Would a vegetarian use these?

Question

I'm a professional artist, and the brushes I use are made with actual animal hair (sable; boar's bristle; badger, to name a few).

Natural hair brushes are superior to man-made (which is why every artist wants them, & therefore why they are so costly). My sister asked me if a vegetarian would use them, and I had to confess that I had no idea.

So, I'm asking: can vegetarian artists use high-quality (i.e., natural) brushes, or do they have to make do with synthetics?

P.S. I'm no vegetarian, and I'd never dream of sacrificing quality workmanship for an intangible moral ideal. But, that's just me.

Answer 1

Technically, vegetarianism applies only to what a person eats. However, when a person is a vegetarian because they do not want to be a part of animal cruelty, they often stop using animal products as well (why kill/torture for fashion etc. if I do not do so for food?- being the logic.)

But as I said, you can technically be a vegetarian and use animal products. It is vegans who cannot use any animal products at all.

P.S. Many wouldn't dream of sacrificing their morals for an intangible artistic ideal.
;D

EDIT- That last commeant was meant to be amusing and ironic, not mean or rude. I tried to convey that through the smiley face... but you never can tell around here.

Answer 2

I'm sorry but I just can't support such a cruel system. Yeah we wish and hope animals are treated better but the reality is that they're treated horrible in the industrialized agriculture where all that matters is profits. This is the main reason I decided to go vegan. By funding that we are allowing this to continue. I think many people just aren't aware of how animals are kept because this is well hidden from us. We're so disconnected from our food. If you know what goes on, I don't see how you don't get it? I believe if we're the "smartest" species we have a responsibility towards animals not to abuse them. When I used to think of animal cruelty, I though of cases like Michael Vick, puppy mills etc. and turned a blind eye on the food industry for years. Well not anymore. Suffering is suffering. If I don't need it and have other options, why not be veggie. Those are my reasons for being a vegan. I have been wanting to watch this documentary, Earthlings, which I've read good reviews about. Maybe you can check it out too and understand why a lot people choose it for ethical reasons.

Answer 3

Like a few have said... I think it depends on whether the animal died to harvest the hair or not. Vegans wouldn't use it regardless, since it's an animal by-product. But if the animal did not die to make it (and we could know that), I think most veggies would be okay with it. Unfortunately, since items don't typically state that "no animals were harmed in the making of this product", I personally would not, unless I had some way of finding out how the hair was obtained.

That said... I have several paintings in my home and I have no idea what they were painted with. Nor could I probably find out if I tried. I think it's one of those things that very few people even think about, since most of us would buy paintings, not brushes. Good question!!! :)

Answer 4

Vegetarians could in theory still use these brushes, unless morals contradict.

Vegans, like myself, cannot. I find if you go through the effort to not eat animals than why are you still slaughtering them for high quality, superior art supplies. I myself am an artist but I will never have an animal harmed for selfish gain! I agree with Michael H., you're letter was good untuil you insult us regarding our morals!!!

Answer 5

A vegetarian might, but a vegan would not. I am vegan and I would not buy natural hair bristle brushes. I know that they are superior, but I think the life of the animal is superior to my work and art. I also don't 'make do' with anything. I have them and use them and I don't have any problems with that. It's you who are having to 'make do' with a product that you know an animal was killed for.

Answer 6

by definition, yes a vegetarian can.

a vegan cannot.

Morally, i would say no. As a veggie i don't use anything like hair, leather etc.

A vegetarian is a person who does not EAT meat, fish, poultry or slaughter by-products.

Thats the formal international definition. its about diet

Anything above that is a veggies choice but personally i expand it to include using any animal products like hair

Whereas a vegan does not use anything that affects the animal, such as meat, milk, eggs, wool, hair etc.

The quality of the product would not affect a morla decision. If one does not believe in using the animals product, and animal hair was the only form of brush, i would stop painting, not compremise my morals.

Your question was doing so well, shame you couldn't resist that final put down.

Answer 7

Vegetarians? Yes.

Vegans? Mostly, no.

There's nothing about vegetarianism that dictates not making any use of animal products. A vegetarian wouldn't _eat_ the brushes, but that's it.

Most formal definitions of veganism do include something about not using animal by-products. Acrylic sweaters and vinyl shoes for all!

"Vegetarians" who would not use such brushes "because of animal cruelty" are on a separate topic.

I don't even avoid good _hairbrushes_ for the sake of an intangible moral ideal. (I've never tasted meat, though, for whatever that's worth here -- as far as 'moral ideals' go, probably not as much as some might like to think.) Enjoy your brushes.

Answer 8

A vegan wouldn't use them, but I think as long as the animal wasn't killed to get the hair for the brushes vegetarians would use them.

Answer 9

I think that vegeterians would but that vegans wouldn't. Vegeterians do not eat meat or animal products. Vegans do not eat, use, wear, etc animal products. NO leather....so, I would have to say that they shouldn't use the animal hair brushes. That would be hypocritical.

Answer 10

as much as i hate to say this to you (being artistic myself and loving my high quality supplies) animal hair brushes would not be veggie.