WORDS FOR EARTH

“the world is mud-luscious....the world is puddle wonderful”

 -ee cummings

Oklahoma Red Dirt, Sandy Loam, 2010.

Earth pigments are the most stable of natural colors. They are often combined with the abundant palette of colors derived from plants and insects. Earth pigments are ochres or iron oxides and minerals. Colors from earth have been collected, mined and mixed to color our bodies, our architecture, and our cloth. Colors range depending on their origin of place and the methods of washing, extracting, heating and curing. Painting with earth pigments is often called mud painting. Mud of coarse is the combination of earth and water. Earth and Mud have many meanings. 

Earth Pigments and Minerals, 2010.

Words for Earth

LAND, GROUND, SOIL, DIRT, LOAM, CLAY,

HUMUS, TURF, EARTHINESS, SPICE, EARTHLY,

EARTHY, EARTHLINGS, TERRESTRIAL, TERRANE,

WORLDLY, TEMPORAL, BASE, SECULAR, EARTHY,

COARSE, ROBUST, LUSTY, SIMPLE, NATURAL,

UNREFINED, CRUDE, ROUGH, RIBALD, FUNKY,

DOWN TO EARTH, COME BACK TO EARTH,

THE EARTH MOVED, LAST DAY ON EARTH,

LIKE NOTHING ON EARTH, BETWEEN SKY & EARTH,

THE EARTH IS FLAT, GLOBE, PLANET, TERRA FIRMA,

FLOOR, UNDERGROUND, LAIR, HABITATION,

“FOX’S EARTH”, DEN, SET, BURROW, WARREN, HOLE,

RETREAT, SHELTER, HIDEOUT, HIDEAWAY.

Oklahoma Black Dirt, Silt Loam, 2010.

Words for Mud

MUCK, MUDDY, MIRE, OOZE, SLIME, DIRT,

MUDSLINGING, ASPERSION, DISCREDIT,

SMEAR, SLANDER, VILIFICATION, DEFAMATION,

MUCKRAKING, LIBEL, SCANDAL, SLOP, FILTH,

DUNG, COMPOST, SLUDGE, SEWAGE,  MUDDLE,

JUMBLE, MESS UP, MUSS, RUFFLE, PERPLEX, PUZZLE,

RATTLE, ROIL, TURBID, SEDIMENT, RUILER, TO MIX, 

MORTAR , TO STIR UP, TURBULENCE, DISTURB,

BEMIRED, BESPATTERED, BOGGY, MUDDIED, BEWILDERED,

SLUSHY, MARSHY, CONFUSE, SODDEN, MUDDLE-HEADED, 

BECLOUD, OBSCURE, DISORIENT, GRIME, STAIN,DUST,

BAWDINESS, SMUT, SOOT, SCUTTLEBUTT, DIRT-CHEAP,

UNCLEAN, SMUDGE, POLLUTE, STICK IN THE MUD,

MURKY, NAME IN THE MUD, DRAG THROUGH THE MUD,

CLEAR AS MUD, MUD BATHS, MUD MASKS, MUD SEASON.

Happy Earth Day Everyday, 22 April 2010:
http://www.earthday.org/

"The urge to create compels artists to continue working even in the face of poverty and obscurity...why?" by Pnina Granirer, Vancouver Observer, 30 March 2010:

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/methodscreation/2010/03/30/urge-create-compels-artists-continue-working-even-face-poverty-and

The Earth Pigments Company talks about their quarry in Europe and describes their process of extraction:

http://www.earthpigments.com/info/index.cfm?id=1