Book of Earth: A Guide To Ochre, Pigment, and Raw Color by Heidi Gustafson

B29. Book of Earth: A Guide To Ochre, Pigment, and Raw Color by Heidi Gustafson. 224pp. Hardcover. 10.9 x 8 in (27.6 x 20.3 cm). 

Art meets science in Book of Earth, artist and ochre specialist Heidi Gustafson's guide to creating color with Earth's extraordinary pigments, exploring their fascinating uses today and throughout history and culture. Part anthropological study, part art book, and part how-to, Book of Earth is an immersive introduction into the world of ochre, a naturally occurring mineral used to make pigment.

Each chapter delves into Heidi Gustafson's rare pigment archive and provides a thorough exploration of natural color, while challenging our notions of the inanimate world. Featuring practical advice and techniques for creating your own pigments and applying these skills in everyday life, Gustafson also includes contributor essays offering historical and cultural perspectives on color cultivation and the meaning of pigments to various cultures.

Heidi Gustafson is an artist and ochre specialist with a working archive of more than 600 pigments. She frequently collaborates with artists, award-winning scientists, paleontologists, and other experts, including Jason Logan, author of Abrams’ bestselling book Make Ink.