Hi guys, i was wondering if anyone could tell me about the health hazards when it comes to using oil paints and spirits to thin paint and clean brushes. sometimes i get a tight chest after painting in my room above the garage, i always have the windows open and the door to keep it ventilated and even paint under an open window in the roof. i do have asthma and was wondering if the fumes are irritating it. id be very gratefull if anyone could give me some info and advice on possible hazards and how best to protect myself when painting and also on any good products to buy.

Ive even gone to the lengths of buying an expensive gas mask which aparently cuts out the fumes but it gets in the way and is a bit uncomfortable.

ive bought some organic thinners instead of turpentine, its supposed to be odurless but i can smell it, its more oily and thicker than turpentine or white spirit so it gets clogged up quicker when cleaning paints.


Cheers all, happy painting !!!

Hi Spencer

I use to suffer a lot of headaches when painting so I know what you mean. B&Q are finally selling a low odour white spirit- its cheaper than the proper D&R or W&N low odour stuff but its perfectly adequate for cleaning brushes etc. I tend to use the bob ross odourless thinners for mixing washes (

I'd say it's almost certain that the fumes are agravating your asthma. Best thing to do is to talk with a doctor, and make sure that you keep your bronchodilator close to hand, especially while painting. Since the fumes are a problem, you may want to consider water-mixable oil paints...I haven't used them, but it may be worth a try, even one tube to see how well it works...

I have used artisan water mixable paints and have recommended them to my students and I can say they all love them. They mix just like oils and behave exactly the same, only thing is at the moment the colour range is a bit limited. Also because they are new, they have not been tested by time yet. But give them a go they may be the answer. Dennis S.

Yes that is the downside of using Oils and the mess,but saying that you do get a lovely depth of colour that you just can't acheive with Acrylics

Hi

Just wanted to say, I use Artisan watersoluble oils and I think they are brilliant! Geat depth of colour, dry a bit quicker than ordinary oils but obviously not as quick as acrylics, very low odour and no thinners, and brushes clean up easily although you do need to use some soap to remove all traces of the paint.

HI Guys,
I cant reply to you all as ill be here all day and the football is on soon !!! but thankyou so much to everybody who has offered me some advice, its been extrezmly helpful to me, i think im going to pop into my art shop in bath and ask about the water mixable oils.

this forum has been a breath of fresh air, i feel like ive finally got some friends who dont just want to sink 10 pints and pull some bird !! cheers to all of you. Earl.

Greetings guys and gals, im letting my portrait dry a little before i carry on with it, im also varnishing another painting ive done, its only been drying for about 2 months now but it should be ok, its the first time ive varnished a painting so im hoping it will give it a nice glossy feel.

I went to the city of bristol museum a few months ago and saw some paintings in 'egg tempura'??? i think, it said next to the painting that he first got a board and then painted up a few layers of emulsion and then sanded it smooth, gave it another coat, sanded down again ...and pereated this process untill the surface was as smooth as a babies......... so im giving tha a go at the moment, im using a brush for the emulsion which leaves streaks which is a pain to sand out but its trail and error at the moment, more error that trial i might add but good fun all the same...

im going to try to paint with smooth strokes this time instead of stipling or using knives. its the first time ive done a painting where i have done lots and lots of sketches before hand (mostly in at work) , i find it quite a good way of doing it, im from a contemporary furniture designs background so i feel very comfortable with sketching out my ideas first. i would describe what im painting but i dont know how too! ill try and post a pic, do we have moderators we can ask about how to post a jpeg on here?

Earl

I know its a painting still in progress but im just trying out the picture thingy ... and it works!!!! yeahhhh

Ive also just got my own site!!!! so please take a look, i dont sell any work, and most on there are works in progress so dont be dissapointed !! cheers all. Earl

Hello all, i was wondering if anyone has experience of using artisan paints, the water based oil like paints right? do they age well like oil paints? do they dull in colour more? do they tend to crack more?
Cheers, Earl