Studio and Sustainability

I try to run a healthy and environmentally friendly studio using non-toxic and non-volatile materials. I avoid hazardous pigments and heavy metals, and use all vegetable-based oil as painting mediums.

Pigments. I think pigments are fascinating. I use either non-toxic or minimally toxic pigments. This includes traditional earth and mineral pigments (the many various iron oxides and earths, carbon, and ultramarine blue). I also use more modern, non-toxic or minimally toxic industrial-era dyes and pigments (hansa yellow, quinacridones, dioxazine purple, phthalo). Titanium white is my standard white and I occasionally add zinc white for portraits.

Mediums. I use a simple painting method. I use safflower oil for almost all purposes for painting and glazing. Occasionally linseed or stand (linseed) oil. I use Gamblin paints which use only linseed oil and sometimes safflower oil as their medium.

Varnish. I use Gamvar varnishes which emit a little bit of fumes but are largely quick to dissipate and odorless. They require a little bit of odorless mineral spirit to clean the brush but is pretty minimal.