Entertainment, Part Eight: Painting

Rembrandt Peale, Raphael, Vincent van Gogh are the most notable chemically sensitive painters in art history. I've already included information about Peale in my post titled, "The Weirdness Awards". In the 1700s, his family and friends did not understanding chemical sensitivity and thought his weird behavior was due to excessive drinking. Raphael died from lead poisoning. Before anyone had any understanding of the ramifications of chemical exposures, it was common practice to put a paint brush dipped in lead-based paint in your mouth to sharpen the tip for detail painting. I think most people have heard of Vincent van Gogh cutting off his ear. There are several medical theories behind his behavior: schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and/or depression, all conditions with connections to chemicals.  Lead-based paint was incredibly poisonous, and paints these days although slightly less deadly, are still made with toxic chemicals that reek havoc not only on the health of MCSers, but also non-sensitive artists as well.

What to do if you love to paint? I've tried giving it up. It calls to me. Since giving it up doesn't work, I've found alternatives and safety precautions that work for me.

Pillows
(Low VOC House Paint)

My safety practices include:

1.) Whiff testing. To find out if any paint will kill you, you'll need to sample it to see if it'll cause a reaction. I know that sounds absolutely insane so this level of courage (stupidity?) is only for those not willing to give up their love of painting.  I research what I'm considering in advance, ask experts, read documentation, ask other painters, and make sure my toxic load is low before I start the whiffing. With this backup information, I feel fairly confident I can tolerate one half whiff, but I know I'll only get one chance if I react. On many occasion I've paid for it with an afternoon of illness or an excruciating migraine. Many of you won't be able to do this at all.

Walls, Chair, Mirror
(Low VOC House Paint)

2.)  I try to paint mostly during the summer for optimum ventilation and faster drying, however, during the winter when it gets cold and I get bored (no gardening!) I'll paint an interior wall, or a ceiling, or a floor.

3.)  I limit how much I paint as my tolerance is dependent on my toxic load at the time. I can usually expose myself for one to two weeks, maybe an hour a day, before I must stop.

4.) Ventilation is extremely important so when possible I paint moveable objects in my garage which has doors on each end and use a fan on high to help the air move the smell away from me.

 

 

Painted Quilts
(Low VOC House Paint)

5.)  I avoid painting near any high-use living space.  When I paint interior rooms I seal them off with tarps and sheets, open windows, use fans and do not return for days until the paint is dried and cured. (I did, unfortunately, use an extra toxic paint on my upstairs floors and couldn't use the whole upstairs for nine months.)

Desk (Low VOC House Paint)
Painting (Acrylic Paint)

6.)  I use body protection devices: respirators or masks, aprons, gloves and goggles. I read a study that concluded our eyes inhale fumes and you really don't want to be touching the paint.

I've tried several different types of breathing protection devices. The first was $100 high tech respirator with fancy filters, but because it was made of plastic, it offgassed plastic fumes. I also found a mask specifically for fumes at the local hardware store. Oddly enough, it smelled, too. I wondered if it was treated with some kind of masking chemical? Lately I've been using a 3M 8577 Particulate Respirator with an air valve. Although it's not for fumes, it seems to work fine. Still, it helps to have a fan on high blowing the fumes away from me at all times.

Paints:

The strong smells associated with oil paints and the methods of using turpentine or mineral spirits for thinning or clean up is enough to make any MCSer unable to be in the same room with a canvas. Many artists not chemically sensitive can't tolerate oil paints either.

Pillow (Acrylic Paint)

I switched to acrylic paints early, long before I became chemically sensitive. As a water-based medium, clean up was much easier and it was thought to be a safe, scent-free medium. Unfortunately, if you are chemically sensitive, even acrylic paints stink. I was always restricted to how long I could paint and when my toxic load had reached its limit, I'd have to stop. It didn't seem to matter how many precautions I took, it always made me slightly ill. On occasion I still use acrylics for small items that need a hardy surface like lamps, boxes, light switch plates, etc., but I make sure there is a lot of ventilation.

Having moved into a house that needed rooms painted, I began researching low VOC interior house paints. What this means is the paint base has little toxic chemicals. Adding color adds more chemicals creating more toxicity. Some brands offer nearly no VOC, but you are limited to whites and very light pastels. Unfortunately, I love color so I've been willing to sacrifice a little safety in order to get it.

Switch Plates
(Low VOC House Paint)

Currently there are many brands of low VOC house paint on the market. Some are good and clearly less hazardous; others are just as bad as regular paint. With the popularity of low VOC paints, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and some brands are obviously using "low VOC" as some kind of marketing ploy yet they still stink so I'm not sure what makes them less toxic. The typical paint store employee will regurgitate the latest sales propaganda on why they are supposed to be non-toxic, but few really know what they are talking about. I found the Rodda paint Horizon to be adequate. I still practice all my safety precautions and it still has a bit of a smell, but within two hours the smell is gone. 

Table & Chairs
(Low VOC House Paint)

I recently discovered Martha Stewart Living low VOC paint just as they discontinued the brand when they were closing out and bought nearly every color in small, seven ounce containers. I don't notice a smell while using it and hardly need a mask.  Glidden low VOC paint is what Martha Steward Living is recommending as a replacement for the colors, but I don't find it nearly as non-toxic as Horizon.

Using my safety precautions listed above, I have painted walls, furniture, canvases, paper and fabric with low VOC interior house paint. I doubt if it is washable so painting fabric has it's limitations.

Painted Quilt on Ceiling
(Low VOC House Paint
& Acrylic Paint)

Due to the limited amount of chemicals used, low VOC paint is recommended only for vertical surfaces. Paint on horizontal surfaces leaves a tacky texture and everything sticks to the surface. Durability is dependent on the number of chemicals used in the paint formula so low VOC is a bit of a sacrifice in quality. Technology is improving quickly so some of the newer brands might be better. For furniture that needs a durable surface, I use Miniwax Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finish. It does stink so wear a mask and use a fan with open doors or windows. It also dries fast and after a few hours I can't smell it.

Currently, I'm still trying to give up painting so now I'm trying my hand at watercolor. It doesn't have any noticeable smell, but based on what I've read if you plan to use any color with cadmium and expect to touch it, wear gloves. It's that toxic! Who would have known? Still, this style of painting is the lesser of evils. Now if I can only get the hang of it so I can give up the other media for good!

I have also heard milk paint is relatively safe although I have not tried it.

Any other alternatives? Suggestions?

Entertainment, Part Seven: Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts can be very problematic for anyone who is chemically sensitive. The book Artist Beware, by Michael McCann, is 591 pages of nearly every art material and process and their associated toxicities, listing chemicals, health hazards, and suggesting safety precautions. Warning: After reading about your favorite art activity, you may never want to do it again!

Dye-Stamped Fabric

Years ago, I used to design and print fabric using professional dyes requiring proper ventilation and body protection. I was constantly warned about the health hazards of these materials and the ramifications of not taking proper precautions. Did I listen? No. And I couldn't afford the fancy ventilation systems or respirators. Did this contribute to my fall into MCS hell? Probably.

One summer I signed on to  demonstrate and sell hand-stamped fabrics at a medieval faire. In the Middle Ages dyers didn't use respirators, electric fans or plastic gloves, and many of them didn't live long either. To work at this faire, I was required to be historically authentic so no safety precautions were allowed. I can do that! Funny how we always think we are immortal and impervious to danger. It didn't take too long before I would work with dyes for three hours, and be sick unable to get out of bed for three days. Needless to say, my career as a medieval dyer didn't last long.  

Acrylic-Stamped Fabric
(background dyed with rose water)

Eventually I did go back to printing fabric, but unable to use dyes I replaced them with acrylic paint. Unfortunately, acrylic paint doesn't feel like dyed fabric as the texture is stiff making it somewhat unsuitable for clothing. And acrylic paint, although washable, is not as permanent. However, it still afforded me the luxury of doing what I loved without the poisoning. For a while, anyway.

For many, art calls to us, serves as a form of expression, and even gives meaning to life.  People always ask me, "Should you really be doing that? Isn't that as bad as perfume or any other toxic chemical?" Well, yeah, sometimes it is, but it's perfume wearers who are usually asking the question and believe it or not, perfume is more toxic to me than any art supply. Even so, giving up our artistic drive isn't always an easy option, so we need to find ways to practice what we love to do without killing ourselves. 

I tend to judge the toxicity of art supplies and processes based on smell because for me smell is a clear indication of chemical offgassing. My burning nostrils and constricting throat don't lie. However, I understand many chemicals don't smell.  Then I ask, is it making me sick? Nausea? Headaches? Dizziness? Joint Pain? Fatigue?

Here are my choices for relatively safe creative expression media:

Pencil

Drawing  Materials used for drawing such as graphite, pencils, charcoal, Conté crayons, wax crayons, pastels, and ink are often less toxic than other art media due to lack of fumes. However, many of them are made with toxic chemicals such as lead chromate, cadmium, and manganese. Felt-tip markers and some inks often contain toluene and xylene, both cancer-causing agents. Toluene is found in all perfumes. Even relatively non-toxic drawing materials still may produce lung-irritating dust.  Graphite and pencils are the least problematic.

Rose Bead Bracelets

Beading  Beads may be made with nearly any type of material so non-toxic options are plentiful. Glass, wood, and ceramic beads have been around for centuries and are relatively non-toxic. I used to make rose beads from mashed up rose petals. Rose beads have a long tradition and a fascinating symbolic and religious history. They have been found in 4,000 year old Egyptian tombs (still smelling like roses!) and are associated with religions from all over the world. Catholic rosaries were once made from rose beads as roses and the rosary were thought to represent the Virgin Mary. Today, many rosaries are still made with carved rosewood beads. I've made rose beads from dried rose hips as well. These beads stink to high heaven, but I don't have any issues with them probably because they aren't made with chemicals. I'd be concerned with beads made from plastic or made in China.

Fiber Arts  Get some nice sheep, maybe a friendly angora goat or extra hairy rabbit and make your own yarns and threads for weaving, knitting, and crocheting. Use natural dyes for colors if desire. This is an art form I've always wanted to learn and think it might be a suitable substitute for fabric design printing. Some day. Another substitute for dyed fabric design is quilting. All you need is a sewing kit, a sewing machine, and massive amounts of organic fabric! With fiber arts, there are many creative options.

Painting  I'm not going to exclude painting although it's fairly toxic. I do it anyway...bad, bad, me!  Too much information so it gets its own post!

What art alternatives have you found to be suitable?