Oil Painting

[little monkey]

I'm taking up oil painting again after a long break...

I've heard on this site that the paints are very toxic ... is the turpentine used to clean very toxic too?

I was wondering the safest way to work with oils ...

Open window, and I could even wear latex gloves while working ... any suggestions? Thanks

[shelley]

Yep, oil-based paints can be very toxic, as is any cleaning agent. Basically, if it makes your nose burn, it's a poison.

it helps to switch to water-based paints. Failing that, then protect yourself - keep your skin well moisturized, as a layer of oil will keep lots of toxins from touching it, then shower afterwards. Wear both gloves and a facial mask. Ventilation counts, of course.

[J F]

Little Monkey, I'm an oil painter. I got really really really sick from it a couple years back. I now work in a very different way, including doing more work lately with water based paints.

I am slowly chelated any toxic overload of metals from my system using daily doses of Natural Cellular Defense. But, I've also changed the way I paint. I only use a product called Gamsol as a solvent, and I only keep the lid on it when I'm not swishing my brushes in it.

Large works are done out in the open garage or on my patio, weather permitting, with full ventilation and a fan blowing against my side and the side of the canvas to blow the fumes away from me before I have a chance to breath them in.

Buy a professional painter's fume mask, not those little cotton things. You can call any paint store and ask what they sell/recommend to house painters. They are about $50.

When I work indoors, I am always only working on small works which give off little/no fumes, and still use lots of ventilation even if I don't wear a mask. Always wear gloves and work in a very well ventilated area.

To see my studio setup and how I go about it, check out this link to my blog: http://jelainefaunce.blogspot.com/2007/04/drawing-inspiration.html

[little monkey]

Thanks so much for this brilliant advice, I'm looking forward to starting oil painting again and doing it safely

[J F]

Oh, hey! I just wanted to let you know that I've switched again from Gamsol to using just store bought Safflower oil and Walnut oil after doing more research. They are completely non-toxic, and as long as you are not spraying your oil paints wearing them or eating them, you will smell little to nothing. I rinse my brushes during painting with the safflower oil, and thin my paints as needed with the walnut oil (which makes them dry faster for some reason). I can't smell a thing. It's awesome. Even with Gamsol, I'd have some nasal irritation if I painted for too long, but now I just do a quick rinse of my brushes in Gamsol at night when I'm done in the studio, and I can spend a whole day in the studio and have zero irritation using the walnut/safflower oils instead. And, safflower oil is way cheaper than solvents. It's awesome. Give it a shot! I think it's a great alternative and was apparently the way "The Masters" did it. Of course, they didn't have gloves and let their fingers soak in lead paint and cadmium, so they dropped dead. But, today we have the miracle of hand condoms, er.........latex gloves to keep us healthier.