Blue Spirulina Pigment

Description

Blue Spirulina is a handmade natural colorant derived from the blue pigment phycocyanin, extracted from Spirulina (a cyanobacteria/microalga). It produces a vivid, electric cyan turquoise blue with a clear, cool undertone and a transparent to semi-transparent masstone. Unlike mineral blues, Blue Spirulina has a soft, dye like character in washes, flowing easily and staining the paper with a luminous, almost neon glow.

In use, Blue Spirulina gives a bright, expressive blue ideal for sketchbooks, illustration, mixed media, eco focused art, and experimental work where permanence is not the primary concern. It has moderate tinting strength, is strongly staining on paper, and disperses smoothly with little granulation, making it beautiful for fluid washes, ink like lines, and layered veils of color. It mixes cleanly with yellows to create fresh, spring greens, and with reds, magentas, and violets for vibrant teals, blue violets, and unusual purples, but all such mixtures share the fugitive nature of the base color. Because this is a natural protein based colorant, it is sensitive to light, heat, and pH and is not recommended for archival or display work in strong light.

Blue Spirulina is best treated as an artisanal, experimental color: ideal for manuscripts that are stored closed, artworks intended to be scanned or photographed and then archived digitally, or projects where organic change and impermanence are part of the aesthetic.

History

Spirulina has been used as a food source for centuries, most famously harvested from lakes by Indigenous peoples in Central Africa and by the Aztecs, who dried it into cakes. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, refined extracts of Spirulina became popular as natural colorants in foods and beverages, with the blue protein phycocyanin offering a rare plant derived alternative to synthetic blues.

As interest in natural and low impact color sources grew among artists and designers, Blue Spirulina began to appear in inks, handmade paints, calligraphy supplies, and experimental dye work. Its intense, tropical cyan and eco associated origin made it particularly attractive for contemporary illustration, children's books, and concept work meant to be digitized rather than preserved strictly as physical originals. While it lacks the lightfastness of traditional mineral and synthetic artist pigments, Blue Spirulina occupies a unique niche as a vivid, plant derived blue for exploratory, process focused, and ephemeral art.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Organic) phycocyanin based colorant from Spirulina
Source: Phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)
Origin: Cultivated microalgae (natural)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Gouache, Ink, Tempera
Lightfastness: Poor
Opacity: Transparent to semi-transparent
Other Names: Blue Spirulina, Phycocyanin Blue, Spirulina Blue
Color Index Code: N/A

Health and Safety

• For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
• Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
• Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
• Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
• If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
• Safety Data Sheet available on request.