Green Spirulina

Description

Green Spirulina is a handmade natural colorant derived from whole Spirulina (a cyanobacteria/microalga) rich in chlorophyll and accessory blue pigments like phycocyanin. It produces a natural, deep green that can range from soft sage to deeper bottle green depending on concentration, with a slightly yellow–olive undertone in light washes. Compared to mineral greens, Green Spirulina has a dye-like, organic character in use, flowing smoothly and staining the surface with a soft, plant-like green rather than a sharp, synthetic hue.

In use, Green Spirulina gives a gentle, expressive green ideal for sketchbooks, botanical studies, illustration, mixed media, eco-focused art, and experimental work where permanence is not the primary concern. It has moderate tinting strength, is somewhat staining, and generally non-granulating, making it well suited to fluid washes, ink-style line work, and layered veils of color. It mixes beautifully with yellows and warm earths for mossy olives and dried-leaf tones, with blues for firmer forest greens, and with reds and violets for muted browns and shadow neutrals—but all such mixtures share the fugitive nature of the base color. Because this is a natural, food-adjacent colorant based largely on chlorophyll, it is sensitive to light, heat, and pH and is not recommended for archival work or pieces intended for long-term display in strong light.

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

History

Spirulina has a long history as a traditional food source, most notably harvested from alkaline lakes by Indigenous peoples in Central Africa and by the Aztecs, who dried it into nourishing cakes. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, dried Spirulina and its extracts became popular as dietary supplements and natural food colorants, with whole Spirulina powder providing a characteristic deep green from chlorophyll and blue accessory pigments.

As interest in natural and low-impact color sources grew among artists and designers, Green Spirulina began to appear in inks, handmade paints, calligraphy supplies, and experimental dyes. Its plant-based origin, association with health foods, and softly natural green made it especially appealing for eco-themed projects, children’s books, and artworks destined for digital reproduction. While it does not offer the lightfastness of traditional mineral and synthetic pigments, Green Spirulina occupies a unique niche as a living, plant-derived green for exploratory, process-oriented, and intentionally ephemeral art.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Organic) Spirulina-based green colorant (chlorophyll and accessory pigments)

Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Gouache, Ink, Tempera

Lightfastness: Poor

Opacity: Transparent to semi-transparent; smooth-flowing, lightly staining

Other Names: Green Spirulina, Spirulina Green, Chlorophyll Spirulina Green

Color Index Code: NA