c o n t e n t
The potential health hazards of paints, binders, thinners, and pigments continue to be underestimated by users. Largely unnoticed by the public, it is still common for professional artists to contract various kinds of diseases, such as asthma, brain disease, and various kinds of cancer, that are often linked to solvent exposures, for instance in graffity artists working with spray paints, or heavy metal poisoning from cadmium use in oil painters.
Jackson Pollock in his studio, © Hans Namuth Estate
There are many health related aspects that are relevant to both areas, and these are discussed in our pages on Pigments, Solvent Toxicity and Safe Solvent Alternatives, Reproduction Risks, and Legal Aspects. Some of the information on solvent hazards and solvent safety is based on toxicological research and writings originally published by Art Hazard News and the Health in the Arts Program, University of Illinois at Chicago; additional advice on current research was given by Michael McCann.
The Fine Art Painting Section includes a comprehensive essay by Merle Spandorfer on all the painting media available to artists, including acrylic painting, oil painting, gouache, pigments, mediums, etc., which was first published in Making Art Safely by Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY.
Safe Painting for Art and DIY: Safety of domestic and DIY paints
in Fine Art and Interior Decorating
Safe Oil Painting: Goodby to Turpentine: Robert Maynord
Oil Painting - nontoxic: Mike Bergen
Spike Lavender Washes and Glazes: Robert Maynord
Color-field painting, freedom, and Art
article by Friedhard Kiekeben and Willy Richardson
Oil Painting Hazards in Classrooms Michael McCann


'Painted Trees', Chicago Park District, 2011
nontoxicprint
© 2003 - 2021
The information on this website is based on what we - the individual authors - believe to be
current safety-conscious practice. Progress in the field is ongoing, opinions vary,
and new findings emerge frequently.
Please feel free to use the information from this site for your research and practice.
This is not an official safety site: we publish suggestions, research,
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