Water Color materials and techniques

[FRAN...@delphi.com]

I'm a retired Pigment Chemist and a watercolorist. I teach beginning
Water colors at a local community school. My course concentrates on
the physical problems in water color manipulation (as opposed to esthetic
considerations) as well as materials and specific colors. I prefer the
most permanent and transparent colors. I thought this would be a subject
where I could help beginners in the aquarelle techniques. I've been
especially helpful to painters coming from opaque techniques like oil
colors or gouache. So if anyone is haveing problems in W/C techniques
fire away! -Frank in DE-

[SUEW...@delphi.com]

Hurray!!! You got here safely...
I'll let the others know.
Now, since I haven't talked to you about your
work since we left *P, what particular pigment
properties are you working on these days. Have
you looked into any of the new Daniel Smith
watercolors?
Sue

[FRAN...@delphi.com]

Hi Sue, I am placing a Daniel Smith order this week. They appear to have

One is PG36, the yellow shade of phthalocyanine green and the other is
the Green Gold, an extremely light fast metallized azo chartreuse pigment.
Heretofore, these pigments were only available in the GOLDEN acrylics
colors. PG36 was available in a Sennelier emerald green but it wasn't
very good. It was also available as a component in Holbein Hooker's
green but it was blended with an arylide yellow which had poor light
fastness. Thanks for responding; you're my first customer (VBG).
Incidentally, I've been using GOLDEN airbrush colors (acrylics) as
watercolors with excellent results.

[SUEW...@delphi.com]

Frank...check out the Watermedia heading on this newsgroup.
The message is posted by Alan Hooper...I think his
questions are directed to you but somehow ended up in
a different thread.

Sue

[FRAN...@delphi.com]

John in response to you E Mail query about Gouache vs. Watercolors. Gouache
is an opaque medium by virtue of added opaque white pigments such as whiting
and titanium dioxide etc. It also differs in that vehicle is based on casein
rather than gum arabic used in transparent W/C. In handling, it is smoother
and more forgiveing that W/C but this advantage is bought dearly by chalky
appearance and inability to use in transparent glazes. Its very similar in
appearance to poster tempera colors. -Frank in DE-

[FRAN...@delphi.com]

To Alan Hooper in reagrd to your questions on permanency.
There are Arylide yellows & arylide yellows. The important factore is the
color index number or the pigment number. The Golden Hansa Yellow Medium
is PY73 and is permanent. Other Hansas may be lousy. Go only by the Pigment
number. I would like to encourage everyone to write to Color Makers who are
less honest than Golden, Da Vinci and Daniel Smith and insist that they use
the Pigment Number. Then check the permanence in the Wilcox Guide.
This brings me to your Cadmium Red question. You can call a watercolor any
thing you want and many of the manufactures do. Some cadmium reds don't have
any cadmium red in them. Some makers will often use the term Cadmium Red
Hue. Other makers like Winsor & Newtown use their own fanciful names.
Thet call prussian blue Antwerp Blue and Cadmium Yellow Aurora yellow.
This allows them to gouge on prices.
If you whites turn yellow, its most likely the medium. In regard to the
brands of acrylics to use, I generally go by their willingness to identify
their pigments. Many years ago Binney & Smith (liquitex) decided you were
too stupid to know about pigmentss so they created their "modular" colors
based on Munsell Notation. GY37 etc., without bothering to tell you any more.
To make matters worse they added carbon black to lower the value and Titanium
white to raise the value. To this day I can recognize a dead chalky painting
done with the modular colors. -Frank in DE-

[FRAN...@delphi.com]

Marcia Waller, regarding your E-mail question as to which pigments were
transparent as well as permanent. Below is a list of the most popular
pigments which are both transparent and permanent.
Phthalocyanine Blue PB15 Phthalocyanine Green PG7 {green shade) PG36
(yellow shade) Hansa Yellow PY73 , Quinacridone Red PV19, Perinone
Orange PO 43, Prussian Blue PB27, Viridian PG18.
The following are almost transparent and very lightfast
Burnt Siena, Raw umber, Raw siena, Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue PB29
The following have poor lightfastness and are to be avoided:
Alizarine Crimson, Hookers Green, Gamboge, and Rose Madder Genuine.
Beware of colors having the suffix "hue". The manufacturer is trying to
hoodwink you. The Wilcox Guide to Watercolor Paints reveals many of the
actual pigments used where the manufacturer has used a deceptive name.
Bear in mind that the maker can call the paint any thing he wants.
Because of this, many of the Viridians sold are not really PG18!
Happy Painting! -Frank in DE-

[SUEW...@delphi.com]

Hi Frank,
Some time ago I bought Schmencke Raw Sienna and now can't
wait til I use it up. I got it cause the Wilcox guide
labled it as "pure" raw sienna and not a yellow ocher
variation. While it is quite transparent and has an
adequate consistency, it's color is so dead. Nothing
like the warm yellow tint I get from WinsorNewton. Just
wondered if you had tried this color or any other
Schmencke product?
Sue

[FRAN...@delphi.com]

Sue, I use the Da Vinci Raw Siena which is much cheaper and I think pretty
good though I haven't tried the Schmenke. Also you might consider the
Da Vinci Yellow Ochre which is brighter & yellower but not quite as
transparent. For raw & burnt umber, I've found nothing to beat Winsor&
Newton's Cottman grade!! Nothing like Raw Umber when you need a low value
yellow. -Frank-

[Favorites are O'Keeffe Picasso Van Gogh]

Frank - How nice to find you and Sue Weber over here! We met on Prodigy -
and have missed you both there. Hope you know that OWB (Order of the Wet
Brush) meets every Sunday & Wednesday night - around 7:00pm Pacific Coast
time in the main conference section of Delphi - in the group titled "OWB".
We would love to have you both there to visit with! Thank you, Sue, for
your message on how to find this topic! Hope to "chat" with you later!
***Gloria***

[SUEW...@delphi.com]

Gloria...you're finally here!! Are you still working
with the Neland book?? Still taking classes???
Sue

[Gloria Lackey]

Sue - Well, I finished the Leland book - Exploring Color - but keep referring
to it! Really do recommend it to you. Finished my last class and hope to
start a new one in January.
OWB will have a new project in January - I will be in charge. Hope you
join us for it! I think it will be fun!
I am off to the conference area to see if anyone has set up the OWB group
for our Sunday nite chat session. Maybe you will be there too!
Post what you've been doing, if you can't make the chat session!
Gloria

[SUEW...@delphi.com]

Gloria

So what have I been up to? The usual crisis!
How to be an artist!! How to get beyond this
"student" stage and take my art "on the road>"

If you recall, I moved to central VA. Good
place to be--art instruction wise. Just now
tracking down classes and instructors--had to
unpack everything, get daughter to college,
learn my phone number.....

I've not gotten info on the January project.
I think this info is still going out on *P
and probably on conference, but is not reaching
those that don't access those two areas--well,
it's not reaching me, if others are getting it.
The
Dec. Puddle Patter mentions the project deadline
as January 15, but does not mention the project.
Will you fill me in???

What do you think of this area? A possible
substitute for *P? If you think so, please
let the others know. I am just the newcomer
in the group--you've been with them longer.
I know David is concerned about reaching new
members...membership could be WORLDWIDE through
internet!!! If there is interest in developing
this area, tell Dave I'd be glad to take on
some responsibility in posting messages and
generating interest on Internet.

[Gloria Lackey]

Sue - Have you received the PP recently? Last address it has for you is
Heathglow Lane - Charlottesville. If this isn't correct, let me or Dave
know. We are into Holiday project now. Sign up for January project will be
-gin right after first of year. I will make sure you hear about it.
I am trying to get people over here - but we are also trying to keep OWB
alive on *P! Although there are now around 10 people who access OWB from the
conference area here on Delphi. OWB will survive, if only because we have
become such good friends through these electronic lines!
Hope you are finally settled and getting to paint a lot! I guess quanity
is almost as important as quality! (lightning did not strike me!) And
practice e
really does make perfect!
Have to go for now - will check in again - and try to have a posting more
related to WC materials & techniques!
Gloria