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Solvent Free Oil Painting

There is no need to use solvents to either thin your oil paints or for clean-up of hands or brushes. Instructions are easy! Say No To Solvents details a very easy method to eliminate the use of solvents and paint with oils without risking your health.  My method is perfect for the classroom and the professional fine artist!  Eliminate the risk to you and your students from solvents and toxic paint pigments!  Eliminate the risk to the environment and your neighborhood from hazardous materials going down the drain and into the ground and groundwater!   Pros & Cons of Solvent Free Painting 

The most frequent concern by artists is that the use of non-toxic pigments will limit their palette.  Terri Baugh Norman is an oil painter whose primary focus is colour.

"For over a decade I've been painting with oils without using toxic pigments and without the use of solvents.  There is no compromise in my colour palette and even my oldest paintings are in perfect condition.  I don't have to worry about ventilation in my studio or that I may be harming my family and the environment in order to create my artwork.  Eliminating the concern that I'm harming myself in order to paint encourages greater freedom mentally and physically with my painting.  There is absolutely no sacrifice with non-toxic oil painting."    Terri Baugh Norman - Artist

 

ALTERNATIVE TO SOLVENT USE 

Instead of using solvents to thin your oil paints, use a combination of purified or sun-thickened linseed oil (NOT UNREFINED LINSEED OIL) with stand oil in a 3 to 1 or 2 to 1 ratio - depending on how thick you want your medium.  Mix oil into your paint using 50% oil mixture with 50% paint OR 25% oil with 75% paint , depending on how stiff you want your paint to be. This applies only to Winsor & Newton Artist Oil Colors (if using Winton oil paints- use no more than 25% oil to paint - less oil may be used - actually, Winton oil paints may even be used straight from the tube).   Sun-thickened linseed oil in place of purified linseed oil will allow your paintings to dry quicker but is more costly than purified linseed oil. Use a non-toxic brush cleaner followed by soap and water for brushes, palette, and skin; however, it has been suggested that salad oil followed by soap and water will work just as well. (The only problem you may encounter is if your medium is too thin - then, as the paint dries it will migrate/move and cause some wrinkling - the same problem may occur with use of poppy seed oil because of the slow drying rate of the oil.  Poppy seed oil may cause some yellowing of whites.) Use of linseed oil without the combination of stand oil is not recommended.  It is too thin to use will cause your paints to drip if you dry your canvases upright. 

Pros & Cons of Solvent Free Painting

Non-Toxic Painting

Toxic Painting with Solvents
Use of non-toxic pigment choices will virtually eliminate the risk of acute or chronic disease related to the use of toxic pigments and solvents. Risk of a variety of chronic and acute illnesses including respiratory disease, neurological damage, and cancers.
You can safely dispose of rags and excess paint in the trash and flush wash-water down the drain without harming the environment. Rags, excess paint, and wash-water should be disposed of as hazardous waste. 
Drying time is increased. Drying time is less due to evaporation of solvents.
Paintings will not emit toxins while drying. Paintings will continue to emit toxic fumes until fully dry.
Will meet government emission and safety standards. Governmental organizations are paying increased attention to the use and disposal of toxic art materials.
A thicker paint medium is possible allowing increased experimentation with textural oil paintings and the use of painting knives. Paint medium is thin and has less body, allowing less textural work.
Non-toxic pigments are more readily available and less expensive than toxic chemical pigments so you'll save money. Chemical based pigments are very costly to produce.

If you follow these recommendations the only problem you may encounter is temporary contact dermatitis or contact abrasions. 

Temporary Contact Dermatitis vs. Contact Abrasion - Contact dermatitis may resemble dry, red skin patches at the site of contact due to a chemical sensitivity or simply contact abrasions where your skin may rub across your canvas, paper, etc.  Contact dermatitis due to chemical sensitivity may occur with occasional use or only with prolonged contact, depending upon the chemical and each individual's level of sensitivity. Regular hand washing will eliminate much of the risk of chemical contact dermatitis.  Individuals with sensitive skin may wish to wear vinyl or nitrile (not latex) gloves to protect hands.  

The following products may cause contact dermatitis or allergic reaction:

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alizarin crimson - possible skin allergy

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permanent alizarin crimson - possible skin allergy

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titanium white - may cause contact dermatitis

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linseed oil and stand oil - may cause contact dermatitis

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Brush Flush non-toxic cleaner - may cause contact dermatitis

Disclaimer - Information provided is the result of over a decade of intensive research.  I am not medical professionals and any health problems or concerns should be directed to your health care provider.