kalapuya county : july ‘20
This pigment, called ‘Kalapuya County,’ is most likely a chlorite mineral. Chlorite, like celadonite and glauconite, contains iron, but not copper. It’s a phyllosilicate or “sheet silicate,” and sometimes has a noticeably talc-like, greasy texture, but can also be harder, like this pigment. Although most green pigment that’s been identified as “terra verde” or “green earth” is usually either celadonite or glauconite, microscopic analysis of historical paintings has revealed a fair amount of chlorite in green earths.
contributor : tilke elkins
Tilke Elkins is a painter and social practice artist, & the founding director of Wild Pigment Project. Tilke has been exploring the world of wild pigments since 1999, the year she discovered that grass chlorophyll could be mixed with rice starch and used as a printing ink. Resonance with powerful ochre sites as a teen left a deep impression, and in 2008 she stopped using synthetic pigments altogether and began an in-depth exploration of ‘wild’ pigments — those found by foraging outside in urban and remote wild places. She paints on large reclaimed wood panels, foraged objects, and outdoor surfaces.
