As someone who is suffering from erythena nomosis (question spelling?) since April, I have been limited to using only my colored pencils, watercolors and gouache for my paintings. Why? Because the dermatologist has banned me from oil painting. EN is an inflammation of the bottom layer of the epidermis. I have it in my lower left leg. It can be caused by a variety of things, but with me it was the toxins in oil paints and accessories. I stopped using them and voila, the large lumps in my leg started shrinking. It will take up to eight months for them to completely go away. Such a condition is not life threatening, but it is painful like a bad bruise. Why am I writing all of this? Because the dermatologist made the point to me that the "old masters" may have had such a condition and did not know what it was. I am not saying everyone will get this condition, but I did and I sure do wish I hadn't.

My husband is a chemical engineer and has worked contract for almost every plant in this country and beyond. The levels of fumes that are in the air while using oil painting materials would cause immediate shut down in the majority of those plants (so would the fumes from pumping gas in your car by the way). You may use these things and nothing may ever happen to you, but such was not the case with me.

Enter Genesis paints. I can't wait to try them. I love my colored pencils and will continue to use them. Even with some of the prejudice (not on this Forum) against this medium being a legitimate art. The flexibility of these paints sounds like what I have been waiting on. With colored pencils, if one of my children (5 and 3) gets sick, or my husband has a last minute sales trip, etc., I can set them down and pick them up two days later. Is such the case with Genesis? I hope so. I sure do want to oil paint again.

They may find tomorrow that Genesis paints have some deadly side effect, but until then I am watching daily for the UPS truck. I know what the other did to me.

Just my story,
Rebecca

Yup. You can let 'em sit for a year and they won't dry until you cook 'em! The very best part is that you don't even have to clean your brushes if you don't want to. BTW, I really like the Genesis brand brushes for these paints...they have just the right "snap."

Rebecca,

I think it's unfortunate of what has happened to you. Chemicals affect people in so many ways depending on our own individual tolerance and our own body chemistry. You know that lobster is a delicacy for most people, but my brother would drop dead if he ate one, because he is terribly allergic to it. I met in Texas a former painter who used to work as a chemist for Grumbacher and who had developed a blood disease from exposure to toxic pigments. In my case, I lived in polluted Chicago for many years without any health problems but since I moved to Alabama less than 2 yeras ago, I have developed a respiratory allergy to the pollen of some beautiful trees that grow in this State. I have always used rectified turpertine for painting because I think it's the best thinner, but now the fumes irritate my lungs so much, that I have to interrupt my painting constantly because of the cough. I'm not saying that turpentine caused my allergy, but certainly aggravates it. On the positive side I must admit that we are very fortunate nowdays because we have so many choices of substitutes that were unknown to the Old Masters. Painting, like any other occupation has its inner risks and benefits.

Karin,

I respect your decision and I won't argue the effects of solvents and toxic pigments. I am well aware of the possible risks. And although I am willing to live with them I certainly don't mean to try to tell anyone else what is best for them.

I really do feel, though, that it is a kind of random event as to who will get sick and who will not. I look and see that Norman Rockwell lived well into his 90s. Whereas my niece, who had little or no exposure to toxins of any kind, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the age of only 9 years. But that is just my view of the world. I try and not worry about things much; you roll your dice and get what you get.

As for the Genesis paints, I feel that your paintings will be just fine. Although these newer materials may or may not turn out to contain toxins of their own, I would not worry about their longevity. Acrylic paints, as well as acrylic resin-based paints like the Genesis paints, may not have years of history to prove it yet, but by their chemistry alone they should tend to be more stable and hold up better than traditional oil paints. In fact, the only reasons traditional oil paintings last as long as they do is because we have learned over many years of use the proper way to apply them, and what will and won't stand up over time.

Who knows, time may show that not only will you outlive us painters using traditional oil paints due to our exposure to possible health risks, but your work may outlive ours as well due to the advancements in modern paint technology. :)

Another route
 

I am not a doctor nor a scientist, but I have the expertise of my own personal experiences to draw upon. Growing up, I had severe allergies and during hay fever season I used to walk around with a box of tissues under my arm blowing my nose constantly. I was tested by an allergist and it was determined I was sensitive to the dust and pollen which, in turn, caused me to sneeze and be congested. I received allergy shots which were some help, but not much.

When I came to NY I met someone who was very food conscious and pointed out the perils of processed foods, meat and dairy products. I eliminated these from my diet and within weeks my allergies disappeared. Four years later because of my life

Funny you should mention it Marvin, I got soooo sick this past year from using Liquin and other aromatic toxins, that I now follow a Macrobiotic diet. As long as I stay on it, I am not bothered much by allergic reactions to nearly everything...but I am verrry careful about what I use in the studio.

Michael, I have used a lot of toxic materials over the years and had absolutely no adverse reaction to them...until I did. When I hurt bad enough, I became willing to make some radical changes.

I don't waste much time worrying about toxins. I simply eliminate those that I can from my life. I am glad that you are healthy. And with such a strong constitution, I am confident that you will stay that way.

Hello to all.

One of the members of my household is an asthmatic and any solvent would set her attacks off. From the time I was 14 years old, she would sit with me whilst I painted. With age, she developed asthma.

So I used the illness as an opportunity to learn to paint without solvents and pigments with no pronounced drying properties. Brushes are wiped clean on paper rags, washed in sunflower oil or soap if I am done for the week. The studio is more or less scent free.

Today, everything is as it was when I was 14. Life is good.

Yin and yang food
 

Karin,

I've been on the macrobiotic diet on and off since 1971 through 1985 and continuously since then. I experience great focus and sensitivity as a result. Macrobiotic Portrait Artists of the Universal Church of Academic Realism. Wanna join?

It would seem that life is a bit of a genetic crap shoot. My grandmother, Lyda B. Davis, painted most of her adult life. She used linseed oil and turp. She constantly smoked Winston cigarettes as she painted. I can remember as a little whipper sitting and watching her paint. She died at the age of 92. Personally, I have never passed up the opportunity to consume a good chili dog (not to mention all that Pepsi), I have always been healthy as a horse.

With everyone's indulgence I am going to now post one of my grandmothers paintings. She would like it that she has now passed her influence through a part of three centuries.

OK Marvin, I qualify. Where do I sign up?

Mike, I think your grandmother's work is really beautiful. Along with her talent, you must have inherited her strong constitution...so many of our fragile and aging bodies can't withstand so much sustained abuse.