Earth!

earth :: new work :: maya blue :: scribbles :: kauai

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earth! - issue xi
in this issue: earth pigments, sea nymph, maya blue, scribbles, print winner, kauai photos

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The vibrant colours of Kauai have inspired me and I have started making my own paints from the earth! (To see my Kauai photos scroll to the bottom.)

I've been collecting soil, rich with colourful minerals.

I suspend the soil in water and take advantage of the different specific gravities of each component in order to capture the pigment.

Organic matter floats to the top; sand and stone sink to the bottom.

The pigment I'm interested in is suspended between the organic matter and the sandy bottom. Here, I have captured some of this pigment and wait a day or two for it to settle.

Once settled, I can pour off the water and wait for the rich pigment to dry and cake.

I treat the pigment with heat to sterilize it, and then grind it down to a fine powder.

I make watercolour paint by combining raw pigment with tree resin.

Here I've mixed dissolved gum arabic with pigment to create watercolour in beautiful earth tones.

I have also purchased other earth pigments to add to my collection, including Maya Blue.

These beautiful shades of blue-green were developed by the Maya. The pigments can be ground to a fine particulate and combined with resin to make stunning watercolours.

The colours are intense and make a beautiful addition to my earth paints.

Once I process the pigments, I collect and store them in little jars that I can easily bring on all my outdoor painting adventures.

This is the first painting I have created using paints I have made myself from earth pigments.

Kauai Snail
7" x 10" / 18 x 25cm
Earth Pigments on Cotton Paper

This piece is for sale: tamaraphillips.ca/animals.php

I have also been experimenting with other earth paints. I have done a lot of pigment research and testing in the studio over the past few weeks. My working space is part art studio part science lab.

Sea Nymph
8.5" x 11" / 22 x 28cm
Watercolour on Arches

My latest commission is a portrait of Nerine, a beautiful creature of the sea. Her hair becomes the waves that bend and release the magic of marine life.

This piece has also been inspired by Kauai. I had the priviledge of experiencing most of these animals while I recently explored this enchanting world off the coast of this beautiful island.

colour: maya blue
a beautiful blue-green colour

This colour was developed by the Maya who ruled Mesoamerica from ~290-900 C.E. It is an amazing pigment based on a blue indigo plant dye precipitated onto clay.

Like turquoise, this colour promotes emotional balance and stability, and stimulates creativity.

scribbles: a free colouring page!

This is a beautiful Compass Jellyfish. This illustration is a colouring page from my Jellyfish Colouring Book. You don't need to be a child to practice mindful colouring!

Please download the .pdf for free. Save, print, and get colouring!

Congratulations to "unicornsquest" - you won this issue's free 8.5" x 11" print!
Please choose any print from my Etsy shop and hit reply to email me your choice

Photos from Kauai:

Tamara

a r t

s h o p

c o n n e c t

Pass this newsletter onto a friend. All current and new subscribers will be entered in for a chance to win an 8.5" x 11" print of choice for the next issue.

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I always welcome thoughts and feedback: art@tamaraphillips.ca