in-person craftsmanship

Gemstone Paint-Making Atelier – Studio Experience

Discover the lost art of making your own gemstone paints by hand. In this immersive Masterclass, participants explore how artists of the Renaissance created color from raw stones. Under the guidance of De Mairo Studio artists, you’ll grind, mull, and mix pigments such as Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Red Jasper, and Yellow Jasper into pure watercolor paints — the same materials once used by Fra Angelico and Michelangelo.This class is both educational and deeply creative. Whether you’re a professional artist or an absolute beginner, you’ll leave with a set of handmade gemstone paints, your finished artwork, and a new appreciation for the connection between nature and art.
Location

De Mairo Studio

Starting date

29th Aug
11 a.m - 3 p.m

Location

Art & Class Studio Perth Ontario

Starting date

Sat 22nd Aug
11 a.m - 3 p.m

Duration

3–4
Hours, single session

Max group size 

10
All Levels welcome

What You'll Experience

From history lesson to finished artwork.

Learn

An introduction to natural mineral pigments and their place in Renaissance art, from Fra Angelico's blues to Michelangelo's palette.

Grind & Mull

Combine raw gemstone pigment with our gum arabic binder and mull it properly on glass, by hand

Mix & Layer

Adjust consistency and build new shades of your own by mixing and layering the four gemstone colours.

Paint

Test your paints on watercolour paper and create a finished piece with the colours you made.
In the Workshop
  • All genuine gemstone pigments
  • Gum arabic watercolour binder
  • Glass muller & paint-making tools
  • Watercolour paper, brushes & mixing materials
  • Refreshments
  • Guided instruction by De Mairo Studio artists
You Take Home
  • Your own handmade gemstone watercolour paints
  • A finished artwork you created
  • A Gemstone Paint-Making Certificate
  • A deeper understanding of natural pigments
Make colour from the earth itself.
One afternoon. Four legendary gemstones. A finished piece made with paint you mixed by hand. Class size is kept small — once it's full, it's full.
A Lost Tradition, Brought Back to Life

Colour that comes from stone, not a tube.

Experience an immersive hands-on workshop

where every participant transforms raw gemstones into professional artist paints using centuries-old techniques.

Discover the ancient art of transforming Lapis Lazuli, 

Malachite, Red Jasper, and other natural minerals into luminous handmade watercolours cherished by master artists for centuries.
Learn the traditional methods once practiced by Renaissance painters, manuscript illuminators, and master artisans, carefully adapted for today's artists.
Master Historic Techniques

Why This Masterclass Is Unlike Any Other

Experience the rare opportunity to create professional watercolour paints from genuine gemstones using traditional techniques preserved by master artists for centuries.

Create Paints from Real Gemstones

Learn the complete process of grinding, washing, mulling, and binding genuine Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Red Jasper, and Yellow Jasper into vibrant, archival-quality watercolours.

Hands-On Studio Experience

Work with authentic artist tools including a glass muller, grinding slab, Gum Arabic, natural binders, and professional equipment in a fully guided workshop.

Learn from Traditional Masters

Receive expert instruction rooted in historical research, combining centuries-old artistic knowledge with practical studio techniques you can continue using at home.
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  • No prior experience required
  • Premium materials provided
  • Small interactive class sizes
  • Take home your handmade gemstone paints
  • Printed workshop guide
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Lifetime access to course resources (if applicable)

Continue Your Journey into Traditional Arts

Learning doesn't end with a single masterclass. Explore our growing collection of educational resources, research articles, tutorials, and advanced courses designed to deepen your understanding of historical pigments, traditional craftsmanship, and classical painting techniques.

Expand Your Artistic Knowledge

Discover in-depth guides on natural pigments, Gum Arabic, historical binders, manuscript illumination, Renaissance techniques, colour history, and artist materials through our educational library.

Continue with Advanced Masterclasses

Build on your skills through our specialised workshops covering gemstone pigments, natural inks, handmade watercolours, botanical colours, and traditional artist materials.
The Gemstones

Four stones. Four legendary colours.

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Lapis Lazuli

Spec. 01
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Malachite

Spec. 02
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Red Jasper

Spec. 03
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Yellow Jasper

Spec. 04
created by

Irfan Qureshi

25+ years reviving Renaissance-era pigment-making by hand, sourcing genuine lapis lazuli from the Sar-e-Sang mines of Badakhshan. Every session is guided personally.
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