Raw Sienna | Matisse Studio acrylic paint

Raw Sienna | Matisse Studio acrylic paint

Over millions of years, Raw Sienna’s rich, warm tones emerged, shaped by geological processes dating back to the Precambrian era. Early cave painters, working on raw stone surfaces, likely found Raw Sienna’s deeper tone advantageous in certain lighting conditions, whereas a lighter Yellow Oxide might have been more suitable elsewhere. Regardless, all these shades were broadly considered Yellow Oxide. The most famous source of Raw Sienna was the Italian deposits near Siena, giving rise to its historical name, Terra di Siena. These deposits, mined since antiquity, were eventually depleted by the 1940s, with modern sources shifting to Sardinia, Sicily, and parts of the U.S. 

Since natural pigments display inherent variations, the line between Raw Sienna and Yellow Oxide is often blurred, leading Matisse to classify its Raw Sienna as PY43—the standard designation for Yellow Oxide. However, Matisse Studio Raw Sienna is still deeper and browner than traditional Yellow Oxide, embodying the warm golden-brown tones found abundantly in nature. Artists often select this colour it for its light earthy warmth, and versatility in blending.

It harmonizes beautifully with Burnt Sienna and the Umbers, forming the foundation of many earthy tones. Its versatility is remarkable: when combined with Cad yellow hue, it evokes golden wheat fields; with pthalo green, it creates deep olive greens; and with Magenta Light, it produces an unexpected yet stunning warm pinkish-tan. Used for over 30,000 years, Raw Sienna continues to be as vital and inspiring to contemporary artists as it was to the painters of the past.

Safety Data Sheet for Matisse STUDIO Raw Sienna (SDS)

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