FAQs
What are the paints made of?
These paints are made from natural pigments that come from three main sources: grounds and clays known as ochers or Earth, minerals and semi precious stones and extracted from plants and certain bugs. The used pigment will be labeled clearly in each sets’ description. Along with the pigments I use gum Arabic as a binder and few other natural ingredients the preserve the paint and give it a nice flow. If you are interested in the making paint process, you can read this blog post: Paint Making From Pigment
Why are some of the paints cracked?
A lot of the cracks are superficial and the paint is still in good usable condition. The natural paints are affected by weather temperatures and movements and some of them would crack with shipping unfortunately, but once you start using them they should be fine. I also use larger surface pans compared to what you find in shops and that makes them expand more than what we are used to.
Why are you using these metal pans and not the shop bought plastic pans?
These metal pans is an effort to use plastic-free pans and I also like the width of them that will enable you to use more paints.
What is the capacity of the pans you use?
The square and round pans are equivalent to a FULL Pan (3.5ml). The shells are equivalent to a quarter and half pans (1.1 and 1.6ml).
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, I ship internationally and there are two shipping option: standard tracked and signed and express tracked and signed. I highly recommend the express option even though it is more expensive because your item will arrive safely within a week, where the cheaper option is the regular mail service and it will depend on your country’s postal services, which might take up to a month or longer depending on where you are.
Are these watercolours or gouache?
These are watercolours, but can be applied in a heavier layer and it will be very similar to gouache. I usually use them in the place of gouache and the heavy pigments makes it very opaque.
What is the difference between these Bristle and Brush paints and the other paints found in art stores made by big companies?
These are natural handmade paints made with pure natural pigments that does not include chemical or other (maybe harmful) additives and they are kinder to the environment, but in terms of usage, they are similar and both do the job. The natural ones are more changeable and have their own personalities and reactions with the light, where I find store bought ones very flat, but that’s a personal preference.
What is the difference between these paints and other handmade paints?
I think all handmade paints are great and they all have their own characters depending on the personalised recipes of the maker. Some makers only use natural materials like me, where others use chemically made paints as well. So, the choice is yours. I would encourage you to also shop locally and find other natural paint makers around you if I am too far away. I am following a good range of pigment people and other paint makers on my instagram for people to find closer alternatives. Starting this business is not about competing with other makers, but it is to emphasis the importance of this craft and to share the beauty of this natural material.
Are these paints safe and non-toxic?
Yes, these paints are completely safe and made from natural materials. Although they look almost edible and delicious, please do not eat them and keep them away from children and pets. There are so many small parts that could be chocking hazards if swallowed.
How do you package your sets?
I am trying my hardest to find eco friendly solutions with minimal use of plastic, but certain destinations require very specific packaging that includes plastic sleeves, so I can’t escape that. I am trying to use recycled and recyclable materials where possible as well.
Is this brand really plastic free?
Yes, well, mostly, all paint pans and boxes are made of metal, packaging is paper, foil and cardboard. However, there is still minimal use of plastic in the form of tape or glue. Express packaging also requires plastic envelopes for invoices and we can’t go around that and we have to supply it. If you find other plastics, then they are recycled and repurposed.
Is your gold and silver lustre ethical?
Yes! Our supplier has a child-free-labour label and they seem to be the most ethical in the field. We generally try to find out the sources of the pigments we use and try to have transparency with you as much as we can.