Thursday, Week 17: Trail - One Brush Challenge, Oil on Linen (07/05/2020)

Today we're having a tough conversation, but one that needs to be addressed. We're going to use a wonderful brush. A natural hair, mongoose round brush. We've spoken about the heightened consciousness that working with a single brush has given us in the past three days, and we can have well deserved, light-hearted conversations about Silver Falcons. But today it was important to understand that not only our brush's shape is important, or its size, its toughness or softness, but also the manner in which it's made. And by that I don't mean the way it's constructed (respect to all the artisans) but the manner in which the hairs that make up our brush are being collected. The reality is that even though a lot of countries have taken steps into banning the hunting of the beautiful species that make possible marvellous brushes, there is unfortunately a black market that is still very much alive. And even though the hunting of these species is many times a tribal tradition that can date hundreds of years, the reality is that things changed dramatically when we as a society started producing brushes and hunting indiscriminately. Our impact on these species was shamefully substantial, many of them becoming endangered (yes, due to hunting but also due to habitat loss). This is very tough for painters, especially the many of us around the world that share the roots of our tradition. Because if it wasn't for these incredible tools, many of the paintings that have impacted our humanity (for the better, I hope) would have never been made. The bottom line is, we painters have to decide if we believe that these brushes are absolutely necessary for the making of our paintings. My answer is no. I can't be hypocritical about this, because I've obviously used natural hair brushes. I would think that at one time or another, every single painter out there has used either bristle or soft natural hair brushes. And if I were to stop using them right now I would definitely feel the loss of some of the awesome tools that have given identity to our painting history. But I have to believe that all of us, would understand that painting has to be a product of OUR time. And right now, more than ever, we're conscious about the impact we have had on the environment. So, I've decided to pledge this. I can't do anything about the brushes I've bought throughout the years (some of my soft natural hair brushes I have from 10 yrs ago), I can only be mindful and grateful and attempt to put them to good use. But I can also decide, from now on, to never buy a natural hair brush again. I don't expect people to do the same, and my respect to all of you who made this decision yrs ago. I will use my brushes until they're worn to the ferrule, and hopefully by then the amazing talent behind producing our tools will come up with alternatives that will help us make that transition. Painting is full of hazardous materials and tools that are made with objectionable practices. We have to accept that this is also part of our tradition and individually take steps towards the betterment of it.



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For a hi_res version of today's painting, please follow this link! Make a nice print out of it! Giclee it! Frame it! Turn it into a super cool Riso! Paint on top of it! It's up to you! :)

 https://www.dropbox.com/s/8j7iek2hnar3orx/DSC00325.TIF?dl=0