A Multicolored Library of the World’s Ochre Pigments Archived by Heidi Gustafson

I've always loved ochres and used to draw a little with them back in the days I was hitchhiking, finding them along old roads.
This, though, is extensive and amazing....exciting project!

earlyfutures.com (her website)

A Multicolored Library of the World’s Ochre Pigments Archived by Heidi Gustafson

Washington-based artist and researcher Heidi Gustafson forages, processes, and catalogs natural mineral samples for the Early Futures Ocher Archive. Ranging in color based on its elemental structure, ochre is crushed into a powder and used in various applications from art to medicine. With over 550 samples, Gustafson’s ever-growing archive has become a collaborative project with contributions from archaeologists, scientists, and creatives from around the world.

As each sample enters the collection, it is labeled with a corresponding number. In a notebook, Gustafson records where the ochre is from, who sourced or collected it, any historic or contemporary uses, and other relevant information. Gustafson grinds the iron-rich ochre into pigments, which she sells to artists and also uses for her own work. Processed samples are added to glass vials and organized by region or dominate mineral type. Gustafson also considers the material for its artistic, spiritual, and scientific properties. “More importantly, I build a relationship to the materials,” she tells Colossal. “I’m trying to understand their unique behaviors, the microbial communities they host and support, their tonal ranges, their historical uses and many other diverse features.”

Beautiful!

We watched a series a few years ago

Secrets of the Castle

In one episode they collected and processed ochre from the local area to make a range of beautiful pigments for making paints, and for tinting lime render. Heat treating drastically changes the colour, and grinding finer makes a big difference to the intensity. I was impressed how vibrant a colour they could get from found materials.

Found the episode!

She is still at it!
Here's a more recent photo of the amazing range of color.....
(Whoops...the complete image did not show)
Here's the link though...
source: earlyfutures.com