Natural Pigments
I stumbled onto the Natural Pigments website via my friend, Jeff Huckaby. When anything has the tag “rare artists colours and materials” — well, how can you resist? The company and site are based in California and their goal is to help artists acquire hard-to-find art materials. They provide supplies that have been used in “historical painting since pre-historic times up to and including the eighteenth century”. Amazing to find such a company, no? They go further to say that they obtain minerals from mines as far as Russia and resins and other materials from India, Kenya and Malaysia as well.
The reason Jeff called me about the site? It’s because they offer an affordable and wonderful True Fresco Painting workshop. The 3-day class runs $425 and teaches the historical technique “as practiced in medieval Byzantium and Italy”. It really does look like an incredible workshop.
Their newsletters are always full of great information as well. Just in the last three, I’ve learned about the metalpoint drawing technique and the use of oil colors and materials. I enjoy them greatly. If you are in the New York City area on September 14 – 15, they are also sponsoring a free lecture series open to the public at the Art Students League of New York. The subjects include the Origins of Color: Secrets of the Old Masters and Color Theory & Practice. They will last approximately an hour and George O’Hanlon, technical director of Natural Pigments, will follow his lecture with a digital presentation and a question and answer period. I wish I could attend, I tell you what. To find out more, check out the Events column on their site.
I find it fun to poke around their site and read about materials for disciplines such as encaustic painting, tempera, gilding and others. The site also has cool articles (check under each category for “articles”) and a forum to talk about the materials and techniques. Until next time!
Lynne Rutter
523 days ago
i love that site. been waiting patiently for byzantine icon course to happen in CA. it’s not too far from here!
Regina
523 days ago
Oh, that sounds so great. It’s nice to have them relatively nearby. Hope that course comes by soon…and that you blog about it!
Ann
522 days ago
Nice tip, Regina. Can’t wait to look around there.
There has always been something about pigments that I love. I guess the potential, the possibilities.
-Ann