Health is Wealth : Creating Without Compromise

Health is Wealth : Creating Without Compromise

I love painting with oil paint. However, this medium, along with others, can be very unhealthy/toxic to the everyday artist. I have tried very hard to paint with other mediums; however, I just can’t seem to shy away from the lushness of oils, so… I have put together a brief list of healthier alternatives for all of you artists out there. If this doesn’t pertain to you – no worries – but please do pass this on to any artist that you know. Not to get too personal, but almost every art educator that helped sculpt my passion has gotten cancer. I have no idea if this is linked to oil painting or not, but I actively want to begin painting in a better environment as well as telling all other fellow artisans about my findings.

I have searched high and low for a cumulative list out there and just can’t seem to find all of my questions answered, so I felt the need to address them myself.

Note: I am in the process of trying to convert my studio to a solvent-free atmosphere and have not followed a lot of these practices until recently, after understanding the impact of what painting in an unsafe environment was actually doing to myself and my body.

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*Just a little background knowledge: Turpentine and Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS) are industrial materials that emit toxic fumes that many oil painters utilize. There are a number of perils associated with Turpentine and OMS: toxic fumes & skin infections, to name a few. I am by no means a doctor, but I have read many articles around the negative impacts of these products. I rather not go into the nitty-gritty of this and rather provide a cumulative guide for better alternatives.

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Solvent-Free Painting:

For painters looking to paint with oils without the use of any solvents, here are a few recommended products: (I have linked these recommendations below)

• Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel : gives the paint more flow, yet still holds on to brushmarks

• Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid painting medium: gives paint more flow & transparency

• Safflower Oil or Refined Linseed Oil: helps increase the flow of oil colors. Good for cleaning brushes. Slows drying time down.

• Chelsea Classical Studio Lavender Spike Oil Essence: Alternative for the use of Turpentine (shoutout to my fellow artist-friend, Caroline Pinney, for this recommendation!). It smells amazing and is worth every penny!

Cleaning Brushes:

• It is okay to clean brushes outdoors or in a very well-ventilated area with OMS; however, it is advised to use non-toxic solvents such as Safflower Oil, Turpenoid Natural, or Bio-Based Artists Solvent.

• Gamblin Safflower Oil is ideal for cleaning brushes during solvent-free painting sessions.

• I use the Masters Brush Cleaner soap which I love, & it is completely safe to use!

• For better tips on brush care and the proper way to clean brushes, refer to this Gamblin article.

Below are some of my favorite products [all linked] in my studio: 

Safety Measures:

• Wear latex gloves and if possible, long sleeves and pants - (your skin is the biggest organ of the human body, after all!). Doctor scrubs are also a great source!

• Have proper ventilation: these are very pricey, but luckily I was able to find one on Facebook Marketplace. 

• Rags that have any oils should be properly stored in a safety can (this is a great one!) until being thrown out.

• Ensure paint is in a closed container.

• Essential Oils have become my absolute favorite item in my studio - it calms me down and truly gives my studio some good vibes! Essential Oils are not only non-toxic to breathe, but they are often used to promote health and well-being medicinally and in aromatherapy. My sister-in-law bought me this set for Christmas, & it has been a game-changer!

• PLEASE don’t paint in your kitchen! You should not cook and consume food where you are handling toxic materials. Thank you.

I hope this helps you and/or your loved ones to paint in a safer, healthier environment, as we should all be able to create without compromise! If you have products that are safe to use and you love, please share in the comments section below or email me!

Want to know what I’m up to on the every day? Follow along on Instagram at @cocozentner_art or on my Pinterest page. I love to post what inspires me, behind the scenes of my painting process, and my pup, Maudie!

Until next time,

Shop some of my favorite must-haves here:

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To see more about what inspires CoCo, check-out her Instagram page at @cocozentner_art!