Over a decade ago, I had a major health scare. I was fortunate enough to have surgery, and we caught it early. The rain cloud that had hung over me for months suddenly evaporated, and I felt an overwhelming wave of gratitude—my three-year-old son would still have a mother. It placed me on a new path, one where our well being was front and center.
One by one, I replaced my skincare products through a simple rule: if I didn’t recognise an ingredient, it was out. Keep it real, keep it simple. I started to see how much we over complicate our lives.
When I became an artist, I knew that if I was going to create, it had to align with my values. It was a ‘hell no’ compromise I was no longer prepared to make. I realised this meant digging deep for information, lots of trial and error, and a lot of testing.
Local art stores were vague about non-toxic or natural paints, often directing me to kids paints, which only came in a few bright acrylic colours. I knew I had to look further afield, and that Europe or the U.S. would likely have better options.
While living in Florence in my twenties, I fell in love with Zecchi, an ancient art store. It’s like stepping into an old pharmacy, with shelves of glass apothecary jars filled with glorious colored pigments and shellacs. The range of pigments, sourced from all over the world, was mind-blowing. But I also knew that some of the pigments used by the old masters were toxic to varying degrees. Mother Nature is potent. With minimal information provided on each pigment, I realized, after a year of trial and error, that I was back to square one.
My next place of research was the U.S., and I was in luck. I found archival-quality earth pigments, all verified non-toxic, sourced globally, and certified with an American Green rating. They’re more vibrant than store-bought paints, UV and humidity resistant, and if left in a glass jar for a thousand years, they wouldn’t degrade in color or composition. I realized it’s possible to learn from the old masters—this time with improved, ethically sourced and safer formulas that work for my family, myself, and the environment.
Holly x
