I've tried to find this out in so many books and videos but so far I'm unlucky.

How do you use gamsol? Can I clean my brushes with it? Can I mix it with something to do an underpainting with?

I have avoided using a ton of terps/medium/solvents so far because my space is not well ventilated (I do go outside if I use gamsol) but I'd really like to do a softer under painting so my paint goes further.

Thanks!

Please critique!

My latest racing painting.

8x10 inches, oil on canvas

So after many years of not painting oils, I decided to make use of all the kit I bought over the past wee while and started a self portrait last Sunday. All has been going relatively well after another weeknight session, and I intend to pick it up again Sunday.

However what I noticed is that, when using artists medium to thin the paint/ wash the brushes (Windsor & Newton), the smell just utterly filled the room. I’d cover the pot that I put what I thought was a small amount in (50ml tops) with clingfilm after the fact but it feels like it was just emanating from the pallet, the painting itself, everywhere.

The issue is the room is my (reasonably sized) office space where I do my day job if working at home. So I've spent a lot of time the past week in the room, and I swear as I worked, even after opening the windows, the fumes were having an effect on me. Dizziness, headache, some respiratory symptoms including a slight taste of blood after coughing. Could be psychosomatic or unrelated but you know.

I write this now as I have an headache and a foul mood this weekend I'm not used to having for nothing (I've been sleeping ok, not drinking etc). I also feel like my recall is fucked and I wasn't following subtitles of a show I was watching well. Maybe I'm just a bit unwell , on an unrelated downer, it's not the first time I've felt something like this but still, I can't help connect it to the thinner.

Am I being paranoid? Or have I done something incorrectly and of course the fumes have gotten to me? For more detail there's two windows that open a little at the top, not as ideal as the whole window opening I'd imagine but better than nothing. I also don't believe I had the windows open as I worked on the painting the first time round.

In the past for schoolwork (over a decade now) I simply used white spirits to clean brushes, and if I recall correctly didn't intentionally use it to thin the paint. I did this in a smallish dining area and in hindsight am wondering if it also has an impact on my mood/ general health.

I think that covers it, I'll prob wise up and move on and realise I'm ok, but I just wanted to make sure and see if anyone who paints a lot has any thoughts, and even tips on how to prevent the fumes spreading as much, just to save me from the smell during the week (or do I need to reconsider my set up?)

Definitely improvements needed but I’m fairly happy :)

Do you need to be graduated from an art academy/fine art school to really understand and do great painting? I see ALL my inspirations studied and have an academic art related degree. I studied design and I my main occupation is with music. It’s a bit underwhelming seeing that all of them have a academic background

I know I need to somehow unify these colors more. I was going for a sort of Van Gogh feel. I thought I heard he was about exaggerating color but this is feeling really loud. Constructive comments much appreciated!

I decided to take a second approach to an old painting. Still never managed to finish the hands and just let them like that

I’m intrigued

Painting from my recent YT video :)

I recently started to use watersoluble oils and I'm having a blast. It's easier for me since I live in an apartment not well ventilated. But most of the videos I find are people trying them out, not really using them regularly. Do you know anyone who makes tutorials using watersoluble oils? Since techniques and medium are a bit different than regular oil, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

I am wondering how to get my oil paint to drip but stay fully pigmented. I was told to gamsol but well this thins down the paint it gives that's super thin cracked look and pulls off other paint. I'd like to be able to make my paint really drippy so if I pressed my paintbrush onto a canvas I could see lots of drips with the color staying full strength if that makes sense. I have googled how to make paint drip and there's not one YouTube video out there it seems. Thank you in advance for any help :)