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I am finding that when I am doing a session of painting that I am getting a bit light headed. The room where I am painting is reasonably big (it isn't a closet) but I think that it could be that the paints that I am using are house paints (doing terrain) or that it is from getting up too close to them. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem and if there is anyway around it. I was thinking of painting outside or with a fan on however am not sure how much of a difference this would make.

Odd. Most acrylics that I know have don't have anything in them that would do that. The only one I can think of is Tamiya.
House paints tend to be emulsion which can get a bit wiffy. However the pots should have hazard labels on them if they would cause issues like this.

Might not be the paint. I feel the same way sometimes, I think you might just need to stand up and walk around the room or get a glass of water. Sometimes you get stuck in a bad position, hunched over looking at stuff really close, and just need to stretch out or take a break.

I wouldnt think it would be the acrylics. They (as far as I know) don't give up toxic fumes. Enamels and the like do. It could be your posture - if you're sitting forward with your neck scrunched up into your shoulders it can tighten the blood flow. give it a wee google though and see what comes up

Acrylic paint in and of itself shouldn't be a problem, but I could totally believe the thinners or binders might be a problem for you especially if you're inhaling a lot of them.

If I stuck my nose in a pot of GW's old wash I could believe it might make me feel unwell, lol. Some acrylics are thinned in the pot with alcohol, if you inhale a decent amount of it, it can make you feel light headed.

A fan to ventilate and an open window will typically be fine, but honestly I have no idea what paint you are using so I don't like making suggestions Point the fan so that it's getting the fumes away from you and not just blowing them around you which can make things even worse.

Aren't house paints mostly latex paints? You should not subject yourself to extended hours of latex paint unnecessarily. Even if it isn't toxic (my painter is sniffing it 10 hours a day, so it can't be THAT bad for ya)... it stinks!

I'm pretty sure it's not good for you anyhow

Ok one piece of advice. When painting anything. Paint in a well ventilated area and use a respirator.

It's not the miniature paint bro. House paints however have aromatic hydrocarbons that they will release when drying. That's the stuff....

You really shouldn't be using house paint to do terrain. Cheap acrylic paints like the Apple Barrel paints you get from Michaels are the best way to go. House paint is going to have the effects you're describing, especially if you're doing it in a room without good ventilation.

Is there much of a difference between acrylic house paints and other acrylic paint? Found that I have had a similar problem when using some acrylic paints that I got from the craft shop.

hasdrubalsbrother wrote:
Is there much of a difference between acrylic house paints and other acrylic paint? Found that I have had a similar problem when using some acrylic paints that I got from the craft shop.

Yes there is a difference between the 2 and either way keep your areas well ventilated.

There are possibly other things going on here.
1. When you're painting, are you looking down really far.. almost in your lap? This can constrict your air passages.
2. When you paint are you holding your breath? People do this when they are trying to concentrate.. for some people this can lead to light headedness.. especially if you stop painting and immediately stand up.
3. Have you recently glued or primed the models that you're painting? If so, how long did you allow it to cure?
4. Are you using metallics? Some of these have a very strong odor and aren't really as harmless as a regular acrylic.
5. Are you using any paint additives like thinners? Are you putting anything on the model for flow? Ammonia is sometimes used along with other things that require ventilation.
6. Are you using fluorescent lights with a ceiling fan.. this one might seem weird to some people but when I'm drawing or painting, sometimes the light and the fan create this weird..I dunno.. strobey type thing I have to turn off one or the other or I start experiencing something like vertigo.

There are a number of things that can lead to what you described. Heck.. even just sitting still for a long time and forgetting to eat can do it.. of course, pay attention to what everyone else has said.. because those could also be involved, but sometimes the problems are not from the first place we would think.

Dehydration. Acryllics dont give off fumes. Drink more water

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
Dehydration. Acryllics dont give off fumes. Drink more water

This is just false. Of course they give off fumes, stick your nose above an open pot of most acrylics and you'll smell the fumes they are giving off. they are typically "low VOC", not "no VOC". But it still depends on the binders and mediums used to thin the paint and different people have a wide range of different allergies and sensitivities.

Granted I agree you should check things like posture, breathing and hydration, but it's just not true that acrylics don't give off fumes, they do, just significantly less and of a different type to your typical enamels and oils.

Eye strain can cause light headedness. Seems likely given the activity.
Do you have ample lighting where you paint? and do you use or need to use a magnifier?

HairySticks wrote:
Eye strain can cause light headedness. Seems likely given the activity.
Do you have ample lighting where you paint? and do you use or need to use a magnifier?

This! Do you notice any problems if you're reading/ on PC for extended amounts of time.

House paints, even acrylic-based ones, have anti-fungal agents, which model paints don't have.

Some are worse than others; I believe it will be this that is making you light-headed. Try and get more ventilation, or use different paints! Keep up your fluid intake too - water, not beer.

 Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:
Keep up your fluid intake too - water, not beer.

Have to keep things realistic, the OP is Australian after all.

It could be boredom/impatience, then you start feeling kinda tired.

Read the MSDS for the product you are using. Ironically, I've never seen an MSDS for hobby products though...........

 Udo wrote:
Read the MSDS for the product you are using. Ironically, I've never seen an MSDS for hobby products though...........

Testors has MSDS's for all their enamels but only some of their acrylics, I've never bothered to read them though.

http://www.testors.com/product-catalog/testors-brands/model-master/acrylic-paint/bottles