How to Simplify Oil Painting Materials and Supplies

For today’s tip, we will discuss how to keep oil painting supplies simplified and organized.

It seems obvious: an organized studio makes it easier to paint. But life is busy and sometimes it’s hard to stay on top of painting supplies. That’s why I use this simple method.

First, I use a limited palette of just three primaries, burnt umber, and white. That’s less paint to purchase, store, and manage.

Aside from a few drops of M Graham walnut oil now and then, I don’t use solvents or mediums. That’s also less to organize and manage. The M Graham oil paint I use is so soft it doesn’t require mediums.

Now here’s a great tip. I keep my brushes in a small paint roller tray with Gamblin Safflower oil so my brushes are always ready to use, and I rarely have to clean them. Less time cleaning means more time painting.

My Princeton aspen oil paint brushes in Gamblin safflower oil and a small paint roller tray​ from Home Depot
My Princeton aspen oil paint brushes in Gamblin safflower oil and a small paint roller tray from Home Depot

(You can learn more about how I clean my brushes with oil and no solvent on the Gallery Bry YouTube channel.)

I always have paint on my palette, and I keep it in the freezer so the extra paint does not dry.

It’s these simple tips that enable me to create a painting at the drop of a hat and spend less time organizing and managing supplies.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TIP TO STAY ORGANIZED⁉️ Leave me a comment. I’d love to chat and answer your questions.

Stop back here tomorrow for more oil painting tips every single day.