Kamala Orange Lake

Description

Kamala Lake is a handmade natural lake pigment prepared from kamala, the orange powder obtained from the fruit glands of Mallotus philippensis. It produces a warm, glowing orange-gold with a soft saffron–apricot undertone and a gently transparent masstone. In light washes it reads as a delicate peach or tea-orange; in stronger applications it deepens into a rich, resinous golden orange with a subtle herbal warmth. Compared to earth oranges, Kamala Lake is lighter and more translucent; compared to synthetic oranges, it feels softer, more organic, and distinctly botanical.

In use, Kamala Lake gives a gentle, expressive orange ideal for florals, textiles, illuminated manuscript effects, portraits, and atmospheric landscape passages. It has low to moderate tinting strength and a transparent to semi-transparent character, building smoothly from pale, tea-like stains to richer layers without becoming chalky. It mixes beautifully with yellows for glowing saffron and parchment tones, with reds and pinks for coral and peach skin hues, and with blues and blue-greens for subtle, warm neutrals and honeyed browns that retain a quiet inner glow. As a natural lake based on an organic dye, it is best reserved for work kept out of direct sunlight or digitized for long-term preservation rather than for highly archival, display-intense applications.

This plant-based lake is bound to a mineral base (typically alumina and/or calcium salts), giving it better handling and stability than the raw dye while preserving its characteristic translucency and resinous warmth. In artist’s colors it offers a uniquely herbal, apothecary-inspired orange-gold that pairs beautifully with other botanical lakes, historical reds, and mineral earths on eco-focused or historically minded palettes.

History

Kamala has been used for centuries across South Asia as both a dye and a traditional medicinal material. The fine, brick-orange powder is collected from the fruit capsules of Mallotus philippensis and used to color textiles in warm yellow-orange, saffron, and russet shades, especially on wool and silk. Beyond dyeing, kamala has appeared in regional pharmacopeias and as a pigment for ritual and decorative purposes.

With the development of lake pigments, artisans began transforming dyes like kamala into usable pigments for paint and ink. Kamala Lake continues this tradition, capturing the characteristic warmth of the dye in a stable, brushable form suitable for water-based media. While not as lightfast as mineral pigments, its distinctive, resinous orange-gold and strong cultural associations make it appealing to artists interested in historical palettes, plant-based color, and the visible link between herbal materials and the colors on the page.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Organic) plant-based lake pigment on mineral substrate

Source: Kamala powder from the fruit glands of *Mallotus philippensis*

Suitable Mediums: Oil, Watercolor, Gouache, Ink, Egg Tempera, Casein

Lightfastness: Moderate to poor

Opacity: Transparent

Other Names: Kamala Lake, Kamala Orange Lake, *Mallotus* Lake Orange

Color Index Code: NO2