Regardless of where you live, you can go outside right now and find the exact earth pigment humans first used to paint 70,000 years ago. How beautiful is that?



In this simple, no fluff curriculum, you'll be invited to spend way more time outdoors, reclaim your creative connection to the earth, and bring all that inspiration back with you into your studio and your paintings, literally.

Learn everything you need to know to process *almost* any kind of earth material into artist-grade pigment. This is the only place that I share my modified water levigation process for pulling out only the highest-quality pigments so your paint is nearly identical to the professional lines you can find at your art supply store.

Concerned about lightfastness and durability? Think of it this way... earth pigments retain their gorgeous, vibrant hues through hundreds of years of weather and sun-exposure. There is no more durable kind of pigment!

So yes, go ahead and turn those unique, local bits of earth into paints that will give your paintings something truly special: a sense of place and history.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to Earth to Palette

    • Course Resource Guide

    • Welcome!
  • 2

    Module 1: What is pigment and where do we find it?

    • What is pigment and where do we find it?
  • 3

    Module 2: The pigment preparation process

    • The pigment preparation process, Part I

    • The pigment preparation process, Part II
  • 4

    Module 3: The paint-making process

    • Module 3: Mulling pigment into paint

When we make paint from the earth, the creative process becomes a whole new kind of real. In this course you’ll find answers to questions like:



  • What exactly are earth pigments and what are they made of?

  • How can I make very fine, high quality paint with earthen materials?

  • What kind of paints can I make with earth pigments?

  • Is paint made with earth pigments lightfast and durable?

  • What are the different techniques for processing earth into pigment?

Frequently asked questions

Have another question? Let me know!

  • What's the exact format of the course?

    The course is 100% digital and includes a combination of pre-recorded video tutorials.

  • When can I start the course?

    Right away! Be sure to log into your new Thinkific account and you'll see the courses you're enrolled in listed.

  • How long will I have access to the course lessons?

    You'll have "lifetime" access to all my courses because I want you to pick this up whenever you need a little inspo.

  • What supplies or materials do I need?

    You'll get access to a PDF file that lists everything you need for the course as soon as you sign up.