How to paint solvent free! 😵‍💫

What’s the biggest myth about your job?

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One of the biggest oil painting myths is that it’s more toxic than other types of paint. But oils themselves are just pigment & a natural drying oil, usually linseed.

Some pigments, like cadmium (in all types of paint) are toxic if accidentally eaten or breathed in as raw pigments. So it’s important to check warning labels & wear gloves when touching these paints.

One of the reasons oil paints get such a bad wrap is cuz of some of the additives painters use with their paint, eg. fast-evaporating solvents like turpentine, can be harmful due to respiratory/skin irritation, toxicity if ingested, flammability, & environmental impact. Odourless mineral spirits, lavender spike oil or citrus-based solvents are all better alternatives. You CAN use these solvents safely…

BUT many artists don’t have a dedicated work space or good ventilation & want to eliminate the risk altogether.

So here’s how to paint solvent free!

Solvent, in painting, just means what you use to break down paints. For most paints this is water but oil paints require something stronger.

There are special water soluble oil paints which are the same as other oils in every way except they’re designed to be broken down in water. If I was starting out today buying oils for the first time I’d seriously consider them as I t’s a great way to paint solvent free. (Or at least harmful solvent free)

But if you’re using traditional oils the way to go solvent free is to substitute linseed or safflower oil in place of your solvent. These vegetable oils are non-toxic & don’t give off fumes. Most artists use solvent to thin paint to create a washes for underpainting or to clean the paint off brushes before soap and water but you can do this with oil medium like many old masters. You can also use solvent free mediums that are made by some brands to create flow in your painting.

There are a few drawbacks to painting solvent free. You won’t be able to create thin washes with oil medium as you need to follow the fat over lean rule. You have to stay vigilant about the fire risk that comes from using oil mediums (see my other videos on this). Oil-soaked rags should be dried flat & stored in an Oily Rag Safety Can like this JustRite (link in bio). & it can take a little bit longer to clean the paint out of your brushes.

But overall you can absolutely get the most out of oil paints without solvents & it’s very easy to do!!!