Art supplies are exciting! Whether you're exploring watercolor for the first time, picking up a new sketchbook, or reaching for a brush you've used approximately one million times, there's something about the process that keeps us coming back.
But there's another side to art supplies that we don't talk about nearly enough, and it's one that I feel pretty strongly about.
Animals have been used in the production of art materials for centuries. Paintbrushes, pigments, inks, paper, adhesives, and all sorts of other creative tools have traditionally relied on animal-derived ingredients. And while many of these practices originated during times when alternative materials weren't yet invented, we've fortunately come a LONG way since then.
We have synthetic fibers that can perform beautifully in professional paintbrushes. We have alternatives to animal-derived pigments, binders, and paper sizing. We have manufacturers actively developing supplies that leave animals out of the equation entirely.
And yet, a surprising number of animal-derived materials are still being used today.
I want to dig into the history of these practices, share what I've learned about where our supplies actually come from, and provide a resource for artists who want to make more informed choices.
Some of the information isn't particularly pleasant. In fact, certain practices make me downright angry. But I believe if we can talk about these things openly, we have an opportunity to learn from them, grow, and make changes where we can.
I hope you'll approach this article with curiosity and an open mind. There's quite a bit to unpack!
Content note: This article discusses animal exploitation, slaughter byproducts, and the use of animal materials in manufacturing. I've kept the descriptions informative rather than unnecessarily graphic.
speciesism (n.)
-the assumption of human superiority leading to the exploitation of animals
First, what exactly makes an art supply cruelty-free?
This is worth clarifying because the terminology can get a little confusing.
You'll often see vegan and cruelty-free used interchangeably, but they mean different things.
- Cruelty-free refers to products that aren't tested on animals.
- Vegan means the product doesn't contain animal-derived ingredients.
A product can meet one of those descriptions without necessarily meeting the other.
Then there's the question of where those ingredients come from and how they're collected.
For my purposes, I'm especially concerned with materials connected to slaughter, fur harvesting, trapping, and other practices that exploit or harm animals. That means avoiding things like animal hair, bone-derived pigments, traditional ox gall, gelatin, and animal-hide glue.
I personally make an exception for responsibly sourced honey and beeswax, so you'll see that distinction reflected in my recommendations. But I want you to know that ingredients are still animal-derived and therefore aren't vegan.
Paintbrushes: the fur industry in our studios
The fur industry is sadly alive and well. You may have noticed that a growing number of big names in fashion have moved away from fur, recognizing that we've advanced far beyond needing animals to keep us warm or dress ourselves. Lucky for us, the more people speak up and choose alternatives, the less profitable this industry becomes.
That said, did you know paintbrush bristles are part of this industry, too?
Back in the day, animal hair was a useful resource. Different types of fur offered specific qualities that artists relied on, from the ability to hold large amounts of water to creating a fine, precise tip. But as a reminder, we've advanced. We can now manufacture professional-grade synthetic brushes that very closely replicate these qualities, and in many cases, perform even better.
Until animal hair is a thing of the past in art supplies, here's a closer look at some of the animals used to make brushes and how their hair is collected.
Kolinsky sable (Siberian weasel)
Kolinsky is considered one of the highest-quality hairs for watercolor brushes because of its ability to absorb large amounts of water while maintaining a fine point. Despite its name, Kolinsky hair comes from the Siberian weasel.
These animals develop longer, denser coats during the freezing winters of Siberia and surrounding regions. That winter fur is especially desirable for brush manufacturing, which is why Kolinsky brushes often come with such a hefty price tag.
The truth about how Kolinsky fur is collected
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Siberian weasels are hunted and trapped for their fur. The hair used in brushes comes from animals killed in the fur trade.
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They're difficult to breed in captivity, and scientific research documents the use of fur trapping in regions where they're found. Trapping can involve restraining an animal until the trapper returns, exposing it to injury and harsh weather.
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The hair is most valuable during winter, when freezing temperatures naturally produce the longer, denser coat manufacturers seek. And to preserve their pelts, electrocution and gassing are documented killing methods in the wider fur industry.
Squirrel
Squirrel hair is extremely soft and can hold a TON of water, making it particularly desirable for watercolor mop and wash brushes.
The truth about how squirrel hair is collected
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Squirrels are killed for their tail hair, which is collected and processed for fine art brushes.
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Up to 75% of a squirrel's hair is discarded and deemed unusable.
It's interesting how much information we're given about the performance of a squirrel-hair brush, considering how little we're typically told about where that hair came from. 🤔
Mongoose
Mongoose hair is used in oil painting because it's strong and flexible with fine tips. However, each animal provides very little usable hair, meaning a large number of mongooses are needed to produce brushes.
The truth about how mongoose hair is collected
❗️Mongoose hair collection process is particularly disturbing❗️
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Collection involves trapping, then beating them to death or stunning them before removing their hair.
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There are documented practices of mongoose having their hair plucked by hand while still alive.
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Each mongoose produces only about 20 grams of usable brush hair after cleaning and sorting. That's approximately 50 mongooses killed for just ONE kilogram of hair.
Think about how many brushes can be produced from the hair of animals killed this way, then sold to artists who have no idea what went into making them.
Hog and boar
Hog and boar bristles are commonly used for oil and acrylic painting. Their coarse texture and naturally split ends allow the brushes to hold thicker paint and maintain their shape.
You'll often see these labeled as hog bristle, boar bristle, or China bristle. The names can overlap, and what's sold as boar bristle may actually come from domestic pigs.
The truth about how hog and boar bristles are collected
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Bristles are commonly obtained as a byproduct of the meat industry, collected from pigs after slaughter.
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Alternatively, live-plucking has been documented in India. Pigs are physically held down while their hair is forcibly pulled out by hand, without pain relief. Plucked bristles have sold for approximately twice the price of cut bristles, creating an incentive for this practice.
Collection methods vary, and some bristles are clipped or shaved. Still, the fact that live-plucking is a regular practice in the production of something as ordinary as paintbrush bristles is horrifying.
Goat, pony, ox, and horse
These animals are commonly used for softer or inexpensive brushes, along with traditional watercolor and calligraphy brushes.
Goat hair is extremely soft and absorbent, making it useful for washes and ink painting. Pony hair is often found in those inexpensive, brightly colored school paintbrushes we've all used. Ox hair, typically collected from around the ears of cattle, is sometimes dyed reddish to resemble sable. Horsehair is commonly used in traditional Japanese and Chinese calligraphy brushes.
The truth about how this hair is collected
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Often obtained after slaughter and sold as a byproduct of the meat industry.
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Live-plucking has been reported by animal welfare organizations.
The difficulty here is that the method of collection isn't always the same. A brush manufacturer might tell us exactly which animal the hair came from without identifying how it was obtained. And for anyone wanting to avoid supporting slaughter-derived materials, that missing information is pretty important.
Other animal hair used in paintbrushes
Weasel, mink, ferret, badger, ermine, rabbit, sheep, deer, and several other animals have also been used in artist brushes. Depending on the species and supplier, the hair may come from wild trapping, fur farming, shearing, or the livestock industry.
"Synthetic"
Art by Peggy Dean
The Pigeon Letters cruelty-free paintbrush choice
Not only do 100% pure synthetic brushes save our furry friends, they have the ability to perform just as beautifully as natural hair, and sometimes even better.
We now have the technology to control the manufacturing process, right down to the length, shape, flexibility, and distribution of individual fibers. This means we can create brushes with consistent quality, excellent water retention, and the precise tips artists love.
And synthetic brushes can be offered at a much more accessible price point, too. Which makes sense, you know, cuz trapping, slaughtering, trading, THEN manufacturing adds quite a few steps to the process.
This is exactly why I developed The Pigeon Letters Studio Brushes. I wanted professional-grade brushes that were 100% synthetic, performed beautifully, and aligned with the things I care about.
After a LOT of testing, I created a collection that gives artists the control, spring, and water retention they need for watercolor painting, lettering, and illustration. And I couldn't be happier that we're able to offer a cruelty-free alternative.
You can explore the Studio Brushes here.
Sources for this section
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Oxford Academic: Mustela sibirica | Scientific research on Siberian weasels, winter coats, fur trapping, and conservation status.
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American Society of Mammalogists: Siberian weasel | Conservation status of Mustela sibirica.
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da Vinci: Kolinsky red sable brushes | The origin and characteristics of Kolinsky tail hair.
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Zahn Pinselmanufaktur: Natural brush materials | Manufacturer information on squirrel, pony, goat, ox, hog, mongoose, and other animal hairs.
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Wildlife Trust of India: Mongoose hair trade investigation | Documented trapping, beating, live-plucking, and quantity of usable mongoose hair.
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Beauty Without Cruelty India: Animal hair and brushes | Animal hair sourcing, reported pig-bristle live-plucking, and other commercial brush-hair practices.
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UK Animal Welfare Committee: Responsible sourcing of fur | Fur trapping and killing methods.
Pigments
Moving away from fur, pigments contain all sorts of animal parts. One of the trickiest listed ingredients is glycerine, as it can be derived from plants, animals, and even humans. So when we see glycerin as an added ingredient, it's hard to truly know the source. That said, here are some of the animals found in our paints, inks, and dyes.
Ox
Oxen is also used for watercolors, lithography, paper marbling, engraving and more. Ox gall is marketed to give watercolorists the control while painting.
The truth about how ox gall is collected
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Collection of ox gall (bile) is taken post-slaughter and then mixed with alcohol.
Cochineal
Cochineals are insects that are u
sed for their bright red blood in dye for paint, food and cosmetics).
The truth about cochineal dye is collected
- Collection includes grinding insects into a pulp. The pulp is then strained for its carminic acid, then dried. The powder is then paired with salts to isolate carmine dye.
Cow
Cattle bones are used for pigments in paints and inks.
The truth about cow bones are collected
- Collection occurs after slaughter in which bones are heated in a sealed vessel.
Squid
The truth about squid ink is collected
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Collection includes dissecting the body to obtain ink sacs, then cutting them to drain the sac.
Lac
Lac insects are used for their bold color and shine in inks and dyes.
The truth about lac pigment is collected
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Collection involves scraping tree bark and lac bugs and placing them in tubes to be heated over fire. This liquifies the shellac and cochineal and leaves the bark and carcasses behind.
Cruelty-free alternatives
Wanna grab some professional grade pigments that don't put animals through this torture? Here are some of my favorites:
Paintbrushes
Paints
- Watercolor Paints: Daniel Smith Watercolors (excluding Ivory Black, Payne's Gray and Sepia)
- Watercolor Metallic Paints: Finetec
- Gouache Paints: Holbein Acryla (excluding Ivory Black)
- Acrylic Paints: Liquitex (excluding Ivory Black)
- Fabric Paints: Pebeo
Inks
Brush Pens
Drawing Pens
In addition to the cruelty-free factor of our drawing pens, they're also catered to the professional artist with a quality grade to support all types of illustrators. Rather than the traditional felt tips, our tips are slightly curved to better support angles without damaging the tips as easily. There are also convenient cap windows to see through to tips. It's the little things, right? Grab some!
Paper
Trees make up the majority of resources for the production of paper. However, there are additives such as chemicals and even animal products used for paper as well. These additives assist in satisfying specific needs. In art paper, hide glue is common.
Rabbit
Rabbits are used for sizing (a substance added to watercolor paper in the manufacturing process that reduces paper absorbancy).
The truth about how rabbit sizing is collected
- Collection includes skinning rabbits and boiling the skin in hot water.
Pig | Cow | Sheep | Horse
These animals are also used for sizing.
The truth about how sizing is collected
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Process includes boiling parts of these animals such as their skin, hooves, cartilage, horns and other tissues.
Cruelty-free paper recommendations
Here are some of my absolute favorite papers that are also animal-friendly:
Watercolor Paper
Lettering Paper
Mix Media
We're always collecting more information and reviewing cruelty-free products. If you would like to provide input or have us test your product, feel welcome to email us!
