Gifting non-vegan art to a vegan friend

[forinborin]

A ridiculous first world problem of today.

And the problem is that I commissioned a painting for one of my old dear friends as a Christmas present and just realised now that the artist uses quite a lot of animal-derived products in their work (ox gall as a primer, sable/squirrel brushes, things like that). Realised after watching some video tutorials of the said artist.

The friend is long-term vegetarian, turned vegan around a year ago. Quite strict about it (not in a proselytising way, but all close people know).

Would it be ethically ok to still give it to her? Or would it be below the "tolerance" level? Or do I ask her first if she is ok with it (it was intended as a surprise, so this will ruin it in a sense)? I feel so stupid now for not checking, but it is not something that occurred to me at all.

[Jacaranda75]

Aw, poor you OP. As a vegan, I wouldn’t want it, sorry. Any way you could keep it yourself and ask the artist to paint another, with synthetic brushes, etc?

[SnowyFeetByMoonlightBlue]

I think it might make a difference if it’s an artist who makes a point to use animal products in their art.

It might seem like a point being made by you in choosing that artist.

Not sure if better to explain you didn’t research their methods until after you’d commissioned and received it, or not to say anything unless later asked.

[Gastropod]

I'd just be as honest and upfront as you are here, and perhaps offer a "third way". Maybe you could offer to have it in your house (if you have space, of course!) so she can still enjoy it when she comes by, if she's uncomfortable about it being in her home.

[DiamondBright]

I'm vegetarian and have lots of vegan friends and it wouldn't have occurred to me to check, I would give the gift.

[Duvetflower]

I would talk to her about it beforehand. Otherwise she'll be really happy with her lovely gift, display it in her home and then at some point she'll decide to learn more about the artist, and potentially be really upset and put in an awkward position.

[Blackkitty]

@MorningStarling

She's not going to eat it so I think it's fine to give it to her. I am not a vegan and would have zero problem with being given a piece of art that had no animal-based products in it - I wouldn't even think about it to be honest.

If she objects then reconsider whether she's deserving of a gift anyway.

Stupidest thing I’ve read all week

[HangingOutWithTheSandman]

The problem is that it is of something that is very specific to her (say, a dead relative's portrait - it is absolutely not that I hasten to add, but just to highlight how personal it is - and I definitely know she'd love it, I know her for 30+ years).

Oh no, that’s such a shame then if you can’t give it to her. In that case, I would definitely I speak to her and offer the painting. She may be fine with it and if it were me, although I really wouldn’t feel I could accept it, I would really want to see it and appreciate your efforts.

[AlexaShutUp]

In your position, I think I would explain that I had commissioned a gift that had already been made and couldn't be returned, and that I had only realised afterwards that it wasn't suitable for vegans. I would make it clear that I couldn't give it to anyone else, assuming that's the case. Then ask what she'd like me to do with it.

[SoSickOfItNow]

Don’t tell her. I don’t think she would be able to hang and look at the art if she knew.
Ignorance is bliss as they say.

[Mama1980]

As a vegan the ox gall would be a no from me I'm sorry.
But I would simply ask her, explain what's happened and see what's she says. She might be ok with it I know some who would be.

[HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule]

It’s difficult, because it depends very much on the individual.

I think I would show it to her and tell her what you’ve discovered, then she can think about what to do with it.

She may not want to have it in her house, but she might feel comfortable enough with auctioning it to friends/family/acquaintances on behalf of a charity or you putting it on eBay to then make a charity donation in her name (depending, of course, on just how personal the subject is). I’m sure she would still very much appreciate the thought behind the gift. And maybe she’ll be just fine with it.

You’re a good friend for being thoughtful about this.

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

@MorningStarling

She's not going to eat it so I think it's fine to give it to her. I am not a vegan and would have zero problem with being given a piece of art that had no animal-based products in it - I wouldn't even think about it to be honest.

If she objects then reconsider whether she's deserving of a gift anyway.

Sorry, but this really does make you sound extremely dim!

[forinborin]

I think it might make a difference if it’s an artist who makes a point to use animal products in their art.
Not making a point as in declaring openly - "I prefer animals to suffer for my art", no. I went to his tutorials channel and each one has a short 1 min overview of "what we need for this piece" in the beginning (i.e. here are the brushes I will be using, here are the pigments, and other paraphernalia). And he does say several times that he prefers natural ingredients, such as natural fur or bristle for brushes, ox gall instead of (whatever that artificial primer was called) etc. Not necessarily animal-derived, e.g. he says same about the linseed oil and something else. Hope it makes sense.

[hufflepuffnstuff]

I think it would be silly and ungrateful for her to object. It wouldn't occur to most people that a painting could even be "vegan". It's not a leather jacket or something to eat, so it's not something most non-vegans would ever even consider checking into. I wouldn't mention it, tbh. If she views the same video tutorials and is bothered, it's up to her to decide what to do.

[Beautiful3]

I would gift it and say nothing about it.

[BiscuitLover3679]

I'd say I've made you something, so sorry but didn't check it was made with vegan products etc and see what she says. She might say don't worry whatever it is, or she might ask about what it is and you can say it's a painting and again, she might say that's fine or ask more. Personally I prefer vegan made things but am fine if its already done, its v hard to do it strictly. Telling her this way is sensitive without ruining it for her unless she asks for details.

[HangingOutWithTheSandman]

It's not something most non-vegans would ever even consider checking into.

Not my experience at all. When I first became a vegan I did lots of reading so that I could find out the types of things that contained animal products. My friends who are vegan did the same.

[UsernameInTheTown]

I came here for the bacon sculpture/lamb chop collage. How dissapointing.

[AnotherMansCause]

If she gets upset about it containing animal products, would she also get upset about her polyester clothing releasing microplastics into the water courses, into the sea, & harming oceanic wildlife by contributing to loss of biodiversity? Does she only wear organic cotton? The pesticides & chemicals they use for conventional cotton production are exceedingly unpleasant for the environment & wildlife. It depends how strict she is about her vegan ethics.

I'm vegan BTW. Personally if I were you, I just wouldn't tell her.

[TuftyMarmoset]

I’m a vegan and didn’t know about the ox gall, god everything is a minefield. I suppose in terms of the brushes unless those brushes were only used for that painting and then thrown away it might be vaguely approaching ok. I think you will need to check with her to be honest.
I definitely wouldn’t want something that had feathers, shells, leather etc stuck to it or a silk print or anything like that.

[GhostCurry]

To those of you saying you would not want it. What’s the alternative? The piece, for better or worse, is now commissioned and completed. It can’t be returned. The animal products have already been used. So… should it get thrown away?

[NynaeveSedai]

@GhostCurry

To those of you saying you would not want it. What’s the alternative? The piece, for better or worse, is now commissioned and completed. It can’t be returned. The animal products have already been used. So… should it get thrown away?

I don't know
But I wouldn't want it in my house. It would bring me no pleasure.

[TuftyMarmoset]

@MorningStarling

She's not going to eat it so I think it's fine to give it to her. I am not a vegan and would have zero problem with being given a piece of art that had no animal-based products in it - I wouldn't even think about it to be honest.

If she objects then reconsider whether she's deserving of a gift anyway.

So someone who isn’t happy with a present that goes against their beliefs doesn’t deserve presents? Would you think the same about a Muslim who didn’t want the bottle of wine you gave them?

[WeAreTheWeirdosMister]

I am vegan and I'd rather it not go to waste now that it's produced and so personal that it couldn't be passed on. If you told me, I'd prefer you say - I got you this, but I haven't checked if it's vegan - rather than go into 'ox gall' details.

But I do wear (I don't buy, but have already) leather products and will use until worn out to avoid waste, so that might be a 'lesser' level of vegan to her.

[LemonSwan]

Just gift it and feign ignorance. Theres no way you would have known - even looking at videos there was no way you could be sure you would stumble on the exact primer video.

Its been created now. More of a waste than anything to not gift.