On Wednesday I went over some of the health benefits that I found as an artist so today I thought I would go over some of the hazards as well.

  To thin the oil paint either to clean it off your brushes or to make it easier to spread, requires a solvent of some sort. Some of these are more harmful then others with turpentine at the top of the list. Not to many oil painters use genuine "pine" turpentine any more including myself. It's a shame because that is the "smell" associated with an oil painters studio. That leaves you with either odorless thinner or "natural" thinner made from citrus fruit products. Of the two, I went with the odorless thinner as I have heard that the natural products have limits as far as to how good they can clean brushes and work as a painting medium.

  After selecting a solvent, the next concern is how to ventilate the fumes. I must admit , this is where I am the most negligent as far as my health is concerned. You are asked to have a fan of some sort blowing fumes out the window, but opening the window is as far as I get right now.

  Once you get your solvent thing going, the next concern is getting paint on your hands and body. You are taught not to drink, smoke, and eat while painting. I know artists that "cheat" including myself, but the main thing is not to leave paint on your body for long and if you work "neat" that is kept to a minimum anyway.

  Thats it for now, leave me your thoughts and comments as always. Take care, have a great weekend, and I'll see you again on Monday.


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