Each unique driftwood palette is suspended by a velvet ribbon and includes a twig paintbrush. The palette is approximately 4.5” long and contains 5 natural pigment colors that were sustainably gathered, processed, and made into paint 100% start to finish by me. These hand-crafted watercolors were made with sustainably harvested natural pigments from the central Vermont area.
 
Here’s a little more about the colors you will find in the palette:
 
Charcoal: This deep, shimmering black comes from charcoal gathered with intention from a community fire circle in Ripton, Vermont. Charcoal from fires like these have been used by people to create art since the dawn of time. This watercolor provides a dark value within the palette and a reminder of the grounding, ancient ties between people and the earth.
 
Homegrown Indigo: A cool mesmerizing blue, this indigo comes straight from my own garden. Growing, harvesting, and transforming indigo into pigment is a long process, but the results are worth the effort, which is why this ancient pigment remains popular even in today's commercially manufactured paints.
 
Buckthorn Lake: This color comes from the berries of the Buckthorn plant and was harvested near the shore of Lake Champlain. This surprisingly vibrant green pigment has a rich history of use since the Middle Ages. Buckthorn is considered an invasive species in Vermont, and the berries can actually harm the birds who eat them. By harvesting the berries and turning them into color, you're not only making beautiful art; you're contributing to the protection of local wildlife.
 
Goldenrod: Harvested during late summer from the trails around central Vermont, this goldenrod yellow brings a touch of warmth and sunshine, even in the depths of winter. Its color is like little drops of sunlight, preserved for you to appreciate year-round.
 
Red Ochre: This earthy burnt red comes from rock gathered from a muddy hillside several springs ago. The redish color is due to the presence of iron oxide, a kind of rust within the rock. Grinding pigments like these is an exciting process, as the tiny quartz crystals within the rock makes this a very loud experience! The result is a beautiful warm brown that rounds out the colors in this palette.
 
The lightfastness of each color will vary, and colors may shift over time. Cracking or other imperfections in the cakes are part of the handmade character of these paints, and will not affect their performance. They are from nature, but do not eat them; nature produces both poisons and balms.
 
Questions? Don't hesitate to message me--I'm a real human on the other side of this device!
-Mira