The Power of Pigment Powder

Natural pigments are the oldest known artistic medium used by humans. Our ancient ancestors used the natural resource to create markings and narrative compositions including those found in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, depicting human-like figures interacting with animals, painted at least 51,200 years ago. I am fascinated by the medium and its temporal nature; it can wash away in a matter of seconds or last tens of thousands of years within a hidden cave. In this post I will discuss what I find so special about the medium.

Cave art

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/141008-cave-art-sulawesi-hand-science

Why Natural Pigments

In my post An Eco-friendly Approach to Making Art I introduced one aspect of why I began to use natural pigments in my work. This entry also covers where pigments come from, the pros and cons of using them, which ones are damaging to the environment and which are more eco-friendly. I recommend looking over the key points to discover what factors an artist should consider when sourcing eco-friendly products.

The interplay between artist and natural pigments is something I really love. The cave art mentioned in the introduction shows that ancient artists would fill their mouths with pigment mixed with water and spit it out over their hands to create a spray effect surrounding a negative print of a hand. Each splash, spray and drip that can still be seen today gives the observer a sense of closeness to that individual, a feel for the action carried out and of the creative expression in that moment. It’s this timeless, rawness aspect that I am drawn to. In my new body of work, I am experimenting with different actions and movements to manipulate the natural pigment using fully mixed and partially mixed pigment. In areas where the pigment particles can still be seen, where they were not fully dissolved it reminds me of the raw essence of the material, its natural origins and evolution.

What the Medium Evokes

I am transfixed by the sentiments that natural pigments evoke. However an artist chooses to guide the pigment onto the surface a very different sensation can be shared with the viewer. Its properties have led my creative investigation into the representation of the passage of time and the tangible reminder of both presence and decay. As an artist I work in collaboration with the pigment. Allowing the ​​material’s natural properties to determine the direction and spread of the markings on the surface is central to my process. There is an element of giving in to the raw material, to allow each particle to realize its own direction and fate, lightly guided by my intervention. From the first moment of contact, to the final drying point of the work, the spontaneity and discovery of that creative collaboration has been captured in time, as if time has frozen on a single moment and recorded for future prosperity. This concept forms the core of my artistic exploration and relationship to the medium. 

My New Body of Work

The theme of my new body of work is an exploration of time and impermanence through the use of natural pigment powder. Within each monochrome painting the material’s properties act as a conduit of spontaneity and discovery.

Grey Matter, monochrome pigment powder, acrylic, ink on canvas, 2024

Dust and pigment symbolize the passage of time, serving as tangible reminders of both presence and decay. In Grey Matter each pigment particle in the painting is representative of the fragility of a moment. There is a sensation of movement while each pigment particle can be imagined moving around the surface until asserting its permanence, settling and solidifying, forming the final collective experience.

Stone, monochrome pigment powder, acrylic, ink on canvas, 2024

Stones are formed in a variety of ways from minerals trapped deep in the Earth's crust over millions of years. Within the solid formation holds a story of accumulation, pressure, time, intensity and movement. Shaped by its environment and entirely unique, the stone will continue on its journey being broken down and reformed. The painting Stone reflects the themes within this journey through the use of natural pigment.

Collapse, monochrome pigment powder, acrylic, ink on canvas, 2024

The painting titled Collapse follows the theme of fragility and fragmentation. The transformative state of the pigment powder evolves on the surface and captures the illusive time and collaborative nature between artist and materials.

If you would like to find out more about my new body of work please get in contact directly or leave a message below in the comments section – I’d love to hear from you.