The "Swatch This" Challenge Day 10

PRUSSIAN BLUE

Technical Data:

Pigment: PB 27 | Series: 1
Lightfastness: I – Excellent
Transparency: Transparent
Staining: 3-Medium Staining
Granulation: Granulating

Prussian Blue is lightfast and transparent, with medium to high staining strength. Daniel Smith says that it can be considered interchangeable with the Phthalo Blue which is higher staining. I have Phthalo Blue Green Shade on my standard palette as well as Prussian Blue and admit that I have at times confused the two.

 What is a "staining" Pigment?
Pretty much what it sounds like,  a pigment that is very strong and leaves a mark.
Prussian blue is one but not as much of a brute as the Phthalo colors, Alizarin Crimson, most of the Cadmiums, Permanent Magenta, Hansa Yellow, Hooker’s Green, Indigo and Payne’s Gray, among others. Daniel Smith's Anthraquinoid Red, Perinone Orange all the Quinacridones.*  Stainers flow beautiful and put down wet, mingle with other colors. As long as the are wet, staining pigments can be lifted and washed back, but once dry, they are a force to be reckoned with. Staining pigments have strong clear color, and can be used well as a first wash. But there is a drawback, if you try to glaze over a stainer with another stainer or worse yet two more, the color on top will kill the under color and flatten the top color out. 


*See "Caroline Buchanan: Making Sense of Staining, Sedimentary and Transparent Pigments" an article for Dan Smith here