How to Care for Paintbrushes Properly

First-rinse brushes in container of mineral spirits, Second-rinse in another, [3-rinse in linseed oil, 4th-rinse in clean mineral spirits,] wash in warm soap and water. I skip 3rd and 4th rinses if I am working everyday. I will do those steps when not painting for several days and also reshape them and let dry with a little conditioner or olive oil.

Seal new palettes with 2-3 coats of linseed oil before use. Either rub paint into palette or wash off with mineral spirits. I like to occasionally reapply a little linseed oil.

(More detailed description coming soon)

Portrait Painting step four - George

Had not touched the painting in awhile, so everything was dry. After mixing up a new batch of black, I took some on the side and thinned it with mineral spirits. This was brushed over all the dark areas and more depth happened as a happy accident. Mars Black was then used for the darkest areas to create more definition. For fur "highlights" mixed white, black mixture, and burnt umber.
Ultimately, just a lot of tiny brush strokes and readjustment of shapes.

 

 Now today, everything else gets finished!

Portrait Painting step three - George

Now this is a "rough" step where I'm attempting to block in the correct values and mainly trying to get the forms accurate. As you can see it can be a tedious process of layering and reworking.

Going over the (pointless) acrylic underpainting with oil, painting the darkest values first.

Thinning the paint causing it to be slightly translucent and going over the highlighted dark areas. I do not want to hide my previously established shapes, conversely I want to keep building upon each layer.

Much give-take is involved.

Brushes gradually get smaller as I keep working down to smaller and finer blocks. And this is the final step in the rough stage.

Now it goes to fourth step, which is the finishing details on the portrait; the fifth step is completing the background. All of this equals a finished portrait!