The Meaning of Earth Pigments in the Studio
This year I am celebrating a new partnership with Natural Earth Paint. In this partnership, several exciting things are unfolding, including a series of writings. I wanted to slowly introduce myself to this new audience with an intimate piece about the meaning of working with natural earth paints in my studio.
The Meaning of Earth Pigments in the Studio
Natural earth pigments are deep, full of secret beauty holding stories waiting to be discovered. They’re slow and methodical. Soft and curious. For 10 years I have worked with landscapes documenting time and space as I experience it through natural environments. Through this work, I developed a heightened awareness and an intense push to explore natural earth pigments.
When I first began researching and collecting this material in my local landscapes, I was mesmerized by their feral characteristics. They entered my studio whole and through a slow and tedious process transformed into something that carried a language I was not familiar with. They radiated in color. They reflected light off of their many different surfaces. They vibrated, sharing their native tongue. I was entranced in their wonder.
I realized my calling was pigment work. Their stories captured me in a way that I couldn’t shake. I began sharing their language in my artwork and writings and teaching others about their mysterious qualities. I use natural earth pigments because they follow me in my dreams, they bring light to my practice that I haven’t found elsewhere.
Natural earth pigments bring patience and understanding to my life. They slowly share their quiet teachings with me. I have learned to give them space, to vibrate and reveal their own nuances. They have taught me how to ask before taking and appreciate before using. They inspire my artwork in new ways, allowing me to explore the Earth and all it has to offer.
