Hi!
I work in acrylic but only with gels and additives, and on the side in some oil.
Recently, well last week, we moved into this new house and I have a big room here that I sleep in and have as my studio.
Now in every previous house I didn't have a dedicated space, I had a storage closet for the supplies, and my easel was folded in my room when not in use.
When I painted I would pull out the stuff, paint, pack everything away, move the painting downstairs, and then usually leave for errands.
This room is going to be a permanent studio, with everything out and convenient at all times. It's almost done (the room) so today I thought I would use it for the first time.
Unlike always, I could have ALL of my paints out on my big worktable, and start working the way I always wanted. So far so great.
The thing is EVERYTHING I use, has a slight odour to it. I am extremely sensitive to odour (get weak, a headache and unable to focus) I can't even cook with onions or use nail polish.
In the past, I just took out my supplies out of a box, in a room with no other supplies open in it; I painted a quick session, like less than an hour, and then sealed it all away.
Now I want to work in a studio, all day. And I thought because the very slight smell of my things, (and the odour really is slight as I can't even be around anything even a little strong) I wouldn't have a problem,
But I do.
I worked with the fan on high, and my window open today, since the second I stepped in here!
I finished working over 3 hours ago, and the smell is still here!
All the tubes are closed, the trash is closed, and my 2 small paintings are close to the window.
I feel awful right now
, and today I haven't even been in here for over 90 minutes....
I don't use anything toxic, no mediums or solvents. Just some acrylic gels and some walnut oil paint, and today I used very tiny amounts on a very small piece.....
The window was open, fan was working. Sleeping in here is not the main issue (when I feel this weak I can sleep!
) It's the fact that I want to be in here for a few hours each day, and I can't this way...
If anyone has any idea of how to get rid of the odours.......? which again are very slight when I started working this afternoon I didn't even notice anything, the longer I worked the more I noticed. But apparently working in here isn't the problem as I only worked for a little over an hour, and not continuously, and I stopped over 3 hours ago....
Or maybe if you know a good filtration system you can recommend from a reputable company, I would appreciate any help. I really don't want to have to stop painting when I finally got my dream studio.....
***Just a side note, my reaction to odours is something we can't fix, I've always had it, and we can't use alternate art products to fix it because 90 percent of things get to me. If not within 5 minutes, they do eventually, as I get sensitive from everything, even common house hold products.
I deal with the sensitivity daily, but I deal by standing by fresh air, aka, my fully open window.
This time the smells are stronger, and I have to work with them for long periods of time...........and the window is not helping........
that's the problem....
I know my problem is long and detailed, but I want to give you all the facts to get accurate answers...sorry for the length though!
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