Experimental Paint and Pigment Research
Impressions of studio research carried out by advanced painting students at Columbia College Chicago throughout the year 2022, in collaboration with Maria Boto and Colorlab at Laboratory at KASK, Gent, Belgium. The various pigments and materials used were evaluated through online toxicological research before being introduced into the paint mulling and painting process.
Participants in the Colorlab Chicago project were invariably impressed by the optical qualities of the various research-based paint mixtures as well as by the wide color gamut that was available. Hardly any color was missing, luminosity was on a par with traditional artist paints. Students occasionally added a color from their acrylics kit if a special hue was hard to replicate by mixing it from pigment in the studio.
On one occasion a pigment product labeled as ‘inert-nontoxic/natural’ by their Canadian manfacturer was discovered to be potentially harmful under certain conditions (ultramarine rose pigment powder). Details of this issue can be found on the pages on pigment and binders (click).
This confirms the universal advice from expert toxicologists that any art material, even ones declared ‘natural or ‘safe’ or ‘nontoxic’ could still provide a health hazard under unexpected conditions. With many traditional artist paints, especially those based on mineral spirits or heavy metals, health hazards are particularly pronounced and widespread. Even acrylics (labeled ‘nontoxic’) may cause asthma, skin disease, or even cancer in longer term users. See: (link).
Kennedy Freeman, Juan Herrera-Salcedo, Bibiana Saucedo, and Chase Williams preparing research paints in the painting studio at Columbia College Chicago, 2022. Most experimental paints were hand-mulled by the artists before use.
Sample list of materials used:
- Spirulina
- micro-algae, blue, purple, and green
- (provided by Colorlab, Gent, and sourced locally)
- Beta Carotenes
- Micro Beetroot powder
- Micro Green Tea Powder
- Nescafe instant coffee granules
- Natural Earth colors: Sienna, Umber
- Select powder pigments from ‘Natural Earth Paints’
- Select ‘Kremer’ organic pigments with ‘safe’ sds rating
- ‘Natural Earth Paint’ natural acrylic medium
- Guache paints – various brands
- Gum arabic powder, various brands
- Iron Oxide Black Pigment
- Titanium Dioxide
