Description

The Zest-it Oil Paint Brush Cleaner is the product that started it all. When Jacqui Blackman set out in 1995 to find a safer alternative to turpentine for her oil painting workshops, the result was a formula that would go on to be tested and endorsed by major UK art magazines, adopted by leading art schools, and used by tens of thousands of oil painters across the United Kingdom and beyond. At its core is a simple insight: the natural solvent properties of citrus oil, derived from the zest of fruit peel, are sufficient to dissolve and lift oil paint from brush fibres without the toxicity, flammability, or aggressive chemical character of conventional solvents.

To clean brushes, pour a small amount of Zest-it Oil Paint Brush Cleaner into a separate jar (never work directly from the main bottle, to preserve its cleanliness). Work the brush against the bottom of the jar until the paint releases, then wipe on a lint-free cloth. Repeat for heavily loaded brushes. Once clean, wash the brush with soap and warm water, rinse thoroughly, reshape, and lay flat or hang tip-down to dry. The used cleaner can be left to stand; the pigment settles, leaving clear solvent above that can be poured off and reused. This makes Zest-it an exceptionally economical product over time, particularly in workshop settings where many brushes are in use simultaneously.

As a paint diluent, Zest-it Oil Paint Brush Cleaner thins oil paint to a fluid consistency for the initial lean layers of a painting, for underpainting washes, or for fine detail work. Its lean character , low oil content — makes it appropriate for the early stages of a painting in accordance with the fat-over-lean rule of oil painting technique. Independent laboratory testing has confirmed that Zest-it has no detrimental effect on the quality or stability of oil paint films, giving artists full confidence in the archival integrity of their finished work. The 125ml size suits the individual artist working in a home studio; the 500ml is ideal for regular studio practice; and the 1lt represents the best economy for workshops, art schools, and high-volume studio use.