Oil Paint vs Acrylic Paint
As an artist who almost exclusively paints with oil paint, I get this question a lot.
The simple answer is no, oil paint is not toxic. The paint itself is made of a pigment which is ground into an oil base. The oil base can be made with linseed (most common), walnut (my preference), poppy, safflower and other less common sources. The pigments were originally from natural sources such as; mineral salts, semi-precious stones, cadmium sulfide, crushed cochineal beetles, various natural clays, buckthorn berries, bones and charcoal to name a few. Some modern day paints still use these sources while others have adopted synthetic sources to achieve similar pigments. While some of these pigments do contain toxic properties, when handled correctly in the studio they do not pose a risk to the artist. (ie: do not eat)
The solvents used in oil painting can be toxic, however again when handled correctly this is not an issue. A solvent can be used to clean the brushes and sometimes thin the paint. Solvents that are toxic include turpentine, taltine and mineral spirits. While many artists use these products you can also clean your brushes with soap and water (I use dish soap as it has grease/oil cutting properties) and use mediums such as alkyd to thin your paint instead, thereby avoiding contact with these more volatile solvents altogether.
I don't use an alkyd because I don't want to speed the drying time of the paint. If I want the paint thinner so I can add fine lines and details to my work, I use a small amount of the taltine and/or walnut oil. Every painter has their own preference in this regard.
If you do decide to use a solvent a simple rule to keeping toxic fumes to a minimum is to use in a well ventilated area and to keep the solvent covered at all times. Clean your brushes then tightly close the container so that the fumes are not evaporating into the air of your studio. And of course, always keep solvents away from heat or flame.
As with any activity that you do always read the labels of the products that you are using and follow the directions.
I also get this question a lot. This simple answer is ounce for ounce yes, they do cost more; however the properties of oil paints differ to acrylic in that I can get a lot of coverage from one 150ml tube of oil paint vs one 5oz tube of acrylic paint. Note here that 150ml roughly equals 5oz.
Here's an example; at the time of this writing a 150ml tube of Graham brand Cadmium yellow light at a local art supply store is $68. The same colour and size tube of Golden brand acrylic is $35. So basically the oil is double the cost of the acrylic. Now I paint landscapes, so a 150ml tube of yellow cadmium will last me about 12 months or more during which time I average 6 to 10 completed artworks per month. So the $68 is really quite reasonable.
What I tell students who are just starting out is to try both mediums. Take some acrylic classes and take some oil classes. Then go with the medium that excited you the most. For me, its oil paint all the way. I use acrylic when I paint outdoors; en plein air, because I find the acrylic easier to manage when you are 2 hours down a trail in the forest. Water is easier and safer to carry than a paint solvent. And the painting is basically dry by the time I want to head back down the trail to my car. Kudos to those of you who use oil paint during your plein air sessions.
If you want to try oils without a major commitment, I offer monthly introductory oil painting classes; all supplies included. You can visit my website for more information and register for a class on my Eventbrite page.
Happy exploring!!
Is oil paint toxic?
The solvents used in oil painting can be toxic, however again when handled correctly this is not an issue. A solvent can be used to clean the brushes and sometimes thin the paint. Solvents that are toxic include turpentine, taltine and mineral spirits. While many artists use these products you can also clean your brushes with soap and water (I use dish soap as it has grease/oil cutting properties) and use mediums such as alkyd to thin your paint instead, thereby avoiding contact with these more volatile solvents altogether.
I don't use an alkyd because I don't want to speed the drying time of the paint. If I want the paint thinner so I can add fine lines and details to my work, I use a small amount of the taltine and/or walnut oil. Every painter has their own preference in this regard.
If you do decide to use a solvent a simple rule to keeping toxic fumes to a minimum is to use in a well ventilated area and to keep the solvent covered at all times. Clean your brushes then tightly close the container so that the fumes are not evaporating into the air of your studio. And of course, always keep solvents away from heat or flame.
As with any activity that you do always read the labels of the products that you are using and follow the directions.
Do oil paints cost more than acrylic?
Here's an example; at the time of this writing a 150ml tube of Graham brand Cadmium yellow light at a local art supply store is $68. The same colour and size tube of Golden brand acrylic is $35. So basically the oil is double the cost of the acrylic. Now I paint landscapes, so a 150ml tube of yellow cadmium will last me about 12 months or more during which time I average 6 to 10 completed artworks per month. So the $68 is really quite reasonable.
What I tell students who are just starting out is to try both mediums. Take some acrylic classes and take some oil classes. Then go with the medium that excited you the most. For me, its oil paint all the way. I use acrylic when I paint outdoors; en plein air, because I find the acrylic easier to manage when you are 2 hours down a trail in the forest. Water is easier and safer to carry than a paint solvent. And the painting is basically dry by the time I want to head back down the trail to my car. Kudos to those of you who use oil paint during your plein air sessions.
If you want to try oils without a major commitment, I offer monthly introductory oil painting classes; all supplies included. You can visit my website for more information and register for a class on my Eventbrite page.
Happy exploring!!
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