this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
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Cool Rocks

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Minerals are cool, too.

Be gneiss to each other.

Please use posts for your rocks. Feel free to add more pictures and links to articles in the post text.

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I don't know what kind, specifically. Ochre covers a wide range of natural earth pigments with different compositions, but usually iron-rich.

I dig this stuff out of cracks in the Canadian Shield for paint pigments. It's naturally colourfast and very close to, if not a little less pure than what's used in commercial paint.

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Do you make your own paint then? If so, what do you use for binder? Very cool.

[–] calliope@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I am not OP, I just think they’re cool (and have quiet enthusiasm for their project).

Oh hell yeah they do, they have a whole palette of handmade colors! It’s been really cool to watch on the art alchemist’s guild!

It’s been absolutely mind-blowing to see the progress.

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Holy shit what a wonderful thing to hear on a monday. Thank you.

[–] calliope@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Genuinely my pleasure! Thank you for sharing your work and interests.

I hadn’t seen the blueberry paint yet (I forgot to subscribe on this account!) and it looks absolutely beautiful

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh yeah, the blueberry is amazing, it ends up lavender on unbleached paper. I made so much I gave pans to a bunch of friends. Highly recommend.

I just want to inspire people to make more art.

[–] calliope@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You’re doing a wonderful job! I find you a pretty constant inspiration, I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I seriously love that community, it’s probably my favorite one on the fediverse. I love seeing people make and share art (and art supplies it seems!)

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 2 points 2 months ago

Well now I'm glowing. I hope you share anything you happen to make.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I was going to thank you for a new community, but I was already subscribed. I need to check my subscribed more often, that is an awesome community.

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 3 points 2 months ago

Thank you :)

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 4 points 2 months ago

Just realized I forgot to answer your question. I either use acrylic medium or I made a watercolour mix with gum arabic as the binder..

[–] Suck_on_my_Presence@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh wow, digging it out of the Canadian shield? I really want some geologist thoughts on that. The Canadian shield is one of the oldest hunks of rock on earth and it contains some banded iron formations - which are kinda records that help us understand what earth was like in the earliest stages. Very cool!

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 6 points 2 months ago

I'm no geologist but I live on the shield, and it's extremely fascinating. It's so tough that many house foundations are built around it rather than break through it, so I literally have some Precambrian rock sticking into my basement. I use it as a shelf.

The main site where I dig out ochre, which I'm assuming is an iron band, is just a few minutes walk from where I live.

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 4 points 2 months ago

Doesnt even look like rocks. Very cool.