What is Ochre, or Ocher
and how is it used?

Ochre is a type of hard clay. It is found in many places in the world and comes naturally in many different colors. These colors include red, pink, yellow, white and Blue which is rare and found in caves between the Kimberleys and Alice Springs. When found it is ground to a powder and then mixed with either saliva, egg, water or animal fat to make a paint.

Many other colors are made from the white adding different pigments either from man and animals like blood or pollen from plants.

Anything naturally occurring including sand, ash or charcoal may be mixed into the white or other colors to make a different color. Because of its use it was often traded between tribes of various regional areas.

Ochre Aboriginal Art Facts Home Page