Comments for All the Strange Hours

Comment on Q&A by pcherf

pcherf — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:33:03 +0000

I am embarking on an endeavor of a reproduction of a Margaret MacDonald gesso'd panel. Not sure if you are familiar with her work but it the wish of a client of mine to have one of her pieces made. Her process was never documented. She was the wife of Charles Rennie Mackintosh an accomplished architect and artist himself in the late 1800's and early 1900's. If you see her pieces they are quite involved with beads,stones, paint etc in her works. My problem is I have no background in gesso. She used a bakers pipe to draw lines. My concern is to make sure the heavy applied gesso does not crack. Is mdf the best substrate for a large gesso'd panel? I have been painting since college and have a fine arts degree in painting. I am currently crafting high end wood furniture. I am very excited to get started on this. I will be making some small sample to test on.

Comment on Studio safety and oil painting by Peter

Peter — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:06:09 +0000

Thanks so much for the quick and thoughtful reply. I've been painting with oils for 20 years as a full time artist and I still have so much to learn about oil paint and the different mediums. I always hear folks say how much safer acrylic is to oil paint, I found it fascinating to read that it is not as harmless as many might assume. Thanks

Comment on Studio safety and oil painting by David

David — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 03:25:13 +0000

Peter,

First, remember that you should not take me, or anyone else your find on the internet, to be some sort of authority on your health. For all you know, I'm an idiot. You are responsible for your health. That being said, I can respond to your questions:

Oil paintings continue to produce various gasses for literally hundreds of years. However, once fully dry to the touch they don't produce much that is significant for health in a space with reasonable ventilation (unless you have a heck of a lot of paintings in a small space).
With regard to fumes, I have no idea what effect oil paint and painting supplies have on cats. The might be more sensitive or less sensitive than humans. Maybe your vet has some idea, or maybe the research has never been done and no one knows. There is also the concern that they will ingest paint or other substances. Not to mention cat hair on your paintings. As a general rule, I always recommend that pets and children be kept away from places where oil painting is done.
It varies. So far as I know, rising or sinking is not all that significant. The important thing is ventilation.

Note also that it depends on what substances other than oil paint you are working with, and how sensitive you are to drying oils and those other substances. If you do live and paint in a single small space, I'd be very cautious if I were you.

Comment on Studio safety and oil painting by Peter

Peter — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:42:53 +0000

Very helpful article! I have a few questions…
I live and work in the same space, although in separate rooms, but not separate vents…
1) You mentioned it is important to have good ventilation while painting, at what point does an oil painting become “safe”? (When it is dry to the touch?)
2) I have two cats, how harmful is being around a wet oil paintings for them?
3) Do the fumes/ chemicals rise or sink in the air?
Thank you!

Comment on Keeping oil paint fresh by Frank Zweegers

Frank Zweegers — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:33:17 +0000

Always thought freezing was the best option, but you're right, even though you can't see it the paint does change. ..

Comment on Studio safety and oil painting by David

David — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 01:51:18 +0000

Deb,

You may be sensitive enough to need to paint in a well-ventilated room.

Comment on Studio safety and oil painting by Deb Ryan

Deb Ryan — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:00:48 +0000

I've been using water base oils from Windsor Newton and Duo (ms I think ) This past week was a year since I'd used them because I was suspicious about them making me sick. Lo and behold I'm having the same sympyoms. I started using them because I thought it was a less dangerous way to go. Now I think it's all the same. It's very frustrating! I may have to wait for warmer weather with open doors and windows or perhaps purchase a mask to prtoect me.

Comment on Whitelessness by David

David — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:16:10 +0000

Cindi,

I'd suggest you look through the archives on this site. Also search the web for other artist's sites that have information on technique.

Comment on Whitelessness by Cindi

Cindi — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:13:14 +0000

David, I am a self taught artist, using oils. I do a fair amount of kids photography that I then transfer to canvas and paint into the photograph. I have been relatively successful and have some of my work in a couple of galleries. My question is where to I start to better understand a variety of things such as prospective, drying, and colors. Thanks, Cindi

Comment on Q&A by David

David — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 12:47:29 +0000

Raquel,

Some people are sensitive to oil paint fumes, some not. Personally I dislike the “what the heck is that?” smell of acrylic much more than the smell of oil paint, but each person’s body reacts differently.

You might try a few weeks away from oil paint and see what happens. Then spend a week painting with oil to compare.

If oil paint really is the problem then you may consider paints ground in walnut oil such as those made by M. Graham. You could also try painting without the gel medium to see if that makes a difference. This might or might not help.

Also check out these articles on my site if you have not already:

http://rourkevisualart.com/wordpress/2006/08/10/studio-safety-and-oil-painting/

http://rourkevisualart.com/wordpress/2006/12/29/oil-painting-without-solvents/

Best wishes,

David