soil-based watercolor paint

Conscientiously collected and crafted in small batches using simple ingredients. We respectfully and responsibly collect soils to combine with soil mineral pigments and/or select non-toxic synthetic pigments, to create soil-based watercolor paints. 

Watercolor paint is, very simply, a pigment coated in a watercolor binder. The paint is usually allowed to dry and be rewet by the artist. At The Art of Soil, we create soil-based watercolors either delivered in palettes or pan-free as ecopods & mini ecopods.

soil: the unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the Earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate, and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time (USDA-NRCS).

pigment: a colored substance that is insoluble in water.

watercolor media: water-soluble binder used to coat pigment particles so they adhere to a surface. Here at the Art of Soil, we make our own watercolor media using water, acacia gum, vegetable glycerin, honey*, and clove oil. *our Coastal and Climate collections do not contain honey. 

soil pigment: pigment derived solely from natural soil.

enhanced soil pigment: soil with added natural or synthetic pigment to enhance and obtain a desired color.