Click on a pigment to enlarge.

This is natural color made from colorful natural stone which is manually ground into fine powder. Traditionally, this natural color was much in vogue prior to the mass production and marketing of modern color paints based on chemicals. The traditional artists used to produce their own paints and pigments and even today a lot of traditional artists still use these natural stone pigments for their paintings because of its distinct and unique quality and durability. Painting done with natural pigments last ages (Centuries and Millennium) without any flaking and discoloration. On account of its unique and distinctive quality, it still remains the favorite among much of the arts in Nepal and other Asian countries.

Due to the scarcity and difficulty of the availability of the natural stone pigments and the cumbersome method of production on one hand and the easy availability of modern chemical colors on the other hand, the natural color was much neglected and forgotten. The stone pigment (Natural Color) is now again making a comeback and art enthusiasts and discerning artists still continue the use of this traditional stone pigment in their painting because of its unmatched and distinctive quality.