How Does Ochre Pigments | Part 1: Preparation of Earth Colours Work?

Ochre pigments are made by turning earth into colour, like mixing paint from dirt.

Imagine you have a big pile of red clay, it’s kind of like wet sand, but it’s special because it has iron in it. To make the pigment, people would dig up this clay and then dry it out in the sun, just like how your socks dry after being washed. Once it's dry, they might crush it into tiny pieces with a rock or a hammer, like making cookie crumbs. This crushed stuff is called ochre, and it’s super useful for drawing, painting, or even decorating skin.

Sometimes people would mix the ochre with something else to make the colour stronger. Think of it like adding sugar to your cereal, it makes it tastier! They might add water, oil, or even animal fat (like butter) to help the colour stick better when they painted on rocks or their bodies.

When the ochre is ready, you can use it with your fingers, a brush, or even a stick, just like how you draw with crayons. And that’s how people made beautiful art out of something as simple as dirt!