Poços de Caldas Umber
 
The Joules & Joules Poços de Caldas Umber Oil Stick is produced from the monobasic oil paint Poços de Caldas Umber, derived from natural earths from the city of Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The formulation carefully incorporates beeswax and carnauba wax, promoting uniform surface drying while maintaining a creamy yet firm interior consistency—ideal for transparent layers and the gradual construction of tonal values. The result is a dark, earthy, matte brown with pronounced transparency, low tinting strength, and delicate coverage, providing subtlety and depth in shadows and backgrounds.
 
The pigment, identified as NBr 8, exhibits excellent physicochemical stability, Class I lightfastness, and long-term durability. Its granular texture preserves the natural mineral character, allowing for gradual layering and refined control of hues. When mixed with white, it reveals a neutral, grayish brown reminiscent of classic earth tones such as Cassel Earth or genuine Van Dyke Brown.
 
Historically, earth pigments such as hematite, goethite, and magnetite have been used since Prehistory and became firmly established in Renaissance painting due to their stability, availability, and affordability. In modern manufacturing, these pigments undergo rigorous grinding and purification processes, ensuring purity and resistance to degradation, distinguishing them from less stable organic pigments.
 
The Joules & Joules Poços de Caldas Umber Oil Stick combines geological tradition with technical rigor, offering artists an authentic, durable, and versatile pigment capable of faithfully reproducing the chromatic richness of Brazilian earths in contemporary works—especially in glazing techniques and subtle shadow modeling.
 
Pigment Classification
Natural Inorganic
 
Chemical Composition
–
 
Color Index
NBr 8
 
Binder
Cold-Pressed Linseed Oil and Cold-Pressed Safflower Oil
 
Stabilizers
Beeswax and Carnauba Wax
 
Transparency / Opacity
Transparent
 
Lightfastness
I (Excellent)
 
Tinting Strength
Low
 
Drying Time
Fast (for more information, please visit our website)
 
Notes
Excellent permanence in all media.
 
Toxicity
Not considered toxic; however, ingestion, contact with eyes, and prolonged skin contact should be avoided.
 
MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)
Available on the website here.
 
Series
3
 
Availability
16 ml and 80 ml oil sticks.