A blog reader, Sara Mast, recently posted a comment on an entry called, Perplexing Pigments, that I posted in October of 2006. The topic of this post is the safety of using pigments in the dry natural form. Sara wanted to know about my working procedures. This is something that is of great importance to me, and I use great care while handling … [Read more...] about Safety with Pigments
Pigments: Historical and Modern
There is a distinct difference between modern day pigments and the natural pigments used prior to the middle of the 1700s. In the past, artists had apprentices who ground the colors for them throughout the oil painting sessions. Because they were made by hand, the pigments retained a natural grittiness and consistency with larger particle size. Today's oil paint manufacturers make synthetic colors in huge vats where the end result is exceptional smoothness. Prior to the middle of the 1700, natural pigments came from dirt, minerals, and even plants.
Azurite Pigment
Shown here is Azurite/Malachite Pigment from Natural Pigments, fine grade. It also is known as blue verditer, bice, and Mountain blue. I have seen wide ranges of intensities of this pigment ranging from a dullish gray to a very vibrant blue like this one. The early Egyptians were said to have used it in antiguity. It can be costly - as much as … [Read more...] about Azurite Pigment
Azurite
A few weeks ago, I had the great pleasure to visit the world class Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, located 20 minutes west of downtown Portland. This museum was founded by Richard L. and Helen M. Rice in 1996 for the education and enjoyment of beautiful wonders of nature. They house not only the "Alma Rose" … [Read more...] about Azurite
Details
This detail of a new painting, yet unnamed, measures 12 x 12. This also follows along with the analogous plan...many varieties of reds, red-oranges, and yellows all throughout the composition with a vibrant blue complement used sparingly. Even in the very dark background areas lurks thin warm tones of all kinds. Over all, at first glance, the … [Read more...] about Details
Vagone Green
Shown here is the first painting completed in my new studio. After so many months of not painting, it is splendid to be back to work, specifically experimenting with the natural pigments again. Initially, I felt very rusty but after just a little while it all seems familiar again. I had to review my drying charts from last year to see which … [Read more...] about Vagone Green