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The allergy was concerning, but not debilitating. My husband continued to work and the average person couldn't see any change from outer appearances. But he was uncomfortable and we knew that something was wrong.

My husband teaches English as a second language. He went to his morning class and a student from China looked at him for 10 seconds and said, "Allergy." My husband agreed. She then said, "Paint. You paint?" To which he replied, "No, but my wife does." His student said, "In air," and advised him to see a doctor.

My husband later recounted the story to me. I knew immediately that his student was correct.  I had recently switched from using Galkyd Lite to a stronger medium exactly when his allergies started to appear.

I stopped painting and my husband's symptoms dissipated within a few days. I asked him, "Who is your student? Is she a doctor?" My husband didn't know her background, but the next week he learned she was a doctor--a surgeon.

I hoped that my husband wasn't allergic to all mediums, so after his allergies disappeared, I painted Bush Poppy (seen below) in my home studio using Galkyd Lite.  Galkyd Lite is a medium used by art instructors because it is supposed to be less environmentally harmful than other mediums.  Within two days of using the new medium, my husband's allergies began to re-emerge.

Years ago as a student in art school, I also developed allergic reactions to painting mediums. I tried painting with only Poppy seed oil as a medium, but the paintings lost their luster.  So I began painting practices that I thought were relatively safe:  after painting for the day, I stored fresh paintings in the garage; I immersed my brushes in mineral oil and covered the paint on my palette with plastic wrap and sealed it in a ziploc bag. All solvents are tightly closed in glass jars. Before I began to paint, I poured a few drops of solvent in a metal container. I cleaned the container with a paper towel after every use and threw the towel into the outdoor trash. I didn't use mineral spirits to clean my brushes, only baby oil.  My studio windows were always open and I ran an air purifier on while I worked.

Despite my best practices, my husband developed a sensitivity to all painting mediums. My studio is now reserved for work in pastels and charcoal, ink and watercolor. When I paint in oils, I will paint outside. I am lucky to live in Southern California which has a mild climate that allows me to work outside year round. I can't stop painting in oils, I love them too much.  I am hopeful that moving the act of painting in oils outside will be a blessing in disguise.  And, until I get an easel for outdoors, I am painting pastels in my studio.  See below.