Welcome to Nila Colori® Extrafine Watercolors. Founded by Carlo Ferrara, the project grew out of curiosity, passion, and a strong connection to the natural world.
Carlo, who graduated in Chemical Engineering in 2010, worked as a researcher between Politecnico di Milano and ETH Zurich.
In 2015, Carlo's interest in natural colors led him to found Nila Colori®, personally overseeing every aspect of production: from research to formulation to manufacturing.
The research work focused on colloidal chemistry and sol-gel synthesis, on extracting lake pigments from plant sources, and on developing processes for the mechanochemical synthesis of hybrid organic/inorganic pigments. This led to methods for producing, on a small scale and sustainably, historical and modern pigments, natural watercolors, and paints for restoration.
The path wasn't without its challenges, in the search for a balance between traditional techniques and a modern approach, with constant attention to sustainability.
Nila Colori® is now on pause, awaiting new developments. After nearly a year as Laboratory and R&D Expert at Lascaux Colours & Restauro, in Zurich, Carlo now works as a consultant in natural color formulation and teaches courses and workshops on preparing traditional paints.
