This is a yellow ochre just being wet with the oil. You can see the light area is still dry as the darker area has oil in it. It is important at this point to add the linseed oil slowly to the dry pigment to make a paste. By adding drops at a time and mixing it in prevents getting too much oil. Remember it is easier to add than take away. It is crumbly at first but will slowly become a paste form. Yellow ochre earth colors are indispensable to the old master palette and come in many variations of colors from many places in the world. It also dries fast and grinds easily.
Margret E. Short Fine Arts
Portland, Oregon artist Margret Short - a modern day master of 17th Century Dutch art using the chiaroscuro technique to create still life and floral paintings.