Testing Natural Earth Paint’s Acrylik Range

The Natural Earth Paint company’s mission is to produce quality art materials that are archival, non-toxic, plant-based, and eco-friendly, and are safe for kids to use. Their Acrylik Paint range embodies all of these qualities, claiming to be the world’s first paint that behaves like a typical acrylic, that’s also completely safe for the user and the planet. In this article, I’ll delve into the details of their key differences, and test seven colours from their range, including three metallics.     Testing Natural Earth Paint’s Acrylik Range The Differences Between Acrylic Paints and Acrylik Paints It’s easy to assume that acrylic paints don’t give off fumes because they’re applied with water and often don’t have a distinct smell, but this isn’t true. As they dry, they emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which vary depending on the paint. Some of these include substances like formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene. These are from the additives that are added to paints to perform functions like extending their shelf life, preventing mould, and manipulating their consistency. Some people are more sensitive to this outgassing than others, especially those with specific allergies. It’s definitely possible to make acrylic painting safe with proper ventilation and avoiding …

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Testing Natural Earth Paint’s Natural Varnish on Oil and Acrylic

If you’re searching for a vegan and environmentally conscious varnish for your oil and acrylic paintings, then the Natural Earth Paint: Natural Varnish may be the perfect solution. Made in small batches with archival ingredients, it’s claimed to be fast-drying, clear, glossy, ideal for retouching, and free from harsh fumes. In this review, I put these descriptors to the test and explore its qualities by testing it on canvas and wooden panel, with oil and acrylic.     Review of Natural Earth Paint: Natural Varnish   About the Natural Earth Paint Company Natural Earth Paint is an American art materials company founded in 2009. The founder, Leah Fanning, started the company while intentionally pursuing a non-toxic painting practice during her first pregnancy. From there, she developed paints, mediums, primers, and varnish using natural pigments and ingredients that don’t contain any fillers, heavy metals, or derivatives from the oil and gas industries. A couple of common examples of these derivatives are acrylic polymer emulsion found in acrylic paint and alkyd resins sometimes used in oil paints; both are derived from petroleum. The company also advertises its products as safe for kids to use because of their non-toxic qualities. Alongside donating to …

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Review of Da Vinci’s New Synthetic Paddle Brushes

Paddle brushes allow artists to have tactile contact with their surface by movement through the wrist, allowing them to work with greater control across large surface areas. The sturdy design also ensures brush longevity. Da Vinci has released their own new paddle brush range, with three bristle types available in three sizes – 40, 60, and 80 mm. In the following article, I describe their unique properties, test out the functionality of their innovative ergonomic handle design, and use them to apply acrylic paints, gesso, and mediums with a variety of effects.     Review of Da Vinci’s New Synthetic Paddle Brushes The History of the Da Vinci Company The Da Vinci brush company was founded around 1890 in Germany and remains based in Nuremberg to this day. Their long-standing ethos has been “to produce the best brushes in the world”, covering everything from artists’ and cosmetic brushes to dental brushes. The name Da Vinci doesn’t come from a personal link to the Renaissance master, but was chosen to enhance brand recognition and give an assurance quality after the company trademarked the name ‘Leonardo Da Vinci’ in 1952. Today, Da Vinci manufactures about 6 million brushes annually, with the Paddle …

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