Bone Black

Description

Bone Black is our exquisitely hand-crafted oil paint made with an extremely concentrated, high-quality single source pigment. Every tube is meticulously hand mulled, filled, and labeled using only pure cold-pressed walnut oil (linseed oil available upon request) and the maximum amount of hand-ground and richly textured pigment.

Bone Black is a deep, matte black pigment made by calcining animal bones in a low-oxygen environment—a traditional process used since antiquity to create a rich, carbon-based black. Also known as bone char or Ivory Black, this pigment has been valued by artists from Ancient Egypt to the Old Masters for its dense opacity, velvety texture, and warm undertone.

Unlike the cooler, more neutral tone of lamp black, Bone Black leans ever so slightly brown, making it ideal for portrait shadows, atmospheric washes, natural subjects, and classical monochrome studies. It offers a beautiful matte finish, subtle granulation, and excellent lightfastness—perfect for artists seeking a historically grounded, natural black with quiet depth.

Key Features

Single Source Pigment: Each product features one pure pigment, chosen for its exceptional quality.

Handmade Artisanal Process: Crafted in small batches, our oil paints are hand mulled on a marble slab and hand filled in aluminum tubes to preserve the integrity of the pigment.

Maximum Pigment Load: Designed to provide maximum color saturation, our formula contains no artificial additives or fillers

Recommended Use: Best used with oil mediums to achieve optimal fluidity.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural inorganic pigment (carbonaceous black from animal bone)

Source: Calcined animal bone (bone char)

Origin: USA

Lightfastness: Excellent

Opacity: Opaque

Other Names: Ivory Black (historical), Bone Char, Animal Carbon

Color Index Code: PBk9

Production Process

Our oil paints are created with passion and precision. The pigment is carefully hand mulled and then mixed with pure cold-pressed walnut oil, ensuring an exceptionally concentrated and vibrant product. The entire process is carried out by hand—from mixing and mulling to filling and labeling—so you can be confident in the artisanal quality of every tube.

Usage & Care

Please store in a secure area away from children and pets, and dispose of any waste in an environmentally friendly manner in accordance with all local, state, and national regulations.

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.