White Kaolin

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.

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

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