Paints (Artist)

Industrial Consumer

Art materials are inherently hazardous. Even the least harmful products may have some amount of hazardous ingredients. Try reducing your exposure by using personal protective equipment, ventilating your space and only buying what you need.

The following product reviews have been requested by program partners. To know which of your existing products are safer to use, please review their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to see if they have the same ingredients as the products listed here.

Required

Suggested

Sugar Acrylic Spray Paint

Sugar Acrylic Spray Paint
0
Manufacturer(s)
Sugar Professional Artists' Acrylics
When to Use

Use in a well ventilated space. Wear protective goggles. This product is flammable. Use with caution.

Product/Service Type
Consumer
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Real Milk Paint

Real Milk Paint
0
Manufacturer(s)
The Real Milk Paint Co
When to Use

Use in a well ventilated space.

Product/Service Type
Consumer
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MTN Water Based Spray Paint

MTN Water Based Spray Paint
0
Manufacturer(s)
Montana Colors
Vendor(s)
FLAX Art & Design
When to Use

This product is flammable. Use with caution. Wear protective goggles.

Product/Service Type
Consumer
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  • Paints that are Yellow

    Yellow Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are yellow, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PY1, PY2, PY3, PY5, PY6, PY9, PY14, PY16, PY35, PY37, PY40, PY42, PY43, PY53, PY55, PY63, PY73, PY74, PY75, PY81, PY87, PY93, PY95, PY97, PY98, PY100, PY104, PY108, PY109, PY110, PY111, PY115, PY116, PY119, PY120, PY126, PY127, PY128, PY129, PY138, PY147, PY150, PY151, PY153, PY154, PY158, PY159, PY160, PY161, PY162, PY163, PY164, PY168, PY174, PY175, PY176, PY180, PY181, PY182, PY183, PY184

    PY stands for Pigment Yellow. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are White

    White Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are white, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PW5, PW7, PW14, PW20

    PW stands for Pigment White. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Violet

    Violet Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are violet, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PV1, PV2, PV3, PV3:1, PV5:1, PV14, PV15, PV16, PV19, PV31, PV32, PV37, PV47, PV48

    PV stands for Pigment Violet. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Red

    Red Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are red, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PR2, PR8, PR9, PR12, PR14, PR17, PR22, PR23, PR31, PR38, PR48:2, PR48:4, PR49:2, PR52:2, PR58:4, PR60:1, PR63:1, PR63:2, PR109, PR112, PR113, PR120, PR122, PR123, PR144, PR146, PR147, PR149, PR166, PR170, PR170:1, PR171, PR172, PR173, PR175, PR176, PR178, PR179, PR188, PR190, PR193, PR200, PR202, PR208, PR212, PR220, PR230, PR231, PR232, PR235, PR236, PR242, PR266, PR268, PR269, PR273.

    PR stands for Pigment Red. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Orange

    Orange Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are orange, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PO13, PO16, PO23, PO34, PO36, PO40, PO41, PO43, PO60, PO62, PO64, PO65, PO67, PO69, PO72, PO73, PO77.

    PO stands for Pigment Orange. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Metallic

    Metallic Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are metallic, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PM2
     

    PM stands for Pigment Metallic. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Green

    Green Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are green, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PG1, PG7, PG10, PG17, PG18, PG19, PG26, PG36, PG50, PG51
     

    PG stands for Pigment Green. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Dyes and Inks

    Dyes and Inks

    When to Use

    When using dyes, please look for the following Color Index Names and Numbers:


    C.I. Acid Brown 216
    C.I. Direct Brown 112

    C.I. Acid Orange 61
    C.I. Direct Orange 39

    C.I. Acid Violet 58
    C.I. Basic Violet 1, Molybdatephosphate
    C.I. Basic Violet 1, Molybdatesilicate
    C.I. Reactive Violet 5

    C.I. Acid Yellow 73
    C.I. Direct Yellow 11, Lithium Salt
    C.I. Direct Yellow 12
    C.I. Direct Yellow 44
    C.I. Vat Yellow 4
    C.I. Natural Yellow 11

    C.I. 35440
    C.I. Acid Black 48
    C.I. Leuco Sulphur Black 1 (9Ci)
    C.I. Solvent Black 7

    C.I. Solvent Red 35
    C.I. Vat Red 14
    C.I. Acid Red 343
    C.I. Direct Red 111
    C.I. Food Red 17:1

    C.I. Vat Blue 18
    C.I. Vat Blue 42
    C.I. Vat Blue 43
    C.I. Solvent Blue 38
    C.I. Sulphur Blue 7
    C.I. Leuco Sulphur Blue 13
    C.I. Solubilised Sulphur Blue 10
    C.I. Disperse Blue 3

    C.I. Natural Green 3
    C.I. Vat Green 9
    C.I. Leuco Sulphur Green 2

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Brown

    Brown Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are brown, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PBr7, PBr23, PBr24, PBr25, PBr31, PBr33, PBr34, PBr37, PBr39, PBr40.

    PBr stands for Pigment Brown. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Blue

    Blue Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are blue, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PB1, PB15, PB15:1, PB15:2, PB15:3, PB15:4, PB16, PB27:1, PB29, PB34, PB35, PB36, PB36:1, PB60, PB63, PB66, PB71, PB72, PB73, PB74, PB75, PB76, PB79, PB81.

    PB stands for Pigment Blue. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information
  • Paints that are Black

    Black Artists' Paints

    When to Use

    When using paints that are black, please look for the following Color Index names:

    PBk9, PBk11, PBk12, PBk22, PBk23, PBk24, PBk26, PBk27, PBk28, PBk29, PBk30, PBk31, PBk32, PBk35. 

    PBk stands for Pigment Black. The Color Index names can be found in the packaging of the paint.

    Manufacturer(s)
    City Approved Vendor(s)
    Other Vendor(s)
    Product/Service Type
    Consumer
    More information

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Info on this product category: Paints (Artist)

Why Go Green

Many art products contain hazardous ingredients that are harmful to your health and the health of the environment. There are safer alternatives available for most categories of art materials. In case, safer alternatives cannot be used, use the recommended personal protective equipment and ventilation.

Tips

Many heavy metals have been removed from art materials. Before you choose a hue over a heavy metal containing paint, look at the name and number of the pigment. Compare this with the list of approved pigments.

Criteria for Paints (Artist)

Criteria for Suggested products:

Products should not contain carcinogens, asthmagens, mutagens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins and reproductive toxicants.

Last updated

Last updated: 
November 6, 2014

Reports

The Safer Art Products & Practices factsheet helps artists make safer decisions when it comes to purchasing, using and disposing art materials.

Guide for Small Businesses & Homes

Many art products contain hazardous material that should not end up in the trash, recycling or composting bins or be poured down the drain.
Professionals: Call Recology SF's Very Small Quantity Generator Program at (415) 330-1425 to dispose of all art waste.
Hobby Artists: Call (415) 330-1405

Empty clean containers can be recycled in the Recycling bin.

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