Story Number 1 George Lucas shares.
On an Art Forum 8/27/2014 I had this interchange of posts with George Lucas, who consented
to my request to publish his story on my Hazards site. Victor Arcega added his remarks at the end.
George Lucas
Artist, Designer
As a 20 year liver transplant recipient awaiting a second operation, acrylics are the ONLY way to go. The volatile chemistry of oil painting means a slow, painful death from liver failure.
SGH
George, will you go further to describe how you used oils, for how long, under what shop conditions, and the effects it had on you that indicated liver failure? I could understand if you were not willing, but it might help others to recognize serious problems they have. I am one of those who paints in oils rather than acrylics. But I have switched to an alkyd/oil medium that isn't resiny and fragrant like turps, but does a good job. I have been told that that medium is also toxic! I do take care with ventilation and I let the paintings dry in a separate room between sessions.
I share Kevin's preferences about acrylic vs oils. It's a matter of consistency and handling of the paint as well as the colors.
I am aware of the awfulness of liver failure... a dear friend went downhill in a terrible way with what was diagnosed as cirrhosis. He was not a drinker BTW.
George
George Lucas
Artist, Designer
The paints had nothing causal with my genetic auto-immune condition. But chemicals that enter the body, either through the lungs or skin are all broken down in the liver, therefore overtaxing my already insufficient capacity to detox the body. Cirrhosis is not a disease but a condition describing the liver tissue as scarred. That scarring is caused by a disease; mine was the spontaneous constriction and closing of the bile ducts. My need for a re-transplant has happened because of an occluded artery that was meant to supply my new organ.
So for me, it all comes down to plumbing problems
SGH
I do appreciate that personal sharing very much. Auto-immune problems are a bugaboo to begin with, and it's a valuable wake-up call you give. May I post your story on my own website under my heading HAZARDS? http://www.ooothere.com/hazard-list I will certainly give credits. I am hoping to collect data like this to share with my various art contacts.
George Lucas permission to publish
Artist, Designer
By all means, please do.
Health warnings are often given in the labeling info on most products and should be followed. But we tend to ignore them when we are young, and immortal
The medical name of my condition is PSC
Primary (no known cause) Sclerosing (swelling, scarring, closing up, or obstruction) Cholangitis) (inflammation of the bile ducts and/or gall bladder)
--------------------------
And Victor Arcega
added this question:
Victor Arcega
Artist, art teacher, art consultant, writer, aikido sensei
George, as a former medical student, whose promise was aborted for financial reasons, I have very high respect for doctors. But, respectfully, would your doctors consider a couple of questions: 1) toxicity comes from paint colours; 2) turpentines and substitutes, where oil painting is involved, can be eliminated by using only oil for solvent, and 3) paint mask or just plain good ventilation could keep the air safe? The bonus question is what about oil pastels or watercolours? And there's the much-maligned but very intriguing colour pencils?
On an Art Forum 8/27/2014 I had this interchange of posts with George Lucas, who consented
to my request to publish his story on my Hazards site. Victor Arcega added his remarks at the end.
George Lucas
Artist, Designer
As a 20 year liver transplant recipient awaiting a second operation, acrylics are the ONLY way to go. The volatile chemistry of oil painting means a slow, painful death from liver failure.
SGH
George, will you go further to describe how you used oils, for how long, under what shop conditions, and the effects it had on you that indicated liver failure? I could understand if you were not willing, but it might help others to recognize serious problems they have. I am one of those who paints in oils rather than acrylics. But I have switched to an alkyd/oil medium that isn't resiny and fragrant like turps, but does a good job. I have been told that that medium is also toxic! I do take care with ventilation and I let the paintings dry in a separate room between sessions.
I share Kevin's preferences about acrylic vs oils. It's a matter of consistency and handling of the paint as well as the colors.
I am aware of the awfulness of liver failure... a dear friend went downhill in a terrible way with what was diagnosed as cirrhosis. He was not a drinker BTW.
George
George Lucas
Artist, Designer
The paints had nothing causal with my genetic auto-immune condition. But chemicals that enter the body, either through the lungs or skin are all broken down in the liver, therefore overtaxing my already insufficient capacity to detox the body. Cirrhosis is not a disease but a condition describing the liver tissue as scarred. That scarring is caused by a disease; mine was the spontaneous constriction and closing of the bile ducts. My need for a re-transplant has happened because of an occluded artery that was meant to supply my new organ.
So for me, it all comes down to plumbing problems
SGH
I do appreciate that personal sharing very much. Auto-immune problems are a bugaboo to begin with, and it's a valuable wake-up call you give. May I post your story on my own website under my heading HAZARDS? http://www.ooothere.com/hazard-list I will certainly give credits. I am hoping to collect data like this to share with my various art contacts.
George Lucas permission to publish
Artist, Designer
By all means, please do.
Health warnings are often given in the labeling info on most products and should be followed. But we tend to ignore them when we are young, and immortal
The medical name of my condition is PSC
Primary (no known cause) Sclerosing (swelling, scarring, closing up, or obstruction) Cholangitis) (inflammation of the bile ducts and/or gall bladder)
--------------------------
And Victor Arcega
added this question:
Victor Arcega
Artist, art teacher, art consultant, writer, aikido sensei
George, as a former medical student, whose promise was aborted for financial reasons, I have very high respect for doctors. But, respectfully, would your doctors consider a couple of questions: 1) toxicity comes from paint colours; 2) turpentines and substitutes, where oil painting is involved, can be eliminated by using only oil for solvent, and 3) paint mask or just plain good ventilation could keep the air safe? The bonus question is what about oil pastels or watercolours? And there's the much-maligned but very intriguing colour pencils?
