These notes are guidelines that I use with the aim to make my painting practice safe for our environment and for me. They are, like all work, a work in progress. The best thing you can do is your own research and make one decision at a time.

• Not all paint is toxic. Think of paint as pigment and binder. You can choose not to work with toxic heavy metals like cadmiums, lead, cobalts, and other pigments that are known to be harmful. There are "hues" available that are an alternative to colours made from more toxic pigments (they aren't exactly the same but close). Sometimes pigments are dangerous less in paint form for the painter, and more dangerous for the miners and factory workers. It helps to think to about where your pigments come from, what form they are dangerous in, and how you dispose of waste. Just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean it is safe or more ethical either. Likewise, the word 'chemical' is not bad in itself - chemistry is part of life. A lot of traditional plant and animal based pigments are now replicated in a lab, so they have better stability or lightfast-ness (sometimes this means they are vegan too). Organic it is worth noting too, when it refers to pigments, simply means carbon-based molecular structures.

• Most materials have safety data sheets – a lot of information can be found on there, for instance which substances harm sea life. Eg. cadmiums and 'Chinese White' pigments harm sea life. The information you find does depend on current standards and research undertaken. Factor this in and use your own research and judgement. Other countries do have different standards too, and information can get lost in transit, for instance imported MDF can contain asbestos. Plywood quality varies, it can contain formaldehyde. 

• Working with solvents is not necessary when painting with oils. Often artist grade linseed/poppy/safflower oil is sufficient for blending, and vegetable oil can be used for clean-up. There are solvent alternatives too, for instance safe solvent-like products. If you do your research and you can actually minimise the use of toxic products greatly. Oil paints themselves are not inherently toxic (and can be taken on aeroplanes).

• You don't actually have to varnish your work. It is helpful for making it archival, but really your decision depends on how you conceptualise the surface of your work.

• Do wear a mask anytime something has vapours or dust even if it seems non-toxic. It is generally wise to protect your skin too. Likewise in terms of waste and impact on your immediate environment it helps to be mindful of the mess you make.

• Be mindful of what you use to clean up - some soaps and detergents can include harmful ingredients. Surfactants like SLS or sodium laurel sulfate (and laureth depending on how it is processed) are irritants; phosphates too. And while both may not be classed 'toxic' for humans they are harmful in the water table and for the environment as a toxin and in the form of nutrient pollution respectively. Phosphates persist even after waste water is treated. We don't really need so many suds & there are less harmful soaps available like castille soaps or vegetable oil based soaps. Phthalates (sometimes listed as 'fragrance') are also a common irritant (especially this is an issue now with many people suffering respiratory issues post-covid) as well affecting the human endocrine system with repeated exposure, and they are toxic for sea life. 'Greenwashing' is so common now in how products are marketed, it is always best to look at the listed ingredients and do your own research (including looking at SDS).

• If something is water wash-up that does not mean it is a safer option. Don't wash acrylics down the sink or into storm water - they are micro plastics. You can evaporate the water and dispose of residue and containers otherwise. Or you can filter the paint out of the water (Golden sell a kit for this if working with large quantities), it is time consuming and of course acrylic is not great in landfill either so you could consider using a different kind of paint. Acrylic is just the binder, linseed oil or gum arabic (watercolour, gouache) are alternatives. Acrylics also may release dangerous chemicals into the air when wet and/or dry. 

• Use your resources wisely. I make work minimally, only when I need to, economy is part of my methodology. I recycle and use offcuts as often as possible. I do my best to think about the life cycle of materials. Aluminium, though resource heavy, is infinitely recyclable. A lot of materials artists use are in fact byproducts of other industries (colour pigments for example are made primarily for the automotive industry, and cotton paper is made from waste from the rag trade). Artists have always worked with what is at hand and that can form part of our work. It helps to know too that many traditional practices are wise. And supply companies are catching up with the fact artists care. If you are worried about the environment, I don't think it is necessary to stop painting or making art - imagination is so important and is a powerful tool - but one by one we can make better choices that have a real impact. And we can use our voice (through our work but also by holding government and companies accountable).