Origin of the pigments

References to the MSDS.

Venetian Red – Color 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 and rich red color and mixing quality. Natural Iron

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

Venetian Red MSDS

Orange Ochre – Color Index #PY43:A vibrant and warm natural orange pigment comes from a quarry in France. Natural Iron Oxide. 

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

Orange Ochre MSDS

Yellow Ochre – Color Index #PY43:
This beautiful yellow ochre comes from a quarry in France. Natural Iron Oxide. 

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

Yellow Ochre MSDS 

Terre Verte – 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 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

Terre Verte MSDS

Ultramarine Blue – Color Index # PB29:
This radiant blue pigment is the only color that has been fired to get this 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)2Mg3Throughout 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. Origin - France

  • Lightfastness: Excellent
  • Particle Size: 50 micron
  • Opacity: Semi-transparent
  • Color Stable to 300 degrees F

Ultramarine Blue MSDS

Burnt Umber – 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

Burnt Umber MSDS

Violet Ocher – Color Index # PR 102:
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

Violet Ocher MSDS

Black Ochre – Color Index # PBK 11:
This earthy black natural ocher comes from a comes from a quarry in France. Natural Iron Oxide.

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

Black Ocher MSDS

Titanium White Rutile – 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.

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.

Note: The children’s white paint is made with limestone powder.

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

Titanium White MSDS

Natural Mica Gold - Color Index # PW-20:
This is an ethical mica sourced sustainably from Georgia, USA (as opposed to undocumented mica that's mined using child labor).
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. Even though this particular item only has 2 ounces of weight, it fills the normal 3 ounce pouch in terms of volume. 

Natural Mica Gold MSDS

Natural Mica Silver Natural Mica Silver MSDS, Color Index #PW-20
This is an ethical mica sourced sustainably from Georgia, USA (as opposed to undocumented mica that's mined using child labor).
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
This is an ethical mica sourced sustainably from Georgia, USA (as opposed to undocumented mica that's mined using child labor).
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 - 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% man-made, non-toxic pigment affixed to an earthen clay mineral base and heated at high temperatures - from France.

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

 Ultramarine Purple MSDS

Burnt Sienna – Color Index # PR102:
This rich and beautiful reddish-brown pigment comes from a quarry in France. Natural Iron Oxide.

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

Burnt Sienna MSDS

Raw Sienna - Color Index #PY 43:
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 Sienna MSDS 

Raw Umber - Color Index # PBr 7:
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

Raw Umber MSDS

Brilliant Yellow - Primary Yellow pigment, similar to Cadmium Yellow - 10% organic pigment fixed on an earthen clay mineral base. Origin - France.

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

Brilliant Yellow MSDS

Emerald Green - Color Index # PG 17:
Beautiful, opaque and bright, rich green. Very UV resistant and powerful tinting strength.

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

Emerald Green MSDS

Mayan Red - Color Index # PR 287:
A beautiful, vibrant, bright red. After years of searching for a completely non-toxic and professional grade bright primary red, she's finally arrived!Makes beautiful, bright pinks when mixed with white and is semi-transparent on its own. Composed of a natural calcium carbonate base processed with organic, man-made pigments. Semi-transparent. Very archival and humidity resistant.
Note: Our former Mayan Red is no longer available as the Mayan Pigment Co. closed but this is equally beautiful and more affordable.

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

Mayan Red MSDS

Mummy Red -
This newest addition is an ancient and historic pigment from Armenia.This region is known for their rich, pure earth pigments and this beautiful orange-toned red was mined from the same ancient site that pigments have been harvested for thousands of years. Lightfastness - Excellent Mummy Red MSDS

French Turquoise French Turquoise MSDS

This is a beautiful and true turquoise shade from France. It is composed of 10% man-made 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

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

All of our pigments are sustainably sourced and harvested from generations old, family-owner quarries in different parts of the world, USA, France and Italy. Workers have great working conditions and wages.

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.

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

Information about warm and cool colors:
Violet Ochre – warm
Titanium White Rutile – N/A
Terre Verté (green) - warm
Orange Ochre - warm
Burnt Umber - warm
Yellow Ochre - warm
Venetian Red - warm
Ultramarine Blue - warm
Black Ochre - cool
Ultramarine Purple - cool
Burnt Sienna - warm
Raw Umber - cool
Brilliant Yellow – cool
Emerald Green - warm
Raw Sienna - warm
French Turquoise - cool
Mayan Red – warm
Natural Gold Mica - warm
Natural Copper Mica - warm
Natural Silver Mica - cool