Earth Tones

Still Life (tempura on board and oil paint)

Earth pigments are derived from naturally occurring minerals containing metal oxides and have been used since prehistoric times. Most earth pigments get their color from iron, found abundantly in the earth's crust in a variety of tones. Ochers are the best known and most widely used. Hematite is a red iron oxide used to create ochers ranging from red-orange to red-violet. Geothite yields yellow ochers, and mixed with small amounts of maganese oxide produces brown tones such as sienna and umber. Manganese oxide by itself in higher concentrations gives us black. The Paleolithic caves in the valleys of France and Spain, Lascaux, Pech-Merle, and Altamira, are among the earliest examples of art with earth pigments.

Cave Painting in Lascaux

https://www.ancient.eu/image/3539/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigment

Thanks for reading! :)