn to mush.
One problem many have when painting is over-working it, ruining what good you may have had. Take short breaks now and then, get a different perspective, and remember you´re not in a hurry.
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