sketchbook“THE OBJECT ISN’T TO MAKE ART,
IT’S TO BE IN THAT WONDERFUL STATE
WHICH MAKES ART INEVITABLE”
- ROBERT HENRI
THE COLOUR
This intense, blue-leaning deep red is based upon
madder, a natural dye that was fi rst used in ancient Egypt
and later picked up by artists such as JMW Turner and
even Queen Victoria was a fan.THE PROPERTIES
Chemically identical to natural madder pigment, Alizarin
Crimson is based on the PR83 pigment which always
scores poorly on lightfastness tests. Try Quinacridone
Magenta or Perylene Maroon for more permanent
alternatives.THE USES
Despite these reservations, Alizarin Crimson is a staple of
many art school colour lists and its staining quality means
it mixes well with transparent and opaque pigments alike.
Colourman Michael Harding also notes that Alizarin
Crimson’s “cool, rather smoky hues” are “well suited for
Caucasian fl esh” mixes.EXPAND YOUR PALETTE
Discover a new colour every month
Alizarin Crimson
LIQUID CHARCOAL
WHY NOT TRY...
It may sound like a fuel for
your open fi re during the
winter months, but liquid
charcoal is in fact a rather
useful tool to have in your
bag at your next life
drawing session.
Squeezed from the
tube, liquid charcoal is as
thick and buttery as oil
paint, yet this rich, black
substance can be diluted
as required as it is made
from powdered charcoal in
a water-soluble suspension.
Use it to subtly darken
charcoal drawings or
create textured washesBOOK OF THE MONTH
If You’re Bored with Acrylics Read This Bo
Brighton tutor Denise Harrison has the per
the doldrums with your acrylic painting. Th
“tutorials”, the projects in this book are far
instead designed to shake up your practice
skills. From painting on photographs and P
glazing sunsets and experimenting with fa
is fi rmly on the process rather than the res
more encouraging and enjoyable way to lea
Ilex Press, £14.99. http://www.ilex.press