If you're a watercolor enthusiast, you probably understand the sheer joy that comes from exploring different pigments and their unique properties. In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating realm of watercolor pigments, focusing on three remarkable colors: Sweet Lemons Yellow, Blue Me Away, and Jax Carmine (PV19). Each pigment offers its own distinctive characteristics, making them indispensable additions to any artist's palette.
Sweet Lemons Yellow: A Timeless Classic
Let's start with Sweet Lemons Yellow, a watercolor pigment that holds a special place in the hearts of artists. This color is derived from PY3, a pigment known for its exceptional lightfastness and semi-transparent nature. Crafted using traditional techniques, this metal-free watercolor combines raw refined pure pigments, gum arabic, local honey, and essential oils. The result? A highly pigmented and luminous paint that truly comes to life when activated with water.
Lemon yellow has been an artist's staple for decades, stretching back to its origins in ancient times. The first Azo dyes, initially used as industrial colorants in 1864, later evolved into pigments by 1884. Hansa Yellow Light, patented specifically for artists' paints, emerged in 1909. Today, PY3 remains a commonly found pigment in Lemon Yellow Artist Paints. Its transparency and high tinting strength make it an ideal choice for achieving clean, vibrant results in color mixing without overwhelming other hues.
Ultramarine Blue meets Cobalt: From Over-the-Sea to Your Palette
Two of arts most useful colors come together to add just the right amount of warmth and cool to any mixing palette. Jax Blue Me Away is a paint color at the core of many artists palette for its vibrancy, mixing and lifting ability.
Ultramarine Blue, a color whose name finds its origins in the term "outremer," meaning "over-the-sea." Discovered in 1826 by French chemist Jean-Baptiste Guimet, this pigment is chemically identical to lapis lazuli, a cherished blue pigment imported into Europe from Afghanistan since the Middle Ages. The vivid blue hue of Ultramarine Blue stems from its main component, Lazurite, a semi-precious mineral found deep within the earth.
PB 29, the assigned code for Ultramarine Blue, offers a warm, liftable, and granulating nature. As an indispensable warm blue in watercolor, it has the remarkable ability to blend into realistic greens and greys. Its granulating quality adds depth to your paintings, creating captivating textures and visual interest that bring your artwork to life.
Cobalt blue is a color that was first recorded in English in 1777. It was discovered as a pure alumina-based pigment by Louis Jacques Thénard in 1802. Commercial production of cobalt blue started in France in 1807. This pigment is very costly and known for its extraordinary stability. Today, it is considered the most important of all cobalt pigments due to its pure blue color.
When these two lovely pigment combine in just the right way, they provide an artist with a distinctive blue that is perfection. Never too cool nor too warm with granulation and lovely mixing energy.
Carmine (PV19): A Symphony of Colors
Lastly, let's explore the captivating world of (PV19), a pigment that seamlessly transitions between smoky violet and bright rose tones. The rose shade, less purple than Quinacridone Magenta, leans slightly towards blue. On the other hand, the violet shade embodies a reddish-purple allure. Jax Carmine, is a warmer version of quin rose (pv19) red pigment that beautifully complements other hues when mixed with blue to make purples and yellow to make brilliant oranges.
What makes Jax Carmine truly exceptional is the paints ability to combine the staining pigments' power with the transparent pigments' luminosity. The pigment flows effortlessly, enabling artists to create smooth washes with incredible depth of color. Moreover, they can be easily lifted while still wet, allowing for increased control and versatility in your watercolor paintings.
Sweet Lemons Yellow, Blue Me Away, and Jax Carmine are just a glimpse into the vibrant world Handmade Honeys Watercolor by Jacqueline Jax.
By understanding the unique properties and origins of these pigments, you'll be equipped to infuse your artwork with depth, vibrancy, and a touch of artistic magic. So go ahead, pick up your brushes, and allow the enchanting qualities of these pigments to guide you on your creative journey. Happy painting!
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