Artists are interested in the permanence and colorfastness of their paints, regardless of medium.
Vibrancy is also a big issue, and color saturation is high on the list of desirable traits in paints.
For hundreds of years artists and chemists have searched for colors that do not fade over time or change in tone or hue.
Organic based paints that are derived from plant material or nonmineral sources are particularly susceptible to degradation.
Colors such as Alizarin Crimson, Mars Lake and Rose Madder may be beautiful, but they are colors that are not highly rated for permanence and many of these colors are considered fugitive. Although radiant and bright reds and pinks when first applied, over time these colors can fade to a dirty grey pink.
What are alternatives for colors that are brilliant in nature, saturated in color and have a permanence rating that ensures an artist’s painting will maintain the fresh look it presented for its first showing?
Quinacridone Spells Longevity And Vibrancy
Quinacridone pigments were originally discovered in the late 19th century. It was developed as paint for use in the auto industry in 1955, due to its resistance to fading or weathering.
The Quinacridone pigments are in the warm family of colors, ranging from gold, orange and sienna to fuchsia, rose and violet. These are intensely saturated and vibrant colors that do not easily turn gray or muddy when mixed.
This group of paints has a translucent characteristic that works exceptionally well for glazing and building up layers for a deep, luminescent quality that so many artists strive for in their work. This depth of color is the culmination of the multiple coats of thin paint that work with each other to develop a deep, rich color.
Quinacridone paint rates very highly for permanence and lightfastness. These colors maintain their color and intensity much better than other similar colors made of pigments that degrade with time and exposure to light.
Quinacridone Colors Are Available In Your Medium
Most major art paint manufacturers have their own formulations of Quinacridone colors in their lines. Watercolorists, oil painters and acrylic artists all have these strong and beautiful colors available to add to their palettes.
Each company varies in the number of Quinacridone paints they have elected to carry in their lines of paint. Oil paint manufacturers tend to have few Quinacridone colors available, but many companies carry two or three hues in their lines.
The following list is a small selection of paint lines offering Quinacridone colors, which can add a wonderful brightness and intensity to the artist’s work. Check out your own personal favorite paint manufacturer to see if they produce these vivid colors to add a big punch of color to your own palette.
Da Vinci Artists Permanent Watercolor line carries a full range of 13 Quinacridone colors.
Sennelier Extra-Fine Artist Acryliques offers eight tones of Quinacridone in their professional acrylic paint line.
Golden Heavy Body Artist Acrylics has seven Quinacridone hues in their extensive line of acrylic paints.
Gamblin Artist’s Oil Colors offers Quinacridone pigmented colors in three shades.
CAS AlkydPro Fast-Drying Alkyd Oil Colors includes five Quinacridone colors in this oil paint alternative.
Using Quinacridone Colors In Your Work
These lush and vivid colors are like seasonings in a cook’s spice rack. They add layers of flavors and can be used in a number of ways to produce various intensities, from subtle hints of tonality to five alarm smoke.
Since the colors are very saturated, experiment with the amount of paint you need to add to your mixture to achieve the correct color. Their vibrant undertones make them wonderful choices for mixing. You may be surprised with the small amount necessary to create lush hues.
Transparent colors, such as the Quinacridone family, work exceptionally well as glazes to brighten up an area or intensify a color. The warm range of tones that encompass this color palette varies from golden to an almost fluorescent pink. Use glazes to pump up the pink of a blossom or add fire to a blazing sunset.
Add a few of these colors to your palette to liven up your artwork. Whether adding a delicate shadow or a dramatic focal point, these exciting paints will spark your imagination and give your painting a real jumpstart.
