Do You Need Paint Thinner For Oil Painting

Oil painting without using solvents or toxic mediums; can it be washed? Absolutely. This guide explains how oil painting can be enjoyed without the need for solvents or heavy metal pigments. It will explore how to keep your studio condom for children, pets and your own health. Just the other day someone told me she would similar to use oil paints but chose not because of the toxic solvents she thought had to exist involved. Of form it is sensible to stay away from hazardous materials, but there is no need to stay abroad from oil painting.

Why do I paint Solvent Costless?

I started using oil paints shortly later on my children were born. Indeed, instead of moving away from oil paint when small children came into the world, I actually moved to it! And I moved to oil painting in a safe way, using no solvents or toxic mediums whatsoever.

Equally they grew older I started experimenting with mediums and solvents, but apace constitute I reacted strongly to them. Solvents made me experience quite sick and after trying out a variety of mediums I returned to oil painting without solvents.

Do note that ane can be perfectly rubber AND use toxic materials in the studio. One simply has to use mutual sense. This web log post is aimed at those who are reluctant to work in oils because of the toxicity issue and to show that it is possible to bask oil painting without solvents or hazardous materials at all. Depending on the reasons you desire to remove toxins from your studio, at that place are a few things to implement easily. Other things volition require more commitment.

Child and Pet Proofing your Studio

You might not want to stop using hazardous materials, only you are concerned nearly your child (or other family members) or pet's health. The first footstep in child and pet-proofing your studio would be to not have anything toxic lying around. Brand certain everything has a identify and tin be put away in cupboards and drawers. Don't accept annihilation lying round that would invite little hands or dog mouths to explore. When there'due south nada to pick upwardly, zippo will be picked upward. If you lot just bought yourself an expensive sable brush you might not want your toddler having a picayune testing circular, or Fido using it as a canis familiaris'south bone. And you lot don't even want to think about them picking upwards something hazardous. Make certain any toxic material is put out of the way in a identify no pet or child could EVER reach or open it. To save myself that hassle I simply stuck to banning it all completely. And oil painting without toxic materials is much easier than you think!

Toxicity is Relative

If you want to ban all hazardous materials y'all demand to ban all toxic paints. That means no cadmiums, no cobalts, no lead or cremnitz white, no naples yellow, or chrome yellowish. There are other colours that are "moderately" toxic so you must use mutual sense. You will take to decide how far to go. I read somewhere that even burnt umber is slightly toxic but it is so minimal that virtually paint manufacturers do not list information technology equally such, nor are they required to. And so toxicity, just like almost things, is a relative thing.

Merely don't eat your Pigment

Every bit far as I know toxic paint pigments are only dangerous if eaten, or if they go into the blood stream via wounds. They cannot get absorbed by the skin past just having a smear on your finger. So having paint all over your hands is not necessarily unwise but washing your hands thoroughly before you rub your eye or eat your sandwich is vital.

Tell that to a Toddler

Common sense is all dainty and good, but a toddler or a dog mostly has very little of information technology. Then it might well be a good idea to just ban all paints that are considered toxic. You might be sensible plenty to wash your easily, only your baby volition non be. So stick to titanium white and cadmium alternatives.

Alternatives to Solvents and Other Toxic Materials

Toxic Paint Colours

Some paints are made from toxic pigments, such as cadmiums, cobalts or atomic number 82. Whether a pigment colour is toxic is not ever stated on the tube, so you might have to do some research.

Do continue in listen that the toxic bit is non always dangerous in the same mode. Some pigments are dangerous to touch as it can go absorbed through cuts and grazes on the peel. For other pigments information technology is more often than not dangerous if the grit is breathed in. Clearly a tubed oil paint does not have any dust and then those pigments are relatively safe to use, as long as you lot don't eat the paint or grind your own paint from the pigment. That said, if you want to sand your painting, for consequence, or to set to paint over it, you lot are loosening grit particles and must be conscientious. Y'all won't drop dead the minute you breath in a toxic pigment particle, but if you do this regularly over a long menses of fourth dimension information technology can harm y'all.

For most toxic paints there are alternatives out at that place. Instead of a cadmium cherry-red you tin buy various different reds. Each brand will name them differently so it is difficult to give suggestions. I employ Mussini's Brilliant Ruby, for instance, which is shut to a cadmium red light, or else Vasari's Permanent Bright Reddish which is a bit stronger. Most brands are enlightened that we want safe alternatives to the toxic pigments, and are manufacturing an excellent range of choices. Look out for alarm signs and practise your research.

Solvents

Oil painting without solvents is not hard to do, merely information technology does require some adjustments. Solvents are easily avoided. Many artists recollect that having a jar of turps open next to their easel is an absolutely must, but nothing is farther from the truth. Of all oil painting materials solvents are the most hazardous to your wellness as they have fumes that will fill the air in your room. Oil paint pigments do not take fumes, then you cannot breathe it in. But solvents do have toxic fumes and therefore it is recommended to always go on the jar closed. If you want to ban it altogether, as I have done for years, at that place are plenty of options.

Cleaning

Virtually artists apply solvents to make clean their brushes. So what do you use if y'all desire to avert solvents? Water and lather, for instance works well. Dishwashing liquid and water, also works well. Or else use painting oil (linseed, walnut) to make clean out the paint, after which you wash the brush with h2o and soap to remove the oil. There are also prophylactic castor cleaning soaps on the market, such as Masters soap (which is what I utilise). To clean my brushes while I am painting, I merely wipe them on some kitchen scroll, and and so clean properly with Masters Soap after.

Thinning

Many artists similar to employ solvents to thin their paint. Perhaps in an underpainting they would similar to showtime with thin washes of pigment. One alternative to this is to apply water-soluble paint in the underpainting stages. Another option is to use acrylic paint for an underpainting (it is admittedly fine to apply acrylic pigment first and go over it with oil paint. It is not and so keen to do it the other way circular). Information technology is not a good idea to use oil as a thinning agent in an underpainting, as information technology would brand the paint too oily ('fatty') and you might get into problem with the 'fat-over-lean' rule. Keeping the paint lean in the beginning few layers is always sensible.

I simply use paint straight from the tube for the underpainting. If I desire a thin layer of paint, I simply utilise a sturdy brush and thinly scrub on the paint. I don't need a solvent and I don't have issues with drying fourth dimension as the pigment is scrubbed on so thinly information technology is dry out in no time and I can paint over it pretty much immediately.

If I feel like I need thinner pigment in later layers, I add together a non-toxic medium such equally linseed oil to thin the paint (never more than around 20% mixed in the paint, or just a baste!).

If you need a more fluid paint, y'all can likewise consider changing brands. If you like thin pigment (as I do) using a brand that makes fluid paint is a good start. I notice, for case, One-time Holland quite thick and pasty, while Vasari and Blockx more than fluid.

Mediums

Most ready-made oil painting mediums have solvent in them. Exercise expect at the ingredients, or if they are not listed on the canteen, only ask the manufacturer or seller what is in information technology. Many are more than happy to answer. A medium will alter the normal behaviour of oil pigment. So you lot but need information technology if you want your paint to exercise something that it doesn't usually practise. Similar drying quickly. Or being very fluid, or very thick (for impasto).

The best advice I tin can give is to only keep it simple. You lot might non need a medium at all. I generally do not pigment with a medium and utilise paint direct from the tube. You tin try linseed oil or walnut oil to encounter if it suits you but it might slow down drying time. Linseed and Walnut oil are not toxic. There are various oils on the market place that do various things to your paint. Just they all brand your paint 'fatter' and so it is important to just utilise tiny amounts.

Varnish

I have yet to find a non-toxic varnish for oil paintings. That said, there is no dominion that you lot HAVE to varnish your piece of work. Some artists do and some artists don't. Varnishing offers the all-time protection I can give and a varnish will but add a constructed layer betwixt the pigment and the outside world.

If dust or grime gets onto the painting, it lands on the varnish and not the pigment. If it gets a clean or a light dust, it is the varnish you lot are cleaning, not the paint. I find this a reassuring idea and so I practise varnish. Varnishing happens when the kids are out, with the door/windows wide open. Plenty of artists, however, do non varnish. They don't like the await of information technology (although there is matt/silk/gloss varnish out there) or the idea of adding a layer to their paint. We are waiting for a manufacturer to come up upwards with a solvent-free varnish…

If you want to Savor painting without Solvents, What are Your Options?

Replace toxic pigments with alternative coloursThere are plenty of options if y'all want to supercede your pb whites and cobalts. Aye, the colours will handle slightly differently and the colours are never exactly the same, merely yous will learn how to utilise them to their best advantage.

Use brush latherClean your brushes on rags or kitchen towelling while painting, and use soap and water for the concluding clean. There are fantabulous brush cleaning soaps bachelor.

Water soluble oilsAt that place are various brands that do WS-oils these days and quite a few are of a very decent quality. I have worked with Winsor & Newton'south Artisan Oils and quite enjoyed them. You lot tin clean your brushes, thin your pigment and clean your easily with h2o. Information technology is super easy, non-toxic, and feels pretty much like normal oils.

Learn to use pigment straight from the tubeLearn to work with oil paint straight from the tube. This can exist mastered with thin brushing, working alla prima, and using palette knives. I piece of work with oils straight from the tube and do non add together a medium or uses solvents. Join one of my online workshops to meet how I do that.

U.s. acrylics or water soluble pigment for underpaintingUse acrylics or water soluble paint in the first layers of your painting; a stage where many artists want to work with more fluid and thin paint. You tin can so continue with oils on superlative.

Try out dissimilar brandsExperiment with different oil pigment brands equally some are more fluid than others.

My underpainting stages: scrubbing paint straight from the tube onto a sheet, and working some colour into it adjacent.

It is Upwardly to You

It is upwards to you how far you want to take this. Oil painting without solvents or toxic pigments is definitely possible. But if you don't want to become this far, and then you can use toxic materials and be sensible well-nigh it. Some artists wear gloves. Some artists are very strict in which pigments they ban, I more often than not only ban the heavy metals similar pb and cadmium. I suppose it all depends on you, your situation, your studio, your children, your health etc. If yous are pregnant or have pocket-size children I believe it a good idea to follow the guidelines for a safe studio and ban toxic pigments and all solvents. I do not call back it is necessary to wearable gloves as most, if not all, toxic pigments cannot be absorbed through the skin. Likewise that I am a fairly 'tidy' painter and exercise not become any or much pigment on me or my easily while I work. If you lot are particularly messy and are e'er looking very 'arty' with paint splatters all over you (ie. yous await like a existent creative person!), you might want to be more strict with yourself about toxic materials.

I hope this short guide on oil painting without solvents or toxic paints will assist you make the move to oil painting if you oasis't already. It is such a fantastic medium to piece of work with. It would exist a shame if whatsoever of you would avoid it because of its supposed toxicity. Honestly, it is completely achievable to piece of work solvent free, and more and more paint manufacturers are waking upwards to our call for eco materials. Oil painting does not need to come with wellness warnings as painting without solvents is the way ahead.

Interesting links:https://www.gamblincolors.com/studio-rubber/solvent-free-painting/https://www.jacksonsart.com/web log/2017/03/17/jesse-waugh-tests-gamvar-picture-varnish-gamblin-solvent-free-gel-medium/

This postal service was originally published in 2017 but has been rewritten and updated in 2019.

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