Studio and Sustainability

I try to use non-toxic and non-volatile materials as much as possible. I do not use hazardous pigments or heavy metal pigments (cadmium, lead, cobalt, etc.) I use only vegetable-based oils and beeswax as painting mediums.

Pigments. I use only 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 modern, non-toxic or minimally toxic industrial-era dyes and pigments (hansa yellows, quinacridones, dioxazine purple, phthalo greens and blues). I use titanium and zinc whites. I apply a ground of linseed oil, titanium white, and marble dust on the canvas before painting.

Mediums. I use a simple painting method. I use safflower oil for almost all purposes for painting and glazing, including as my main medium, with some use of linseed and stand (also linseed) oils. I use Gamblin paints which use only linseed oil and sometimes safflower oil as their medium. I sometimes use a wax medium made from beeswax and linseed oil.

Varnish. I use a diluted alkyd resin mixed for glazing before varnishing, and then Gamvar varnishes which emit a low level of fumes but are largely quick to dissipate and odorless. These require odorless mineral spirits for cleaning and dilution.