Eco friendly in a plastic world.

Acrylic paints are plastic. Plastic, while having some helpful properties usage and products in our everyday life, they have overtaken the art world in recent decades and not always in a good way.  So, when I was asked to contribute to the Friends of Waterfront Park (Seattle WA) fundraising event, I accepted the personal challenge of finding an eco-friendly way to cover the 12"x12" square canvas I was provided. 

I typically use watercolor, pencil, charcoal, select ink. It had been a hot minute since last I painted on canvas. The theme from the event was imagining Pier 62, 62 years in the future which would be the year 2086. (Never mind that I'll be 115). In the future I want to see a continued stewardship between the water beings and the land beings of the Salish Sea. Future Ancestors depicts the shadow of a Coast Salish person in a canoe and blackfish (aka orcas) playing in the late afternoon sun. Our resident pods growing in numbers and strength.  The view is from the Salish Sea (aka Puget Sound) looking east towards the Seattle waterfront in what is today called Washington state. 

But what could I use to convey my vision that was also marine friendly?

Enter Placrylic™. A plant based "acrylic style" paint made by an artist in the UK. (go ahead and look it up, I have no monetary affiliation, I'm just a happy customer)

Its colors and hues are vibrant and uniquely different from one another. I used their starter kit of 6 basic colors. Black, white, blue, red, yellow, green.  The blue, as seen as the water in my painting, is the blue paint as-is. Yes, it really is that vibrant. It is also a thin liquid, unlike the red which looks more like brick, thick and a bit grainy as is the yellow. The green stinks the most, like rotting lawnmower. But the depth obtained by the rich green pigment is stunning. White I found to be the strangest to use with its Elmer glue like texture. Black is gorgeous with its deep matte texture. It reflects little to no light. Simply gorgeous. However, lends to a learning curve when blending with other colors.  

All in all, I used the colors as-is. Blended as little as I needed to. I was going with a primary colors approach even though they're not typical primary hues. Official statement: I am NOT affiliated with the Placrylic™ company nor do I receive compensation from them in any way. This is just my honest two cents of how I used their product. But yes, I will happily use them again and do suggest them for exploring another creative eco-friendly option for your painting needs! 

While the original was created as eco-friendly as possible, the reprints are made the standard way as all prints are now days. I did pick the best canvas option I felt available.  The great thing about print on demand is that only what is ordered get produced, so I won't make 500,000 copies that get left in a warehouse or landfill. However,... if 500,000 get ordered, delivered and loved in someone's home, well I'll just call that a job well done. 

~Chatell :) ... more photos on my IG ChatellSuzanne