Horadam Naturals, #110 Rügen Chalk

About This Color:

#110 Rügen Chalk is natural calcium carbonate, a familiar material that is made largely of fossilized plankton from the deep sea. Throughout Western Europe, chalk cliffs are a common sight near the sea, and this naturally white material has been used in art since prehistoric times.

Rügen chalk, named for a German island in the Baltic Sea, is known for its purity and very fine grain, and it's particularly suitable for artist use as a result. The chalk deposits in Rügen come from fossilized algae that lived 70 million years ago in a sea that once covered Northern Germany. After the algae turned into limestone and the ancient sea dried up, the chalky cliffs of Rügen were formed.

Rügen chalk is about 97% pure. Traces of other naturally-occurring minerals give this pale pigment depth and dimension. The paint is a warm white, perfect for mixing into brighter colors to create muted, natural shades.

About Horadam Naturals:

New for 2024, Schmincke Horadam Naturals are a unique range of vegan and naturally-derived watercolors. The colorants used in Naturals all come from plants, earth, and rocks, including a few classic colors (like the gorgeous Yellow Ochre included in this line) and several colors that are quite rare in professional paint.

The plant-based colors included in Naturals, like turmeric, indigo, and madder, have been known to artists and craftspeople for centuries. They are not often seen in artist colors today because they have been replaced by synthetic alternatives, like azo yellows, phthalo blues, and quinacridone reds. Natural colors are typically not as lightfast as modern synthetics, but they have a unique and subtle beauty that is irreplaceable. It's lovely to see them in such an artist-friendly format.

The mineral colors in Naturals are more familiar: yellow ochre, green earth, white chalk, vine black, etc. But these are actually not the same as the earth pigments typically found in artist colors. Normally, art materials manufacturers prefer to use highly processed and standardized earth pigments, so that there is complete uniformity between batches and more predictable application in the studio. For the Naturals line, Schmincke has selected less-processed, single-origin pigments that retain more of their original character. Subtle variations of color and texture are waiting inside each tube.

Unlike many traditional watercolors, Horadam Naturals do not contain any animal products (like oxgall and bone black, both frequently found in artist colors.) The binder is simple, time-tested gum arabic, which dilutes beautifully and re-activates easily with water after it dries.

Available in 15 mL tubes. Made in Germany.