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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...

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 advance th...

The Mythical Snake: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,...

A common misperception of natural materials and ingredients is that they’re not very archival, luminous or of a professional quality. For 7 years, 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 Renaissanc...

Photo of Forbes Antique Pigment collection - by Jason Fulford for The New YorkerBefore we had ready-made paints and art supplies stores, there were Colormen! They 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 - during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance - the...

The Color-Filled World of Ancient Egypt 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 mar...

This is the first blog post in our series of articles in which we are capturing the historical uses of Natural Earth Paints through the different eras. Enjoy! The Prehistoric EraNatural 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 know...

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.Produce...