Help needed for an allergic painter

sjmiller · Help needed for an allergic painter

The following was posted on TBB, but since I know some folks don't frequent those boards, and I need some help, I thought I would post here too.

Okay, I have to admit, I have a huge number of various miniatures from assorted game systems that I have purchased over the decades. Most of them are unpainted, due to the fact I am allergic to the binders and/or solvents used in most paints. Pretty much the only paints I have found that I am not allergic to are "watermedia" paints, a.k.a watercolours. The old Tempra type paints from grade school were no problem. Most model paints of today, however, are.

So, I was wondering if anyone has ever attempted to paint minis with watercolours, and what results you may have had. I may have to get some and try it myself, just to see how they work and how bad my painting skills are. I have never met another miniatures game addict who is, like me, allergic to painting. Perhaps I am alone in my plight.

Ramrider

So you have trouble with pretty much all acrylic paints? Is that just model paints, or have you had problems with artist's acrylic too? I suppose if it's the binders then they'd be just as bad.

Watercolours, I very much doubt will be of much use to you. Unless you use gouache, you won't be able to achieve the opacity you'll need to cover the mini. And even if you did, the finish wouldn't be waterproof, so the slightest moisture (including, no doubt, your own sweaty mitts) would quickly ruin your hard work unless you could find a way to seal it without the sealant itself disturbing the paint.

I know some mini painters swear by artists' oil paints. I've never been a big fan of oils myself (I'm a pretty impatient painter), but they might just help you, and as a bonus, the extended drying time can allow for improved blending effects.

Dark Lord

I think the problem with oils (never heard of them used for minis) is to get them to work you would need to use a lot of linseed oil to thin them and that would lead to drying times of up to several days per application, depending on the size of the area and the climate.

Not only that but how would would you create a wash? Any technique I know for creating oil washes is gonna leave a completely shiny lacquer sheen on everything. I'm curious to see pics of oil minis.

@sjmiller I asked my old painting professor if he had heard of allergic reactions to acrylic paint and he said most likely your reaction is to some sort of formaldehyde or mold retardant in the paint, and not the pigment itself.

He suggested trying cheaper brands that probably don't use the retardant, using tube acrylics and thinning them, or writing to the companies and asking them about what goes into the paint, and if the offer a non-allergenic option.

lahatiel

@sjmiller: You also might want to pose this on the Reaper forums at http://www.reapermini.com/forum/ given that Anne Foerster (posts as Vaitella) -- the lady who actually formulates Reaper's Master Series paints and controls every ingredient that goes into them -- posts on their boards and might be in a position to shed some light and/or offer suggestions, given her involvement with the paint at the ingredient level.

Crazycavey · Sounds a pain and not sure if you ever solved it.

Sounds a pain and not sure if you ever solved it.

But back in my school days I remember the fancy water colour paints that seemed to get the best coverage were called:

Gouache paints.

Google them perhaps they will give better results than just plain old water colours.

Arh just noticed ramrider mentioned them as well.

I am no mini painter mind but perhaps if you cut a little PVA with the gouache it may give it a more robust finish. Or brushed the Gouache with a little silicone machine polish afterwards (If your not allergic to that)

Just some spit ball suggestions.