3 Eco-Friendly Things You Must Check Before Buying Art Items

Art and creativity have traditionally been used to challenge the status quo, initiate change, criticize society, and break taboos. At this moment of change and self-reflection, it is more necessary than ever to contribute to solutions for a more sustainable world. Understanding where your tools and supplies, such as watercolor sheets, come from is essential for artists. But how do you know if your artwork is free of cruelty? And how can you tell if you’re buying environmentally friendly art supplies? Here are the 3 things that you can consider before buying art items.

How to Be an Eco-Friendly Artist

While much information is available about sustainability, and animal testing in food, clothing, and cosmetics, more information needs regarding art supplies. 

Reliable information can be challenging because this industry is highly polluting and needs more transparency. Although the European Union has already prohibited or restricted numerous dangerous thinners, solvents, colours derived from heavy metals, and other toxic and environmentally detrimental components, many are still used today.

These are art supplies’ health and environmental implications, even with watercolour sheets. So, how can you become an environmentally conscious artist? Continue reading for our three suggestions.

1. Understand what’s in your paints.

Many colours were formerly manufactured from heavy metals, which are frequently exceedingly poisonous. As a result, the average life expectancy of professional artists in the past was lower, and many artists suffered from symptoms of poisoning from the poisons they were exposed to daily.

Lead white was praised for its opacity and lightfastness, but the fumes cause hallucinations and severe health problems. Most countries now prohibit the use of lead white and lead-based paints.

Scheele’s Green, a prominent emerald green pigment mainly used to dye textiles and wallpaper that gained popularity in the 18th century, is also well-known. Scheele’s Green is formed of cupric hydrogen arsenite, one of the world’s most hazardous chemicals, and it was so toxic that many individuals died at some point. 

2. Select less toxic items

Heavy metals, primarily cadmium, are still employed in pigments. Cadmium was once outlawed in the EU, but it is now widely used as a base for red, orange, and yellow pigments in paint, and it is lauded by many painters for its lightfastness and lovely colour. Manganese, ceruleum, and cobalt are other heavy metals still utilized today.

Azo pigments are also widely available and offer a less-toxic and more recent alternative to cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, and cadmium red.

Imitation pigments for the aforementioned heavy metals are commonly available, and these are less damaging to your health but typically appear less appealing. Despite the health dangers, some artists prefer colours made from genuine heavy metals.

The phrase ‘hue’, which implies that a pigment resembles in terms of colouration but does not contain the actual pigment it is named after, can be used to identify imitation pigments. The hue “Manganese Blue Hue” does not include manganese. A name like “Cadmium Red Genuine,” on the other hand, indicates that the colour does contain heavy metals.

3. Keep an eye out for plastics.

Plastic is a common component of paint, varnish, lacquer, and adhesive, and this is referred to as acrylic, polyurethane, polyester, or silicone. Acrylic paint appears to be water-based paint, and you can mix it with water if it hasn’t yet been dried, but it’s plastic-based with a solvent that makes it water-soluble. When you rinse your acrylic paint brushes in the sink, this liquid plastic enters the environment and can unknowingly do severe damage.

Plastic is also utilized extensively in adhesives and sealants. While many types of glue have traditionally been made from animal bones or rabbit skin, many have now been replaced by synthetic alternatives, frequently based on various plastics. This is less expensive, and the adhesive is stronger.

The same is proper for varnish and lacquer. Acrylic and polyurethane-based varnishes are inexpensive, durable, and long-lasting. However, because they are made of plastic and frequently include dangerous thinners, they can damage the environment.

Conclusive Thoughts

The only method to find out if your art supplies are safe for the environment is to contact the brand or manufacturer. You will frequently receive vague and convoluted responses, or maybe no response.

When selecting artistic equipment and goods, even considering watercolour paper or watercolour sheets, it is usually best to be as exact as possible. Reading the ingredients is an excellent place to start when deciding whether a product is environmentally friendly or cruelty-free. If you want a platform to get the best artistic tools under one roof, you can choose the right products from Canvazo.