Madder Lake Intense

Description
Madder Lake Intense 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 only pure local honey and a small amount of all natural, pure gum arabic to achieve an exceptionally concentrated and richly textured pigment.

Madder Lake Intense is a vibrant, natural lake pigment made from real fermented madder root (Rubia tinctorum), that is turned into garance from soaking in concentrated acid, neutralized, and followe by traditional dye extraction and laking techniques. This historic red, used by artists since antiquity and revered during the Renaissance, yields a radiant 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 dances between blood red, rose, and vibrant scarlet depending on how it’s layered.

This pigment was once the backbone of masterworks in oil, tempera, and manuscript illumination. Our Madder Lake Intense 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, chosen for its exceptional quality.

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

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

Recommended Use: Best used with a gum arabic medium to achieve optimal reactivation and fluidity.

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 Intense, Madder Crimson, Alizarin Crimson (natural variant)
Color Index Code: NR9 (Natural Red 9)

Production Process
Our watercolors are created with passion and precision. The pigment is carefully hand mulled and then mixed with pure local honey, 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.

Usage & Care
For professional and consistent results, we recommend using a gum arabic medium. 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.