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December 13, 2005
Three ingredients, therefore...
Three ingredients, mainly, have given rise to these colours: Flake White, Naples Yellow, Alizarin Crimson. And it still amazes me the subtlety of the mixing. There are realms of mud and whitewash surrounding the gorgeous warm hues that are possible from these ingredients. It’s finding them that is tricky. It could be done scientifically I’m sure, but part of the thrill of painting is finding the fantastic colours. On the downside, of course, there is the depression when I can’t rise above the mud, and then paint has to be scraped off and thrown away.
Certain colours on the palette have to be keep away from others, or there’s trouble. This is why I use so many brushes, trying to keep the colours fresh. But mixing on this scale allows good accidents to happen on the palette, accidents which suddenly throw up a sumptuous colour.
The palette has a finite lifespan. It starts off stark and bold and crude, then it warms and melds into a wonderful lively place with every nuance of tone and hue available, then it slowly descends into the mud.
Remember the First Law of Plasticine: three colours or more will always end up muddy brown.
Posted by john at December 13, 2005 03:18 PM