Do You Suffer from Severe Allergies?
I have had several queries from people with severe allergies who want to know whether our acrylic paints will work for them.
Contents
Watercolours versus Acrylics
Questions asked of us
Some Un-welcome answers
Some chemicals can affect you
When Acrylics are Out of Bounds
Understanding the desire to conquer adversity
Watercolours versus Acrylics
You may be torn between watercolours and acrylics because of their respective properties.
Watercolours are water-soluble paints that are translucent and can be made fluid again after they are dry.
Acrylics are water-based but are insoluble when dry and they can be used to have a similar effect as oil paints in paintings . When thinned with water, they can also be used to produce an effect similar to watercolour.
Questions asked of us
We have been asked to say whether we think they should use our paint.
Some people have asked highly technical questions about ingredients.
Others have asked for advice to alleviate their reactions to Acrylics.
Most have mentioned that they are unaffected by watercolours.
How can I answer such questions helpfully, sensibly, honestly and without offending the questioner? An emailed reply felt inadequate and I have thought hard about it so many times. At last I realised I must try to cover the pursuit of our passion for art as well as the practical issues in this article.
Some Un-welcome answers
I like to encourage people to paint, but not at the expense of their health. If in doubt I suggest seeking medical advice, especially in severe cases where the outcome is uncertain.
The main ingredients are listed in the certificate documents and may provide useful answers. You can download the document from this page:
https://outlinesart.com/certificates/
Chemistry is not my speciality but before putting the paint on the market we took advice from specialists. Our artist’s paint had to be safe and was tested to meet the European Standard for Toy Safety because intended or not, any art paint may be used by a child and is therefore classified as a toy.
Outlines paints meet the requirements and are non-toxic and odour free for most people.
This does not mean they are completely free of everything that exists that may be toxic in large quanitites.
Acrylic paint is a type of plastic and Outlines paints are supplied in plastic tubes.
Minute quantities of some components can affect very allergic people.
Some chemicals can affect you
One customer could detect an odour when she first opened the pack and was so sensitive that she could still smell something when it had been open for days and left outside.
She was very determined and persistent so put the opened pack outdoors to see if that helped. In fact she tried everything we could think of to try and use the paints, but finally concluded she could not.
I refunded her payment and, to avoid her having to send it back, I told her to give the set away to someone able to use it, which she did.
I sometimes advise friends who don’t get on with acrylics to stick to watercolour and learn to appreciate it, and that is my advice to you.
Perhaps that is not what you wanted to hear and maybe you wish you didn’t have to give up acrylic painting.
Back to top? – but wait! Read on for inspiration…
When Acrylics are Out of Bounds.
I am an artist myself and I believe that we should concentrate on making the best of our talents and the materials available to us that we can use safely.
It would be easy to waste our creative energy on trying to find solutions to problems arising from things we cannot change – out of our control.
Constant learning and adaptation is integral to being an artist and has no limits, providing excitement and the joys of discovery for life.
Why not focus on practising your art and discovering the full potential of watercolour?
Watercolour does not have to be wishy washy – it has wonderful luminance and can be very intense and vibrant. Just look at this abstract painting entitled ‘Joyous Connection’ by artist, Cindy Atlee.
‘Joyous Connection’ Watercolour painting by artist, Cindy Atlee
The title says just what I feel everyone should experience from painting and I was certainly joyful when she allowed me include it in this article. Cindy is exploring various media for making art and I think her abstract watercolour clearly illustrates how brilliant and colourful watercolour paints can be.
Have you tried tube watercolours or pots? They are great for large areas.
Outlines Art sells acrylics, but watercolours are readily available in local art shops, or online. They are usually not too far away from most buyers.
Understanding the desire to conquer adversity.
I have had to conquer many physical difficulties in my life and I am still inclined to try and conquer the seemingly impossible!
This can be a healthy character trait and lead to marvellous and rewarding outcomes, but every mountain should be assessed for its importance and the priority it should take over others.
I believe a personal goal of excellence in making art is a worthy one, and the material used to achieve excellence is – immaterial!