I was so thrilled to run across these pigments in the medina of Chefchaouen. I spoke with the shop owner as best I could in broken French and he assured me (I think) that they can be mixed with any kind of paint, acrylic, oil, even water. And from what I understood, the pigments are made from plants, although which plants remain a mystery.
Naturally, I had to buy some for my own use to see how well they perform. The bright blue, second from the right is “Chefchaouen blue,” the pigment that covers the alleys and buildings of the medina. You can buy them in larger quantities by weight or in tubs, but I could not resist these mini glass vials with rubber stoppers.
While I don’t know the exact ingredients in these pigments, I did learn that you can buy dry pigments similar to these at art stores back home. But ouch, they are super expensive. I bought the pigments above, plus several medium-sized tubs for about $3 total. Sometimes, Morocco can be really great.
Looking forward to trying these out in the next few weeks.
Maybe another trip to Chefchaouen to stock up before you go back?? Maybe you need a driver?
I will definitely need a driver.
I bought a pigment while in morocco that was red when dry and turned blue with water. I’m hoping to get more but I’m not sure what it’s called. Would you happen to know? Thanks!
Charlotte, I’ve been on a blog break so I’m just now seeing this. I’m sorry, but I do not know what it is called. Sounds fascinating though. I’d love to see the results.