TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER STUDIO ENVIRONMENT

• If you are using a painting surface much smaller than 30 inches wide, you will get a better flow of air at the painting by covering the collector unit’s screen top to either side of the painting surface.

• For paintings larger than 30 inches wide you may find it best to shift your surface so that the area you are painting is above the collector unit. If you normally paint larger you may want to use two systems. The collector units can be placed side-by-side with one duct coming off of the left and the other the right side of your easel. A strip of Velcro tape between the two will help keep them from shifting.

• Let your ARTIST’S AIR run on at least low for a while after you finish painting to scrub any remaining pollutants from the air. Artists working with oil and acrylic often keep their filter unit running all night on low to clean pollutants that off-gas from their paintings and pallet. It only uses as much electricity as a small light bulb.

• Pastel artists, do NOT blow dust off your surface. Flick off excess dust, by tapping your surface, instead. This will direct most of the dust into the unit.

• From Roger Davis, Colorado: I often erase with a bristle brush or sand paper and working a foot or more above the box can result in dust escaping the down-draft. I solved that problem by holding a piece of foam core on the box several inches from the painting, thereby forming a narrow channel for the airflow, as I brush off the area to be cleaned. I also use a brush to clean pastels and now I can do that without leaving my easel. Thanks for engineering such a neat system — Roger

• Each bend in the flexible hose cuts down the air flow a little. Try to keep it as straight as easily possible, but don't fret about it. After you have been using your Artist's Air system for a few months, determine if you can do without all 10 feet of the flexible hose. For example, if you always keep the filter unit within 6 feet of the collection box you may want to cut the length down to 8 ft. (you need about a half-foot at either end for the connections). Use scissors and wire cutters. Be careful not to cut off too much. The hose costs $38.

OTHER IMPORTANT HABITS TO KEEP:

• Keep solvent containers closed whenever possible.

• Cover pallets and pastel containers when they are not in use.

• Clean all surfaces of the studio often. Pollutants that settle on surfaces can be disturbed into the air or picked up by hands or clothing

• Keep all used rags in a steel can, with a steel top. Besides off-gassing problems, spontaneous combustion of solvent-laden rags is a serious fire hazard.