
Book of Earth
A Guide to Ochre, Pigment, and Raw Color
Heidi Gustafson(Author)
Abrams (Publisher)
Published on 25. May 2023
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-1-4197-6465-3 (ISBN)
Description
Art meets science in this guide to creating colour with earth's extraordinary pigments and understanding their uses throughout history
Part anthropological study, part art book, and part how-to, Book of Earth immerses you in the world of ochre, a naturally occurring mineral used to make pigment. Each chapter explores Gustafson's rare pigment archive and provides a thorough exploration of color. The book also includes practical advice and techniques for creating your own pigments, alongside projects to apply your new skill set.
Called the "ochre whisperer" by American Craft, and noted as the "woman archiving the world's ochre," in the New York Times, Heidi Gustafson collaborated with Jason Logan on Abrams' bestselling book Make Ink. She is featured in Logan's upcoming documentary, The Colour of Ink, as the ochre-ista. Her personal archive of more than 400 pigments from around the globe is a unique treasure, and her passion and field experience will captivate you from the first page to the last.
Part anthropological study, part art book, and part how-to, Book of Earth immerses you in the world of ochre, a naturally occurring mineral used to make pigment. Each chapter explores Gustafson's rare pigment archive and provides a thorough exploration of color. The book also includes practical advice and techniques for creating your own pigments, alongside projects to apply your new skill set.
Called the "ochre whisperer" by American Craft, and noted as the "woman archiving the world's ochre," in the New York Times, Heidi Gustafson collaborated with Jason Logan on Abrams' bestselling book Make Ink. She is featured in Logan's upcoming documentary, The Colour of Ink, as the ochre-ista. Her personal archive of more than 400 pigments from around the globe is a unique treasure, and her passion and field experience will captivate you from the first page to the last.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
Full-color images throughout
Dimensions
Height: 282 mm
Width: 208 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
1150 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4197-6465-3 (9781419764653)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2023
Abrams
€25.99
Available for download
Complete work / Part of the work

Book
10/2025
Skittledog
€24.00
No shipping information available
Person
Heidi Gustafson is an artist and ochre specialist with an archive of more than 400 pigments collected from across the globe. She is a frequent collaborator with artists, award-winning scientists, paleontologists, and other experts. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.