Eco-Friendly Artist
Oil paintings have always used plant-based oils, such as linseed oil, poppy oil, walnut oil, for many centuries. As a professional artist, I am committed to using artist products (e.g. paint pigments, mediums, thinners, brush cleaners,) which are sourced through natural and ethical processes and use plant-based oils while still maintaining high quality results. I now use eco-friendly packaging materials that are mostly free of plastic and are recyclable and degradable when preparing my artworks for transportation to buyers, art exhibitions and art galleries.
Thinners and Mediums
Green for Oil is a new range of mediums and thinner for oil paint that does not contain spirits, such as turpentine, because they have been replaced by mixtures of fatty acids and plant esters. The resins and oils used in the Green For Oil range are the same as for the standard additives (ketone resin for the medium, safflower oil for the medium in gel). The Green for Oil range is non-toxic.
Sennelier's Green For Oil range has been designed to be a safer, greener alternative to traditional solvents with all the ingredients being part of the bio-solvent family. These eco-friendly solvents are created from renewable raw materials that are found naturally.
Cardboard Packaging
I now use lengths of thick Corrugated Edge Protector cardboard, made from 6-ply moulded corrugated paper, making them fully recyclable and biodegradable as well as offering excellent shock absorption and padding. I use these instead of the blue foam edge protectors — manufactured from polyethylene low-density foam — that were once popular in the past for artists, art publishers and art galleries, when protecting the edges of artworks when in transit.
The use of Packaging materials when transporting and mailing artworks
In recent years, I have endeavoured to keep to a minimum the amount of bubble wrap I use, and whenever possible I have endeavoured to source alternative packaging materials (such as paper bubble wrap, paper parcel tape, and even paper tape with the word ‘Fragile’ printed onto it) which are made from recycled materials and are also fully recyclable and degradable.
Paper tape offers an environmentally friendly alternative to standard plastic-based packaging tapes. This tape is made from 100 percent recycled paper materials. Because this tape is made from paper, it is quick and easy for the end user to recycle both box and tape without the need to peel the tape off. I also purchase my goods from suppliers who are committed to using recycled materials and using processes which are good for the environment.
High Quality Paints
I now only paint with oil paints and use paints made by Old Holland, Michael Harding and Winsor and Newton. Old Holland oil paints contain a very high concentration of pigments and the best quality linseed oil. Therefore, as long as they are still soft and usable, then they are fine to use and they can last over 50 years in the tubes.
Without Compromising on Quality
The most important thing about any brand of paint is the quality of the pigment. I use professional grade artist paints. These oil paints contain high quality pigments with excellent lightfast qualities and are bound with plant-based oils such as linseed, walnut or safflower oil. Most of the paints I use are based on cold pressed linseed oil from the first pressing of the seeds. The paint is then placed in metal tubes rather than plastic paint tubes — although the metal paint tubes still use plastic screw-on lids.
Michael Harding Art believes in ensuring that the raw materials they use are sourced and obtained in an ethical manner. As such, they obtain the materials they need from different parts of the world and from businesses that share their environmental and ethical views. Michael Harding Art doesn't use shellacs, dairy products, or insects in the products they make.
My Promise
As an artist, I shall continue to responsibly source products which can be recycled and reused and will continue to reduce the amount of packaging waste produced as a result from my work. I also use low energy LED bulbs in my studio and use artist canvases that have wooden stretcher bars made from sustainable tree sources. Thank you for reading.
Intellectual Property
All images, text, and design elements on this website are the intellectual property of Mark Woollacott unless otherwise stated. All photographs were taken by Mark Woollacott. Unauthorized copying, reproduction, distribution, broadcasting or use of any content — whether for commercial or personal purposes — is strictly prohibited. Please respect English and international copyright law.