Studio Operations – 2D

DRAWING:

Room Function/Limits

All information regarding studio use policy and safe practices must be followed.
The room may only be occupied if the airflow is ON. See posted schedule for this information.
The drawing studio is limited to use by current drawing students, seniors studies or topics students. An exception to this rule is the possible use by an organized session of life drawing, in which case the room would need to be reserved through the department office. The drawing session would need to be organized by and for currently enrolled St. Olaf students and apprentices.
The drawing resource room is to remain locked at all times, and accessed only by faculty and staff.

Chemical Use Procedures

Flammable materials: all products labeled as flammable must be stored in the flammable cabinet, located in the drawing resource room.
Chemical use in the drawing studio is limited to those items listed in the Approved Chemicals List.
All spraying must be done in the spray booth with the ventilation switched on. See below for details. When cans are empty, place in covered collection can located below the booth and they will be recycled.
The use of powdered pastels is not allowed in the Dittmann Center. White pastels and charcoal, as well as oil pastels, are allowed as they do not pose the safety risks of a colored powder pastel.

Specific Operations

Spray fix: The drawing spray booth is most often used to spray fixative onto drawings, although other solvent and water-based products may be used there as well. The ventilation must be switched on, and then switched off once the fumes have dissipated. When cans are empty, place in the covered receptacle located under the spray booth and they will be recycled. Filters are the “Paint Pocket” brand, and only need to be changed once the back of the filter becomes clogged.
Spray adhesive: please back your work with paper to catch the overspray of the adhesive product, and dispose of that backing-paper right away.

PAINTING:

Room Function/Limits

All information regarding studio use policy and safe practices must be followed.
The room may only be occupied if the airflow is ON. See posted schedule for this information.
The painting studio is limited to use by current painting students and senior studies students who have been assigned to the studio area.
The painting resource room is to be remained locked, and accessed only by faculty and staff.
No stretcher building or any dust producing procedures may take place in the painting studio.
For watercolor painting classes, see Design Studio

Chemical Use Procedures

Chemical use in the painting studio is limited to those items listed in the Approved Chemicals List.
An odorless mineral spirit, Gamsol, is the only solvent used in the painting studio. It may be used for brush cleaning, and it will be re-cycled rather than disposed of. Do not put it down the drain! See below for instructions on brush cleaning and solvent re-use in the painting studio.
Gamsol is stored in the flammable cabinet.
Ventilation: When using the studio, the ventilation system must be turned on, the switch being located to the left of the first sink. The ventilation must also be on if paintings are drying in the vented storage rack.
No turpentine is allowed in Dittmann Center, thus mediums based on damar varnish or other natural resins are not allowed since they require the use of turpentine.

Specific Operations

Brush Cleaning: For brush cleaning, use a small amount of Gamsol in the bottom of a small container (jelly jar). Because of the small amount, these jars or containers are not required to be stored in a flammable cabinet, but should remain covered at your station when not in use, and labeled 'Gamsol'. Gamsol is easily recycled and reused, which is a benefit both environmentally and financially. To recycle: when your small jar of Gamsol becomes too cloudy to use, shake or stir it thoroughly and pour the entire contents into the large settling jar, found in the flammable cabinet. A funnel is available if needed. If sludge remains in your jar, mix it with a small amount of Gamsol from the settling jar, swish, and return into the settling jar so that no sludge makes it way into the trash. Occasionally, after being allowed to settle, the top clear layer in the settling jar may be poured into the metal Gamsol tin (also stored in the flammable cabinet) for re-use. To remove the seal from the Gamsol tin, cut a V-shaped hole with a utility knife and then pry it open using a standard screwdriver.
Studio and Hand Clean-up: Mineral oil works as a clean-up for countertops, taborets, and easels, as well as for hands. It is a safe and non-toxic way to clean up. A nail brush is also available to remove pigment and solvent from under fingernails. Boraxo is available near the sink for heavy-duty hand cleaning needs - it is an environmentally friendly product that is gentle on skin.
Wet Painting Storage: Wet paintings must be stored in the vented racks provided. This includes finished wet paintings, but also between work sessions, especially in the case of a painting on which you have used solvent for thinning.

PRINTMAKING:

-Main Studio

Room Function/Limits

All information regarding studio use policy and safe practices must be followed.
The room may only be occupied if the airflow is ON. See posted schedule for this information.
The printmaking studio is limited to students currently enrolled in a printmaking course, or topics or senior studies students who have had a previous printmaking course at St. Olaf.

Chemical Use Procedures

For more information regarding acids, see Acid Room.
Chemicals used in the printmaking studio are limited to those listed in the Approved Chemicals List.
Solvents are one main category of chemical used in the printmaking studio. Use of these should be limited as much as possible, and all safety precautions should be met: Use ventilation properly. Protect skin and eyes by wearing chemical splash-resistant goggles, gloves, aprons and other protective clothing as needed. Dispose of solvent or ink-soaked rags into covered cans in case of combustion.
Practice good housekeeping. Wipe up spills immediately. Large spills should be absorbed with hazorb pads. Take advantage of non-solvent cleaning methods whenever possible: use vegetable oil for clean-up of surfaces, use contact paper on backs of plates to reduce solvent use, use mineral oil, vegetable oil, or handcleaner to clean hands - never use solvents to clean skin.
The ventilation must be turned on when using any solvents, acids or inks, or other processes creating fumes or dust. If the ventilation system will not turn on (the button must be pressed and held for a few seconds) then contact your Professor or a Technician.
All chemicals must be labeled and stored properly. Flammable and corrosive labels must be clearly visible and items stored in accordance with this label.
Nitric Acid is used in the printmaking studio for spit-bite and for litho. It is stored in the acid room in a seperate container within the acid cabinet. Do not fill small jars from the large container unless you have been instructed to do so, and are a lab assistant. If you are, use chemical splash-resistant goggles, gloves and protective clothing. If straight nitric acid comes into contact with skin or clothing, immediately remove the affected clothing and rinse the skin with clear water for 15 minutes while someone is calling for medical assistance. When doing a spit bite (on copper plate) with nitric and gum arabic, do so at a slot vent to prevent burns from fumes.
Keep containers of inks, solvents, acids etc. closed except when using them.

Specific Operations

Turning the hot-plate on/off causes a small spark, therefore, when using hot-plates, turn on the ventilation system first, and check that any flammable items are not near the hot-plate.
When using aquatint box, use only compressed air to stir the dust (not an electric fan since the on/off switch causes an electric spark). If using spray paint for aquatint, the spray booth in the sculpture finishing studio must be used.
When doing woodcuts or linocuts, keep tools sharp and use a striker board to hold your work.

-Acid Room

Room Function/Limits

All information regarding studio use policy and safe practices must be followed.
The room may only be occupied if the airflow is ON. See posted schedule for this information.
The acid room is limited to use by students currently enrolled in a printmaking course, or topics or senior studies students who have already taken the intaglio course at St. Olaf.
No dust or heat producing processes may take place in the acid room.
The door to the acid room should never be propped open.

Chemical Use Procedures

Follow directions for acid neutralization.
Mixing acids is to be done only by the professor or lab assistant.
Chemical splash-resistant goggles, gloves, and apron must be worn in the acid room.
Trays and containers must remain covered when not in use.
Nitric acid must be stored in its 'garage' within the acid cabinet.
Hydrocloric acid and acetic acid jars sit together in the same tray, phosphoric acid has its own tray.

Specific Operations

ACID NEUTRALIZATION

DESIGN STUDIO:

Room Function/Limits

All information regarding studio use policy and safe practices must be followed.
The room may only be occupied if the airflow is ON. See posted schedule for this information.
Use of the design studio is limited to students currently enrolled in a design class or watercolor class, or to classes and workshops that have reserved the use of this room (done through the art office).

Chemical Use Procedures

Chemicals used in the design studio are limited to those listed in the Approved Chemicals List.
No dust or fume-producing processes are allowed in the design studio. No sprays of any kind are allowed.
Toner: Only those trained to change and recycle the toner cartridge should be doing so. Notify your Professor or a Technician if a toner cartridge is spent, or toner has spilled.
Spilled toner needs to be cleaned up with a special vacuum cleaner/filter. See the professor or a technician immediately if this happens.

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