Greening your Art Making is about rethinking the way you work and exploring new ways and techniques. It can be a very exciting and interesting process that leads you down pathways in your art that you never considered before.
Here is some guidelines to get you started:
- Use natural tempera paint made with clay instead of synthetic chemicals or preservatives
- Use vegetable pigments/dyes like beet juice, turmeric, spinach and blueberries
- Try keep away from solvents and materials with chemical contents.
- Soak old paintbrushes in hot vinegar for 30 minutes and they're good as new
- Think about the impact of your work on the environment. Do you know what happens to your waste? Do you know where your materials actually derive from?
- Reseach about the chemicals in your materials, and find ways to work without chemicals!
- Explore different materials and techniques in your work. If you struggle to explore new possibilities on your own, join an arts group or go for a workshop.
- Use biodegradable materials as far as possible
- Use recycled materials when possible, but also be aware of the amount of bleach used in the recycling process.
- Choose cruelty-free brushes
- Choose wood, charcoal, paper & other wood products that are FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council)
- Use discarded or 'waste' items to create tools, containers and other handy things for your studio
- Use discarded or 'waste' items to create new and unique artworks
- Separate recyclable waste materials from your trash bin, and take them to a depot
- Recycle your food packaging! Your actions outside of your studio has just as much an impact on our environment as your life inside of the studio.
- Experiment with making your own paints
- Make your own glue, gesso and other materials!
- Find a framer who uses sustainably sourced (FSC) wood
- When printing, try use printers that recycle, and uses recycled paper and plant-based inks
- Always keep the environment in mind when exhibiting, selling and packaging with the environment in mind. Even small changes, when compounded, make a big difference.
Tips and guidelines from our blog posts:
- Have a look at our post Cleaning in your studio
- Read and try recipes to make your own art materials
- Check out artist features for inspiration
Read Creating an Earth-Friendly & Healthy Art Studio on Fine Art Tips with Lori McNee, have a look at this guide to non-toxic painting on the UK artists & illustrators website, and watch this video by Leah Mebane, founder of Natural Earth Paints:
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