Winsor & Newton has launched a new range of eight new single pigment Artists’ Oil Colours. Some of the new colours based on a pigment with a historical background were described by George Field (1777-1854), one of the most outstanding and influential paint makers in history. The historic tones include Ruby Madder Alizarin, Ultramarine Pink, Smalt, Oriental Blue and Warm Brown Pink. The innovative Transparent Orange, Orange Laque Mineral and Mineral Green Deep, normally created as secondary colours rather than offered as single pigment colours, are contemporary colours to enrich the artists’ palette further.
Ultramarine Pink: A pink with some of the characteristics from the ultramarine family with its mid-shade bias and violet undertone, against the deep intensity of the dark mass tone, in a unique single pigment.
Artists’ Oil Colour: Ruby Madder Alizarin and Smalt
Ruby Madder Alizarin: a deep-toned variety of the Alizarin Lake matching a colour swatch from the 1937 tint book from the colourman, George Field. Field developed a technique to make madder a longer lasting colour. This tradition continues today with Ruby Madder Alizarin being a permanent colour with excellent lightfastness.
Smalt: A violet blue that historically decayed and was not lightfast, which has now been formulated with a new synthetic formulation to ensure excellent lightfastness. Its delicate beauty and transparency make it ideal for glazing as it was used in the 17th and 18th century.
Artists’ Oil Colour Mineral Green Deep and Oriental Blue
Oriental Blue: A transparent, royal blue deep in its mass tone and a bright, intense undertone with high tinting strength. Historically it was made from mixing Prussian blue with Ultramarine; it is now made using a unique single pigment.
Warm Brown Pink: A rich brown that offers a depth and warmth unlike any other brown, making it an excellent addition to any palette. Brown pinks were originally prepared from Avignon berries or quercitron bark and would fade considerably like many carbon-based pigments. This synthetic inorganic alternative is made from a single pigment with excellent lightfastness.
Artists’ Oil Colour Transparent Orange
Transparent Orange: A bright orange that is unique for being single pigment and transparent with excellent lightfastness. Oranges are generally made from multiple pigments though it means they may not always combine well, and clarity in mixing can be compromised as the resulting color will consist of numerous pigments.
Artists’ Oil Colour Mineral Laque Orange, Mineral Green Deep
Mineral Laque Orange: An opaque orange with excellent coverage and saturation, able to withstand fading or darkening when mixed with other colours. Pure oranges generally contain toxic mineral pigments such as orpiment and realgar, where this is offered as a single pigment, non-toxic colour.
Mineral Green Deep: A rich, highly opaque green in mass tone that has muted shades in glazes. This single pigment colour is bluer in mass and undertone than Cobalt Chromite Green and has a strong depth of tone.
