{"id":17,"date":"2025-03-23T21:01:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T21:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rs.brphycsoc.org\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2025-06-05T10:12:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T10:12:40","slug":"microalgae-pigments-in-algae-art","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rs.brphycsoc.org\/index.php\/microalgae-pigments-in-algae-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Algae Art – Pigments and Bioinks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nature’s Palette – Creating art from the colours of living algae<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Are Algal Pigments?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microalgae and seaweed produce a stunning range of natural pigments, including greens, reds, yellows, oranges, and even blues \u2014 all from photosynthetic compounds<\/strong> like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Chlorophylls<\/strong> (green)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Phycobilins<\/strong> (blue and red)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Carotenoids<\/strong> (orange, yellow, red)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Fucoxanthin<\/strong> (olive-brown)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    These pigments have been used in food colouring, cosmetics, textiles, and now \u2014 art!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Try Algae-Based Pigments!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Paint with colours made by algae! In this activity, we\u2019re using natural pigments extracted from microalgae and seaweed to create safe, eco-friendly paints. Explore the science of colour while adding a splash of algae-powered style!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    What You\u2019ll Discover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    • A hands-on station where you can paint<\/strong> with seaweed-based pigments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      • A gallery of artworks made with algae pigments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        • Microscopic views of the organisms that create these colours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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          • Real pigment extracts to see, smell, and touch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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            FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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            What’s in the Paint?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Each paint is made with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            • Natural algae pigments<\/strong> (like chlorophyll, carotenoids, or phycocyanin)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • A plant-based, non-toxic base<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Optional sparkles or textures for fun finishes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Our team extracted the pigments from species like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              • Spirulina<\/strong>\u00a0(blue-green)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Haematococcus<\/strong>\u00a0(red – orange)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Ulva<\/strong>\u00a0(bright green)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Palmaria <\/strong>(red – purple)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Fucus <\/strong>(yellow brown)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                These colours are completely natural and show off the beauty of algae without any synthetic dyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                How Are Pigments Extracted?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                Pigments are drawn out using gentle processes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                • Drying to make powder<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Soaking dried algae in ethanol, acetone, or water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Filtering to remove the algae and concentrating the coloured solution <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Pigments can be combined with natural binders like agar, gum arabic, or alginate to make bioinks<\/strong> for painting or even 3D printing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                  Algal species for colour?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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                  • Palmaria <\/strong>\u2013 A red seaweed, used for purples and soft pinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Ulva<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A green seaweed with vibrant yellow-green tones<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Spirulina<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A cyanobacteria producing phycocyanin and intense blue<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Haematococcus<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013A microalgae rich in carotenoids for orange\/red hues<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Fucus<\/strong> \u2013 A brown seaweed, source of fucoxanthin for brown tones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Nature’s Palette – Creating art from the colours of living algae What Are Algal Pigments? Microalgae and seaweed produce a stunning range of natural pigments, including greens, reds, yellows, oranges, and even blues \u2014 all from photosynthetic compounds like: These pigments have been used in food colouring, cosmetics, textiles, and now \u2014 art! Try Algae-Based […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nAlgae Art - Pigments and Bioinks - Royal Society Exhibition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rs.brphycsoc.org\/index.php\/microalgae-pigments-in-algae-art\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Algae Art - Pigments and Bioinks - Royal Society Exhibition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nature’s Palette – Creating art from the colours of living algae What Are Algal Pigments? Microalgae and seaweed produce a stunning range of natural pigments, including greens, reds, yellows, oranges, and even blues \u2014 all from photosynthetic compounds like: These pigments have been used in food colouring, cosmetics, textiles, and now \u2014 art! 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