Mixing oils

Alex writes,

I love the M. Graham watercolors, so I am going to start there, but, I wonder: Can I use linseed oil with them as a brush cleaner without degrading the quality of the walnut oil? (Linseed is SO much more cost effective.)

Thanks, Alex. I’m not aware of any technical reason not to mix linseed with M. Graham oil paints (which are ground in walnut oil). M. Graham would much prefer that you buy oil from them, but inexpensive linseed will work just as well and is exactly as natural and nontoxic (don’t buy boiled oil or other hardware store linseed oil).

In fact, two of my favorite paint makers—Robert Doak & Associates and Blue Ridge Artist Materials—grind their paints in a linseed/walnut blend. You might want to check them out. M. Graham is of mid-range quality while theirs is high-end, but not all that much more expensive. All three brands are extremely smooth and brushable. You could mix paint from all of these brands together without any problems.

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