Paintstones are lightfast pigments, tree sap, and gum Arabic.
From artist and paintmaker Anong Migwans Beam:
When I make paint I think about my Dad a lot, he taught me when I was really small to identify hematite and look for paintstones. He kept them in his art bag in a little cloth wrapper, and when he needed paint he brought them out and prepared his paint for ceramic bowls, drums, or rocks. I really wanted something of my paint making practice to share the tactile joy of the physicality of paint, and this is it! These little jewels are also about our values and support our respect for the earth and being plastic free. They are wrapped in beeswaxed cloth or st Armand handmade paper with paper labels identifying the color name and are our answer to halfpans!