Colour performance, in black and white

Painters’ pigments are true pigments, that is to say unlike dyes, they possess body. They come as a fine dry powder, and should be free from impurities. Artists’ paints use pigments derived from many sources, traditionally this used to be naturally occurring stone, earths, metals but over time many have been replaced by man-made materials which provide a more permanent and stable pigment.

All pigments possess characteristics and handling peculiarities that the pet portrait artist should be aware of to get the best from his or her paints. None more so than the range of whites and blacks, surely they all do the same job? No. The various whites and to a lesser extend blacks, all behave slightly differently and create different challenges for the artist. Described below are the popular types and the way they perform in paint.

Titanium White
This is not a pure white, but hints towards a cream cast. It does have excellent covering power and high tinting strength. It also can be regarded as permanent, it’s only weakness being it can chalk if exposed to weathering outside.

Zinc White
This is a stark white with slight transparancy. It’s covering power is relatively poor and has average tinting strength. It is permanent.

Lead White (also known as. Flake white)
It’s property lies somewhere between Titanium white and Zinc white. Good lead white had excellent covering power and tinting strength. As it ages it does have a tendency to yellow, this can be lessened by adding a small amount of zinc white. Lead white is toxic.

Pearl White
This is a modern pigment made from a blend of Zinc White and finely ground mica. The result is a white with an opalescent lustre similar to the surface of a pearl. It is used mainly in acrylic and gouache paints.

Lamp Black
Most blacks are produced from carbon from differing sources, with each having a slightly different characteristics. Lamp black is an intense, absolute black, which appears to have a slight blue/brown cast that is only apparent in greys. Although, because of it’s fine grain, if used lightly, it can be transparent. Although, due to it’s fine grain, if used thinly, can be transparent. If used heavily in lean media, it can have a sooty appearance. Lamp black can also be known as Carbon Black.

Ivory Black
Ivory black is the purest form of bone black, it’s said to be the most intense of the blacks.

Mars Black
It is exceedingly permanent and easier to prepare than the carbon blacks, so is preferred by artists who make their own pastels or tempera paints. It is extremely permanent and easier to prepare than the carbon blacks, so is favoured by artists that make their own pastels or tempera paints.