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Hi Richard
I too have heard of artists using Kerosene (I wonder if that is the stuff you're thinking of?). In fact, I have a friend who swears by it. She just leaves the stuff in her brushes overnight after a decent cleaning in the kerosene. The next day, she cleans them off with mineral spirits and/or some oil and she's good to go. She claims the brushes stay soft and don't spread out or anything. She uses soap-and-water on them about once a week, only. Her reference for using kerosene is from a text describing the studio practice of an apprentice of the 19th century British painter, sir Gerald Kelly.
I'd be curious to know what is wrong with kerosene, as I have no doubt there is something. My guess is that it leaves way too many residues behind.
Also, if anyone is reading this who participated in the thread originally, I have it on some relatively good authority that Loriva brand walnut oil is a good one to use. It is apparently pure and can be found even at supermarkets (as opposed to health food stores). In either case, it is surely less expensive than "artists" brands. I often use sunflower oil or safflower oil, but the good thing about walnut oil is that it is a true drying oil and can be used in the painting, which the other ones cannot. (Without a drier added, safflower will not dry.)
Juan
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