Check Out the Fantastic Library of Natural Ochre Pigments

Heidi Gustafson, an artist and researcher from Washington, does an incredible work foraging, processing, and cataloging natural mineral samples for the Early Futures Ochre Archive. The samples vary in color based on their elemental structure, which Gustafson uses to create artistic compositions that celebrate the colors of nature.

These materials have broad applications, from medicine to art, and Gustafson often considers the possible uses when she adds it to her collection. Her work includes recording where a particular ochre is from, who sourced it, where it is and where it can be used, etc. “More importantly, I build a relationship to the materials,” she tells This is Colossal. “I’m trying to understand their unique behaviors, the microbial communities they host and support, their tonal ranges, their historical uses, and many other diverse features.”

Scroll down to see how it all looks and follow Gustafson on Instagram for more.