Natural pigments and inks have been in use throughout history, from cave art to contemporary artists. My interest in natural pigments began when I discovered how many toxins are in manufactured paints and inks. Most shop bought paints have chemical fillers & preservatives, including, Lead, Arsenic and Mercury, volatile organic compounds that can damage the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, skin irritations and breathing disorders. These paints are cleaned with spirits that are washed back into our water supply, rivers and oceans.