Organic and Mineral Pigments

The variety of pigments that exist today, covers a large number of areas and markets, even some such as cosmetics or food. Therefore, it is necessary to know their properties well.

In the field of the arts we can say that there are different levels of approximation. Painter Jonathan Marsico claims that there are pigments that are more toxic than others.

In this post this talented painter will talk in depth about the two great groups of pigments, organic and mineral.


Organic and mineral pigments


Marsico notes that this visual division into organic and mineral pigments is unique to the art materials industry.

Its function is to give painters a deeper insight into the specificities of the pigments from which the different colors they use in their works are derived, as well as to provide practical information to help painters create their own pallets.


Organic and Mineral Pigments: What's the Big Difference?



If we talk about the composition of organic and mineral pigments there are details that are also very convenient to know. When painting, we will work with the chemical features of pigments and the results that they provide us once they are applied with mediums such as oil, the watercolors, the acrylic and others.

Thus, according to Marsico, the biggest difference between the characteristics of organic and mineral pigments is the way in which these two groups of pigments behave when mixing colors, which varies also from pigment to pigment depending on its composition.

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Chemical composition



Organic pigments are originally derived from plants. However, Marsico indicates that today, inorganc pigments are also produced, with chemical properties similar to the organic, they are made up of carbon rings and chains.

Also, chemical compounds can be used during their production to stabilize these modern organic pigments.

Furthermore, Jonathan Marsico shares that the mineral side of the color includes all those colors made with compounds of the earth, metals and inorganic salts such as chromates, metal oxides, sulfates, etc. That is why they are also called inorganic pigments. Today, these pigments are manufactured using chemical compounds based on a specific chemical composition to create colors.

However, the "modern side" of color is also full of organic pigments. These colors include all those names that look like tongue twisters like Quinacridone, Phthalocyanine and Dioxazine.

Now, taking these properties, shared by the acrylic painter Jonathan Marsico, into account, there are very distinctive characteristics of organic and mineral pigments that also make clear differences.