TAKING COLOUR FROM THE LAND...
Over the last couple of years I’ve started to introduce handmade pigments from natural sources into my palette. I love this part of the process and it’s a feature I’ll be concentrating on more going forward.
I’m more inspired by stormy and angry looking clouds than blue skies so I take a lot of photos to use in the studio as reference rather than braving plein air – it’s not for me! I’m always cold. Using the rocks from the coastline has helped me keep a connection to the landscape back in my cosy warm studio.
![](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/beach-pebbles-crail.jpg?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1)
I choose around 4 or 5 rocks from a location. I test the colour by rubbing them on a harder rock, a good pigment will act almost like a pastel.
![](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/crushed-sandstone.jpg?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1)
After I’ve broken the rock down with a hammer, the next step is to use a mortar and pestle to grind it down till it resembles a fine sand texture.
![](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rock-powder-grey.jpg?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1)
I then use water and a process of levigation where the pigment separates from the larger sediment particles which sink to the bottom.
![](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sea-coal-pigment.jpg?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1)
Finally, I dry it out to a powder form for storage. When I’m ready to paint, I then mix the powder with a binder using a palette knife and a glass muller.
![](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/glass-muller-paintmaking.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1)
When I’m using acrylics, I paint my seas and skies with paint from the tube before I move on to mixing up the rock pigment with an acrylic binder.
![](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/making-natural-watercolours.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1)
I also use the pigment to make watercolour pans using all natural ingredients. The binder is a mixture of gum arabic, honey and clove oil.
![rock-painting-closeup rock-painting-closeup](https://i0.wp.com/louiseoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rock-painting-closeup-1.jpg?fit=900%2C479&ssl=1)
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