Work in the studio

Mixing Paints from Pigment

Making paint is simple and the time required, once you find the palette you like to use, is usually less than the time spent shopping for materials. As to safety, ordinary precautions to avoid inhaling dust, such as wearing a paper mask or, if paranoid, a respirator, is sufficient. However, most of the traditional pigments are no more toxic than typical garden soil, since the source of most is clay, or ground minerals.. These include all the oxides of iron, like ochres, siennas, umbers, all the Mars colors, traditional earth reds like Venetian red and terra rosa, in addition to terra verte and for water-bound paints, calcium carbonate (chalk). Titanium white (titanium dioxide) is safe and happens to be the pigment used in make-up. Zinc white (zinc oxide) is not only non-toxic, but is the base for burn ointments. Ultramarine blue and all the phthalo colors are non-toxic. Cadmiums, handled with a little care as regards dust, can be used safely.