Creating Safely: Key Strategies for Oil Painting Studio Protection
Let’s get real and talk about safety. Art is not all fun and games, it’s work and can be dangerous.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post on studio safety is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. While I strive to offer accurate and up-to-date advice, I cannot guarantee the completeness, reliability, or suitability for your specific circumstances and local regulations. I disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience arising from your use of the information provided herein. Always exercise caution and use your best judgment when implementing safety precautions in your studio. Love, Emma Jean XO
I reached out on my social media asking fellow artists what they do to keep safe and their concerns on this topic. I was blown away by the responses to this query because my formal education didn’t dive into the topic very deeply. From the responses, I learned that many artists have switched out products because they were having noticeable effects from fumes due to solvents or pigments in paint. Many comments mentioned fire safety and various kinds of PPE, while others prompted questions on kids and general fear of life longevity. I too have had these fears and concerns and am glad that as a whole, artists are being cautious for themselves and their families.
From my research, I’ve concluded that as long as you are aware of the risks and take the proper precautions you will live a long and happy life. But to make good choices one must know what you are interacting with.
Understanding Your Supplies
The first step is to assess what you have and to look at their Product Labels. There are two federal labeling standards when it comes to art materials: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and LHAMA (Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act).
OSHA requires that products must be labeled with: their common name of product, manufacturer name/address/emergency phone number, and lastly, an appropriate hazard warning ie. HAZARD, WARNING, or CAUTION. DANGER is reserved for products that have serious health or safety hazards associated with them like being highly toxic, corrosive, or flammable. WARNING and CAUTION are used on less hazardous items. Additional safety information may be listed as well like PPE (personal protective equipment), first aid, storage info, and procedures to follow if spilled, etc.
LHAMA requires that information about chronic or long-term hazards like potential iillness be present. Common phrases can include “cancer agent”, “exposure may cause an allergic reaction”, “do not use when pregnant”, etc. The label also includes all of the manufacturer’s info like OSHA.
Now that you know the warning words, go on a scavenger hunt among your supplies and compile them. Did you find them all? Yes? Awesome job!
If you’ve ever explored an art supplier’s website you can often find the paint’s pigment information pretty easily. This is a great place to learn more about its chemical name, formula, properties, permanence, toxicity, and history. If you search a bit harder you’ll find an SDS pdf (Safety Data Sheet) or MSDS pdf (Material Safety Data Sheet). It’s a chemical/product-specific health and safety reference document that contains a great deal more info than the product label.
So go ahead and look all your supplies up, it should look something like this:
To determine if an art material could harm you a lot depends on how toxic it is and how much of it you're exposed to. For a material to harm you, it needs to get into your body. Just like how you need to take enough medicine for it to work, you also need to be exposed to enough harmful material for it to cause damage. Harmful materials can cause problems right away (acute effects) or after a long time (chronic effects). Minor acute effects like feeling sick or dizzy usually go away quickly, but they can also be as serious as death. Chronic effects, like cancer or lung damage, are usually not reversible. It's best to use less toxic materials whenever you can.
Exposure
People who work with art materials are usually exposed to dangers through their skin or by breathing them in. Even though the skin is a good barrier, certain metals and chemicals can get through and quickly cause damage. For example, when paint dries, the chemicals in it turn into vapors that you breathe in. Sometimes, harmful materials can also get into the body by being swallowed. It's important to wash your hands often and not eat in the studio. Avoid putting paintbrushes in your mouth or holding them with your teeth. There’s this meme I’ve seen where there are two mugs: one is “paint water” and the other is “not paint water”. It’s a fun idea but I get a bit squeamish thinking about it because if I accidentally made the mistake of drinking my “paint water” you’d need to pump my stomach or something.
Ventilation
Nearly every oil painter uses solvents to mix, thin, dissolve, and clean as well as make mediums, use as varnishes, and so forth. So what’s the harm? They slowly build up in the body over time and long-term exposure can lead to irreversible conditions and sometimes fatality. So how do we properly vent?
There are two types of ventilation options: Dilution and Local Exhaust.
Dilution Ventilation is “the addition of fresh, clean air into potentially contaminated air to reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants”. Dilution is a good starting place, an example of it is just opening a window or door. This action doesn’t provide enough pressure to circulate the air and thus the level of exposure is higher. Also, if you live in a place that snows I can assure you that you won’t want your window open for hours on end. Another example is air purifiers which take the contaminated air and pass it through a filter, which captures most of the harmful material, and then releases the cleaned air back into the studio. It can’t completely eliminate the hazardous compounds but the technology is getting better and better.
Local Exhaust Ventilation is “an extract ventilation system that takes airborne contaminants such as dusts, gases, vapor or fumes out of the air so that they can't be breathed in.” For this example, you’ll need two windows: one to bring in outside air, the other with a fan to suck the indoor air OUTSIDE. Never vent into another room in the house. Another option is a hood, like the one your stove has but leads outside. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you are building your own detached studio or just have some money to burn.
Whatever option you choose, you’ll want to exchange the air in your studio between 6-10 times per hour.
I have gone the dilution route with an Austin Air Healthmate Plus and it has some serious power. It has a medical-grade HEPA filter designed to remove VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). You can even use it during fire season and it clears smoke easily. I do have to warn you, it’s not cheap. This small machine has only gone up in price due to inflation since I purchased it back in 2020.
Austin Air Healthmate Plus
Flammables
Another danger that’s not fun to think about is fire. I’m sure you’ve seen the labels on Gamsol talking about its combustion rate. At my university, we stored used paper towels in airtight trashcans and they were emptied every day and our solvents were stored in a special cabinet designed for flammable materials. I took this practice to heart and have a sort of airtight metal trashcan and I recently found on Facebook Marketplace a small 4 Gal JustRite Flammable Cabinet for $60. It was such a steal of a deal and a bit overkill but I feel super safe!
Other considerations are to install and maintain smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, etc. Consider escape ladders if your residence or studio space has more than one level. Make sure windows are not painted or nailed shut. Clean out storage areas and do not let trash accumulate. Don’t overload extension cords and outlets. Make sure the insulation on these cords doesn’t touch bare wiring and inspect cords for exposed wires and loose plugs.
JustRite 4 Gal Flammable Cabinet
So, now that I’ve freaked you out (and myself)… let’s talk about what we can do!
Read SDS & MSDS Sheets
Label materials if not in the original container
Make sure lids are kept on tight
Keep harmful materials locked away from children
Don’t eat or drink in the studio
Don’t put paintbrushes anywhere near your mouth
Wear gloves when handling paint and mineral spirits
Wear an apron for both cleanliness and skin absorption
Always wash your hands after working in the studio
Store suitable materials in a dry, average-temperature place
Store combustibles in a flammable cabinet standing tall not tipped over
Use a metal trashcan for used towels and rags
Pour water on used towels/rags or separate and lay flat to dry
Follow local guidelines for trash disposal
Clean up spills immediately
Have a fire extinguisher handy
Have a well-ventilated space
In doing all this research, I know there are things I can be better at which means you do too. Such as reading MSDS sheets and a fire extinguisher.
What are some ways you guys stay safe? What alternatives do you use for paint, solvents and the like? Do you use an air purifier? Comment down below! ;)
