Graphite

Graphite is a natural mineral pigment of crystalline carbon, supplied as a powder of fine graphite flakes. It gives a dark steel gray with a soft metallic sheen, is completely lightfast and chemically inert, and mixes with all other pigments. Use it for grays and blacks with a subtle luster in oil, acrylic, egg tempera, watercolor, gouache and fresco.

Key facts

• Color: dark steel gray to gray-black with a metallic sheen
• Pigment type: Natural mineral pigment (crystalline carbon)
• Colour Index: PBk10 (C.I. 77265)
• Composition: graphite, crystalline carbon, C
• Also known as: plumbago, black lead
• Opacity: opaque
• Lightfastness: 8 of 8 on the Blue Wool Scale (supplier data)
• Chemical resistance: alkali 5/5, lime 5/5, acid 5/5 (supplier data, 5 = best)
• Suitable for: oil, acrylic, egg tempera, watercolor, gouache, fresco (lime)
• Not recommended for: ceramics: graphite burns away when fired in air above about 700 °C
• Packaging: 25 g jar · 1 kg bag

How to use

Graphite takes time to disperse, so add the binder gradually and work the powder in with a palette knife or muller. In oil it absorbs a lot of oil (up to 120 g per 100 g, supplier data) and slightly slows drying, so expect longer drying times. For watercolor and gouache use gum arabic; a wetting agent such as ox gall can help the flakes take up water. For fresco, mix it with water.

About graphite

Graphite black has been used as a pigment since antiquity. In the 16th century a large deposit of very pure graphite was found at Borrowdale in Cumbria, England, and for a long time pencils were made from English natural graphite. The mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner named it in 1789 from the Greek graphein, "to write".

Safety

Prolonged, repeated breathing of graphite dust can cause lung disease (pneumoconiosis). Handle dry pigment with care: avoid breathing the dust and contact with eyes. Wear a dust mask (FFP2/N95) and gloves when working with the powder, work in a well-ventilated area and wipe up spills with a damp cloth. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working; wash your hands afterwards. Keep away from children and pets. For artistic and technical use only — not for cosmetics, food or tattoos.

FAQ

Is graphite the same as carbon black?

No. Graphite is crystalline carbon in flat flakes and gives a gray with a metallic sheen; carbon blacks such as lamp black are amorphous soot and give a deeper black without sheen.

Can I use graphite in fresco?

Yes. It is chemically inert and resists lime (5 of 5 in supplier tests), and the supplier lists it for fresco.

Is graphite lightfast?

Yes, completely. It is rated 8 of 8 on the Blue Wool Scale and does not change in light.