Pastels

Artists' Health

The world is getting smaller every day, and this is reflected in many of the styles and themes of visual art. Yet, it is not just in artistic style that we see these effects of globalization; the art supplies themselves that today’s artists are choosing have been impacted by our modern times. The modern artist has access to a vast array of art products that simply could not have been found with such ease in the past.

While this is probably positive for the art world as a whole, it also means that today’s artist must be even more careful than ever before.

There are thousands of different chemicals that are found in art supplies today, many of which pose serious health risks if they are not handled properly. Even if the chemicals do not come into contact with one’s skin or eyes and are not ingested, they can be extremely harmful when inhaled. This has the potential to be the most dangerous type of exposure because it is difficult to visualize how much of a product is being inhaled, and the effects of inhaling a toxin are not as obvious as the effects of a skin exposure.

At AllerAir Industries, a manufacturer of indoor air purifiers, we often receive inquiries from artists as to what dangers they may be facing from these chemicals and whether we can provide them with a safe solution. On this site you will find an explanation of some of the common chemicals used in different visual art forms that are dangerous to breathe, as well as information on how to protect yourself.