Oil paints used in the same room where Societys are.

[Aga]

I like painting and I use oil paints sometimes. I have always been doing this in separate room because the fumes hurt the birds. However I have never found a mention about oil paints on lists with substances which may hurt bird. The pigments are: titanium white, phathalo blue, sap green, lemon yellow, among others. And I never use air-fresheners, nail polishes, nail polish removers, body sprays, insect sprays or candles in my room where the cage stands, which is obvious. What about oil paints?

[cindy]

I painted in oils and acrylic for years. Oil paint has a definate odor and is usally thinned with linseed oil and brushes cleaned in turpentine. When I was using oils it could be smelled through out the upstairs.

My suggestion is to remove the birds from your room and place them somewhere away from the paint and thinners and and drying works of art.

I eventually switched to acrylics and other water based medium!!

Interesting article on liseed oil (A resin)
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/ ... 546&page=1

Turpentine is also a resin.
http://www.drugs.com/npp/turpentine.html

I would be on the safe side and say opt for happy healthy birds and paint elswhere in a well ventilated room way away from you finches.

[L in Ontario]

And if it's the birds you are wanting to paint - I'd recommend taking lots of pictures and painting from the photos.

[Aga]

Yeah, I agree with you about the photographs, I made like 1 million photos of my birds ))). Oil painting is a really smelly and messy medium so I do not use it often, and as you said, far away from birds. Even I wouldn't like to sleep in room filled with chemical fumes

[annague]

I use lavender oil to thin my oil paints -- smells divine and doesn't bother the birds!

[Ameza]

I for sure wouldn't want to take the risk, since the smell of oil can be quite strong and takes days to dry. Also at least when I paint I use turpentine and other chemicals both with oil and acrylic.

But, since we can't all have a lot of space I would just advise you to go easy on the chemicals and be sure to have a good airflow, an open window or something, while painting, and close off all colours and chemicals as soon as you use them

[cindy]

They do make oil paint that does not require linseed...they are water soluble.

http://www.dickblick.com/water-miscible ... s/details/

http://www.dickblick.com/products/winso ... gift-sets/

[Aga]

Thank you for advice and for links, I think I will buy these water soluble oils. About this lavender oil, is it a regular one from drug stores or health stores?

[franny]

Cindy is right. Use the water soluble oils. They're great! I paint, too, but mostly use acrylics. The oils do give you more time to work the paint. But any oil paint has solvents in it, and usually higher levels of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and they are released as the paint dries. Not good for you, or your birds.

By the way, titanium white, and cadmium yellow are two of the most poisonous paints. Not the solvents, but the pigments. So never touch your face, or use your fingers to move the paint around.

You will love the water based oils. Happy painting.

[Aga]

thanks