Quintessential Blue Pigment Project has been great fun for a pigment nerd like me. For this series, I used some unusual colors on my palette with unexpected surprises. One is the cobalt turquoise and the other manganese blue that both are now my all-time favs. Though neither are historical colors, I know I will continue to explore making and using … [Read more...] about The Final Home Stretch: Quintessential Blue
historical pigments
Brushing Down the Home Stretch
Time is getting crunchy now and there are five more paintings to go. The only solution is to do multiples in each post until peeks are revealed before the Spring Unveiling event this coming weekend. So far, the blues covered are the ever-glorious lapis lazuli, its modern equivalent, ultramarine blue, and a personal favorite, cobalt turquoise blue. … [Read more...] about Brushing Down the Home Stretch
Ultimate ‘Over the Sea’ Ultra-marine Blue
Lapis lazuli has long been one of my favorite specialty blue colors for previous pigment projects and a perfect choice for the current Spring Unveiling at Bronze Coast Gallery. Artisans around the world have used this mineral for jewelry, inlays, furniture decorations, paint, tombs, and temples in endless varieties. Seventeenth Century Dutch … [Read more...] about Ultimate ‘Over the Sea’ Ultra-marine Blue
Han Purple, Another Color from the Past
What is most exciting about the world of nature's pigments is you never know when you are going to discover something new. Veronica Bishop, my tech consultant, recently forwarded an article about such a color heretofore unknown to me. Thanks to her, I now have another pigment for possible inclusion onto my own historical palette, Han … [Read more...] about Han Purple, Another Color from the Past
Using Violet and Purple Pigments in Oils: Challenges and Solutions
Painting objects using violet and purple shades is always a challenge because it is easy to land on the garish side of this hue. We have all seen a house painted this color and we say "Whoa! That's intense!" Another example is painted flowers and fabrics that make your eyes water. So how to avoid this error in the use of purple/violet … [Read more...] about Using Violet and Purple Pigments in Oils: Challenges and Solutions
Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life
Besides making paints, now there is a newly found use for the ancient pigment, Egyptian Blue Frit. This pigment, made by heating a mixture of copper, quartz, sand, lime, and an alkali, dates from 3250 BCE and was used to decorate tombs, statues, coffins, and temple walls in Egypt during the long reign of the Pharaohs. Who Knew Pigments Could Be … [Read more...] about Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life