Copper Black Pigment

Description

Copper Black is a handmade single pigment copper oxide black pigment, based on finely milled cupric oxide in a stable mineral matrix. It produces a deep, cool black with a subtle blue green mineral undertone and a dense, velvety masstone. Compared to carbon blacks, Copper Black feels more stone like and atmospheric, with a quieter, less sooty character; compared to Mars Black, it is cooler and a touch more metallic in its visual impression.

In use, Copper Black gives a powerful yet controlled black ideal for aged metal, patina, machinery, industrial subjects, stormy skies, deep shadows, and architectural details. It has strong tinting strength and an opaque character, covering well in masstone. It mixes beautifully with earths for complex industrial browns and charcoals, with blues and blue greens for steel like neutrals and near blacks, and with reds and violets for deep wine browns and muted maroons that stay rich rather than muddy.

This copper oxide pigment is chemically stable, heat resistant, and highly resistant to acids and alkalis, which makes it suitable across a wide range of binders and mediums. In artist's colors it offers a distinctive mineral black that can function as an alternative to both iron oxides and carbon blacks, especially in palettes that emphasize metal, architecture, history, and subtle atmospheric darks.

History

Copper compounds have been used as colorants since antiquity, from Egyptian cosmetics and Mediterranean ceramics to Roman wall painting and medieval stained glass. While blues and greens from copper are the most famous, dark copper oxides have long appeared in ceramics, enamels, and glass, especially in reduction fired wares and as components in protective and anti-fouling coatings.

With the development of modern industrial chemistry, high purity cupric oxide became widely available and was adopted in marine paints, corrosion resistant primers, and dark architectural coatings where durability and resistance to weathering were essential. From these technical uses, copper oxide blacks were adapted for artist materials, providing a dense, cool black with a distinctive mineral presence. Today, Copper Black remains a specialty pigment appreciated by painters who want a robust, slightly metallic black with strong character and a deep connection to ceramic and industrial color traditions.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Synthetic (Inorganic) copper oxide black pigment (cupric oxide)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Lime / Fresco, Ceramic and cement applications
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Opaque
Other Names: Copper Black, Copper Oxide Black, Cupric Oxide Black, Tenorite
Color Index Code: Copper oxide based black pigment

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.

Caution: Contains copper. Harmful if swallowed. Dust may irritate eyes and airways. Very toxic to aquatic life; never rinse into drains.