pigment 

Before our knives scrape the canvas, before hues blend and stories emerge, there is a journey—a journey that begins deep within the embrace of the earth. Our art is not merely painted; it is unearthed, foraged from the very soil and rock that cradle our world.

Connor and I wander through landscapes, eyes attuned to the subtle whispers of color hidden within the terrain. A rust-colored cliff, a vein of ochre clay, a slate-blue stone—each a treasure waiting to be transformed. This intimate communion with nature is where our creative process takes root.

The alchemy begins with selection. We gather rocks and clays, each chosen for its unique hue and character. Once collected, the transformation from raw earth to vibrant pigment unfolds through a series of meticulous steps:

1. BREAKING DOWN THE MATERIAL: Using a hammer, we carefully break the larger rocks into smaller, manageable pieces, always mindful of safety and the material's innate properties. 

2. GRINDING: The fragments are then ground using a mortar and pestle, transforming them into a fine powder. This labor-intensive process requires patience and precision, allowing us to connect deeply with the material. 

3. SIFTING: The ground powder is sifted through a fine mesh to separate the finest particles, ensuring a smooth and consistent pigment. This step is crucial for achieving the desired texture and quality in our paints. ​

4. RAW: We take those grounds and seperate them into four groups. The first being set aside to be binded for paint, the second being just barely grinded down to a rough course texture, the third a medium course ground, and the forth group being powdered but left naturally raw without binders to tint with plaster + concrete.

5. BINDED: Some of the refined powder is then mixed with natural binders—such as gum arabic for watercolors or linseed oil for oil paints—creating a rich, usable paint that carries the essence of the earth from which it came. 

This process is more than mere preparation; it is a ritual, a meditation. Each pigment carries the story of its origin—the place it was found, the hands that transformed it, the journey from earth to art. The colors we create are not replicated from a commercial palette but are singular, embodying the spirit of the land.

By foraging and crafting our own pigments, we infuse our work with authenticity and a tangible connection to nature. Each stroke of color is a testament to the landscapes that inspire us, grounding our art in the physical world and inviting viewers to experience the raw beauty of earth’s palette.