Home › Forums › Explore Media › Oil Painting › The Technical Forum › Zero ventilation, oil painting safety?
- This topic has 69 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by faula.
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January 2, 2012 at 2:07 am #989289
I know this topic is covered often but I couldn’t find an answer by searching through the forums.
Currently I’m using water mixable oils in an 8′ x 10′ room with no possible ventilation. Should I be concerned for my health?
Also I’m considering switching to traditional oils. Would it help to buy an air purifier to make up for the lack of ventilation?
Thanks
– new guy
January 2, 2012 at 6:30 am #1153924Welcome to WetCanvas.
Most of the time, it’s better to use Google’s ‘site:’ keyword than to use the search here. In other words, in Google, type in: oil paint ventilation safety site:https://www.wetcanvas.com
A residential air purifier of the type that uses filters, HEPA or otherwise, won’t remove hydrocarbons or other airborne solvents. Neither will those passive ‘purifiers’ that use mumbo-jumbo methods and have no fan. A commercial system that’s EPA-rated for VOC reduction will cost as much as (or more than) adding a means to pipe fresh air to the room via ductwork.
Judging a Manet from the point of view of Bouguereau, the Manet has not been finished. Judging a Bouguereau from the point of view of Manet, the Bouguereau has not been begun.
--Robert Henri, The Art SpiritJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:17 am #1153903Welcome to WC and the oils forum! If you are using solvent then you need ventilation. The paint isn’t a problem.
Lady Mars Orange Marmalade Stapleford
Moderator: OIls, Pastels, Plein Air
Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde
January 2, 2012 at 9:28 am #1153964Thanks for the replies.
I’m currently renting in a condo so adding duct work is not really an option for me.
So if I can do solvent free – traditional oil painting, the lack of ventilation won’t be a problem? That’s good to know.
January 2, 2012 at 11:54 am #1153914You should be safe using water mixable oils or acrylics in a space like yours. It is when you get into solvents (like mineral spirits or turpentine) that you get into trouble. A good illustration is that nursing homes usually allow painting classes as long as no solvents are used. It is possible to use traditional oils without using solvents – there are many discussions about that on the WC forums, just search under solvent free oil painting.
January 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm #1153905Hi and welcome to wc! There is a non-toxic solvent, spike lavender oil. It is expensive, but far less so than an air purifier or ductwork.
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January 3, 2012 at 1:52 pm #1153921Google Solvent Free Oil Painting for ideas. Here are a few links.
Also if for some reason you need to use a solvent you could always take the painting outside or in a garage until the solvent flashed off then bring it back inside to finish painting. Long story short – no ventilation, no solvents. Turpentine, Mineral Spirits, Odorless Mineral Spirits, etc. all need good ventilation.Just a few links to get you started:
http://danielrigos.com/blog/tag/solvent-free-oil-painting/
http://www.amien.org/forums/showthread.php?1582-Solvent-free-oil-painting
http://rourkevisualart.com/wordpress/2006/12/29/oil-painting-without-solvents/#more-237
http://www.artpurveyors.com/nosolvents.htmlHope this helps,
ChrisJanuary 3, 2012 at 1:59 pm #1153906AnonymousThe elimination of solvent from paint mixes is actually very simple and easy, I do it all the time in the winter, who has adequate ventilation then? not me, I don’t. For medium, just use an oil, walnut is a nice thin one, walnut alkyd for faster drying. Avoid thick brands of oil paint and learn to love the oily ones, graham, rembrandt, winsor newton, and lukas berlin all work fine for me.
Cleaning brushes and materials is more of a problem but here is what I do when i am going solvent free. wipe off palette etc with some of the same oil. dip brushes in some of the oil and wipe off as much as you can either on a canvas or rags, phone book whatev. or else just use a disposable palette. Then lather brushes very thoroughly with a bar of ivory soap to clean them well. When it gets to the cleaning part it makes me so glad that I learned how to paint with only a few brushes at the most, it makes cleanup really simple. Water mixables make it even way easier. There you have it, oil painting without any solvents, end of story, ..done.January 8, 2012 at 9:59 pm #1153965Thanks people. I’ve decided to take the plunge into traditional oils. I bought about a dozen Winsor Newton oils and walnut oil.
If its as simple as thinning and cleaning with walnut oil and water and soap, why would you even bother with solvents? Am I missing something here?
January 8, 2012 at 10:15 pm #1153944No, or rather yes. You are missing inhaling the toxins of the solvents. Solvent free is a good way to go. For more information, check the AMIEN website.
CraforJanuary 8, 2012 at 10:18 pm #1153915I personally think cleaning with thinner is faster – but who cares, clean is clean however you get there. Besides, I do think oil keeps bristles flexible with less shedding. Both methods of brush cleaning work, your choice.
Now that you’ve made a choice of type of paint, happy painting!January 9, 2012 at 4:41 pm #1153913If you want to go really simple, just paint with palette/painting knives. No washing at all – just wiping onto a rag.
January 9, 2012 at 5:14 pm #1153916Thanks people. I’ve decided to take the plunge into traditional oils. I bought about a dozen Winsor Newton oils and walnut oil.
If its as simple as thinning and cleaning with walnut oil and water and soap, why would you even bother with solvents? Am I missing something here?
Well it’s most technical stuff like using straight solvent for under layers to speed up drying and prevent cracking. But honestly I wouldn’t worry about that stuff yet, just use the walnut oil, it’s wonderful!
January 9, 2012 at 7:14 pm #1153950I paint in a large studio, but no ventilation.
I recently switched mediums to Stand-oil. It is very malodorous so I keep a lid on it. In the past few days I’ve been getting headaches that feel like migraines and I’m starting to think it’s from this switch.
I’m going to stop using it for a few days to see if that helps. And go get some walnut oil.Critique Please!!
Buddha suggests to those who need inspiration for their art to go before a perfectly blank wall until it's design, compostion, and subject reveal itself. -Jack RutherfordJanuary 9, 2012 at 7:37 pm #1153904Stand oil is just thickened linseed oil, It is not toxic in fumes or otherwise.
Lady Mars Orange Marmalade Stapleford
Moderator: OIls, Pastels, Plein Air
Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde
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