The Colorful World of Earth Pigments

Handmade

May 21

“Your local color is unique to the land where you live.” - Caroline Ross

The Earth is vibrant with color and pigments are all around us thanks to the wavelengths of the sun and the light it reflects. From prehistoric cave paintings to modern day art, natural earth pigments were some of the earliest materials used by ancient people all over the world. Dyes and pigments can be extracted from all sorts of oranic materials such as plants, shells, rocks, minerals, insects, stones, fungi, and more. Some of the most common colors were reds, yellows, and oranges, while the harder ones to come by were blues and purples. It’s no wonder purple has an association with royalty and symbolized wealth, status, and power. The dye, Tyrian purple, was expensive to produce due to the process of extracting dye from marine snails. This exclusivity labeled the color purple a luxury item that only the royals could afford.

As a Permaculturist myself, learning about the geology of soil has truly informed my perspective on the Oraganic Arts. By experiencing the composition of sediments and breakdown of rocks, I have realized just how much the science behind crafting with earth goes hand in hand with pottery and how clay is formed in nature. Rocks, minerals, water, and soil are all of nature’s elements that help to shape our land. Both processes of organic arts are deeply interconnected with Mother Earth.

I decided to name the foraged pigment, Peninsula Red, after the location of where the rock was found.

I found this beautiful red rock on my morning walk with my dog, Luna, and the curious crafter in me decided to make pigment out of it. After crushing and grinding it down to powder, it gave off a subtle burnt red that left behind grittiness on the page. To further refine the pigment I went through a pain staking process of “washing.” By shaking the initial powdered down rock into water, it helps to disperse the particles and separate out the fine material from the heavy sediment leaving behind a refined pigment to use in watercolor. Once crushed, washed, and sifted, the refined pigment was made. I added a natural homemade binder, mostly made up of Acacia tree gum, water, and a touch of honey, so that the pigment can then adhere to paper. Just like that, my very own watercolor was created!

Unprocessed pigment (left) is grittier and has visible particles. Processed pigment (right) is refined and shows little to no particles.

A documentation of the difference between unprocessed and processed foraged pigment.

In a world where every color imaginable is available at your local art supply shop, why would anyone bother to make their own colors and binders? In a similar sense, there is something to be said about growing and cooking your own food rather than going through a drive-through to pick it up. It’s convenient. Sure. However, the connection between the processes is interrupted. We lose touch with knowing fundamental skills, and we consume food without intention. Artists have the drive to want to create regardless if the rest of the world tells them AI could do better. Caroline Ross, author of Found and Ground, eloquently writes in her book,

“There are other good reasons to make your own art materials. Firstly, it is rewarding to create your art from paints you have made exactly to your own specifications and preferences. Secondly, you’ll develop a deeper connection to your area, the land, and the seasons from foraging and preparing your materials. Thirdly, you’ll be more self-reliant; less dependent on shops and fossil fuels. Lastly, you’ll get to experience the tactile richness of a part of life little known to most urban, modern people. You’ll get dirt under your fingernails, fresh air in your lungs - and, if you’re lucky, a pocketful of colourful rocks.”

If this primitive curiosity to want to know where things come from and how things are made resonates with you, then look no further. Explore our videos making natural watercolors with both outsourced and foraged pigments. Through these calming and tranquil videos, we take you on a journey to learn the process of making watercolors from start to finish.

If you are interested in acquiring your own palette of natural earth and mineral pigments, we sell our our handmade white ceramic palettes showcasing our hand mulled watercolors. Made with natural earth and mineral pigments, our color lineup consists of Sunflower Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Venetian Red, Terre Verte, Burnt Sienna, and Orange Ochre.

These colorful handmade beauties are available in the shop!