"Borne from native New Zealand flora, volcanic ash, clay-earth, gemstone, and algae.
Refined with patience, care, and dedication.
Discover the exquisite artistry of our organic, artist-grade pigments."
As my art journey progressed, I often found myself surrounded by pigments, powders, inks, and a myriad of mediums and binders, while seldom reaching for pre-made paints any longer. I'd develop unique mixtures throughout each project, refining them to exhibit desired behaviours and distinctive characteristics tailored to my specific needs.
Over time, I noticed a pattern emerging—a handful of similar concoctions would evolve to repeatedly grace my artistic endeavours. To preserve these elixirs, I repurposed empty bottles, cherishing their contents like relics of profound value.
Gradually, I curated a tiny collection of these vessels that held my arcane blends. They were treated as cherished artifacts, revered and almost sacred, for the precise ratios that once birthed their enchantment had faded into the mists of memory.
But as I looked across my small collection of desperately depleting elixirs, I considered the dominance of certain companies in the art/paint supplies market. And how, with some background in fine art, I discovered that more cost-effective and vastly superior alternatives are available.
This realisation led me to contemplate the idea of finding a wonderful, organic and ethically driven New Zealand-based company and embarking on a journey to create our own limited palette of artist-grade concoctions, tailored to suit my distinct dark preferences.
Although the art supply market is saturated, I feel that it fails to adequately serve artists, and many of us are currently being overcharged and underserved, with cheap chemicals that don't truly fulfill our needs.
In pursuit of expressing the essence of the land, I recognised that paintings rooted in the concept of place must also embrace the inherent qualities of the materials used. Hence, I embarked on experimenting with unrefined pigments, celebrating their unique character, translucence, and texture.
Additionally, I turned my attention to the flora that graces our landscapes.
I delved into the possibilities offered by Phormium tenax, commonly known as Harekeke or the New Zealand flax plant, berries and roots.
These spirits of our unique ecosystem hold deep cultural significance. All provided a captivating array of colours to explore and incorporate into my artistic endeavours.
Finally, the repeated lone figure — representing the observer or human consciousness—stands as a symbol of the personal.
It never felt like I placed myself in the art; rather, these are emotional landscapes of my post-existence.
The fear of my non-existence, now significant to others, even when I mattered so little to myself, permeates these creations.
Lastly, the lone figure—perhaps representing the observer or consciousness—stands as a symbol of the personal.
It doesn't feel like me, but rather a post-existence landscape. The fear of my non-existence, now significant to others, contrasts with my minimal self-worth.
Finally the repeated lone figure. You .. me... the personal, the observer, the consciousness.
I never felt like it was me there, more like a landscape of after. The fear of my non-exsistence that now mattered to others, even when i mattered so little to myself.
Through cultivating connections with local artisans in New Zealand, I have uncovered some exquisite organic pigment sources. These sources encompass a rich tapestry of native plants, volcanic ash, mineral clays, and gemstones. The colours derived from these materials possess a captivating dynamism, aligned with Nature's ebb and flow, ingredients may slightly evolve as seasons come and go. The creation of these solutions is a labour of love, demanding meticulous care and patience. As a result, the availability of these emulsions remains limited, as I conscientiously seek out and prepare the specific pigments in small quantities.
The process itself is an arduous journey. It involves the lengthy tasks of locating suitable mineral deposits, grinding, and combining various pigments with different binders. Extensive testing is then conducted on diverse surfaces and canvases, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how these pigments perform. This laborious process is harmonized by creating artworks that feature simple, repetitive imagery. This approach not only allows for an exploration of the pigments' characteristics but also facilitates meaningful comparisons between them.
In my pursuit of capturing the essence of the land, I recognized that paintings rooted in the concept of place must also embrace the inherent qualities of the materials used. Hence, I embarked on experimenting with unrefined pigments, celebrating their unique character, translucence, and texture.
Additionally, I turned my attention to the flora that graces our landscapes. I delved into the possibilities offered by Phormium tenax, commonly known as Harekeke or the New Zealand flax plant, as well as Ulex europaeus, more commonly referred to as gorse. The former holds deep cultural significance as an indigenous plant, while the latter was introduced to our shores and initially cultivated for hedging purposes. Both provided a captivating array of colours to explore and incorporate into my artistic endeavours.
Earth Colours and Organic Pigments
The NATURAL EARTH AND OCHER pigments encompass a spectrum of hues derived solely from the Earth itself. These pigments give rise to gentle, partially translucent shades, revealing nuanced undertones when blended with opaque foundations. While their tinting power may not rival that of our Oxide pigments in terms of strength or opacity, their colours possess an unmatched quality that eludes artificial counterparts.
Carefully and responsibly sourced by hand, these pigments originate from quarries and mountain ranges scattered across the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. Moreover, they are non-toxic, ensuring a safe and conscientious artistic experience.
FALLEN EARTH | PARU HĀMATE
FALLEN | Hāmate
This woody ,warm and comforting accord of vetiver, patchouli and animalistic musk.
Uprooted moss, wet dirt and vetiver roots. Burnt car tires on hot asphalt and dry patchouli. Heavy slow-drying oil painting. Ancient alpine fir, footsteps in frozen grass and salt liquorice. Dirty leather, animalistic musk and ammonia.
Handmade in Aotearoa.
9 ml/0.3 oz
Fallen is a duo of natural earth pigments.
Very good lightfastness.
Umber Dark
Pigment Type:
Natural Earth and Ocher pigments are composed entirely of natural colours. Due to their semi-transparent properties, they may not impart as intense of a tint as manufactured Oxides when used in opaque mediums like plasters or white paints.
Composition:
Natural Loam PBr7
Chemical Formula:
Fe203, nH2O, AI203 MnO2 & Si
SPECIFICATIONS
Contains pigment, gum arabic, honey, glycerin and clove oil.
FORSAKEN APOTHECARY formulations are mulled by hand, and poured and dried 2-4 times. The process takes about 2-3 weeks.
DISPAIR | MARUĀPŌ
Maruāpō is inspired by Aotearoa's deep connection with the spiritual and ancestral, intertwined with our sacred lands. It resonates with the ancient forests, sentinel mountain ranges, and boundless ocean while embracing the serenity discovered in solitude. We are not distinct from 'nature'; rather, our essence is indivisible, and this demands reverent introspection.
Abyssal born, dark whispers our soulful tie,
Wild atmosphere's essence, where spirits fly.
Harsh wind, indomitable sea, light snow's grace,
Ancient forests, solitude, soul's sacred space.
Handmade in New Zealand.
9 ml/0.3 oz
Maruāpō is a semi-translucent deep indigo, blue shade. In the vein of a Paynes grey.
Slight drying shift, semi-granulating, color separation wet on wet, excellent lightfastness.
Custom made iron oxide Rare - not available anywhere else.
A triple pigment combination. Indigo, Slate and Black Iron Oxide.
Pigment: Slate
Colour Index: PBk19
Hiding power: Opaque
Lightfastness: Good
Pigment: Indigo
Colour Index: VB1
Hiding power: Transparent
Lightfastness: Moderate
Pigment: Black Iron Oxide
Colour Index: Pigment Black 11 (77499)
Hiding power: Transparent
Lightfastness: Good
SPECIFICATIONS
Contains pigment, gum arabic, honey, glycerin and clove oil.
FORSAKEN APOTHECARY formulations are mulled by hand, and poured and dried 2-4 times. The process takes about 2-3 weeks.
CINDER | PUNGAREHU
Pungarehu
PUNGAREHU is inspired by Aotearoas' volcanic history.
Weathered garden chairs stacked against the wall
A flower pot filled with rain and cigarette butts
sits on the uprooted pavement now swallowed by chervil
Echoes of a nearby party
Fingers digging up sorrel and dandelions
Freshly fallen snow
On a forgotten trampoline
Black currants fall from bare branches, one by one
Smoky and addictive with notes of Anis seed, black pepper, tobacco seeds and native Sitka spruce.
Smoke in the air and tarred telephone poles, tall freshly mowed grass, and tobacco leaves. Dead flowers bow to the ground. In the breeze, the feminine fountain pine tickles the top of your skull. A beached whale is about to explode.
Handmade in New Zealand.
9 ml/0.3 oz
Cinder is a lovely dusty rose. Opaque.
A custom made iron oxide.
Excellent Lightfastness
SPECIFICATIONS
Contains pigment, gum arabic, honey, glycerin and clove oil.
FORSAKEN APOTHECARY formulations are mulled by hand, and poured and dried 2-4 times. The process takes about 2-3 weeks.
Colours may vary due to screen specifications, settings, camera lighting, and application.
TANIWHA
Taniwha is a combination pigment.
Opaque qualities and lightfast.
Chromium Oxide Green and Black Iron Oxide.
SPECIFICATIONS
Contains pigment, gum arabic, honey, glycerin and clove oil.
FORSAKEN APOTHECARY formulations are mulled by hand, and poured and dried 2-4 times. The process takes about 2-3 weeks.
Colours may vary due to screen specifications, settings, camera lighting, and application.
AMBIENCE
This fresh tone features bursts of tart rhubarb, citrus notes and crisp pine.
Crushing fresh flower stalks against hot asphalt. Mouth full of lemon candy and fingers sticky with motor oil. Stolen rhubarb from a neighbour's garden, peeled, slathered in honey, and chewed on. Orange cake crumble in the pocket of freshly washed clothes. Antarctic wind blowing through hair in a damp pine forest.
Ambience is a triple combination pigment.
Very good lightfastness
SPECIFICATIONS
Contains pigment, gum arabic, honey, glycerin and clove oil.
FORSAKEN APOTHECARY formulations are mulled by hand, and poured and dried 2-4 times. The process takes about 2-3 weeks.
Colours may vary due to screen specifications, settings, camera lighting, and application.
Andrew Carvae, CARVAE, Carvae art, carvae artist, ΛNDREW CARVΛÉ, Λndrew Carvʌé,
new zealand art, new zealand artist, Tauranga, Tauranga fine art, tauranga artist, paint, watercolour, watercolour, mediums, earth pigments,
Fine art, Figurative painting, figurativism , Expressionist painting, Oil painting, Expressionism, Traditional brush, Impasto, Abstract techniques, large canvases, abstract art,
dark art, morbid art, gothic art, goth artist, suffering, emotional art, human dignity, Beauty, Dignity, Mortality, Loss, Pain, fine art Tauranga, modern art NZ, fine artist NZ,
" BORNE FROM NATIVE NEW ZEALAND FLORA, VOLCANIC ASH, CLAY-EARTH, GEMSTONES, AND ALGAE.
REFINED WITH UNWAVERING PATIENCE, CARE, AND DEDICATION "