Introdution
I use pure pigments making the paint up for each session. It's a lot of bother.
Why?
They dominate.
They dominate application, subject matter and most important, the thinking
Background.
For years I've been using specialist film paint Rosco Supersaturated in the US. Before that it was Redaluma who supplied the BBC. Redaluma had muted chalkish colours with a very matt finish, this put emphasis on tone and economy of line. Now I use Flashe vinyl emulsion which has similar properties to Rosco but with a broader colour range.
I've never really got on with acrylics or oil for that matter.
Some years ago I salvaged some old pigments dating back over 100 years. These pigments are't made anymore and the two companies making have long since gone.
Most contemporary artist acrylic paint is a complex formula giving body, rheology, dry times and shine plus opacity, transparency and colour. Pure pigment in a binder has no body, meaning the paint behaves according to the pigments chemical composition
Dry pigment can be bought in most art shops and I get mine from two London companies in easy walking distance of each other. Both shops were established around 1855. Brodie & Middleton's service mainly the film and theatre industries whilst L Corneilessen service the fine arts and restoration. Both operate an excellent mail-order system.
Brodie and Middleton's London dry pigment is used primarily in scenic art (film and theatre), and designed to be safe since scenic artists will be working long hours. It can be bought by the kilo if needed. I've been using them since the 1970's.
L. Cornelissen's dry pigments specialise in quality artists' pigments. If you fancy the real ultramarine made from lapis lazuli then here's the place to be.
Brodie & MIddleton London.
Dry Pigments in use.
Above. Colour boxes for holding pigment prior to making up the paint.
These pigments were used in distemper for backdrops in theatre productions. They retain some of their original properties in that each colour behaves in unique ways. Prussian Blue sinks and reacts to different binders, other colours can rise to the surface. Each is unique.
Distemper is paint and made with rabbits' skin glue size. The glue size is dissolved in warm water and pigment is added and then applied warm onto the canvas. The result is a colour soft pure matt velvet finish. After the show the backdrop can be soaked in water so rinsing the colour out ready to paint the new scenes.
I use Golden glazes they are highly consistant and relatively soft working well with distemper.
Background to some of these pigments.
Most are from Thomas Hubbuck & Son and Alexander Fergusson. Hubbuck & Son were established in 1765 (yes 1765) in 24 Lime Street London. Their break came when inventing zinc white paint which was an effective rust preventer on steel. In 1993 they changed their name to Akzo Nobel Dexter Aerospace Coatings.
Above. Celestial Blue dating from around 1860.
From Simon Bourne
"It says Hubbard's White Zinc Patent London and a coat of arms, identical on both sides. It turns out to be a large paint maker, you can see more here Grace's Guide (Thomas Hubbuck and Son of 24 Lime Street, London, 1852, Hubbuck's Patent White Zinc Paint. In 1890 the company was registered on 18 August, to take over the business of the firm of the same name, patent white zinc paint, oil and colour merchants and manufacturers)."
From Tim Hubbuck,
"The factory was founded by Willlam Parker Hubbuck my 4th Great Grandfather in 1765 in Red Lion Street, Shadwell. It started by supplying oils & paints for ships. The real break in the family fortune was when William Parker's grandson Thomas discovered that they could produce Oxide of Zinc commercially. It started exporting around the world in particular to India, China, Cuba & the West Indies.
The family made huge amounts of money but after my Great Grandfather's death in 1901 age only 41 the company lost it's momentum. My Great Uncle & Grandfather did not have the same entrepreneurial spirit and spent more time living the high life & gambling on the horses. The factory was bought out in 1965 & moved up to Glasgow. I believe it was still running up until the 1990s.