[Aquanet] FW: orphans in the palette

[Barry Lindley]

I have just discovered that my postings were not going through to the list,
but only individual replies, so I am re-posting the last 2.

I hope it is straightened out now, so that the list will accept my postings.

*****
 
I as well like Annette's suggestions, but be very wary with aureolin.  It is
a lovely paint, but it is not lightfast.  Even W&N will fade to a much
duller grayed color with exposure to light.  My very crude test of this was
simply taping a sample to the inside of a window.  In a matter of several
weeks it was noticeably duller.  Rose madder genuine has a reputation of
limited lightfastness, although I have not noticed appreciable change with
W&N RMG.  I hear that other brands are less satisfactory.  It is a great
paint, otherwise. 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Lindley [mailto:lindleybd at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:56 PM
To: 'Patrick Davis'; 'Aquanet The_digital_Brain'
Subject: RE: [Aquanet] orphans in the palette

I find I never use dioxazine purple, although it is the closest to lightfast
and hence the "best" strongly tinting violet.  I just find that mixed
purples and violets are a lot more interesting and lively.  Cobalt or
manganese violets can be useful when you don't need really dark violets but
want lovely textural effects.

I am a very big fan of cobalt blue, though, and also of cerulean within a
limited range of applications. 

Cobalt blues are usually rather similar to ultramarine and to phthalo blue
red shade in hue, so you may think it unnecessary.  However, it has pleasing
texture, lifts fairly well in most brands, is fairly transparent, and is
very forgiving.  You can use it as the basic blue for many skies, and it
makes nice unsaturated greens.  It serves very well in glazes to knock back
distant shapes or to desaturate oranges.  Because it has lighter value than
ultramarine you have much better control of it.  To appreciate some of these
qualities, make wet-in-wet puddles of it with permanent rose and a yellow.
I find it almost indispensable for making distant ridges, etc., in
landscape, and for mixing shadows on white flowers or walls, for example.
Be sure you use a good brand - M.Graham, W&N, or Daniel Smith, e.g. Avoid
cheap brands.

Cerulean blues vary widely in both value and hue.  W&N is rather greenish,
M.Graham warmer.  I prefer the W&N.  Cerulean is generally light- to
mid-value and rather opaque.  Its usefulness is thus limited, because it
does not serve well under staining glazes.  It is useful in adding some
granularity and coolness to sky blues, but a little dangerous because of the
opacity.  It really shines in painting rocks and in other places where a
range of textural grays or light-value greens is desirable.  Mix it with
oranges or red-oranges as thickly and darkly as possible, then scrape into
it to make rock faces.  Spatter it onto rocks or indeterminate foliage, etc.
Again, try making some random wet-in-wet mixes, scraping, etc.
You may find a "cerulean blue hue" in cheaper paints - avoid it totally,
because it won't have any of the nice qualities that make cerulean useful -
it may be just phthalo blue with white.

---

My apologies to the Aquanet group for being mainly a lurker lately.  I have
now completed my move to Washington, DC, and have started working in a
shared studio at a coop.  I had not painted much during the transition and
most of that in acrylic.  I have just been selected for a one-month solo
exhibition in the Art League Gallery in the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria
for 2011, and that exhibition will be solely watercolor, so I am freshly
motivated and getting back to work.

Barry

 
Barry D. Lindley
Paintings and Drawings
www.BarryLindleyArt.com
 
-----Original Message-----
From: aquanet-bounces at aquanetart.com [mailto:aquanet-bounces at aquanetart.com]
On Behalf Of Patrick Davis
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:11 PM
To: Aquanet The_digital_Brain
Subject: [Aquanet] orphans in the palette

Hi, gang.

Getting back at painting after a long layoff causes me to examine what I 
am doing... and with what. Looking at my palette, I realize there are 
certain colours I never or almost never use. Most notable for me are two 
blues, cerulean and cobalt, the former neglected because it is chalky 
and the latter because to me it seems gutless. I'm sure some of you do 
use these, so maybe you'd share with me what you use them for?

Another orphan is dio purple, but it is shunned for the opposite reason: 
it does not play well with others.

Any comments on these?

cheers
pat
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