Between excessive packaging and waste, toxic materials, energy consumption, and disposable culture, it’s safe to say the art supply industry isn’t entirely environmentally friendly. A watercolor palette, for example, is mostly non-biodegradable plastic. Synthetic pigments in watercolors also harm the environment given their toxic ingredients, poor biodegradability, disruption of ecosystems, bioaccumulation, and contribution to eutrophication. While it may not rival the food or fashion industry in infamy for unsustainability, the art industry does have a harmful ecological footprint that often gets overlooked. This project aims to show that mycelium-based materials are a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic containers by looking into which combinations of mushroom strains, substrates, and raw materials for natural pigments work best together to create a paint set that most closely mirrors the functionality of conventional plastic products. I will be working at Genspace’s Biomaterials Studio to grow my own mycelium, make natural paints from scratch, and learn more about biological materials and their applications. I hope to contribute to the ongoing discussion around creative eco-friendly alternatives and expect to have a usable, 100% biodegradable art supply by the end of the project. It’s my hope that this tangible deliverable will serve not only as a practical solution for artists but also as awareness about the potential of mycelium-based materials in reducing environmental impact.