As I start my Bob Ross painting adventure, I realize that I have many tubes of Bob Ross paint that are at least 12 years old. My idea is to use up the old paints while learning before breaking out the new paints. The problems is many of these paints are too stiff and require softening before I can use them. What I have been doing is squeezing out some of the stiff paint and a small dollop of fresh paint in the same color to compare. I then soften the old paint to make it the same consistency of the new paint.

I have been using a couple drops of Bob Ross oil paint medium and an additional drop or 2 of thinner (if needed). This seems to be working pretty well so far. My question is, am I softening the paint the right way? Is there a better way?

I just caught a big sale at Blick Art Supplies and purchased a fresh set of the 14 landscape colors in 200 ml tubes. I will break out the fresh when my painting become less horrible 🙂

    TonyM according to the internet content of that medium it is thinner and linseed oil.
    Adding it with a bit of more thinner is one of the ways to go. No chemical conflicts in it.

    You can vary proportion of linseed to thinner to reach objectives you set for yourself.

    linseed will make it more slippery and will bring more gloss when paint dries.
    thinner will allow to work in the first layers and will have matte finish. If you dilute with thinner use it for sky and mountain and dark base everywhere else. Try to make layer of paint thin, let it dry for 30-45 min to allow thinner evaporate. Then go with oil paint mixed with medium/thinner for your highlights.

    this is just one another option.

    if what you do works and you like it -this is the way to go.

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