Color Spotlight: Quinacridone Sienna

I think what attracts me so much to this earth tone is that it’s so bright it’s practically not an earth tone. It’s somewhere between a slightly muted red-orange and an extraordinary bright alternative to Burnt Sienna. I did this from a dot card, so it’s less intense that it would be if I’d had … Read more

Color Spotlight: Shadow Violet

Daniel Smith – Shadow Violet

Shadow Violet is a granulating purple-gray that’s made from a mix of three pigments: PB29 (Ultramarine), PG18 (Viridian), and PO73 (Pyrrol Orange). As such, close inspection of the seemingly unassuming shade reveals flecks of violet blue and blue-green as well as and underlying orange cast that make it more interesting than your typical gray, and mimics the overall effect of a real-life shadow with light and dark spots, color variety, and texture. John Muir Laws praises its beautiful granulation and suggests using it as a convenience gray for shadows in nature paintings.

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