HUES IN TUBES
everything you have always wanted to know about
PAINT
without daring to ask the shop assistant
Only undelined sections in red have content so far… thanks for your patience while I edit away!!
WHAT?
I. What is paint?
Paint is a concept
Is there a possible definition?
II. What’s in paint?
The basic recipe
A) Supports
B) Binders
My introduction to binders
Binders in order of appearance
Art paint binders today
C) Pigments
(vs Colour)
WHEN?
Pigments in history
Colors are not possessions…
Some pigments are born, some die
1) The very first circle… from eternity to c.3000 B.C.E.
2 a) Antiquity… from c.3000 B.C.E. to the last Egyptian Dynasty
& 2 b) Antiquity too… to the end of the Roman Empire
3) Medieval times… to the Primitives
4) Renaissance to… the Industrial Revolution
5) The industrial colour revolution of “The Long Nineteenth Century” (1798-1914) and beyond
6) Post-Modern colours… from the 1950’s till now
WHICH?
Pigment Characteristics
Introduction
Firstly, some pigments are pigments we can use,
and some pigments are pigments we cannot use (to make paint)
Secondly, some pigments are pigments and some pigments are dyes
This being said… there’s indigo!
Some pigments are organic, some are inorganic
Some pigments are natural, and some are synthetic
I had picked black… (Part I)
Some pigments have code names, some are N/A
I had picked black… (Part II)
Some pigments are lightfast, some are fugitive
Some pigments are friendly, some are dangerous company
Some pigments always sit in the first row, some at the back
Some pigments have a family, some pigments are loners
Some pigments are expensive and some are ‘dirt’ cheap
Some pigments are thirsty, some are hydrophobic
Some pigments are toxic, some you should even eat!
Some pigments are heavy as nightmares, some light as dreams
Some pigments are cool, some are… hot?
Some pigments are clean, some are… dirty? muddy?
Some pigments are glossy, some are matt
Some pigments are opaque, some are transparent
Some pigments are coarse and gritty, some are fine and silky
Some pigments are powerful, some are weak
HOW?
I. Pigment making
Earth pigments
Lake pigments
II. Paintmaking
Why make your paint?
A few recipes for Oil & Acrylic paint, Tempera, Gouache & Watercolour
The impact of mixing binder with your pigments
WHYEVER?
(Hues on Tubes… and how they made a name for themselves
)
The unnamable colours we need to name
Should I, before we get sidetracked, state the obvious?
Hues on tubes are fake news!
Some paints are named after…
Should we first find out how the basic hues got their names?
1) the colour of something tangible
2) the colour of something quite intangible
3) the process the pigment underwent to be made
4) their qualities
5) someone… who could be
a) the chemist who invented the pigment,
b) the colourman who commercialised it (or his daughter!),
c) a painter,
d) an anonymous potter and an even more random shepherd
e) an Emperor, a King, a Queen, even some mythic Royalty
f) a philosopher
g) and last but not least… G for goblin!
6) their content: what they are made of…
a) the main mineral or chemical component / molecule the pigment
is made of
b) body parts?
c) insects, animals
d) a vegetable, fruit, berry
7) where the pigment came from… or not!
8) well… I really don’t know
WHATEVER!
From bodies of paint, to bodywork, to bodies of work
When the Muse if spent, the dance over…
It’s the Painter’s hour and now we must part
Gratitude
Bibliography
Appendix I. 88 pigments in chronological order
Appendix II. 88 pigments in alphabetical order
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