Oil paint safety is a major reason why people hesitate to try oil painting.
Yes, you can use water-soluble paints, but from my experience, the consistency of water-soluble paint differs from that of traditional oil paint. To me, it feels slicker and not as easy to layer. Also, when blending, the colors seem different from traditional oil paints. That’s why I stick to traditional oil paints. Of course, it’s a personal choice, and you should try different brands if you wish.
Here are 5 rule for oil painting safety. As long as you follow these rules, you should be able to paint safely to your heart’s desire.
- Wear Disposable Gloves and Painters’ Aprons: While painting, avoid getting oil paint or solvents on your skin. Never wash the paints off your skin with paint thinners such as turpentine, even though it might seem easy and tempting.
- Maintain Good Ventilation: Keep your work area well-ventilated. Open a window if possible, or use fans while you paint.
- Securely Close Bottles: Always put the tops back on your paint mediums and solvents as soon as you finish using them. It may not always be convenient, but maintaining the habit of closing the tops will help you resist the temptation of convenience.
- Minimize Solvent and Medium Use: Use as little paint solvent or medium as possible. Oil paints already contain binders, so you don’t need to use too much extra solvent or medium.
- Wash Hands and Brushes Thoroughly: Always give your hands and brushes a good wash after painting, even if you wear gloves. A staple in my studio for washing oil paints off my hands is Masters soap. It’s simply the best. I even use it to wash cooking oil stains from my regular clothes. You can get it here: https://amzn.to/3S3Ycrc.
I hope you keep these common-sense rules in mind and enjoy the wonderful art of oil painting for years to come!
