Earth and Mineral Pigments

Earth and Mineral PigmentsNatural Earth & Mineral Pigments are beautifully archival, eco friendly, and sustainably harvested from around the world. They contain no added fillers, additives, preservatives, stabilizers, or heavy metals. Use these vibrant colours to add passion to your pieces. Make a beautiful palette of colours. Each pigment is available in 85g. and 450g packages. (Please contact us for greater bulk amounts!) Each natural pigment has a different set of

Natural Earth & Mineral Pigments are beautifully archival, eco-friendly, and sustainably-harvested from around the world. They contain no added fillers, additives, preservatives, stabilizers, or heavy metals. 

Use these vibrant colours to add passion to your pieces. Make a beautiful palette of colours. 

Each pigment is available in 85g. and 450g packages. (Please contact us for greater bulk amounts!)

Each natural pigment has a different set of characteristics, such as liquid absorption, volume, tinting strength, and granulation. Because of these characteristics, they each require a different volume of binder to create the desired paint consistency.

Use our earth pigments to create your own professional watercolours, guache, pastels, tempera, printmaking ink, modelling clay and more!

Safety: Use care when handling any dry pigment; it’s not healthy to breathe any type of dust into your lungs, even if it is non-toxic and natural (like our pigments). Avoid inhaling pigment dust and use a mask when mixing if needed.

Colour: Since computer monitors, tablets and smartphones may differ in how they display colours, the actual pigment powders we sell may differ slightly from their product image as displayed on your device. We do not guarantee colours based on these images.

Caution: Use care when handling any dry pigment. Avoid inhaling pigment dust, and use a mask when mixing.

Natural earth pigments are derived from minerals and other naturally occurring substances and have been used in art and painting for thousands of years, and their unique characteristics include:

1. Color variety: Earth pigments are available in a wide range of colors, from warm yellows and reds to cool blues and greens, as well as various shades of brown. They often have a more subdued and earthy quality compared to some synthetic pigments, which can result in a distinct aesthetic appeal.

2. Lightfastness: Many natural earth pigments have excellent lightfastness, meaning they are resistant to fading when exposed to light over time. This makes them suitable for use in artwork that will be displayed for long periods.

3. Permanence: Earth pigments tend to be quite stable and chemically inert, which can contribute to the longevity of artwork created with them. They generally do not react with other pigments, binders, or environmental factors, which can be an advantage in terms of preserving the integrity of the artwork.

4. Texture: Some natural pigments, particularly those derived from clay or minerals, can impart a unique texture to paint, providing a tactile quality that can be appealing to artists. This can also result in a more visually interesting surface on the artwork.

5. Sustainability: Since earth pigments are derived from natural sources, they can be considered more environmentally friendly and sustainable compared to some synthetic pigments, which may require energy-intensive processes or the use of hazardous chemicals to produce.

6. Historical significance: Natural earth pigments have been used by artists across different cultures and time periods. As a result, using these pigments can create a connection to artistic traditions and historical practices.

It is important to note that the specific characteristics of natural earth pigments can vary depending on the source material and preparation methods.