Tiger eye

Tiger eye is a natural golden-brown stone pigment powder ground from tiger's eye, a quartz gemstone colored by iron oxides. It gives semi-transparent golden yellow-browns that granulate in watercolor and suit glazes in oil, egg tempera, gouache and acrylic; as a lime-fast mineral it can also be used in fresco and plaster.

Key facts

• Color: golden yellow-brown
• Pigment type: Natural mineral pigment (ground gemstone)
• Composition: quartz, SiO₂, colored by iron oxide-hydroxide, FeO(OH)
• Also known as: tiger's eye, tigers eye
• Opacity: semi-transparent; granulates in watercolor
• 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), lime and cement plaster, ceramics
• Packaging: 50 g jar · 1 kg bag

How to use

Moisten the powder with a little binder first to keep dust down, then work it in with a palette knife or muller: linseed oil, egg yolk, gum arabic or acrylic medium. Avoid long dry grinding. In watercolor the particles settle into the paper texture and granulate; in oil the paint is semi-transparent and works best as a glaze over a light ground. For fresco, paste it with water and apply it to fresh lime plaster; it also suits lime and cement plaster and silicate binders (supplier data).

About tiger's eye

Tiger's eye is a fibrous variety of quartz. Iron oxides give it its golden-brown color, and its parallel fibrous structure creates the silky, moving shine of the polished stone, known as chatoyancy. Large deposits were discovered in South Africa in the 1880s. Ground to a powder, the stone gives a semi-transparent, granulating golden brown.

Safety

Tiger's eye consists mainly of crystalline silica (quartz): avoid breathing the dust. 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

How is tiger eye different from ochre?

Both owe their color to iron oxide-hydroxide, but tiger eye is ground quartz, so it is more transparent and granulates in watercolor, while ochre is a fine, iron-rich clay that covers more evenly.

Is tiger eye lightfast?

Yes. It is rated 8 of 8 on the Blue Wool Scale (supplier data); its color comes from iron oxides, like that of natural ochres.