Bone Black

Description
Bone Black is our exquisitely hand-crafted watercolor paint made with an extremely concentrated and high quality single source pigment mixed only with pure honey. Every pan is meticulously hand mulled, hand packed, filled, and labeled — ensuring maximum pigment concentration without any binders, fillers, or extenders. Our unique formula uses only one pigment and pure local honey, delivering a maximally concentrated watercolor paint.

Bone Black is a deep, matte black watercolor 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 watercolors are hand mulled on a glass slab and hand packed 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 a gum arabic medium to achieve optimal reactivation and 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 with slight granulation and matte finish
Other Names: Ivory Black (historical), Bone Char, Animal Carbon
Color Index Code: PBk9

Production Process
Our watercolors are created with passion and precision. The pigment is carefully hand mulled and then mixed with pure local honey, 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 pan.

Usage & Care
For professional and consistent results, we recommend using a gum arabic medium. 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.