Natural Earth and Mineral Pigments

Non-toxic and high quality Natural Earth and Mineral Pigments.

The non-toxic and high quality Natural Earth and Mineral pigments are available in 2 different sizes.

3oz (approx. 85g) and 1 lb (approx. 453g). The pigments are packed in biodegradable bags.

Why use these pigments?

• Non-toxic
• High quality
• Natural Earth and Mineral
• Using biodegradable bags
• Lots of different uses 
• Made in the USA
• Conform to US Safety Standards ASTMD-4236
• Vegan

Click here to view more paint recipes including egg tempera, water-colours, pastels, gouache, casein paint, wall paint, fresco, glair paint, wood stains, children's paint and more.

How to mix paint? Scoop a small mound of pigment (one or two tbsp.) on a palette, piece of glass, or flat container. Make an indentation in the centre like a volcano, slowly add a small amount of refined walnut oil, and mix thoroughly with a palette knife until the thick paste forms. Adjust amounts of oil and pigment until you get a thick paste consistency. 

That is it! You have just made the most archival, radiant and pure paint that is free of any fillers, stabilizers, preservatives, heavy metal toxins and petroleum-based pigments. 

Notes: 

• If desired, you can mix up the entire packet of pigment and store in an aluminium tube or airtight container
• These paints mix perfectly with any brand of conventional tubed oil paints. Feel free to use a combination of the two
• If you run out of walnut oil, you can use any refined walnut or linseed oil. Walnut oil is preferred as Linseed oil has a tendency to "yellow" a painting as it ages

How to thin paint: The use of solvents (as a paint thinner and brush cleaner) is a relatively recent development in the art history. Instead of solvents, traditional oil painters such as Rembrandt typically used walnut or linseed oil to thin their paint and clean their brushes. These days you can either use the Eco-Solve which is a 100% plant-based and non-toxic paint thinner or the refined Walnut oil.

Venetian Red (Venetian Red MSDS), Color Index #PR102
After testing many red earth pigments from around the world, Natural Earth paint chose this vibrant red from a family- owned quarry in Italy for its luminous, rich red color and mixing quality.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 microns
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F
  
  

Orange Ochre (Orange Ochre MSDS), Color Index #PY43
This vibrant and warm natural orange pigment comes from a quarry in France.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F
  
  

Yellow Ochre (Yellow Ochre MSDS), Color Index #PY43
This beautiful yellow ochre comes from a quarry in France.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 300 degrees F
  
  

Terre Verte (Terre Verte MSDS), Color Index #PG23
After testing many green earth pigments from around the world, we chose this rich green from a quarry in France. With yellow undertones, it is more translucent when used alone and becomes a rich, opaque green when mixed with white.

• Natural Earth Loam
• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Semi-Transparent
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F
  
  

Ultramarine Blue (Ultramarine Blue MSDS), Color Index # PB29
This radiant blue pigment is our only color that has been fired to get its vibrant color. It is composed of 90% earthen clay and 10% man-made, non-toxic minerals, and it is heated in an oven to a high temperature. The composition of the mineral is Si4O10(OH)2Mg3. Throughout history, blues in nature were very rare and usually made with precious stones like Lapis Lazuli. These stones are now unsustainably harvested in Afghanistan, so we have found this beautiful, non-toxic and sustainably- made alternative from France.

• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 300 degrees F
  
  

Burnt Umber (Burnt Umber MSDS), Color Index # PBr7
This rich and beautiful deep brown pigment comes from a quarry in France.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 microns
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F

Violet Ochre (Violet Ochre MSDS), Color Index #PR102
This violet earth hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It is a beautiful earthy reddish, brownish violet. If you would like a more true color spectrum purple, try our Ultramarine Purple.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Opacity: Opaque

Black Ochre (Black Ocher MSDS), Color Index #PBK11
This earthy black natural ochre comes from a quarry in France.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 300 degrees F
  
  

Titanium White Rutile (Titanium White MSDS), Color Index #PW6
This is an opaque white pigment with high opacity, perfect for using alone or lightening other colors. Titanium Dioxide, not to be confused with Titanium Metal (Ti), occurs in nature as the well-known mineral, Rutile, found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. Rutile is the second most abundant mineral sand and is processed to extract the pure white mineral that we use in our paint kits.

• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 50 microns
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F

Note: Titanium Dioxide is toxic to breathe in large amounts because it contains silica (which is abrasive to the lungs), so please wear a mask when mixing this pigment in dry form.

Natural Mica Gold (Natural Mica Gold MSDS), Color Index #PW-20

Our Mica is a very fine, non-tarnishing, brilliant gold that adds a lovely sparkle to paintings.

Note: If added to white or opaque paint, it will get buried. Because this pigment is so fine, it tends to float and disperse easily into the air; we recommend wearing a Niosh certified mask while mixing.

Natural Mica Silver (Natural Mica Silver MSDS), Color Index #PW-20

Our Mica is a very fine, non-tarnishing, brilliant silver that adds a lovely sparkle to paintings.

Note: If added to white or opaque paint, it will get buried. Because this pigment is so fine, it tends to float and disperse easily into the air, and the Silver Mica contains a small percentage of Titanium Dioxide, which can be harmful if inhaled in large quantities; we recommend wearing a Niosh certified mask while mixing.

Natural Mica Copper (Natural Mica Copper MSDS), Color Index #PW-20

A very fine, non-tarnishing, brilliant copper that adds a lovely sparkle to paintings.

Note: If added to white or opaque paint, it will get buried. Because this pigment is so fine, it tends to float and disperse easily into the air; we recommend wearing a Niosh certified mask while mixing.

Ultramarine Purple (Ultramarine Purple MSDS), Color Index #PV15

This pigment is a beautiful and unique bright purple, similar to Dioxazine Purple, that no other combination of pigments can create. Our Ultramarine Purple is a 10% organic, man-made pigment fixed on an earthen clay mineral base from France.

• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 30-50 micron
• Opacity: Semi-Transparent
• Color Stable to 300 degrees F
• Not Lime or Cement Stable
  
  

Burnt Sienna (Burnt Sienna MSDS), Color Index #PR102
This rich and beautiful reddish-brown pigment comes from a quarry in France.

• Natural Iron Oxide
• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F
  
  

Raw Sienna (Raw Sienna MSDS), Color Index #PY43
This light, raw sienna is a beautiful golden color with a slight greenish/yellowish undertone. It comes from a quarry in France.

• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Semi-transparent
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F
  
  

Raw Umber (Raw Umber MSDS), Color Index #PBr7
This rich, raw brown earth has a cool greenish undertone. It comes from a quarry in France.

• Lightfastness: Excellent / Permanent
• Particle Size: 50 microns
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F
  
  

Brilliant Yellow (Brilliant Yellow MSDS), Color Index #PY53
This is a primary yellow pigment, similar to Lemon Yellow. It is a 10% organic pigment fixed on an earthen clay mineral base from France.

• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 50 microns
• Opacity: Transparent
• Color Stable to 1100 degrees F
  
  

Emerald Green (Emerald Green MSDS), Color Index #PG17
This is a rich, opaque, bright green pigment that is UV resistant and has a powerful tinting strength. It is man made from natural elements.

• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Opaque
• Color Stable to 300 degrees F
  
  

Mayan Red (Mayan Red MSDS), Color Index #PR287
After years of searching for a completely non-toxic and professional-grade primary red, we chose this vibrant, bright red pigment that is archival and humidity-resistant. It makes beautiful, bright pinks when mixed with white and is semi-transparent on its own. It is composed of a natural calcium carbonate base processed with organic, man-made pigments.

• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Particle Size: 30-50 micron
• Opacity: Semi-Transparent

Note: The former Mayan Red is no longer available as the Mayan Pigment Co. closed, but this pigment is equally beautiful and more affordable

French Turquoise (French Turquoise MSDS)

This is a beautiful and true turquoise shade from France. It is composed of 10% manufactured mineral pigment affixed on a natural base (calcium carbonate).

• Lightfastness & UV Stability: Excellent
• Particle Size: 50 micron
• Opacity: Semi-Transparent
• Color Stable to 330 degrees F