Earth Tones: A Journey Toward Mixing My Own Paint

One of my great passions of exploration is on the subject of health: physical, cellular, ethereal, earthly.  I cannot get enough information.  A subject that has come to light for me in the past few years is electromagnetic fields (EMFs).  You can google yourself into a rabbit hole on this one, but I will say I have meet people who sincerely express and exhibit dis-ease as a result of electrical pollution exposure.  There is a LOT of information on the sources and negative aspects of man made electromagnetic fields, but like all things there are two sides.  In a dualistic world the best resource in the search for balance is nature.

This brings me to Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3).  My understanding from basic chemistry is that Fe2O3 is an oxidized iron or 'rust'.  It turns out, it is so much more than the rust of an old Schwinn that was left in the rain.  Fe2O3 is also called 'Jewelers Rouge' and is used to clean gold, silver, and other precious metals.  It is an inorganic compound found in the rocks in Sedona, Arizona and apparently, it helps protect or balance the electrical fields in and around people.  How exactly?  Well, here's another great google afternoon: Schumann Resonances and Scalar Energy.  I'm not sure the extent of it's efficacy, but it's not harmful and as it turns out, artists have been using it in paint for centuries.  So has begun my journey into mixing paints.  For me, it's a whole new exciting world of blending art and geology.

My first run - I didn't make a paint exactly, but a gesso ground for a painting.  This is what I used: Clear gesso and pure powder of Ferric Oxide (with a wee bit of water to dilute).

Clear Gesso mixed with Ferric Oxide onto three 8x8" canvas.

The resulting color was absolutely vibrant!  I could not accurately capture the radiant color for the screen (that's another push to get out and see art in person).  Next I will try mixing this with my medium of choice, linseed oil and see how it differs as a paint vs a gesso ground.  This experiment drives me to try other natural grounds and possibly trying tempera painting.  One material of particular interest is mica which is abundant here in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Happy new year and all the new possibilities it brings to you.  Paint on!