Lynn R. Mazzoleni
—Leonardo Da Vinci
- Associate Professor, Chemistry
- PhD, University of Nevada, Reno
Research Statement
Drawing on a background in atmospheric and environmental chemistry, my scholarly interests have evolved toward the chemistry and physics of artists' pigments and paint systems. The parallel between atmospheric particles and pigment particles is not merely metaphorical. In both cases, the optical behavior of nanoscale and microscale materials is inseparable from their physical and chemical properties.
My research focuses on understanding how the composition, structure, and morphology of pigments influence their optical behavior, spectral characteristics, and visual appearance within complex paint systems. I am especially interested in the relationships between particle size, refractive index, absorption, scattering, and binder interactions, and how these properties give rise to the emergent behavior of color in artistic materials. Current work centers on building a systematic database of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of pigment particles and paint systems — an effort I am developing collaboratively with undergraduate students at Michigan Tech — with the goal of establishing a richer empirical foundation for understanding color technology in artists' materials.
More broadly, I am interested in bridging scientific and artistic understandings of color through a materials-based approach to color science. Artists' pigments represent a scientifically rich and underexplored domain for investigating foundational concepts in chemistry, including electronic structure, spectroscopy, light absorption, and materials characterization. As a chemist, educator, and practicing painter, I aim to connect the scientific study of color with the material reality of the substances that produce it, and to open that inquiry to the next generation of scientists and artists.
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Understanding how pigment composition, structure, and morphology govern optical behavior and color in paint systems
- Characterizing pigment particle size, refractive index, and binder interactions through materials-based approaches
- Current work centers on building a systematic SEM database
- Bridging scientific and artistic frameworks for understanding color through interdisciplinary scholarship and studio practice