The Ever-Changing Artist's Palette Pastes Offer Many Pigment Is the Very Essence of Permanence
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HISTORICALJUST MATERIALS ISSUE PAINT Published by GOLDEN Artist Colors, Inc. / Issue 6 Historical Pigments GOLDEN Molding The Ever-changing Artist's Palette Pastes Offer Many Pigment is the very essence of permanence. If a painting’s charac- paint. Regardless of the vehicle that teristics are to remain consistent Textural Options! is used to adhere it to the substrate, for generations to come, we can- pigment selection is based on one not remain indifferent to the fact simple criterion. The colorant must that certain pigments are going to be the right hue. Once that factor fade. Such pigments should not is met, the artist can compare it to be incorporated into a palette other available pigments of a like based on decisions made by artists hue, and determine the one that is centuries ago. Old choices should best suited for the project at hand. be continuously compared to new The final selection may be based on alternatives, with selections based opacity, cleanliness, vibrancy, and on current information. Similar of course, permanence. reasoning can be applied with Ever since the first prehistoric regard to the characteristic of artist picked up a smoldering chunk pigment toxicity. of charcoal from the fireplace to There are pigments that have draw on the cave wall, survived for centuries as reliable mankind has striven to produce and safe colorants. Some of the better art. Each artist from inorganic pigments used that point on has faced since prehistoric times, Artists are often asking why our the same question: such as the Ochres and product is called “Molding Paste” “What materials will Bone Black, are still while everyone else’s is called work the best for what in use today. Along “Modeling Paste”, and is there any I am trying to do?” with these, we long difference? First, I have no idea why In the case of early ago made room the product was called Molding man, the answer on the palette Paste. It can be placed in a mold, was found in plants, for their refined but it wasn’t particularly developed dirt and other avail- counterparts, for that purpose. Molding Paste is able materials of synthetics such as what Sam Golden called a similar the right color that Mars colors (Iron product at Bocour and he simply could be crushed, Oxides) and Carbon carried the name forward to his ground or squeezed, Black. We also have new company. GOLDEN Molding and applied to the replaced many pigments Paste is made similarly to other painting. In today’s on the palette, brands of acrylic modeling pastes. world we have at Modern technology affects materials both naturally Basically, they are all a medium of our disposal an and tools alike. This muller was occurring and acrylic polymer that is filled with incredible number used by Sam Golden for hand synthetic, with grinding pigments. hard solids. of materials in a newer inventions. Molding Pastes are probably vast array of hues. These additions and changes have one of the more commonly used From these, for use in artwork collectively yielded improvements in products when working with intended to last, we can choose color consistency, durability, safety, acrylics or providing a base for colorants with an emphasis on and range. other media. They can easily be Continued page 8... Continued page 4... Just Paint / Issue 6 2 Historical Pigments Some Historical Pigments and their Replacements called Gamboge, which was an records indicate that the sale of In- Asian yellow gum used until the dian Yellow was prohibited as an 19th century. Aureolin was first act of preventing cruelty to ani- introduced in 1851. Aureolin mals, as mango leaves do not have (chemically known as Potassium the proper nutrients for cattle. Baltintrite) was popular until the Malachite late 19th century, when less Also known as Mineral Green expensive, cleaner and more light- or Verdeazzuro, Malachite is a fast pigments like the Cadmiums pigment that was used by many were introduced. Although true early civilizations. Derived from Alizarin Crimson Cobalt Yellow can be found, it is native carbonate of copper, it is (PR 83:1) generally not in use. perhaps the oldest known bright Alizarin Crimson was created green pigment. Azurite is its blue in 1868 by the German chemists, Cobalt Violet counterpart. The synthetic variety is Grabe and Lieberman, as a more (PV 14) called Bremen Green. Malachite fell lightfast substitute to Genuine Rose In 1860, Cobalt Violet was out of use in the 18th century. The Madder. This was accomplished by introduced and gradually devel- pigment is not permanent, and has isolating part of the madder root oped, refined, and later created a gritty texture. colorant,1,2 dihydroxyanthraquino- synthetically. Two costly versions, ne (Alizarin), from the more fugi- anhydrous cobalt phosphate or Manganese Blue cobalt ammonium phosphate, tive 1,2,4 trihydrozyanthraquinone (PB 33) (Purpurin). This is historically (sometimes combined) were used. Manganese Blue, or Barium significant as it represents the first Cobalt Violet is toxic and costly to Manganate, has been produced synthetic duplication of a pigment. produce, and the weak pigment since the 19th century. The Madder dates back to before the quickly was replaced by the cleaner, synthetic variation was patented time of the ancient Greeks. Pliny stronger Manganese Violet. in 1935, but neither variety is the Elder termed it “Rubia”, and it Hooker’s Green commonly produced anymore, as has been found in Egyptian tombs. (PY 24/PB 27) the coarse, weak pigment was Madder came to Europe during the The earliest Hooker’s Greens were a replaced by more intense blues. time of the Crusades. The use of blend of Gamboge and Prussian Manganese Violet Genuine Madder practically ceased Blue. More lightfast varieties were after the introduction of Alizarin. (PV 16) later created with Aureolin. Modern Also known as Permanent Violet, Lightfastness III, Alizarin Crimson Hooker’s Green is usually a blend Nuremberg Violet or Mineral was replaced 90 years later by the of Phthalo Blue and Cadmium Violet, Manganese Violet replaced Lightfastness I Quinacridones, de- Yellow. There is a pigment, (PG 8) Cobalt Violet in 1890. It is veloped by Struve in 1958. that is sometimes called Hooker’s understood to have been first Green, but this pigment does not offer made by E. Leykauf in 1868. It Asphaltum any significant improvement over Also known as Bitumen, was a cleaner alternative to the blends, as it is (ASTM III) fugitive. Asphaltum is a solution of asphalt Cobalt Violet and was less toxic. in oil or turpentine, used since Indian Yellow It also had better opacity. prehistoric times as a protective Also known as Puree, Peoli, or Naples Yellow coating. Although Rembrandt used Gaugoli, True Indian Yellow (eux- (PY 41) Asphaltum with good success, there anthic acid) was produced by heat- Also known as Antimony is much evidence that other paint- ing the urine of cattle fed mango Yellow and Juane Brilliant, Naples ers’ work did not fare as well, and leaves. The process was introduced Yellow is a lead-based pigment severe darkening was the result. to India by the Persians as early as made from Lead Antimoniate. the 15th century. Bengal, India was It was produced as early as the Aureolin the chief exporter to Europe from the (PY 40) 15th century, although it is said Also known as Cobalt Yellow, Aure- early 19th century until 1908. Local to have been found on tiles of olin replaced an earlier pigment ancient Babylonia. The first Historical Materials Issue Just Paint / Issue 6 3 formulae date from 1758. Sepia Cobaltite and Smaltite were Replacing Bistre (a brown made produced from these mines. Smalt Naphthamide Maroon from boiled wood soot) in the 18th was abandoned as Cobalt Blue and (PR 171) century, true Sepia Ink is made Ultramarine became available in Also known as Benzimadazolone from the ink sacs of animals such the 19th century. Maroon, Naphthamide Maroon as the cuttlefish. It is said that the was first produced in 1960, secretions of just one cuttlefish Terre Verte along with other Benzimadazolone can turn a thousand gallons of (PG 23) pigments. Recently discontinued water opaque in seconds. Like most Green Earth is known by an assort- from the GOLDEN ment of names such as Stone Green, palette because Verdetta, and the pigment Celadonite. Other manufacturer halted names refer to production as the source of the cheaper alternatives native iron / mag- became more nesium colored common place. clay, such as Promising new Bohemian, a high alternatives should quality grade of be available in the pure green hue. It near future. has been popular for centuries with Prussian Blue many cultures. (PB 27) Native Americans Prussian Blue is also were fond of of significant using Green Earth importance in the as a colorant. Since art world as it is Medieval times it known to be the has been used as first man-made an underpainting pigment. It was color for flesh invented accidental- tones in portraits. ly by the Berliner Diesbach in 1704, when he was naturally derived organic colorants, Van Dyke Brown trying to create a Florentine Lake. it is not lightfast. Modern oil paints (NBr 8) Also known as Chinese Blue, Berlin under this name are typically hues Also known as Cassel Earth, Blue, Paris Blue, Steel Blue, Iron made from Burnt Umber, Van Rubins Brown, and Cologne Blue, Bronze Blue, Paste Blue, Dyke Brown and Carbon Black. Brown, this pigment dates from and Milori Blue. The Milori Blue around the 17th century and is a variety is typically what makes Smalt blend of clay, iron oxide, humus The earliest of the Cobalt pigments, up today’s Prussian Blues.