Kaolin Pigment

Description

White Kaolin is a soft, off white mineral pigment made from finely ground kaolinite clay traditionally sourced from the famous deposits of Jingdezhen and other regions of China. This naturally occurring clay is known for its purity, smoothness, and subtle warmth, and has been used in both ceramic and artistic traditions for over a thousand years.

As a pigment, Chinese Kaolin yields a pale, warm white with a gentle ivory or buff undertone depending on particle size and binder. It has very low tinting strength and is often used as a base or mixing white, a subtle matting agent, or to reduce the saturation of stronger colors in traditional palettes. It performs well in watercolor, fresco, egg tempera, and oil mediums, with a soft, velvety finish and delicate granulation in washes.

History

Kaolin has been an essential material in Chinese ceramics since the Tang dynasty and was instrumental in the development of porcelain. Beyond pottery, kaolin's use as a white pigment can be traced to manuscript illumination, Buddhist thangka painting, and various craft traditions where a warm, natural white was preferred over harsher mineral or synthetic whites.

In the West, kaolin became a critical material in the 18th century for European porcelain production and was eventually adopted by some artists as a soft, gentle alternative to harsher whites like titanium or lead white. Its absorbent texture also made it ideal for gesso grounds, especially in icon painting and panel preparation. In "Stuttgart Self Portrait", Rembrandt, like many others of the 17th century, experimented with grounds and applied them in multiple different layers first using ochres and then Kaolin mixed with Lead White.

Today, Chinese Kaolin remains valued by artists for its gentle tonal qualities, historical authenticity, and versatility in both traditional and modern media.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural mineral pigment from kaolinite clay
Source: Extraction from naturally occurring kaolin deposits
Origin: China (natural)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Egg Tempera, Oil, Acrylic, Fresco, Gesso
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Semi-opaque to opaque
Other Names: Kaolin White, China Clay, Gai Shi, Porcelain White
Color Index Code: PW19
Image: "Stuttgart Self portrait" by Rembrandt from the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart

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: Natural earths and minerals contain crystalline silica (quartz). Breathing the dust over long periods can cause serious lung disease (silicosis) and lung cancer. Always use a dust respirator with the dry pigment.

WARNING: This product can expose you to crystalline silica (airborne particles of respirable size), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.