Blog

Erica is a mixed-media artist who uses both reclaimed and natural materials, including our Earth & Mineral Pigments, for her fascinating 3-dimensional work. She's based in Portland, OR. Thank you, Erica, for taking the time to share your artistic story with us!When did you first become interested in making art?I’ve been drawing and sculpting in some form since childhood. Starting in preschool, I would draw on the concrete patio in our ba...

Stella incorporates natural materials into her work including a variety of Natural Earth Paint products: Refined Walnut Oil, Earth & Mineral Pigments, Eco-Solve, Natural Varnish, and Eco Gesso (see video at end of post). Thank you, Stella, for sharing your artistic journey with us!Where did you grow up and how did this place influence you and your art?I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, just 30 minutes north of the li...

Meet Ricky Lee GordonBorn in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1984, Ricky Lee Gordon is an artist who creates natural landscapes using pigments and dyes found only in nature. It's a deeply personal process that Ricky compares to meditation, using natural materials to paint nature. His work centers around the idea of interconnectivity of all things and that we are all nature. He enjoys painting nature WITH nature IN nature - sometimes painting outdoo...

Aaron Glasson is an eco artist that we've always found truly inspiring on many levels. He is a New Zealand born Artist now based in the Mojave Desert. Since completing his degree in Art and Design at the Auckland University of Technology in 2005 he has been exhibiting and creating public art works internationally. His diverse body of work includes participatory installations, murals, paintings, illustration, furniture, sculpture, assemblage and f...

Thanks so much, Marghanita, for taking the time to speak with us about your artistic journey!Where did you grow up and how did this place influence you and your art?I grew up in Scotland in a small rural village outside of Edinburgh surrounded by wild natural spaces. I was allowed to roam free and the natural world was a place I felt at home, safe, and protected from a very early age. Gaining a sense of connection with these living beings and the...

Hi Kristen, thank you so much for chatting with us about your expressive and joyful creative practice!You describe yourself on your website as an “expressive art alchemist, author, designer, beading educator, painting facilitator, & certified creativity coach.” Is there one role that resonates most strongly with you, or one that sparked the rest?If there is one that I feel deep in my soul it’s an expressive art alchemist. That is the seed that al...

Thank you so much, Morgan, for stopping by to chat with us about your amazing business, Open Hands Creative!For those in our audience you haven’t yet heard of your incredible sustainable small business, please introduce us to Open Hands Creative! What is your focus as an arts-centric business?Open Hands Creative is an art experience business based in Perth, Australia. We focus on running eco-friendly art workshops in person and selling DIY art ki...

Catalina Christensen, eco-artist and pigment collector from Columbia, shared her secrets on household hacks for pigment processing and paint making during the 2021 Pigments Revealed Symposium. We're sharing some of her insights here!1. Improvisation is Perfectly AcceptableWhen she was first inspired to process pigments while in the deserts of Columbia, Catalina didn't have access to traditional pigment processing tools. So, she imp...

Thanks so much, Rachel, for taking the time to speak with us about your eco-friendly painting journey! Let's get started!Could you please tell us about how your first got into painting?Thanks so much for having me! Yes, I’ve always been quite creative and artistic in a variety of ways, but I first began painting in my late teens. It all started very spontaneously and naturally, and I just immediately fell in love with it. I’ve always struggled wi...

Cover Photo by Sarah RauberNatural Earth Paint founder Leah Fanning had the chance to chat with dancer-turned-printmaker Marjorie Morgan this month; we hope you enjoy Marjorie's tips, recipes, and stories as much as Leah did!Leah: I’m a huge admirer of all of your work and the organic, flowing, yet rooted energy of it really pulls at my heart. When I learned that much of your life was spent as professional modern dancer and perform...

Artists around the world are digging into the science and history behind earth pigments and natural art. One such artist is Heidi Gustafson, founder of Early Futures, an artistic research site with a current focus on ochre, iron oxides, land pigments, and subtle earth activism. "Heidi Gustafson is an artist and ochre worker based in rainy, volcanic Cascade foothills of rural northern Washington," her site states. "Her intuitiv...

Hi Micaela, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us about your incredible sustainable fashion design! So, let’s dive right in!Tell us a little about yourself; what was your first introduction to the art and design world?My mother is an artist, so I was introduced to art at a very early age. We had an art room in the house that I grew up in, so I was constantly working on some kind of art project, be it drawing, painting, clay, or se...

Thanks so much, Katie, for taking the time to speak with us about your sustainable painting journey!Could you please tell us a little bit about your personal history that led you to painting? How did you first learn to oil paint? I have been painting since I was a child. In fact, my aunt and uncle still have a painting from when I was eight years old hanging in their house, which warms my heart and fills me with embarrassment simultaneously. For...

Our two-part blog series, Toxin-Free Tuesday, covers the parallel stories of our social platform manager Kate and our founder Leah, whose disappointing experiences with conventional paint companies inspired their work with Natural Earth Paint. Wrapping up this short series, we hear from Leah!Leah's Story"As a new mom of a toddler and a health-conscious artist, I went to a local toy store to buy my son his first art supplies. Every kit said “non-t...

Our two-part blog series, Toxin-Free Tuesday, covers the parallel stories of our social platform manager Kate and our founder Leah, whose disappointing experiences with conventional paint companies inspired their work with Natural Earth Paint. This week, we hear from Kate!Kate's Story"When I became a part of the Natural Earth Paint family, I didn't consider myself the sort of artist who needed to be careful about the art...

Thanks so much, Lindsey, for taking the time to give us a glimpse into the world of your beautiful botanical art!Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself as an artist and nature-lover? How did you first fall in love with painting the natural world?Yes of course! Thank you for having me. I am a painter more than anything, with my preferred medium being natural watercolor. I love how watercolor is fluid and seems to have a mind of...

Thank you so much, Cherith, for taking the time to speak with us about your eco-friendly, health- conscious painting journey. Let’s get started, shall we?Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself as an artist? How did you first get into painting? Of course! I’m a Montana artist who is passionate about nature. I paint primarily local plants and mountains. Drawing and painting have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Wher...

Thank you so much, Shirley, for taking the time to speak with us about your stunning illustration work!We'd love to start out by asking, how did you first learn to paint? I started early with small group art lessons. Students of various experience levels would work out of the teacher’s converted garage studio, and the teacher would rotate between students, creating the opportunity for everyone to learn from each other’s progress and setbacks. I f...

Thanks so much, Kristi, for taking the time to speak with us about your equestrian art!Could you please tell us a little bit about your personal history that led you to your love for painting horses? How did you first fall in love with painting as a medium and horses as a subject?I am a third generation equestrian and I couldn’t wait to turn 7 years old. That was the age that I was finally able to start riding horses. Growing up riding with my mo...

"I discovered Natural Earth Paints about a year ago and I couldn’t wait to try making my own paints and art materials with these amazing pigments. I am a watercolor and gouache artist and I wanted to add natural paints to my palette. I started by making watercolors and drying them in pans. But more recently, I started creating water-soluble pastels. They’re so easy to draw with and I love to wet them and use them as paint.I us...

In celebration of Earth Day, #PleinAirpril Nucleus is hosting an open submission art showcase sponsored by Warrior Painters and Natural Earth Paint, open until May 9th, 2021.Artists broke out their brushes and captured the beauty of the world around them in their stunning submissions. We're featuring them on our blog today; hats off to you, Earth Artists!Tara Zalewsky(2021) - Natural Earth Paint on canvas with&n...

Tasha Cathey, one of our lovely affiliates, shared with us her simple yet stunning natural oil paint tutorial featuring our versatile Earth & Mineral Pigments and Refined Walnut Oil; we hope you enjoy it as much as we do!Step 1: Gather supplies.Walnut or Linseed OilEarth & Mineral PigmentsGlass PalettePalette KnifeGlass MullerThe dropper is optional, it just makes it easier to apply the oil. A glass palette i...

The Sisters Bloom animation studio created their first eco-friendly animation last year, featuring our watercolor recipe! They graciously shared their process with us; check it out!“We are so excited to share our first eco-friendly animation, created for Mt. Meru Medicines, a turmeric supplement company going back to their roots and producing pure, small-batch products for immunity and overall health. This turmeric is so high-quali...

When an artist assumes the mantle of creating a new product that before her did not exist in the world, cool things can happen. Leah Fanning, an Oregon-based artist, decided she was tired of exposing herself to the toxins present in oil-based and acrylic paint. So, she embarked on a journey of discovery, unearthing how the old masters created their color palettes by using natural ingredients available to them in their region. Leah has c...

Hi Tanya! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us- we’re big fans of your creative process, and we can’t wait to hear more about it. First, could you please tell us a little bit about your personal story? How did you first become interested in natural pigments and inks?In my mind, I was always seeking some sort of creative balance and a deeper connection to nature through abstract painting that felt more meaningful and impactful. Disco...

Thanks so much, Elena, for taking the time to speak with us about your incredible painting practice and inspiration! Could you please tell us a little about your personal journey that led you to painting?Beginning oil painting as my medium of choice for portraits has been the result of a slow evolution of trial and error in my art process. Over the years, I have tried multiple different mediums for portraiture: for many years I drew in grayscale,...

Thanks so much, Joey, for taking the time to speak with us about your artistic inspiration and practice!I’m so glad to chat, I’m a big fan of Natural Earth Paint!Could you please tell us a little bit about your personal history that led you on this artistic journey? How were you first introduced to the arts?I’ve always been a creative and I’m so grateful to my parents for always encouraging me— and without any pressure either, just genuine suppor...

Our friends at The Sisters Bloom, an animation studio focused on environmentally-friendly practices, recently shared with us their latest equipment project—a sustainable downshooter!“A downshooter is essentially a see-through table with multiple glass planes that you can place foreground, middle ground, and background elements on with the camera mounted above, pointing downward to merge those various elements into one composition. It comes from t...

Thanks so much, Marijn, for taking the time to speak with us about your artistic journey! Could you please tell us a little bit about your personal history that led you on this particular artistic path? How did you first discover your love for getting out into nature, creating illustrations, and making dolls?I’ve loved creating and nature for as long as I can remember. As a little girl my dream was to become a children’s book illustrator and...

Hi Kellie, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us about your eco-conscious work! To start, please could you tell us a little bit about your personal history that led you to start making art? How did you learn how to paint?I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. As soon as I started high school, my art teachers helped me to refine my skills. My medium of choice at the time was graphite and charcoal, with a little...

Hi Tasha, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us about your love for natural pigments! Could you please tell us a little bit more about your personal history that led you on your artistic journey? How did you first learn about painting and natural pigments?My journey into painting has been a recent endeavor. My husband and I moved to a new city for his medical program a couple years ago and my photography business took a minor hiatus...

Thank you so much, Karen, for taking the time to share your experiences with us! Can you start by telling us a little bit about your personal history - where you grew up and how did that place or landscape affect your life as an artist?I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, which has beautiful, green, rolling hills and the Ohio River. It propelled me on a lifelong journey of appreciating nature. After living all over the world as a graphic designer,...

Melissa is one of my favorite contemporary artists today and I am so excited to feature her breathtaking earth-based work here. She is based in San Francisco and during a recent visit to her beautiful studio we got to geek out on our mutual passions for harvesting pigments in nature. Her fascinating process of pouring the liquified crushed pigments across a canvas on the floor creates stunning imagery that I've never seen before.Th...

"Natural earth pigments are deep, full of secret beauty, holding stories waiting to be discovered. They’re slow and methodical. Soft and curious. For 10 years I have worked with landscapes documenting time and space as I experience it through natural environments. Through this work, I developed a heightened awareness and an intense push to explore natural earth pigments.When I first began researching and collecting this material in my local land...

David Popa has invented a breathtaking new art form that follows in the footsteps of Andy Goldworthy. He was born and raised in NYC and currently lives and paints in Espoo, Finland with his wife and daughter. He creates phenomenal, large scale works of art directly in nature that only exist for a short while. Documenting the work through the use of photography and drone videography has become an integral part of Popa’s process. Check out these a...

Andrea Moni's art struck me with a sense of power and vulnerability the first time I saw it. And I fell in love with it even more after learning the story behind it and the process. In 2015 Andrea was seriously burned in a traumatic accident and her work then shifted towards collaboration and healing. She uses earth pigments, egg yolks and ocean water to create stunning paintings oceanside. She decided to extend her circle of healing to othe...

Josh Tiessen has a fascinating and unusual story. As a child he was considered one of the world's top ten prodigy artists and the only known male art prodigy in North America. He is primarily self taught and has now grown into an articulate young man who is maintaining his passion, drive, devotion and unbelievable work ethic with his art. He's been featured in over 90 exhibitions and has recieved over 60 prestigious awards and has been asked to s...

Nature-based Artist, Michelle Gagliano, incorporates Natural Earth Paint into her organic art practice. The results are stunning!Interested in learning more about Natural Earth Paint artists? Visit our Eco Artists page!Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for more natural inspiration....

Eco artist, Pamela Hoke, has been on an artistic journey for many years to express nature as love through her writing and art.  She wrote the book “Natural Self Discovery,” and is currently creating a revised edition, which describes her recent move to the Pacific Northwest, her recent challenge with breast cancer, and a shift to Natural Earth Paints as her new medium. Her quest to discover a more earth-friendly and body-friendly...

Laura Zepeda is an inspirational earth artist in that she has completely invented her own tools, supplies and techniques using roughly crushed earth and minerals to make “paintings” that literally glow like a gemstone. Here is her description of this interesting process….I have no idea what I’m doing but a thousand ways to do it: I’m equal parts Artist and Mad Scientist. I’m making this up as I go along. I am not only creating ar...

Roberto Parada is an internationally known oil painter and illustrator, having been published in Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, ESPN The Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, and Huffington Post. Few people know that his art process came close to ending his life in 2004.  I had the honor of interviewing him about his journey in discovering which of his art supplies were literally killing him, how it happened and what he did to change...