Natural Earth Paint began in the studio of artist Leah Fanning. In 2009, she was preparing for a major solo exhibition when she discovered that she was expecting her first child. She wanted to continue painting, but began looking for alternatives to the conventional paints, solvents and primers she had used until then.
Her search took her back to the origins of colour. Inspired by cave paintings and the working methods of the Old Masters, Leah went out into nature with a trowel and a bag to collect coloured earth and pigments. She explored how these pigments could be combined with natural binders to make paint with depth, luminosity and a character of its own. Natural Earth Paint grew from that research.
The first products grew from Leah’s own need for thoughtfully formulated artists’ materials and paint for her child. From that foundation, Natural Earth Paint developed into a collection for children, families, schools and artists.
Earth and mineral pigments are the recognisable source of colour throughout the brand. From this foundation, Natural Earth Paint develops materials for different ways of working. Children’s paint is mixed with water, face paint is specially formulated for use on the skin, and artists combine loose pigments with a suitable binder for their chosen painting technique.
Natural Earth Paint operates from Southern Oregon in the United States. According to the brand, its office and production facility run entirely on solar power. Depending on the product, its packaging includes post-consumer recycled materials, home-compostable pigment pouches and recyclable glass and aluminium. Boxes for the kits are produced in a wind-powered facility.
These choices show that the brand’s attention to the earth extends beyond the origin of its colours. Natural Earth Paint continues to develop new materials while seeking a balance between practical use, colour quality and carefully selected ingredients.
Natural Earth Paint has a brand story that is directly connected to the products: colour begins with earth and minerals and is turned into paint by the user. Customers receive not only a creative material, but also an insight into where colour can come from and how paint is made.
The collection ranges from accessible children’s paint kits to face paint and specialist materials for artists. This allows the brand to speak to different creative audiences without losing its recognisable origins. The warm pigment colours, the making process and Leah Fanning’s story provide clear and concrete ways to introduce the products in store.
