Albany is delighted to announce that Artist Hana, London-based artist, will officially launch her range of plastic-free acrylic paints on the 17 May 2021. The paints, called Placrylic, are made from coconut shells, chlorophyll and succulents and have been created in response to the growing concerns on the use of harmful plastics and toxic materials in art supplies which are detrimental not only for the environment but also for the artist using them.

Some renowned high quality artist paint manufacturers are aware of these issues and have begun the much-needed removal of toxic cadmium from their paint formulations. Artist Hana’s art practice is hinged on these concerns and is centred on the formulation of paints and inks that are safer for use by artists and manufacturers, whilst being sustainable and archival. Her artworks generally consist of Horses, Portraits and Abstract Paintings and she has produced a number of paintings using her Placrylics to illustrate its quality.

One notable work is a recent Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. ‘My intention was to display the versatility of the coconut black and plant white paints, capturing the essence of the sitter in every minute detail. If you walk into a gallery and are taken by the painting without any questions about the paint, then I will be on the right track’.

These non-toxic eco-friendly paints are available both as a set as well as individually and contain colours including: Coconut Black, Chlorophyll Green, Plant White, Fauna Marine Blue, Chlorophyll Blue and Succulent Red, alongside pure pigments and a plant-based gel, allowing for a full range of functions for the artist. The revolutionary paints come in environmentally friendly glass containers and packaging.

They have already received praise from a number of well-known artists including critically acclaimed artist Keith Coventry who noted ‘The black had a satisfying density and rich appearance and retained the impression of the brush stroke well. When mixed with the gel the potential for working wet on wet was good as the drying time was generous and works well on paper’. Artist duo Cullian Richards also praised the paints saying, ‘Love the ashy black super matt and the white covers very well and is versatile with the use of gel, nice and translucent’.

Artist Hana explains, ‘I want to lead the way to a revolution in the creation of paints which are safer for the environment, but also of the same quality, if not higher, than those that are currently on the market. Ultimately, through my paintings, I want to educate people about the ingredients that are used in traditional art materials and enlighten them about more sustainable ways to create art that doesn’t limit creativity or sacrifice quality’.

Throughout her life, sustainability has been a central cornerstone for the artist. While she was attending art school in California, she found it difficult to be around the fumes from paints and paint thinners in the studio and consistently wore a mask while painting. Upon further research, she found that most conventional paints are known carcinogens and some, like Titanium White are openly known be toxic to aquatic life. Being an advocate for the environment, she pondered if she could create a paint that was non-toxic, had a more pleasant smell and be more eco-conscious whilst still being archival. Hana Eco Paints was born out of this need and today artists can create works using this one-of-a-kind revolutionary paints, pigments and gels made entirely from natural and sustainable materials.