Iron Oxide Pigments, Colors and Uses in Oil Painting
Iron Oxide Pigments, Colors and Uses in Oil Painting
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During George O'Hanlon's Best Painting Practice class held in Portland last weekend, attendees received an abundance of insightful information. Much of the content covered was familiar to me from my years of art exploration, but there were certainly many new insights shared. I'm particularly fascinated by materials, techniques, mediums, oil painting substrates, pigments, solvents, longevity, and brushes; my thirst for knowledge in these areas remains unquenched. Notably, I found the pigments discussion—encompassing both historical and contemporary aspects—especially compelling. It was reassuring to confirm that the pigments I utilized in my Lessons Projects are among the most light-fast and richly saturated available.
Primarily, this discussion revolved around natural oxides. These pigments are sourced from quarries worldwide and have a long history of usage. Some intriguing examples of these captivating hues include:
Ercolano Red is a natural earth pigment enriched with iron oxide clay found in deposits near Ercolano, Italy. Previously known as Herculaneum until 79 AD and Resina thereafter, this pigment is one of the warmest natural oxide options and offers delightful applications. Its slightly gritty texture enhances the surface sparkle of the canvas.
Lemon Ocher is a transparent natural yellow iron oxide, known for its fade resistance to daylight and exceptional color concentration. Sourced from quarries in northern Italy, this splendid pigment boasts a rich history dating back to antiquity and remains one of my essential colors.
French Natural Yellow Iron Oxide can be likened to raw sienna. This pigment proves to be incredibly versatile, especially in the shadow mixtures of flowers and their stamens. It comes from quarries in the heart of Luberon Massif in ocher country and has been historically significant in artistic applications.
Pozzouli Red Earth, another natural earth pigment, contains clay tinted by iron oxide found in deposits around Pozzouli, Italy. The iron oxide and varying mineral content result in a spectrum of red ocher shades, ranging from deep red to brownish variations. This pigment, like others, has been utilized since ancient times.
The compatibility among these pigments is clear; they share a natural harmony facilitated by geological processes. Their subtle color palette remains far more appealing than some striking modern synthetic options. Iron oxides can be intermingled safely, exhibit moderate to fast drying times, and are consistently light-fast. While they are considered non-toxic, it is wise to observe standard safety precautions. All these pigments can be sourced at Natural Pigments. Be sure to check out the Painting Best Practices class the next time it comes to your area to gain a broader understanding of the presented information.
Have any of you experimented with these pigments? I invite you to share your experiences in the comments section.
Mineral Resource of the Month: Iron Oxide Pigments
by U.S. Geological Survey, Wednesday, June 20,
Michael J. Potter, mineral commodity specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey, compiled the following information regarding iron oxide pigments.
Iron oxide pigments, both natural and synthetic, have served as colorants since the dawn of human art, dating back to the days of cave paintings. Natural pigments derive from various iron oxide minerals: red pigments stem from hematite, while yellow and brown tones—ochres, sierras, and umbers—come from limonite. Magnetite is the source for black iron oxide pigment. Micaceous iron oxide, a unique form of hematite, manifests in thin metallic gray sheets or flakes. Synthetic pigments are created in controlled environments, yielding precise particle sizes, distributions, and shapes for superior consistency, color quality, and chemical purity.
For more information about iron oxide pigment for paints, feel free to reach out to us.
Iron oxide pigments are economical materials that resist color fading when exposed to sunlight, possess good chemical resistance, and remain stable in typical ambient conditions. Predominant applications for these pigments include paints, coatings, and construction materials like concrete products, mortar, paving stones, and roofing tiles. Natural pigments often find use in primers and undercoats where uniformity is less critical, whereas synthetic pigments are used in topcoat paints where consistent color is paramount.
Micaceous iron oxide lends unique benefits to paints and coatings due to its flaky particles, which align to thwart moisture and gas infiltration. These coatings safeguard metals against corrosion and rust while resisting blistering, cracking, and peeling.
While deposits of iron oxide pigments are found across the globe, significant production is concentrated in just a few countries. Historically, Cyprus, France, Iran, Italy, and Spain have been recognized for iron oxide pigment production, with recent rises in output from India, Spain, and Honduras.
Additionally, iron oxide pigments are produced during the steelmaking process. When hydrochloric acid is applied to clean surface oxides from steel, the acid is regenerated for recycling, yielding iron oxide as a byproduct. This regenerated iron is used in filters, inductors, and transformers within household electronics and industrial machines, including flexible magnets, generators, loudspeakers, and electric vehicle motors.
Recent advancements in synthetic iron oxide pigments have introduced granular and nano-sized variants, expanding their applications in computer disk drives, high-performance loudspeakers, and even biology and medicine contexts, such as in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.
For additional information on iron oxide pigments, visit minerals.usgs.gov/minerals.
IRON OXIDE PIGMENT PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
In 2020, the global production of iron oxide pigments (natural: 13% and synthetic: 87%) was estimated at approximately 1.4 million metric tons.
China led global production in 2020, accounting for 49% of the total output.
During the same year, total estimated production in the U.S. reached 50,000 metric tons, valued around $50 million.
In 2020, the global iron oxide pigment market was valued at an estimated $1.1 billion.
FUN FACTS
Artists have utilized natural iron oxide pigments for tens of thousands of years, dating back to the 32,000-year-old cave paintings at Lascaux, France.
These pigments also serve as colorants in ceramics, glazes, glass, paper, plastics, rubber, textiles, cosmetics, and even in magnetic inks and toners.
Micaceous iron oxide coatings have been employed for heavy-duty applications in harsh environments, including industrial tanks, refineries, chemical plants, drilling rigs, bridges, and even the Eiffel Tower.
If you are seeking more details, kindly visit red iron oxide pigment.