Experimenting with paint colors created using authentic mineral pigment.
Our friend Scott from Daniel Smith Watercolors paid us a visit at the Capitola Store recently to demonstrate the quality, blend-ability, and natural looking textures of their colors created using authentic mineral pigment.
35 of the 200 colors that Daniel Smith manufactures are made of authentic mineral pigment. This ancient technique of paint-making was used by ancient civilizations like the Mayans and ancient Egyptians, who would also crush up minerals to use for paint. All Daniel Smith watercolors are tested for lightfastness and are guaranteed for up to 150 years of vibrant color.
During Scott’s visit, we had the chance to test several of these mineral-based colors, comparing them to the original mineral form. Here are some of our favorites:
Green Apatite
Green Apatite has beautiful granulation; something that naturally occurs with the mineral pigment. This paint is perfect for natural looking textures and the green is absolutely beautiful right from the tube. Although you can mix it with other colors to change the hue, you don’t need to add any additional colors to get the perfect green.
Bronzite Genuine
Bronzite Genuine has a sparkle. This is not added to the pigment but instead, naturally occurs from the mineral itself! Sparkles like these are perfect for dew drops and eye highlighting.
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is sourced from Sleeping Beauty Mountain in Arizona!
Amethyst Genuine
Mineral pigments have a beautiful, natural effect while painting and colors like Amethyst Genuine have a lovely gradation.
Rhodonite
Rhodonite loves spreading with the wet on wet method — when wet paint comes in contact with a wet surface. The feathering result of this method is a signature mark of watercolor.
About Daniel Smith Watercolors
Daniel Smith is an innovative manufacturer of artists’ watercolors and oil paints. The Seattle based company has been producing Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors since 1993 with the following promise:
Daniel Smith Finest Watercolors – A classic watercolor of unsurpassed purity and permanence. The vision in the formulation of a new line of watercolors was twofold;
First and foremost, to produce watercolors that are the best in lightfastness and permanence.
Second, to offer a selection of truly unique colors.
You can find a full selection of Daniel Smith offerings at both Palace Art & Office Supply retail stores.