In Studio: Walnut Oil

Walnut Oil for Cleaning Palettes

Walnut oil is a safer alternative to solvents, of course bear in mind that it is flammable.

Walnut oil is a safer alternative to solvents, of course bear in mind that it is flammable.

Recently, I've switched to cleaning my palette with walnut oil.  This oil has been of use to painters for centuries, and is famously mentioned by Leonardo DaVinci as an oil painting medium.   

Here I'm using walnut oil to clean my palette in the middle of a painting session.  Whereas in the past I would use a solvent like turpentine, walnut oil does just as good of a job, and does not produce harmful vapors.  

 

Cleaned palette, ready for work  

Pictured above: a clean palette ready to go!  

Melissa CarmonComment