Catherine asked recently “What is walnut alkyd? No toxicity with linseed oil? I paint at home which is a condo with 1 bedroom and a den so ventilation is an issue.”
I’ve been having quite a few conversations recently around painting in oil and associated toxicity. I’ve pretty well evicted toxic solvents from my studio.
I’ve not used Walnut alkyd but will probably try it sometime. According to the description, it is completely non-toxic: “This special medium was developed to provide a non-toxic, environmentally responsible alternative to solvent based, rapid drying alkyd mediums. It closely resembles combinations of sun-thickened oil and natural resins used throughout the history of art, but with the advantage of being solvent-free.” : https://www.dickblick.com/products/m-graham-walnut-alkyd-medium/
Linseed oil, food quality rather than our Artists variety, is sold as supplement at health food stores and so I am pretty sure that it is quite low toxicity. Linseed oil does smell of linseed of course, which I like….my dad would oil his cricket bats with it when I was young.
At present, I use linseed oil exclusively. In early stages I might rub in a base with paint and linseed oil on a rag, later moderating the flow of paint with linseed too: I’ve some very stiff paint that takes some (considerable) persuading to get out of the tube and additional oil is essential. Finally, I might use linseed oil for glazing. Linseed oil is known to yellow over time and alternatives include walnut, poppy seed and safflower. Linseed has however been a mainstay throughout history and other oils may have other drawbacks, cracking being one, apparently.
Instead of solvent I use I use baby oil for brush cleaning, Following a painting session I wipe the brushes on newspaper and with paper towel, getting as much paint out as I can. Stiff brushes (which for me are the vast majority) then go head first into a tub of baby oil and stay there. Fine brushes are suspended (generally with bulldog clips) so that the tips do not curl up at the bottom. Some artists wipe out the baby oil and then store their brushes. This should also work well because the baby oil residue should not dry.
At my next painting session, I just wipe and squeeze out as much baby oil as I can. At this stage, my brushes might not be 100% clean, so I will then look to see what remnants may be lurking in the bristles and allocate that brush for a color-compatible purpose. I will (very) occasionally refresh the baby oil. I do tend to paint quite thickly and any baby oil residue is inconsequential.
Don’t try painting with baby oil as it is non- drying..unless you like painting wet-on-wet for ever! Hmmm………….
Another area of toxicity is the pigments themselves (Cadmium vs Cadmium hue for example) and in this respect there is no fundamental difference between toxicity of oils, acrylics and watercolours. Cadmium is Cadmium regardless of medium. I now feel a follow-on post is in the offing!
Break-a-Brush!
David