This ochre is a premium quality natural inorganic earth pigment which has been obtained overseas specifically for Skill-Based Art: A Learning Resource for Art Students & Artist-Teachers (SBA)™.
Our ochre is imported from Hebei in North China which is known to be home of some of the world’s oldest ochre pigment processing sites, dating back over 40, 000 years. It is mined in large pieces from deposits in the area, then it gets sent to us here in Australia where we break it down into smaller pieces which range from 2 to 5 cm each. We then package it into 130-gram bags for distribution.
This ochre’s geological makeup is composed primarily of iron oxide, with traces of manganese, clay and sand. It is sold in its raw, unprocessed state and no additives, extenders or fillers are included. Consequently, the ochre may have some natural impurities in it.
The ochre serves multiple purposes; it can be used to create sanguine, or red chalk drawings, or it can be pulverised into a pigment for painting.
For use as red chalk:
The ochre pieces are ready to be used for drawing as soon as they are removed from the packaging. They can be held directly by hand, or sanded down with sandpaper and formed into small fragments which can then be placed into a porte crayon for greater control and precision while drawing. SBA Porte Crayon™ is ideal for this purpose.
For use as pigment for painting:
Use a mortar and pestle to pulverise the ochre pieces into a fine powdered pigment. Proceed to grind the pigment using a glass muller combined with a suitable binder to form a paint.
- Add linseed oil to create oil paint
- Blend gum Arabic and water to make watercolour
- Mix with egg yolk for tempera painting
- Combine gum tragacanth or gum Arabic to form soft pastels
By purchasing this red ochre, you will be helping to support the expansion of Skill-Based Art: A Learning Resource for Art Students & Artist-Teachers (SBA)™.