The Fugitive
You remember The Fugitive, don’t you? The story of Dr. Richard Kimble, a doctor accused of murdering his wife. He escapes from a wrecked prison bus, disappears from his captors, and becomes a fugitive from the law.
Fugitive is also a term that’s also applied to artist pigments. Artists pigments should be light fast. What this means, is that when exposed to direct light for a period of time, the color doesn’t fade, disappear, or become altered in any way. Ratings are determined by the ASTM, or the Blue Wool Standard that house paint manufacturers have used for years. Pigments that are not light fast are not suitable for materials labeled artist grade. They are fugitive pigments.
Pigments are the pot of gold at the end of the artist’s rainbow. They’re the icing on the cake of beautiful composition. Artists pay a premium price for their pigments, and should be aware of what they’re getting.
Can you imagine the look on my face as I was reading Sennelier’s rating of 0 on some of their pastels? I almost fell out of my chair, but decided maybe it was either a misprint, or maybe those colors were something really special.
So, I wrote to the company and asked about the big fat zero on my pastel color chart. Sure enough, the zero means it’s a fugitive color, and unsuitable for artist’s pigments. Silly me. I assumed a reputable company like Sennelier wouldn’t use fugitive pigments in their artist grade materials.
What really surprised me was the cobalt violets. Cobalt is a light fast pigment, but these don’t contain any cobalt. They’re made with Triarylmethane violets and Anthraquinone. Oil painters take heed, PR83, Alizarin Crimson, is an anthraquinone, and should be substituted with one of the newer quinacridones like Winsor & Newton’s Permanent Rose.
The purple blue lighter tints are ok. They’re made with ultramarine, manganese, and cobalt* violets. The two dark ones that are coming out of the pastel box are made with the same pigments as the cobalt violets, above.
Anthraquinone Violets
Rhodamine Lake pigments
Madder Carmine 378 is made with Diazo Condensation Red, and completely light fast. Try Sennelier’s new Magenta Violets 940-947 in place of Purple Violet 323-329.
Lightfast Violet Magentas
Now, how about the fine art collectors? I wonder how they would feel if they paid for a work of fine art, and it faded in 2-10 years? Artists, check your supplies!
*Cobalts are hazardous to your health. Cobalt Violet (PV14) and Cobalt Blue (PB28) are considered toxic. DO NOT breathe dust!
Read more about pigments at Paintmaking.com.
Read about watercolors at Handprint.com. Individual colors are listed at the very top of the page. Click on a color name for a complete listing of pigments.
Read about lightfast issues with colored pencils at Making a Mark.
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Thanks Lisa - a really great post.
This lightfastness thing seems to have captured a lot of attention so I guess I’ll probably be doing a follow-up post listing all those who’ve identified issued. I’ll link to this post when I do.
BTW, it looks like Richard Kimbell’s nemesis passed away today. Barry Morse Dead at 89
Looks like I’ll have to break out my color charts…
Thanks Katherine. With so many new light fast pigments available these days, I can’t justify buying lesser quality supplies. Fortunately, manufacturers are getting the idea and realizing it’s either change their pigments, or lose their customers.
I’m doing the same thing Casey. I’m also finding that there are light fast replacements from other vendors for my fugitive colors. Sometimes change is a good thing!
Wow, I knew they did that with paints (especially “designers” gouache), but pastels… they’re pure pigment. Astounding. :/
Meg, I’m checking all my supplies, but I wonder how they get away with calling them artist grade materials. It’s like buying a diamond that turns into glass after you get it home!