These Watercolour Tubes Lasted Me Five Years
In 2013, I was given some Daniel Smith watercolour paint to test out by a friend. I've already used up some of the tubes but there are three tubes that have lasted me for more than five years. Those three colours are Quinacridone Red (PV19), Quinacridrone Magenta (PR202) and Phthalo Blue (PB15:3).
It's really quite difficult use up these colours for several reasons.
Quinacridone and Phthalo colours are have incredibly high tinting strength. Only a tiny bit of paint is needed to create an intense wash.
The other reason is, there aren't many subjects that require using large amount of red to paint. Red doesn't appear as much compared to other colours, like blue (sky) or greens (plants). I usually use red to neutralise the greens, but you don't need to use much.
Phthalo Blue is a colour that I like, but I'm very cautious of using it because of its tinting strength. When it comes to painting the sky, I prefer to use French Ultramarine because I like the granulation.
These are the typical mixes you can get with the three colours.
I kinda like the mix of Phthalo Green with Quinacridone Magenta to produce a really dark colour that's close to black. It's green for painting greens that are in dark shadows.
So I still have a long way to go before using up these three colours. Maybe I should just throw in a yellow and paint exclusively with this limited palette. That way I can use them up fast and explore other colours.
Comments
I'm amazed they can stay for
I'm amazed they can stay for as long as five years without drying in the tubes. My DS seems to stay intact too inside the tube but I've noticed that some of the more cheaper brands dried up in a tube
LOL, I go through quin red
LOL, I go through quin red and all the other reds/pinks like it's going out of style. That along with phthalo glue and green. But then I paint fruit and stuff. :o)
Hi, Teoh. I'm just curious
Hi, Teoh. I'm just curious why you would have an urge to use these up quickly. You said to try other colors, but of course you can do that anyway. I have heard others mention the "need" to finish up a stock of paint as well. I'm not questioning that "need," I just don't understand it.
Thank you for your insight on this!
David
@David Zeller
In reply to Hi, Teoh. I'm just curious by David Zeller (not verified)
@David Zeller
I want to use them up because otherwise, those tubes and others will keep on accumulating. If each time I get a new colour to try, those colours that I don't use will be unused for months or years. Nothing wrong with that I guess, but I'm someone who likes to use up something before I buy something else.
@Wijnruit
In reply to I'm amazed they can stay for by Wijnruit (not verified)
@Wijnruit
I haven't experience drying in tube yet with various brands that I've used. As long as the tube is properly capped and there's no leak or breakage, the paint should remain soft. I do have problems with the gum arabic separating from certain colours though.
It is literally impossible to
It is literally impossible to run out of phthalos due to their extreme tinting strength and I avoid them for this exact reason. They are great mixers but difficult to handle on sketching conditions. They can mess up everything. But they are great for premixing certain hues.
The Quinacridones though are not in the same league and both Q. Red and Q. Magenta are some of the colours that I use the most and I have to buy often. But I paint a lot of florals and botanicals either way so it has to do a lot with the subjects that I prefer to paint.
Q. Magenta is also the ultimate mixing colour. It shouldn't be left out from any kind of sketching palette as it is one of the very basic colours. I would advice to prefer though those that are made by PV19 that is more transparent and ligthfast.
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