Red ochre

Red ochre and yellow ochre (pronounced OAK-ur, from the Greek ochros, yellow) are pigments made from naturally tinted clay. It has been used worldwide since prehistoric times. Chemically, it is anhydrous iron (III) oxide.

Related Topics:
Greek - Pigment - Clay - Iron (III) oxide

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Ochres are non-toxic, and can be used to make an oil paints that dry quickly and cover surfaces thoroughly. Many sources consider the best ochre to come from Roussillon, France.

Related Topics:
Non-toxic - Roussillon - France

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To manufacture ground ochre, ochre clay is first mined from the ground. It is then washed in order to separate sand from ochre, which can be done by hand. The remaining ochre is then dried in the sun and sometimes burned to enhance the natural color.

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