Natural Paintings by Rita Schwab

Paintings with Natural Pigmentation

Rita Schwab's Natural Pigmentation Earth Paintings are on hand-dyed raw canvas with natural pigments from berries, roots, flowers, barks and such. The pigmentations are totally organic and mordanted with alum to preserve the intense earthy colors. The surface design uses paints from plants as well as sand and soil, also some acrylics. They incorporate handwoven fabrics and hand-made papers all hand-made by the artist.

"Bamboo in a Vase" 20" x 32"

Naturally pigmented ‘paintings’ are usually on raw canvas. I work with the canvas before stretching it.

The canvas is manipulated in various ways:

It might be dyed with a natural pigment first such as a marigold or a sumac berry extract.

The canvas might be left in the open for ‘nature forces’ to help along with the process such as staying with prickly pear cactus or walnut.

The canvas might be sown onto with other canvas or woven fibers.

Finally the canvas is painted with acrylics or oils and at last stretched for display.