What Are Pigments?
All pigments are colors but not all colors are pigments. Pigments alter the reflected and absorbed light into an object or material producing a perceivable color. The varying wavelengths of light are affected by the structure of the material and are either absorbed or reflected. The wavelengths of light that are reflected produce the colors we see. This can happen through inherent coloring or in the microscopic physical structure of an object’s surface.
We’re interested in the way you can use stable, permanent pigments to color other objects. A stable pigment doesn’t fade, isn’t affected by humidity or temperature, is more opaque, and is insoluble once mixed with its binder. Earth and mineral pigments hold these characteristics.
Earth pigments are naturally occurring yellows, golds, reds, and oranges that are found in rocks and soil. They’re the most archival of all pigments and are not affected by sunlight, temperature, or humidity.
Earth pigments include:
Mineral pigments are also naturally occurring elements that include ultramarines and spinels. These pigments require heat to produce, making them harder to find. You can find Earth Pigments tinted with greens, blues, and violets as an alternative to true mineral pigments.
Pigments vary in color, weight, transparency, physical structure, and the amount of usable powder they produce. The difference in naturally occurring ratios of combined compounds accounts for the variability of color. The colors you find will also vary greatly based on the locations and geomorphology of different areas.
Keep in mind that pigments are different from dyes. While pigments are insoluble and are simply suspended in a binder, dyes are soluble and are dissolved into a liquid or already exist as a liquid. The organic pigments you find will most likely be fugitive. This means they fade over time, they aren’t colorfast, are fairly impermanent and are not considered archival. These berry, flower, and plant dyes are easy to find and great for playing around as a light watercolor.
We’re interested in the way you can use stable, permanent pigments to color other objects. A stable pigment doesn’t fade, isn’t affected by humidity or temperature, is more opaque, and is insoluble once mixed with its binder. Earth and mineral pigments hold these characteristics.
Earth pigments are naturally occurring yellows, golds, reds, and oranges that are found in rocks and soil. They’re the most archival of all pigments and are not affected by sunlight, temperature, or humidity.
Earth pigments include:
- Ochres - naturally tinted clays that contain mineral oxides
- Sienna - limonite clay containing an iron ore that consists of a widely variable ratio of hydrated iron oxide and hydroxide
- Umbers - clay pigment also containing iron and manganese compounds
Mineral pigments are also naturally occurring elements that include ultramarines and spinels. These pigments require heat to produce, making them harder to find. You can find Earth Pigments tinted with greens, blues, and violets as an alternative to true mineral pigments.
Pigments vary in color, weight, transparency, physical structure, and the amount of usable powder they produce. The difference in naturally occurring ratios of combined compounds accounts for the variability of color. The colors you find will also vary greatly based on the locations and geomorphology of different areas.
Keep in mind that pigments are different from dyes. While pigments are insoluble and are simply suspended in a binder, dyes are soluble and are dissolved into a liquid or already exist as a liquid. The organic pigments you find will most likely be fugitive. This means they fade over time, they aren’t colorfast, are fairly impermanent and are not considered archival. These berry, flower, and plant dyes are easy to find and great for playing around as a light watercolor.