Discover the authentic beauty of earth pigments from Natural Earth Paint Canada, your exclusive source for pure earth and mineral colours in the Canadian market. These sustainable, non-toxic materials connect you to centuries of artistic tradition while offering unparalleled colour depth and environmental benefits. Transform your creative practice with our ethically sourced pigments that provide vibrant, lightfast colours for all your artistic needs. Explore our collection and experience the difference of genuine earth colours with the highest lightfastness available.
Pure Earth Pigments for Authentic Colour Creation
These pigments are derived directly from the earth—clays, minerals, and soils that artists have used for millennia. Unlike synthetic pigments that often contain petroleum derivatives and heavy metals, our earth colors provide rich, complex colours with unique granulation and texture that synthetic products simply cannot replicate.
Our collection features:
- Sustainably harvested minerals from family-owned quarries
- Non-toxic formulations safe for home studios and sensitive individuals
- Exceptional lightfastness for archival-quality artwork
- Versatile application across multiple mediums including oils, acrylics, watercolors, and fresco
- Minimal ecological footprint with 100% post-consumer recycled packaging
Why Choose Our Natural Earth Pigments
When you work with Natural Earth Paint Canada's pigments, you're not just getting colour—you're connecting with ancient artistic traditions while supporting environmental sustainability. Our pigments are processed in a solar-powered facility, minimizing carbon emissions while maximizing color quality. They contain no fillers, extenders, or synthetic additives that can compromise your artwork's permanence or your health.
These earth colors offer a sensory experience unlike any other, with each colour telling the geological story of its origin. From the rich red ochres of the earth to the subtle greens of rare green earth, our range of colours invites Canadian artists to reconnect with the authentic materials that have inspired masterpieces throughout human history. Select pigments like ultramarine, derived from mineral lazurite, stand out for their exceptional body and opacity in oil painting applications.
Top Products for Color Creators
Our signature collection of 20 individual earth and mineral pigments provides artists with a comprehensive palette of nature's colours. Available in three convenient sizes, these finely ground dry pigment powders can be mixed with your preferred binder to create custom paints for any medium. Each pigment is carefully sourced and tested for colour consistency and environmental safety without these additives that indicate poor quality.
Perfect for artists new to earth pigments, this comprehensive sampler includes all 20 colours in our collection. Experiment with creating your own paints across different mediums without committing to larger quantities. The sample pack is ideal for workshops, colour studies, or discovering your favourite earth tones including yellow, blue, and ultramarine varieties.
Transform pure pigments into professional-quality oil paints with this comprehensive kit. Contains everything needed to create your own non-toxic, customized oil colours. Perfect for both beginners and experienced artists looking to take control of their materials while reducing environmental impact. Use linseed oil for traditional pigment in oil methods that artists have relied on since the late nineteenth century.
Create Your Own Custom Colours Naturally
Earth pigments offer unparalleled versatility, allowing you to formulate paints precisely tailored to your artistic vision. By controlling the pigment-to-binder ratio, you can achieve effects impossible with commercial paints—from transparent glazes to richly textured impasto with varying opacity. This hands-on approach not only gives you greater creative freedom but also deepens your understanding of colour theory and material properties.
Our Natural Paint & Art Supplies Recipe Booklet provides step-by-step instructions for creating watercolors, tempera, oils, and more using our pigments. Whether you're looking to recreate historical painting techniques or develop your own signature formulations, our earth colours provide the foundation for truly personalized colour creation. Each pigment is identified by its colour index generic name and abbreviated code for professional reference.
Discover the beauty of our natural pigments and add some sparkle with our eco-friendly body glitter. Pair them with eco-friendly paint brushes for precise application, or explore our eco-friendly watercolor paints for a vibrant, sustainable touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I mix natural pigments into different mediums?
For oils, mix the dry pigment with linseed oil or walnut oil using a muller until smooth. For watercolours, combine with gum arabic solution, honey, and a preservative. Acrylics require our Natural Acrylik Medium™. Each medium needs different proportions—approximately 30-50% pigment for oils, 40-60% for watercolors, and 20-40% for acrylics. Our recipe booklet provides detailed instructions for homogenous mixture and consistent results. We recommend soaking some pigments overnight before grinding for optimal texture.
Are earth pigments lightfast and archival?
Yes! Earth pigments are among the most lightfast colors available, which is why they appear in cave paintings and ancient artworks that have maintained their vibrancy for thousands of years. Our pigments are rated for 100+ years of colorfastness when properly applied and protected, making them suitable for gallery-quality, archival work. Each pigment undergoes rigorous lightfastness rating based on industry testing standards to ensure permanence.
What's the difference between synthetic and natural pigments?
Synthetic pigments are manufactured through chemical processes, often using petroleum derivatives and heavy metals. Earth colors come directly from the earth—clays, minerals, and soils—requiring only minimal processing like washing and grinding. These mineral pigments offer unique granulation, more complex undertones, and ecological benefits, while being non-toxic and biodegradable. Historical examination shows that synthetic pigment stabilizers were introduced only recently, while artists have relied on the characteristic qualities of pure pigments for centuries.
Can I use these pigments for fresco or traditional techniques?
Absolutely! Our earth pigments are ideal for historical techniques like fresco, egg tempera, and casein painting. They bond exceptionally well with lime plaster in true fresco and maintain their vibrancy when mixed with traditional binders. Many Renaissance masterpieces were created using the same earth colors we offer, making our products perfect for artists interested in traditional methods. These pigments are also excellent to prepare painting supports using historical methods.
How much pigment do I need for my projects?
A little goes a long way—56g of pigment typically produces approximately 100ml of paint, depending on the medium and desired consistency. Our 450g size can create up to a liter of paint. For beginners or those wanting to experiment, we recommend starting with our sample pack of 20 colours, which provides enough material for multiple small projects across different mediums. Pigment content is highly concentrated, making even our smallest size cost-effective compared to expensive color options in pre-made paints.
Are natural pigments safe for home studios?
Yes, our earth colours contain no toxic heavy metals, solvents, or synthetic additives that might be a concern in studio environments. While we recommend basic precautions like avoiding inhalation of dry powder, our pigments are safe for home studios, including those shared with children and pets. Users with respiratory sensitivities should wear a mask when handling dry pigment, but once mixed into a medium, the pigments pose no inhalation risk. Most of our pigments meet ACMI nontoxic standards, though they are not intended for body painting or tattoo use.
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Explore our complete collection of earth and mineral pigments today and discover the authentic colours of the earth. As a Canadian-owned business based in Winnipeg, we're proud to offer these sustainable artist supply alternatives that connect artists with ancient traditions while supporting ecological responsibility.
