Okay, so I just got my hands on this book about making art with literal dirt, and wow? Mind blown.

First off – the photos are STUNNING. Like, I didn’t know mud could look this glamorous? The author makes ochre look like haute couture. There’s something magical about seeing pigments from different landscapes (desert reds! forest ochres!) laid out like a geological candy store.

The processing methods surprised me – turns out my mortar and pestle aren’t just for fancy pepper grinding anymore. The ‘field kit’ section is genius – now I’m low-key planning pigment-hunting hikes like some artsy Indiana Jones. Pro tip: wear clothes you hate because dirt stains are inevitable (speaking from messy experience).

What really got me was the paint recipes. We’re talking egg tempera made with backyard clay, crayons from beeswax and charcoal… my inner mad scientist is thriving. That milk paint chapter? Game changer for my eco-conscious art friends.

Fair warning though – this book will ruin store-bought paints for you forever. Once you’ve made magenta from crushed beetles (just kidding… unless?), tube paints feel kinda basic.