Orange Ochre Pigment

Description

Orange Ochre is a natural, handmade single earth pigment made through a ancient historical process of grinding raw earth sourced from the Vaucluse region of France. As the only natural orange shade among the Vaucluse ochres, this natural pigment has a unique, warm orange hue.

With a soft yet vibrant orange tone, this pigment offers exceptional stability, opacity, and lightfastness, making it ideal for fresco, oil, watercolor, and tempera painting. Its iron rich composition provides a deep, earthy warmth that blends beautifully with other natural pigments, creating harmonious, organic color transitions.

Compared to synthetic oranges, Orange Ochre delivers a soft, earthy vibrancy that is both striking and historically authentic. Its great texture and high coverage make it a valuable addition to any artist's palette, particularly for landscapes, portrait undertones, and historical restoration work.

History

Ochre has been one of the oldest pigments used in human history, dating back over 100,000 years. Prehistoric cave paintings, including those at Lascaux, prominently feature ochre pigments in shades of yellow, red, and brown. Orange ochre, though rarer, has been used in ancient Egyptian murals, Roman frescoes, and medieval manuscript illumination.

The Vaucluse region of France became a major center for ochre extraction in the 18th and 19th centuries, supplying artists and artisans with high quality earth pigments. French ochres, prized for their purity and stability, became a staple in European painting traditions, from Renaissance masterpieces to 19th-century Impressionist works. In the pictured artwork 'Stonemason's Yard' by Canaletto, orange ochre is used for the rich terracotta color of the buildings for the warm orange glow.

Today, Orange Ochre remains a sought after pigment for artists seeking natural, warm hues with historical authenticity. It continues to be used in fine art, conservation, and natural paint making, preserving the rich legacy of ochre pigments.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Iron Oxide) from minerals (Goethite and Hematite) (France)
Source: Iron oxide rich clay
Origin: France
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Semi-opaque
Other Names: Burnt Yellow Ochre, French Orange Earth, Ochre Orange, Ochre
Color Index Code: PY43
Image: 'Stonemason's Yard' by Canaletto from the National Gallery

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.