Horadam Naturals, Earth Colors Set of 5

Horadam Naturals, Earth Colors Set of 5

The Earth Colors Set of 5 contains unique pigments from single-origin mineral sources around the world. The unique character of each type of earth or ground stone is on full display in each full-size, 15 mL tube of Horadam Naturals included in this set. Learn more about the color stories below:

#530 Celadonite

#530 Celadonite is a variety of green earth, or terre verte, an historically important pigment in oil painting and known to artists since the ancient Romans. Today, most paints labeled "green earth" are synthetic alternatives, such as chrome green, because only small amounts of green clay deposits remain in the world.

This authentic green earth watercolor comes from mineral-rich clay that includes celadonite and glauconite, both greenish minerals of the mica group. This type of clay naturally occurs in Central Europe, which is part of the reason behind its widespread use in historical European art.

Transparent and granulating, #530 Celadonite is quite a subtle color, useful especially for natural subject matter like moss and sun-soaked foliage.

#620 Yellow Ochre

#620 Yellow Ochre is a classic color of fine art, and one that most artists will already have on their palette in one form or another. However, most yellow ochre today comes from synthetic iron oxide. This yellow ochre comes from natural deposits of iron oxide that are found in yellow earth. As a result, it's more complex and interesting than synthetic yellow ochre, which can be flat and one-note.

Natural impurities—as well as the red iron oxide found in smaller amounts in the same soil—are visible in this gorgeous yellow ochre. It's warm and strongly textured, semi-opaque, and dynamic, with a muted masstone that contrasts with a brighter yellow undertone.

#650 Lalvarit Violet

#650 Lalvarit Violet is a volcanic mineral pigment that's so uncommon as a colorant that it doesn't have a pigment number. This color is made from a type of igneous rock that's naturally grey but contains deposits of iron and manganese. These impurities give Lalvarit Violet its subtle purplish hue.

Useful as a warmer, more transparent alternative to other brown-grey earth colors, Lalvarit Violet is particularly suited to rendering rocky landscapes and deep woods.

#680 Caucasus Earth

#680 Caucasus Earth is a very pale, olive-toned mineral color, made from earth sourced in the Caucasus region (between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.) This color is warmer than other green earth pigments, but shares their granulating and muted character. Excellent for portraiture, since greenish skin tones can be difficult to mix. Caucasus Earth is also a lovely color for landscape painting.

#720 Green Slate

#720 Green Slate is a cool, semi-transparent light grey, made from genuine ground slate. This complex shade has broad usefulness in painting natural subjects and mixing into brighter colors to create muted tones.

The greenish color of this pigment comes from the particular mineral mixture in the natural slate it's made from. Minerals like epidote and actinolite are present in this slate, cooling down the color temperature. Natural texture is also noticeable in artwork painted with Green Slate, making it a great choice for realistic renderings of textured or light-dappled subjects.

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.