@Morgan Weistling I know you wash your brushes in walnut oil... I used to do this too and think it works really well, but was always worried about the oily rags it created spontaneously combusting. Do you have any tips for safe handling of the paint rags used to wipe the excess walnut oil off brushes after swishing it around in the cleaning jar?

Hi Morgan - great recommendation on the Blick linen panel with the added gesso - it's a very nice surface to paint on for not a lot of money. Appreciate that. But for larger pieces where you stretch your own canvas do you still use Claessens 166 or have you changed? Also when you stretch your own do you add another thick gesso layer as with the panel? Thank you.

Hi, I do not have ivory black paint yet and am keen to start painting. Could I use paynes grey and perhaps burnt umber mixed or ultramarine and burnt umber? or will it not work the same?

Hi @Morgan Weistling , I can't properly tell you in words how much I'm enjoying your course!!! You are not only an incredible artist.. you really know how to teach in a way I can understand! I'm very new to oil (I'm a pastel artist) and I know I made the right decision learning from you. I love your humour too! My question is about brushes. I ordered the ones you indicated on Blick. They wrote me back to say they can't send them to Canada! I wonder if this is a good replacement brush that would work in stead? I know nothing about brushes, and of course it's an investment I'm willing to make but I want to pick the right, and best ones from the start! Winsor & Newton Monarch Mongoose Brush Example.. https://www.dickblick.com/items/winsor-newton-monarch-mongoose-brush-filbert-long-handle-size-4/ Thanks very much and Happy New Year! Lynda

I have used water based oils, both Windsor Newton and mainly Holbein for over 24 years. But to paint in this manner as Morgan teaches the solvents with them are not quite the same. For things like this, I also have oils and have used them for years from this link. I know Morgan is not recommending them to use, but they have https://arttreehouse.com/artstore/reports/about-our-colours/ Art Treehouse Colours contain no solvents or alkyds. They are made with pure walnut or linseed-flax oil, and pigments. They are compatible with many mediums such as…Linseed Oil, Walnut Oil, Impasto Medium, Varnish Medium, Oil of Spike, Lavender, and Biobased Thinners . Morgan I am putting together my supplies for this course and here is what you can use with the water based...but I never had any positive luck with the tubes that say quick dry Took twice as long to dry. From Holbein waterbased: https://holbeinartistmaterials.com/mediums-varnishes/duo-mediums/ Looking at these choices as you scroll down this page, Morgan what might come close to what could be used? I need to purchase things as I run into Dallas this week. Thank you!

I need to use water mixable oils because I have to work in a pretty small space with less than optimal ventilation. I couldn't find yellow ochre pale, so I bought regular yellow ochre. Will that still work with the alizarin crimson? Are there any special considerations using the regular version versus the pale version?

Hello Mr Weistling! I'm enjoying a lot with this course! The room where I am starting to paint is not very well ventilated, so I'd like to go totally free from solvents. My question is what can I use instead of the mix of walnut alkyd and gamsol?. Perhaps Sennelier Green for oil Medium? Gamglin solvent free mediums? Only walnut alkyd without Gamsol? I'm a bit overwhelmed about how to go solvent free. Thanks and again... this course is awesome!!!