Safe Non Toxic Oil Painting // 6 Tips for Your Health

For more information on non toxic oil painting go to The Daily Artist post: chrisbeaven.com/tool/safe-non-toxic-oil-painting-6…

Thank you for getting the word out about healthy oil painting practices. I tell people that I don't use solvents and they are always surprised to hear it. I don't use Gamsol, no need. I clean my brushes using sunflower oil, that's right the same that I use for cooking bought from the grocery store, trust me it works exactly the same and it is sooo much cheaper, I've been using this for years and it works wonderfully. I do a final cleaning of my brushes afterwards to remove any trace of sunflower oil because I don't want my painting layers taking any longer to dry than they do already. I use an eco friendly dish soap with natural surfectants to remove the remaining traces of sunflower oil and oil paint. I love Gamblin solvent free mediums, to me they smell a bit sweet like blueberry, very pleasant to use. I also use their oil paints almost exclusively.

This video confirms I was on the right track when I switched to non-toxic oil painting. I clean my brushes more often just because I don't want leftover pigments creating undesirable tints in colors I'm mixing. I hadn't thought about not snacking on paint right out of the tube, though. Maybe I'll just keep some pistachios or cashews close by for emergencies.

I've been a colored pencil artist for years and years, and started acrylic painting about 5 years ago. Last time I touched oils was in high school 25 years ago. I've wanted to get back into them so badly, but have been very turned off by the toxicity. I have 6 cats and 2 dogs and I want us ALL to be safe. My studio is an extra bedroom with only one window and I've had the same issue for ventilation in winter. So I had basically given up on oils again. I found this video today, and I'm on my way to order a few supplies along with the Gamlin medium you mentioned and safflower oil! You've given me hope to try again! Thank you! You have a new subscriber!

Thank you so much for sharing alternative ways of creating beautiful art, without using toxic harmful substances. As an artist I completely get it, because I got really sick from using all the products mentioned in this video. Creator didn’t give artist this gift to make us sick!

I worry about my longterm health, especially with oil. This is one of the most incredible mediums, but can have bad long-term health consequences if you are not consistently careful, for decades before problems arise - I've seen other artists who are ~45, and their bodies are damaged so heavily, they physically can't use some fluids in painting anymore, the fumes over the decades really got to them. This is a really important video!

This is basically a comprehensive answer to the question I’ve been researching!! I came up with a lot of the same solutions but god I would have loved to just have seen this video sooner! Thank you for making it!

I absolutely love the solvent/shower analogy. Makes absolute sense! Definitely going to take these steps once I’m ready to take the leap to oils. What an awesome channel!

DUUUUUDE!!! Thank you for this! I’m wanting to venture into oils after several years with Acrylics. This has been the video loaded with the wisdom I’ve needed. Thank you!

I only painted with oil once in my life and it turned out beautiful. Recently, I decided to learn painting with oils exclusively but after my research on the safety I almost dumped that idea. After all there is nothing more beautiful than health. You gave me my hopes back. I really look forward now to purchasing the non toxic materials you mentioned. Thank you so much!

Finally, I found someone on YouTube that knows what they are talking about. Excellent advice. Thank you. By the way, the good sense of humor on the video outtakes made it even better. Thanks again.

Oh! I am SO with you!!! I love the solvent free gel and discovered that it can clean your brushes too but will try their safflower oil! THANKS! Have had to move into a claustrophobic almost airless small er apt, and just do not want to give up oil painting or paint in the car or outside. Thanks for a fun and helpful video!!

Thanks for making this it was really helpful. I just started taking a class on oil painting and some people I know mentioned how bad it was for you. I have a really small workspace at home so the non-toxic options are really helpful for when I wanna start painting on my own without worry.

It's wonderful that there are now so many artist on YouTube explaining how to remove toxic supplies from oil painting. This is the first video of yours that I found and watched. I mentioned in a comment on one of your other videos that it's been years since I've painted...two big reasons for that: 1. I've never had a good location to set up my oil painting studio and 2. I was concerned about the toxicity of oil paint. I just discovered the concept of non toxic oil painting during covid. I didn't realize that the solvents (for the most part) are the major toxic element and that there are other options. O boy, was I excited to find out about that. Thanks for all the info!

Exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you!

Dude. You've saved my life, and brought back oils into my life. Thank you!

Thank you for this great explanation! You have made oil painting so much more accessible.

You have put a lot of work into this video and it has paid off! That said, the video was also a lot of fun, with the artist’s lively and loud sense of humour shining through throughout.

✍Don't eat ✍ your oil ✍ paints. ✍ Gotcha. 😂

This is EXACTLY what I needed to know!!! Thank you so much!!