Collection: Synthetic Inorganic

Born from the intersection of science and art, synthetic inorganic pigments have been revolutionizing the artist's palette since the 18th century. This category includes some of the most iconic and reliable colors in art history, including brilliant Cobalts, radiant Cadmiums, and intensely opaque Titanium White.

The terminology can sometimes be confusing—if a pigment is made in a lab, why isn't it considered "organic"? The distinction comes down to the chemical building blocks used to create the color:

• Synthetic simply means the pigment is manufactured in a laboratory or factory rather than mined directly from the earth.
• Organic means the pigment's molecular structure is built around complex carbon chains (typically derived from petrochemicals or biological matter).
• Inorganic means the pigment contains no complex carbon structures, and is instead built from metals, minerals, and earth elements.

Take Synthetic Ultramarine Blue as a perfect example. Even though it is entirely manufactured by humans in a lab, it is an inorganic pigment. This is because chemists create it by firing a precise mixture of clay, sulfur, soda ash, and silica in a kiln. It is a man-made creation, but its ingredients are purely elemental minerals and metals, not carbon-based compounds.

Because they are synthesized under exact conditions using these metallic and mineral bases, synthetic inorganic pigments offer unparalleled consistency and a level of vibrancy difficult to find in nature. Prized for their exceptional lightfastness, high opacity, and strong tinting strength, our synthetic inorganic pigments provide artists, conservators, and makers with permanent, highly predictable colors that will stand the test of time.