This video was previously posted as multi-part shorts as it was too long to post as a short so I thought I’d post the full video so that it’s all in one place!!
Here are the most hazardous things oil painters use & how can you avoid them!
PIGMENTS 🌈 Lead-based colours like flake white & mercury based pigments like vermillion have been mostly phased out. Using these pigments requires strict studio safety & knowledge. But common pigments like Cadmium & Cobalt still contain heavy metals & are also toxic if ingested.
AVOID THIS 🧐 by checking paint tubes for warning labels, research ingredients when buying old second hand paint, use gloves when working on the palette & opening paint, & opt for hues (aka. colours that mimic harmful, rare, or expensive pigments).
SOLVENTS ☠️ Turpentine & mineral spirits are used to thin paint & clean brushes but they evaporate quickly & emit harmful vapours that can cause headaches, dizziness, and in severe cases, long-term health issues.
AVOID THIS 💦 by using safer alternatives like odourless mineral spirits (aka gamsol) or citrus-based solvents which are slower evaporating & have lower toxicity/odour. Or go completely solvent free by cleaning your brushes in safflower or linseed oil or by using water soluble oil paints.
DUST & PARTICLES 😤 Sanding, making paint using dry pigments, & working with varnish or fixatives can generate harmful particulates.
AVOID THIS 😷 by wearing a mask, going outside or into a well ventilated space away from living areas, using extraction fans or air purifiers, buying pre-made canvases & paint, & prioritizing liquids over aerosols.
OIL 🔥 People often mistake solvents as the main fire hazard but Linseed oil soaked rags have a habit of spontaneous combustion. 😬 When oil dries it generates heat which builds up in the folds so a balled up pile of oily rags is a big no.
AVOID THIS 😌 by letting oily rags dry flat on the floor or a rack. Then dispose of them in a fire safe metal garbage can like a Just Rite Oil Safety Can from Amazon or an old cookie tin. Finally throw them away in household hazardous waste.
I’m not trying to scare anyone away from using oil paints as it’s actually really easy to use them safely. It just takes some knowledge about the materials you choose to know what not to do!