Lamp Black is one of the oldest pigments. It is made of pure carbon, originally from the residual soot of burnt oil lamps. It is black with a bluish tint, producing a variety of cool blue greys.
Ivory black is a stable all-round black with brown undertones and excellent tinting powers. Its name stems from the traditional method for obtaining it: roasting elephant tusks.
Sepia is a black brown colour. Originally made in the 18th from the ink sacks of cuttlefish, it is now made from a mixture of carbon and umber. It is a highly permanent colour.
Ultramarine is a rich deep transparent blue. It was created by French chemist Guimet in 1828 as a synthetic but chemically identical replacement for the expensive pigment derived from Lapis Lazuli.
Indigo is a deep blue pigment that can range from dark black to pale blue. Originally extracted from plants similar to blue woad used by the ancient Britons, it was synthesised in 1878 in Germany. It...
Turquoise is an opaque blend of green and blue pigments. The name stems from the French 'Turquoise' for the semi-precious stone that was exported to Europe from Persia via Turkey.
