Natural Earths and Ochers are pigments used since Prehistory. Found on five continents, their color depends upon their composition of minerals. These mineral colors are primarily from clay soils and sands. After their extraction, they are washed and separated from their soil components to isolate the minerals, then ground fine and packaged. Certain colors can be found in more abundance in certain regions. For example, Ochers from France, Umbers from Cyprus and Red Earths from India.
See: How French Ochers are manufactured.
One property attributable to Natural Earths and Ochers is their semi-transparent nature, making them sought after by fine artists throughout history. They have often been utilized in decorative coatings as well. One most notable example would be France, where Ochers have historically been applied to buildings using the fresco technique to realize their full color potential. Their versatility is in their permanent nature and ability to be stable in any medium. Natural Earths and Ochers are not strong tinters in opaque bases like plasters and cements, but instead reveal soft, natural undertones. Our USA colors (Raw Umber USA, Burnt Umber USA and Burnt Sienna USA) are a little stronger due to their unique opacity among Natural Earths.