blog 5 Earth pigments

On the Road with Emily!

Over the past year, Erik and I have been busy with all kinds of projects. Not just working on the new level in the studio, but also on Emily — our Citroën Jumper van, which we’ve completely transformed into a camper! This was a dream we talked about on one of our very first dates… so it was about time 😅.

After months of work, she’s now officially approved by the RDW (the Dutch road authority) and registered as a camper! We’re hoping to explore many beautiful places with her. And of course… from every spot we visit, we’ll be bringing back a little bit of earth.

But what can you actually do with that? 🌺

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Painting with earth

When you buy paint in a shop, it’s always a mix of pigment and binder.

Back in the Middle Ages, there were no synthetic pigments. Paint was handmade from natural pigments — from ochre, madder root, or minerals. These pigments were mixed — or, as artists called it: “ground” — with egg yolk as a binder to create paint.

Today, most paints are synthetic. But it’s much more fun to make your own using natural materials! Below I’ll explain the process briefly — you’ll find a more detailed version (with photos) in my book Kleurboek.

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How to make your own pigment

 1. Find a suitable stone or earth.

Look for a soft stone that leaves colour when you draw with it on the ground. Or find earth with a beautiful hue — often found deeper underground, under fallen trees or on hillsides.

 2. Grind it finely.

 • Using stone? Break it into smaller pieces with a hammer (watch out for flying shards!). Then crush it as finely as possible with a mortar and pestle.

 • Using earth? You can start grinding straight away.

 3. Filtering.

Place 4 to 5 tablespoons of the powdered material in a glass of water and stir well.

 • Plant matter will float — skim this off with a spoon or small sieve.

 • Heavier particles like sand will sink to the bottom. You don’t want this in your paint! Carefully pour the coloured water into a clean glass, trying not to pour any sand along with it. Discard the sand.

 4. Repeat the process until only coloured water remains. In the end, you’ll be left with a fine pigment — without sand!

Left: fine pigment.

Right: sand residue.

 5. Let the pigment dry.

Pour the coloured water into a coffee filter or cloth and let the pigment dry.

 6. Make your paint!

Mix (or “grind”) the dry pigment with egg yolk as a binder — and you’ve created your very own natural paint.

This is a wonderful process to try with children. Especially in France, you’ll find the most beautiful earthy tones. Perfect for a summer holiday project! 🌈

Have fun!

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Stay inspired

From natural inks to hand-shaped ceramics — here I share recipes, stories, and quiet craft from my studio in Norway.

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