• Close-up image of a half pan of Madder Lake Deep handmade watercolor paint, featuring a rich crimson hue with soft violet undertones and a translucent, matte finish. The pan rests on a neutral background, highlighting the pigment’s botanical origin and artisanal, small-batch craftsmanship. Ideal for artists seeking a historically accurate, plant-based red with elegance and warmth.
  • Madder Lake Deep watercolor half pan resting on dried madder roots, the botanical source of its deep, warm red pigment. This handmade artist-grade watercolor is crafted from fermented madder root and laked using traditional techniques for rich, lightfast color. Perfect for natural pigment lovers, historical palettes, and fine botanical art. Made for madder lake watercolor, natural red pigments, and handmade eco-friendly artist supplies.
  • Madder Lake Deep Red Watercolor Paint
  • Watercolor painting in rich burgundy Madder Lake Deep, created from fermented Rubia tinctorum roots. Used since antiquity for its permanence and depth. Handcrafted with honey and gum arabic. Transparent, granulating, and archival. Ideal for historical work, botanical red tones, and classical portraiture.
  • Handmade Morrow Archival watercolor swatch cards on a wooden table, left to right: Kermes Intense, Madder Lake Intense, Madder Lake Deep, Vermilion and Mars Red.
  • Handmade Morrow Archival watercolor swatch cards on a wooden table, left to right: Alizarin Orange, Madder Lake Deep, Madder Lake Intense, Madder Lake Medium and Madder Lake Light.
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Madder Lake Deep Red Watercolor Paint

Madder Lake Deep Red Watercolor Paint

$18.00
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Description

Madder Lake Deep is our exquisitely hand crafted watercolor paint made with an extremely concentrated, high quality single source pigment. Every pan is meticulously hand mulled, filled, and labeled, using pure local honey, natural gum arabic, and a small amount of food grade sodium benzoate preservative to achieve a concentrated and richly textured pigment. Every paint is single pigment with maximum concentration and no fillers or extenders.

Madder Lake Deep is a richly hued, natural lake pigment made from real fermented madder root (Rubia tinctorum), following traditional dye extraction and laking techniques. This historic red, used by artists since antiquity and revered during the Renaissance, yields a glowing crimson with subtle violet undertones, remarkable transparency, and luminous warmth. The fermentation and slow precipitation process enhances its depth and complexity, producing a color that varies between blood red, rose, and deep scarlet depending on how it's layered.

This pigment was once the backbone of masterworks in oil, tempera, and manuscript illumination. Our Madder Lake Deep honors that legacy in watercolor form, handcrafted with care from plant to pan. Ideal for portraiture, glazing, botanical studies, and classical palettes, it blends beautifully with earth tones and ultramarine for expressive, historical harmony.

Key Features

Single Source Pigment: Each product features one pure pigment.

Handmade Artisanal Process: Crafted in small batches, our watercolors are hand mulled on a stone slab and hand packed to preserve the integrity of the pigment.

Maximum Pigment Load: Designed to provide maximum color saturation, our formula contains no fillers or extenders.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural organic lake pigment
Source: Fermented madder root (Rubia tinctorum), laked with alum
Origin: Handmade in house using traditional methods (madder root sourced from Europe or Turkey)
Lightfastness: Moderate (best preserved in protected or archival conditions)
Opacity: Transparent to semi-transparent with strong granulation
Other Names: Rose Madder Deep, Madder Crimson, Alizarin Crimson (natural variant)
Color Index Code: NR9 (Natural Red 9)

Production Process

Our watercolors are carefully hand mulled and mixed with pure local honey and gum arabic, 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 through our historic processes.

Usage & Care

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.

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 skin contact and wash hands after use. Wipe brushes and palettes clean before rinsing, and never pour paint waste down drains. Do not spray apply, sand dried paint 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.
  • 5 stars: 2 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
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  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
L
Len M.

I’ve always stayed clear of natural dye lakes as they e have historically been less lightfast than
synthetic organic reds. But I love the quality of all the Morrow products I’ve bought that I decided to give this one a try.

So far I’ve only swatched a little and it’s tough to say if I’ll fall in love with Madder Lake Deep Red. My plan right now is to make a project around an Antique Herbarium scene, so assuming I can collect enough watercolors to execute this idea, I will know soon!

W
Wolf W.A.

These are excellent quality and highly recommend buying.