Burnt Sienna | Matisse Studio acrylic paint

Burnt Sienna | Matisse Studio acrylic paint

The origins of Burnt Sienna remain somewhat mysterious, but what we do know is that it was first developed in Italy and became and essential pigment during the Renaissance. While earth pigments have been used since pre historic times, only the natural yellow, red, and brown oxides date back that far. The transformation of these raw earths through heat—giving us colours like Burnt Sienna—is a relatively recent innovation, becoming a staple of the artist’s palette over the past five centuries. Raw Sienna, the pigment from which Burnt Sienna is derived, was initially regarded as a lower-grade yellow and used sparingly in Roman times. However, its roasted counterpart gained immense popularity, leading to the depletion of original deposits by the 1940s. Today, the pigment is sourced primarily from Sardinia, Sicily, and the U.S., with much of Raw Sienna mined specifically for Burnt Sienna production.

To create Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna is carefully heated in kilns, a process that removes water from its iron hydroxide structure, transforming it into iron oxide. This controlled roasting enables pigment makers to produce a range of hues, from soft orange to deep reddish-brown. A highly versatile earth pigment, Burnt Sienna is prized for its balanced undertones, making it excellent for colour mixing. When tinted with Titanium White, it takes on a warm orange-brown, ideal for portrait work, particularly in rendering natural skin and hair tones. It also serves as a subtle neutralizer, softening greens in landscapes and enhancing earth tones with warmth—an indispensable blending colour in any artist’s palette.

Safety Data Sheet for Matisse STUDIO Burnt Sienna (SDS)

To view or download a copy SDS, please  CLICK HERE * (271kb)  
*The above link will open an external Dropbox window