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Posted
Tessa, I bought a tube of the Nitram Liquid Charcoal a while ago and was really disappointed with it. The advertising blurb said it has the consistency of oil paint and could be watered down if necessary - mine came out of the tube completely runny and I gave up with it - especially when I saw a warning on the back of the tube saying it contains a chemical known to cause cancer! Did keep it, though, and may try to find a use for it.Jenny I found similar scary hazard warnings for alcohol inks which were lovely to use, but now out of sight, out of mind! It pays to investigate some of this stuff before buying.
Posted
You find these warnings on materials because the manufacturers are obliged by law to put them there - but that doesn't mean the materials are necessarily going to jump out and bite you. Be aware, yes - of course. Be hygienic in the studio (or corner of the spare room..): don't leave hazardous materials where children, or animals (or idiots..) can get at them. Ventilate if you're using solvents. Don't have a ham sandwich in one hand and a tube of lead white in the other. Don't drink paint water (I bet we all have, though).
If you take a look at the products you use to clean your house and wash your dishes and clothes, however, you'll find them chock full of dangerous chemicals (if they're going to work at all). But you don't chug back the bleach when you're thirsty: you keep it out of the way of childish hands; you don't rub shampoo into your eyes for the sheer thrill of the thing; you don't wash your hair with Swarfega, or polish your furniture with wire wool. All of these, and many more, substances would be lethal if ingested - nothing in paint (with one exception) is anything like as dangerous as items you probably use every day: (the exception is genuine Chinese vermilion, which contains mercury - you're not going to be cleaning your teeth with that, either; but it's the one paint I tend to avoid - plus, it costs a fortune.
The one thing oil painters need to be particularly careful with is Flake, Cremnitz, Flemish, or Stack Lead white - i.e. basic lead chromate. The danger of that doesn't lie in getting it on your hands - it won't penetrate skin; better kept out of open wounds, though - but sanding it down and inhaling particles of it; you should avoid doing that, and if you make your own, you need gloves, an effective mask, and excellent ventilation. If it worries you, you can always wear rubber gloves; and of course, always be sure to wash your hands once you've used any paint.
Solvents - ALL solvents - are dangerous to a greater or lesser degree: so either don't use them (it's perfectly possible) or use dippers with lids - and open the window.
A little bit of cautious intelligence can minimize all risk: don't be frightened of "toxic" paint, or conned into buying allegedly "non-toxic" paint either - it isn't (yet) good enough to replace the metal-based paints, though will add another string to the bow if you want to try them.
Posted
Bet my shaggy ink caps were fairly toxic...never gave it a thought I must admit . Get more piddled off by my next door neighbour ( Mr Big Red Face). Who throws insecticides around with great abandon.. now they do have carcinogens in them , get into the food chain, poison my birds .,kills the insects ...grrrrr Sam go for him...
Posted
I have read the Shaggy Inkcaps are not toxic, but as they quickly turn to an inky mush after being picked, you have to be quick if you are brave enough to try and eat them - I haven't been....yet. But at least if you make Shaggy Ink Cap ink you are probably OK, though I have no idea how permanently it stains the fingers!
Posted
This is lovely! I'm very impressed - you've dashed it off with real panache. The colours are perfectly autumnal and harmonise well.
I know how hard it is to paint in watercolours because I just started at the weekend. I did my second today, from my imagination. It's way over-tinted, I know, but it was good practice.
