About 4,500 color pigments

The eye-catching feature of PIGMENT is the 4,500 colors of pigments. Pigments are mainly divided into three types. The most commonly used mineral pigments are mineral pigments called iwaenogu, which are made by crushing natural stones and baked glazes used in ceramics. Usually, when used in Japanese paintings, glue is used, but when this pigment is kneaded with oil, it becomes oil paint, and when kneaded with acrylic, it becomes acrylic paint.

Even if they are made from the same stone, they are separated by the size of the particles. The larger the particles, the darker the color, and the finer the particles, the lighter the color. Depending on the size of the particles, the texture of the paint will also change.

These glittery pigments are called "effect pigments". It is used not only for art, but also for nails, cosmetics, cars, etc. In fact, nail artists sometimes come looking for pigments. Pigments can be purchased by weight.

Here's the question. What's in the bottle on the right here?

The answer is "dried scale insects". And the one on the left is a pigment called 'cochineal', which is a pigment made from the dye extracted by soaking this scale insect in water. It has been used as a dye for centuries, and is also used in food and drink coloring and cosmetics. I didn't know that pigments were made from insects.

In this way, each pigment has its own manufacturing method and history. Some colors have been discontinued and are no longer used. At PIGMENT, you can also learn about each color like this.

"Effect pigments" produce various expressions under the influence of light.

"Inmin blue pigment" A new blue pigment discovered in the United States. In Japan, it is still handled only by PIGMENT.

Oil paints from the long-established art supply store "ZECCHI" in Florence.

"Menou-bo" (agate sticks) are used to polish gold and silver foil to give it a stronger luster.