Pigment

Pastel box

Description

An insoluble, dry solid that is pulverized to a fine powder then mixed with a binder to form a paint, ink or crayon.

Examples of inorganic pigments:

- earth colors (Ocher, Sienna, Umber, Green earth);

- metallic oxide (Ferric oxide, Titanium dioxide, Zinc white; Viridian);

- metallic carbonates (Lead white, Calcite, Malachite);

- metallic chromates (Lead chromate; Barium chromate;

- carbon black (Bone black, Lampblack, Graphite)

Examples of some organic pigments are:

- animal (Melanin, Cochineal, Indian yellow)

- vegetable (Madder, Indigo, Gamboge)

- synthetic (Verdigris, phthalocyanine, lakes, Para red)

Watercolor set used by Claira Robbins

Synonyms and Related Terms

pigments (pl., Fr.); pigmento (Esp., Port.);

Comparisons

Websites of pigment manufacturers

Additional Images

• 

  Windsor Newton artist colors

• 

  Indigo powder (Indigofera tinctoria)

Resources and Citations

• R.L. Feller, A. Roy, E. West Fizthugh, B. Berrie, Artists' pigments: A handbook of their history and characteristics (4 vol.), NGA (Washington DC) & Archetype Publications (London)