Sustainable painting practices : a critical look at traditional painting mediums and an exploration of alternatives

Abstract

The goal of this thesis was to examine the environmental effects of traditional paints and mediums, and to research more sustainable alternatives. In a time of climate emergency, it is important to take a critical look at all fields of work to determine whether better choices can be made in terms of sustainability and environmental impact.

As part of the research of this thesis, scientific articles and data from paint companies were used to assess the sustainability of oil and acrylic paints. Literary sources and case studies of working artists were used to find alternative, more sustainable ways of painting. This study informed the creation of the the-sis project “Frangible (2023)”, a series of two paintings made with natural ingredients, and the working process is presented as a case study.

The findings indicate that while measures can be taken to limit the harm of working with traditional materials, these measures can be difficult to achieve, and still without achieving a truly sustainable approach. Conversely, while working with local natural materials may be time-consuming, the process itself can be a beneficial rooting of the artwork and artist in place, providing an environmental connection and context that would not exist otherwise.