De Mairo Academy of Traditional Arts

We are manufacturers of genuine Lapis Lazuli pigments and artist paints, including gouache, watercolor, and traditional natural ultramarine made from real lapis lazuli gemstone.

Lapis Lazuli is one of the oldest and most treasured artists’ pigments in history. Its use can be traced from ancient Egyptian tomb paintings to Buddhist cave temples near the lapis mines of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. We source our raw lapis lazuli from this same historic region and refine it using traditional methods.

Our channel explores the making, history, and use of lapis lazuli pigments and paints, including swatches, comparisons, and insights into how natural mineral color differs from synthetic pigments. We also share the artistic legacy of lapis lazuli in Chinese painting, Japanese ukiyo-e printmaking, Mughal miniatures, and European Medieval and Renaissance art, including the works of Giotto, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, and other masters.