January
TIPS•ADVICE•IDEAS
sketchbookCheck out our pick of the best art
materials free from animal productsOne of the wonderful things about art is our ability to craft
new images using the same materials as the Old Masters.
However, when they are made from centuries-old recipes
developed in less enlightened times, it can be problematic.
While animal hair brushes and rabbit-skin glue may be
obvious, other art materials with animal by-products can
include gouache (gelatine and oxgall), oil paints (beeswax),
paper (sized with gelatine), and watercolour (honey).
Luckily for vegans, or simply any conscientious artist, there
are plenty of traditional-style alternatives on themarketArtists&Illustrators 11
PAINT LIKE
A VEGAN
GAMBLIN PVA SIZE
US manufacturer Gamblin
has not only discontinued
its rabbit-skin glue but
also produced this great
alternative. Use it to seal
canvas – the neutral pH
means it won’t yellow.
http://www.gamblincolors.comDALER-ROWNEY
SYSTEM 3 ACRYLICS
Certain black or grey paints
contain the pigment PBk9,
derived from animal bones.
However, both System 3 blacks- Mars and Process – are free
from this. In fact, aside from
Raw Sienna, all colours in the
range are vegan-friendly.
http://www.daler-rowney.com
FABER-CASTELL PITT ARTIST PENS
These drawing pens use a plastic dispersion
resin binder in place of shellac or gelatin, and
even the sepia ones are inorganic (sepia ink was
traditionally obtained from cuttlefi sh and squid).
http://www.fabercastell.comDA VINCI CASANEO BRUSHES
A Kazan squirrel hair shortage prompted
da Vinci to develop a synthetic alternative
with a similar elasticity. The Casaneo range
covers everything from 50mm mottlers to
handy travel brushes, ideal for urban sketching.
http://www.davinci-defet.comDERWENT
GRAPHIC PENCILS
Graphite can sometimes
be non-vegan, thanks to
the presence of tallow,
a smoothing agent made from
animal fats. The harder pencils,
from B to 9H, in this range are
all free from animal products.
http://www.pencils.co.uk