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. Each box contains all 20 of our earth & mineral pigments (2 tsp per colour).
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.
Click on the Technical Data Tab for more information, and see below for pigment details.
Venetian Red (Venetian Red MSDS), Colour Index #PR102 After testing many red earth pigments from around the world, we chose this vibrant red from a family- owned quarry in Italy for its luminous, rich red colour and mixing quality.
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.
This radiant blue pigment is our only colour that has been fired to get its vibrant colour. 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.
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 colour spectrum purple, try our Ultramarine Purple.
This is an opaque white pigment with high opacity, perfect for using alone or lightening other colours. 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.
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.
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.
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; we recommend wearing a Niosh certified mask while mixing.
Ultramarine Purple (Ultramarine Purple MSDS), Colour 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.
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: Our former Mayan Red is no longer available as the Mayan Pigment Co. closed, but this pigment is equally beautiful and more affordable.
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).
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. Each box contains all 20 of our earth & mineral pigments (2 tsp per colour).
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.
Click on the Technical Data Tab for more information, and see below for pigment details.
Venetian Red (Venetian Red MSDS), Colour Index #PR102 After testing many red earth pigments from around the world, we chose this vibrant red from a family- owned quarry in Italy for its luminous, rich red colour and mixing quality.
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.
This radiant blue pigment is our only colour that has been fired to get its vibrant colour. 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.
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 colour spectrum purple, try our Ultramarine Purple.
This is an opaque white pigment with high opacity, perfect for using alone or lightening other colours. 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.
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.
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.
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; we recommend wearing a Niosh certified mask while mixing.
Ultramarine Purple (Ultramarine Purple MSDS), Colour 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.
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: Our former Mayan Red is no longer available as the Mayan Pigment Co. closed, but this pigment is equally beautiful and more affordable.
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).
