Artists Quality Pigments Earths
Earth colours are derived from clay deposits coloured by natural oxides, particularly iron oxide and manganese oxide. They are among the most ancient pigments, providing a broad spectrum of colours, which are often specific to particular locations. Our range of earth pigments comprises both naturally occurring and synthetically produced colours. Natural pigments are valued for their permanence, transparency and delicate tones, while synthetic iron oxides often offer a more uniform pigment size, no impurites, higher tinting strength and greater opacity. They both have a wide range of applications, although natural pigments are not recommended for use with acrylic binders.
Note on making oil colours: Every pigment requires a different volume of oil to bring it to the desired consistency. This varies enormously, so a pigment like Alizarin, for instance, requires almost twice as much oil by volume as White Lead. In practice, it is advisable to avoid fast-drying colours that require a large amount of oil, such as Umbers, Siennas and Cobalt Blues, in underpainting, unless they are applied thinly or in tints reduced with white.
Toxicity Ratings:
The Classifications used are based on those intended for guidance of artists’ colour manufacturers where large quantities might be involved along with sustained, frequent use. We recommend that necessary safety precautions should be followed for best studio practice. Wear a dust mask and work in a well-ventilated space to avoid breathing in the dust. Do not eat, drink or touch your eyes while handling these products, and make sure that your work area is easy to clean at the end of the day.
Code:
A - Non-hazardous.
B - Relatively harmless.
C - Very low toxic hazard – some precaution necessary.
D - Defined physiological hazard – appropriate precautions necessary.
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Translucent Yellow Oxide Pigment
Starting at: £7.00
Translucent Yellow Oxide (PY42). Artificial mineral pigment, hydrated ferric oxides. Transparent and very lightfast. Stable in all media, medium drying rate in oil. Toxicity B. Learn More -
Venetian Red Pigment
Starting at: £4.60
Venetian Red Pigment (PR101). Iron oxide and chalk. Semi-transparent and very lightfast. Stable in all media.
Limeproof
Toxicity: B
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Van Dyke Brown Pigment
Starting at: £4.50
Van Dyke Brown pigment is know for its poor lightfastness and instability in all mediums. Our Van Dyke Brown, also known as Cassel Earth, offers the same dark brown colour and transparency as the traditional pigment, but without the drawbacks usually associated with its longevity and use. It is made from lignite, or brown coal, from the Alsace region in France.
Toxicity: B
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Raw Umber Greenish Pigment
Starting at: £4.80
PBr7
Raw Umber Greenish is a natural earth pigment composed of iron oxide, manganese, and aluminium silicate. It has its roots in the Umbria region of Italy, and was historically a popular colour for underpaintings, as it dries very quickly. It is semi-opaque, very lightfast, and stable in all media but may be difficult to disperse in acrylic. It requires a large amount of liquid when mixed with oil.
Toxicity: B
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Raw Umber Pigment
Starting at: £4.00
PBr7
Raw Umber is a natural earth pigment composed of iron oxide, manganese, and aluminium silicate. It has its roots in the Umbria region of Italy, and was historically a popular colour for underpaintings, as it dries very quickly. It is semi-opaque, very lightfast, and stable in all media but may be difficult to disperse in acrylic. It requires a large amount of liquid when mixed with oil.
Toxicity: B
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Burnt Umber Pigment
Starting at: £4.00
PBr7
Burnt Umber is a natural earth pigment from Italy, composed of iron oxide, manganese, and aluminium silicate. It is a form of Raw Umber that a has undergone a process of calcination, becoming warmer, more transparent and easier to disperse. It has a good tinting strength, and is very lightfast, quick-drying, and stable in all media. In oils it forms a hard, fairly flexible paint film, though it may be difficult to use in acrylic mediums.
Toxicity: B
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Raw Sienna Pigment
Starting at: £4.00
PBr7
Raw Sienna is a natural earth pigment that dates back to antiquity. Our Raw Sienna comes from areas of Tuscany where the earth has been coloured by iron-rich minerals. It provides a good tinting strength, excellent lightfastness, and a fast to medium drying rate in oil. It is stable in all media but, like umber pigments, can be difficult to disperse in an acrylic binder. It is similar in composition to Yellow Ochre, but whereas Yellow Ochre contains a higher proportion of clay, Raw Sienna contains a higher proportion of silica. As a natural material, the exact colour and qualities of the resultant pigments can vary, but generally this difference creates a paler, more opaque Yellow Ochre, and a darker, more transparent Raw Sienna.
Toxicity: B
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Burnt Sienna Pigment
Starting at: £4.00
PBr7
Burnt Sienna is a natural earth pigment that has been in use since antiquity. Our Burnt Sienna comes from Tuscany, and is produced by calcining Raw Sienna to temperatures of about 450 degrees Celsius. This process creates a rich warm colour and increases transparency. It also offers a good tinting strength, excellent lightfastness, and a fast to medium drying rate in oil. It is stable in all media but, like umber pigments, may be difficult to disperse in acrylic binders.
Toxicity B
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Translucent Red Oxide Pigment
Starting at: £9.80
Translucent Red Oxide (PR101). Artificial mineral pigment, hydrated ferric oxides. Transparent and very lightfast. Stable in all media, medium drying rate in oil. Toxicity B. Learn More -
Pozzuoli Red Pigment
Starting at: £5.20
Pozzuoli Red is a natural earth pigment that was originally found in the volcanic areas in Pozzuoli, Italy. It was unique for its cement-like setting qualities due to naturally occurring silica. Modern Pozzuoli Red refers to the warm red colour rather than this physical characteristic.
Toxicity: B
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Translucent Orange Oxide Pigment
Starting at: £9.40
Translucent Orange Oxide (PR101). Artificial mineral pigment, hydrated ferric oxides. Transparent and very lightfast. Stable in all media, medium drying rate in oil. Toxicity B. Learn More -
Yellow Ochre Pigment
Starting at: £4.00
PY43
Yellow Ochre is a natural earth pigment that has been in use since prehistoric times. It is derived from iron-rich clay deposits that are present all over the world; our Yellow Ochre comes from the hilly regions around Verona, Italy. As a pigment, it is semi-opaque, extremely lightfast, and stable in all media. It has a medium to slow drying rate in oil, creating a tough, flexible paint film. Yellow Ochre is similar in composition to Raw Sienna, but whereas Yellow Ochre contains a higher proportion of clay, Raw Sienna contains a higher proportion of silica. As a natural material, the exact colour and qualities of the resultant pigments can vary, but generally this compositional difference creates a paler, more opaque Yellow Ochre, and a darker, more transparent Raw Sienna.
Toxicity B
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Red Ochre Pigment
Starting at: £4.00
PR101
Red Ochre is a synthetic iron oxide pigment which provides the same level of semi-opacity that is associated with natural ochres. It has a good tinting strength and is stable in all media, including lime mortar.
Toxicity B
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Golden Ochre Pigment
Starting at: £4.50
PY43 Golden Ochre is a natural earth pigment, somewhat darker than Yellow Ochre. It is a semi-transparent, lightfast pigment, that is stable in all media. It has a medium to slow drying rate in oil, creating a tough, flexible paint film. Toxicity: B Limeproof Learn More -
Mars Yellow Pigment
Starting at: £4.50
PY42
Mars Yellow is an artificial mineral pigment, a synthetic iron oxide. Mars colours in general replace many natural earth colours to provide pigments without impurities and with great opacity. It has a good tinting strength, is lightfast and stable in all media, and has a medium drying time in oil, creating a strong, flexible paint film.
Toxicity: B
Limeproof
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Mars Violet Pigment
Starting at: £4.50
PR101
Mars Violet is an artificial mineral pigment. Its pigment code, PR101, refers to a wide spectrum of synthetic iron oxide pigments including yellows, oranges, reds, violet-browns and green-browns, which replace many natural earth colours, to provide pigments without impurities and with great opacity. It has a good tinting strength, is lightfast and stable in all media, and has a medium drying time in oil. Although it is similar to Caput Mortuum and Indian Red, it is less transparent than the former and warmer than the latter.
Toxicity: B
Limeproof
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Mars Red Pigment
Starting at: £4.50
PR101
Mars Red is an artificial mineral pigment. Its pigment code, PR101, refers to a wide spectrum of synthetic iron oxide pigments including yellows, oranges, reds, violet-browns and green-browns, which replace many natural earth colours to provide pigments without impurities and with great opacity. It has a good tinting strength, is lightfast and stable in all media, and has a medium drying time in oil.
Toxicity: B
Limeproof
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Indian Red Pigment
Starting at: £4.60
PR101
Indian Red was imported into the UK during the nineteenth century, its present-day equivalent is a synthetic iron oxide. Its pigment code, PR101, refers to a wide spectrum of synthetic iron oxide pigments including yellows, oranges, reds, violet-browns and green-browns; Indian Red is a slightly cool, bluish shade of red. It is semi-opaque, stable in all media, lightfast, and possesses a good tinting strength
Toxicity: B
Limeproof
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Burnt Green Earth Pigment
Starting at: £8.00
PG23 Burnt Green Earth is a semi-transparent pigment that is stable in all media, although it may be difficult to incorporate into an acrylic binder. A calcined form of Green Earth, it has a low tinting strength, long drying time, and is very lightfast. Toxicity: B Limeproof Learn More -
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Caput Mortuum Pigment
Starting at: £4.50
Caput Mortuum is a transparent, lightfast pigment that is stable in all media. Colours described as Caput Mortuum can vary greatly; our pigment is a soft purple-brown, made from a mixture of natural iron oxides. It is believed that Caput Mortuum has its roots in ancient Egypt, when colour was derived from remains that had been embalmed in asphaltum.
Toxicity B
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Cornelissen Iconographer's Pigment Set, with Aidan Hart
£38.50Nine pigments, especially selected for L. Cornelissen & Son by Aidan Hart, renowned icon painter, writer and lecturer. Learn More -
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