DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolour Paint, Enviro-Friendly Red Iron Oxide 15ml — granulating, permanent

DANIEL SMITH Enviro-Friendly Red Iron Oxide is an extra-fine, granulating red-brown watercolour in a 15ml tube made from recovered iron oxide for rich, permanent colour with responsible sourcing.

DANIEL SMITH’s Extra Fine Watercolours are formulated for artists who want exceptional pigment strength, permanence, and predictable handling. The Enviro-Friendly Red Iron Oxide offers a warm brick-red at full strength and a transparent, earthy rose in washes. Like all DANIEL SMITH watercolours, this 15ml tube is milled with pure gum arabic—no fillers—so you get a concentrated paint that reactivates easily and performs consistently across washes, glazing, and granulating techniques.

How does Enviro-Friendly Red Iron Oxide look and behave on paper?

This colour reads as a dense brick-red when applied thickly and becomes a warm, transparent rose in diluted washes. It granulates, creating subtle texture as pigment particles settle into paper valleys, and it is semi-transparent which makes layering and glazes straightforward without muddying.

• Full-strength: deep red-brown with a bluish undertone.
• Light washes: warm, earthy rose tones suitable for skin and blushes.
• Granulation: creates organic texture in landscapes and geological features.
• Transparency: ideal for glazing and layered mixes.

What makes this pigment "enviro-friendly" and how does that affect quality?

Enviro-Friendly pigments are produced from iron oxide recovered through Iron Oxide Recovery (IOR), a process that cleans mine water by removing coloured iron oxides and refining them for pigment use. The reclaimed material is thoroughly washed and processed to meet the same performance standards as other DANIEL SMITH pigments, delivering a stable, lightfast colour without compromising handling or permanence.

• Source: reclaimed iron oxides reclaimed from mine water via IOR.
• Processing: cleaned and milled to pure pigment standards.
• Performance: matches industry lightfastness and permanence expectations.
• Environmental benefit: reduces polluted runoff and gives minerals a second life.

How does this colour mix and pair with other paints?

Enviro-Friendly Red Iron Oxide is a reliable mixing pigment: it tints cleanly and produces muted, earthy mixtures that are useful for natural shadows, skin undertones, and vintage palettes. Its semi-transparent nature keeps mixes luminous, while granulation adds visual interest to mixed passages.

• Mixes well with blues for subdued purples and warm shadows.
• Combines with greens and yellows to produce natural ochres and muted earth tones.
• Works as a subtle alternative to cadmium-type hues for warm browns.
• Retains granulation when mixed, adding texture to layered work.

How do I use and store the 15ml tube for best results?

Use a damp brush to pick up paint directly from the squeezed tube for strong chroma or dilute on a palette for transparent washes. Store capped in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; the small 15ml tube preserves freshness and is easy to carry for plein-air work.

• Application: brush straight from tube for intense colour, or pre-mix with water for washes.
• Storage: keep cap secured and store at moderate room temperature.
• Reactivation: fully dry paint re-wets reliably due to pure gum arabic binder.
• Portability: 15ml size convenient for travel and limited palettes.

Who is this for: Artists seeking an earth-conscious, professional-grade red-brown that offers reliable lightfastness, pleasing granulation, and versatile mixing behavior. Whether you’re a plein-air painter, portraitist, or mixed-media artist, this DANIEL SMITH 15ml tube delivers concentrated pigment performance with an environmentally mindful origin.