Can you safely paint indoors with oils? What kind of ventilation would be needed?

Answer 1

Oil paints themselves do not give off fumes - linseed oil, the binder in oil paints - is a vegetable product and does not evaporate as fumes - rather, it "cures" through oxidation.

It's thinners and varnishes that are problematic. More and more people are discovering sensitivities to petroleum-based products, especially children and the elderly, and a lot of artists who are repeatedly exposed to them. Even the "odorless" thinners can cause serious allergic reactions.

You can reduce or even eliminate petroleum solvents and varnishes (and the need for excessive ventilation) by the following:

- Use citrus-based thinners to clean brushes. You can also add these thinners to thin your paint, although they are a bit oily and dry a bit more slowly.

- Use mineral oil to remove paint residue from brushes, then wash in regular soap or commercial brush cleaners like Masters etc. Intolerant artists used this method many years before so-called "odorless" solvents appeared.

- Use a brush-on rather than spray varnish. Try a Mineral Solvent Acrylic varnish - both Golden (MSA) and Winsor-Newton make one, and more will likely follow.

Answer 2

Yes you can, make sure you are in a room with an open window and preferably a fan to draw the air out of the room.
Store your paint thinner in a coffee can with a lid at your feet when you want to rinse your brushes take the lid off the can and swish the brush..then return the lid. It will cut down on fumes. Your stand oil and thinner should be fine its only a small amount of fumes. Make sure that you take a break every couple of hours and go outside for fresh air.
Also if you have pets make sure your pallet is stored safely out of reach.

Answer 3

whenver u paint indoors it good to keep the windows open and use fans for better ventilation and make sure to take breaks every ones in a while (go outside take in some fresh air) after word maybe go out for a while the paint dries a little


use ur noggin

Answer 4

I have painted for a long time and a couple of years ago I switched to water soluable oils such as Max 2 and it has made a big difference in my sinus problems. Brushes can be cleaned with soap and water rather than turpentine,, etc.

Answer 5

if painting walls just open a window and take breaks once in a while, unless if by oil paints u mean painting a picture than no. just dont spray paint inside a house.

Answer 6

You certainly can, I have done so for years...ventilation is a good idea but i've got no harm from the fumes though if you live with another it is best to be flexiable as it can be very antisocial!!

Answer 7

i paint inside my garage studio with oils all the time... =)
No ventelation what so ever, but it would be a good idea to get some fresh air every so often

Answer 8

Well I'm sure you can, if you follow the advice of the other answerers,
but be careful, I have a couple of college art teachers who lost their sense of smell!