What are Earth Pigments? A Guide to Ochres, Oxides, and Minerals
Posted by Natural Earth Paint & Lilliana Hoffman on Sep 9th 2021
Earth pigments have been used around the world from the earliest cultures of India, Africa and Australia all the way up to the present day. The oldest human artworks we’ve discovered were made with earth pigments 250,000 years ago and the same materials have been used by every culture and on every continent since then. A recent discovery of an earth pigment paint making factory in a South African cave was dated at 100,000 years old.Call...
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Natural Earth Paint Through the Ages: Colonial Williamsburg
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on Aug 11th 2021
Through this year's Pigments Revealed Symposium, we had the wonderful opportunity to connect with earth artists around the world. Kristen Moffitt, Materials Analyst at Colonial Williamsburg, is an art conservator who studies the paints and pigments used for architectural coatings at Williamsburg.During her talk at the symposium, she shared her research on the natural ingredients used in Colonial Williamsburg. We're sharing some of her f...
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Natural Earth Paint Through the Ages: Ancient History
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on Jul 30th 2020
Natural Earth Pigments were among the earliest recorded materials used by our ancestors to make paint, and their use pre-dates recorded history. Starting at least 100,000 years ago, ancient people from all over the world, including Prehistoric People, Egyptians, Native Americans, ancient Buddhists, Medieval monks, and Renaissance masters used earthen pigments to make their paints. Humans on almost every continent ground up earthen clays and...
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Natural Earth Paint Through the Ages: Buddhism
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on Jun 7th 2018
For over 2,500 years, Buddhists have spread their message of
enlightenment to every corner of the globe. Today, with an estimated 488
million practicing Buddhists worldwide, followers of this ancient
religion continue to make significant contributions to philosophy,
literature, and art.
This entry into Natural Paint Through the Ages will explore how
Buddhists have used natural paint and dyes throughout the centuries to
advan...
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Why is Earth Paint Sacred? Aboriginal Art through the Ages
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on May 28th 2018
It’s a well guarded secret by the
Aborigines in Australia and it’s forbidden for them to talk about it,
but there are many guesses as to why earth paint is considered sacred.
It was a general belief among Aboriginal cultures that the geographical
features of the land were created by a mythical snake as it journeyed
over it. The colored ochre seams were believed to be the "tracks" left
by the snake through the earth, and therefore...
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Natural Earth Paint Through the Ages : The Middle Ages
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on Dec 7th 2017
A common misperception around natural materials and ingredients is that
they’re not very archival, luminous or of a professional quality. Since 2011, Natural Earth Paint
has been on a mission to dispel that myth and spread the surprising
truth that non-toxic and natural ingredients are actually far more
archival, radiant, stable and professional quality than their synthetic
counterparts. The proof is in the cave paintings, the Rena...
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Natural Earth Paint Through the Ages: The Colormen
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on Sep 4th 2017
Before the world had ready-made paints and art supplies stores, we had Colormen! These professionals were the “traders” of the paint world starting in the
late 17th century and sold artists prepared pigments,
pre-mixed oil paints, watercolors, dyes, made brushes, prepped canvases,
gums, resins, and more. Before Colormen, the painter would buy course, raw pigments from
apothecaries’ shops (or source them directly from quarries) a...
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Natural Earth Paint Through The Ages: Ancient Egypt
Posted by Natural Earth Paint & Ann Hansen & Leah Fanning on Jul 25th 2017
The influence that Egypt has had on
countless cultures is profound. Can you believe that the ancient
Egyptian civilization lasted for more than 3000 years? They were not
only astounding innovators, but they discovered and advanced most of the
arts and sciences that we have the privilege of knowing today. Art was
incredibly important throughout their culture, and to this day we can
still marvel at the preserved tombs, statuary, sc...
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Natural Earth Paint through the Ages: The Prehistoric Era
Posted by Natural Earth Paint & Taylor Ann Hansen & Leah Fanning on May 31st 2017
Natural Earth pigments were the earliest recorded materials used by
our ancient ancestors to make paint and various mediums. We can see
artistic practices dating as far back as 500,000 years ago by Homo Erectus, our ancient ancestors.The oldest cave painting known today is from El Castillo, in Northern
Spain and stands as a symbol of our human evolution and the beginning
of the natural art movement. Most people don’t realize the scal...
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Historically, Why Did Artists Stop Using Natural Paints?
Posted by Natural Earth Paint on Dec 2nd 2012
In 1859, Edwin Drake drilled the first oil-producing well in
Pennsylvania, and the world was changed forever. In addition to being
used for fuel, oil was scientifically studied, and the many chemicals
composing petroleum were gradually isolated. New substances that didn’t
previously exist in nature were made, like plastics and modern paints.
A 100,000 year old tradition for making natural earth paints began to
slip away.Prod...
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