Su Yu-Xin, a talented artist from Taiwan now living in Los Angeles, creates beautiful paintings using natural materials like pearls, crystals, volcanic dust, and meteorites, inspiring us to care for Earth and its stories. Instead of using store-bought paints, she lovingly crafts her own pigments, connecting her art to nature, memory, and the environment.
Su’s work is more than art—it’s a celebration of our planet’s rhythms and a call to respect it. As an artist, geologist, and storyteller, she invites us to rethink how we create and live, fostering harmony with nature and stronger communities.
The Landscape Artist Who Makes Her Paint From Pearls
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Su Yu-Xin |
| Location | Los Angeles, California (originally from Hualien, Taiwan) |
| Specialty | Handmade paints from pearls, volcanic dust, crystals, shells, meteorites |
| Paint Types | Over 200 custom pigments, all earth-sourced |
| Major Show | Searching the Sky for Gold — OCMA (2025) |
| Process | Grinding, purifying, labeling pigments by hand |
| Art Themes | Geology, ecology, colonial trade, ancestral memory |
| Official Website | Orange County Museum of Art |
Su Yu-Xin’s art teaches us that every color holds Earth’s memories, cultural meaning, and a call to protect our environment, inspiring care for our planet. Her handmade pigments, crafted from natural materials, tell stories of history, science, and love for nature. For those using artificial paints, Su’s work is a gentle reminder: you can create beauty using the world’s gifts. Her art encourages us to live in harmony with nature, strengthening communities through creativity and respect for our shared home.
Who Is Su Yu-Xin?
Su Yu-Xin, born in Hualien, Taiwan, a place of stunning coastlines and natural beauty, grew up surrounded by mountains, rivers, and the ever-changing sea, inspiring her to create art that honors Earth. This deep connection to nature shapes her vision, bringing hope and care to her work.
Now in Los Angeles, she transformed an old furniture factory into a pigment lab, crafting colors by hand from crystals, minerals, shells, pearls, and volcanic dust. Unlike most artists who use store-bought paints, Su’s handmade hues are a loving alchemy, reflecting respect for the planet and strengthening communities through creative, earth-friendly art.
Why Natural Pigments Matter
The Problem with Commercial Paint
Commercial paint is mass-produced and often contains the same limited color range. Think of it like going to a supermarket where every fruit tastes the same. For artists like Su, that wasn’t enough. “It’s like every chef using the same spices,” she once said.
Making Colors With Meaning
By creating her own pigments, Su ensures each color has a story. The turquoise in one canvas might come from powdered abalone shell; the gold, from ground pearls. Each pigment is labeled with the location it was gathered, the date, and the type of mineral—a kind of visual journal of Earth’s gifts.
How She Makes Her Paints
- Collecting Materials: Su travels to Taiwan, California, the Pacific Northwest, and more to gather raw material. She sources responsibly, avoiding over-harvesting. Materials include:
- Volcanic glass from Mount St. Helens
- Tourmaline from San Diego mines
- Meteorites bought from certified collectors
- Cinnabar, sulfur, and mica
- Grinding & Purification: Once back in her studio, Su grinds soft materials by hand using a mortar and pestle. Harder minerals are processed using specialized grinders. She then purifies each powder, removing unwanted debris.
- Blending and Binding: Pigments are blended with natural binders such as gum arabic (for watercolor) or linseed oil (for oil paints). She tests each color on paper, noting texture, opacity, and hue.
The Stories Behind the Colors
Su’s art tells stories about place, history, and memory. For example:
- Bleached coral pigment in her seascape series reflects climate change and ocean acidification.
- Red cinnabar links to both ancient Chinese empires and toxic mining practices.
- Tourmaline dust from the Pala mines in California ties back to gemstones favored by the Qing dynasty.
By grounding her work in physical geography, Su invites viewers to think about the broader ecological and political implications of materials.
Why It Matters
Educational Potential
Su’s work bridges science and art. It offers an educational blueprint for:
- Art teachers looking to explain geology and chemistry
- Students exploring earth science through creativity
- Artists wanting to break free from synthetic paint
Sustainability
Natural pigments are often more eco-friendly, durable, and lightfast than synthetic counterparts. But Su is careful: she prioritizes ethical sourcing and limited extraction.
A Return to Ritual
Grinding pigment is time-consuming. But Su says this “slow work” brings her closer to the material and gives her time to think. It’s meditative, respectful, ancestral.
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A Peek Into Her Studio
Inside Su’s L.A. studio, you’ll find rows of labeled pigment jars on reclaimed wood shelves. Sunlight streams through big industrial windows. A canvas-in-progress leans against one wall, shimmering with layers of micaceous sparkle and volcanic texture. This isn’t just a place to make art—it’s where science, spirit, and craft converge.
Su’s Museum Debut: Searching the Sky for Gold
From January to May 2025, Su will headline her first U.S. museum exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA). The show, Searching the Sky for Gold, features:
- Paintings made with volcanic pigments
- Curved canvases that mirror topographic maps
- Pigment charts that document each mineral’s story
OCMA says the show “redefines landscape painting in the Anthropocene,” connecting geological forces with modern environmental concerns.
For Artists & Educators: A Quick Guide to Getting Started
Tools You Need
- Mortar & pestle
- Sieve (fine mesh)
- Labels + airtight jars
- Natural binders (gum arabic, oil)
Steps to Try
- Collect a sample (with permission!)
- Crush it gently to test grindability
- Sift and purify
- Mix with binder and apply to paper
Start with natural, non-toxic materials like:
- Charcoal
- Chalk
- Clay soil
- Flower petals
FAQs
Q: Are handmade pigments safe to use?
A: Some are, but minerals like cinnabar (mercury sulfide) are toxic. Su wears gloves, masks, and works in a ventilated space.
Q: Can beginners make their own pigments too?
A: Absolutely. Start with soft materials like shells or charcoal. Avoid toxic minerals unless trained.
Q: Do natural pigments last as long as synthetic paints?
A: Yes! Earth-based pigments like ochre and ultramarine have been used for thousands of years.
Q: Is this method expensive?
A: It can be, especially if sourcing rare materials. But many pigments can be made from local rocks and minerals.
