Cadmium free and loving it.

Marvin Mattelson · 05-07-2004, 10:54 AM

Hi Sharon,

Long time!?!

Anyway, I'm glad you and Claude are back together. Especially for Claude's sake. The English Red goes by many names. Each manufacturer has different names for the same color and different colors for the same name. Michael Harding makes Venetian Red, which is what I use. Everything I use is Michael Harding colors, including Ultramarine with the exception of Blockx Crimson Lake which I use instead of Alizarin, for reasons of permanence. I am currently seeing if the poor permanency rating of Alizarin is flawed, based on a bad example tested. Stay tuned.

I don't use Raw Sienna for two reasons. Paxton didn't and it's redundant based on what the other color mixes can give you.

Peter Jochems · 05-22-2004, 11:24 AM

Isn't Flake white poisonous? They sell it here in the stores in litlle cans instead of tubes. It's too dangerous and they manufacture it primarily for restoration purposes.

I edited this post later and added these links:
http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=347

http://www.michaelharding.co.uk/safety.htm
(thanks Sharon)

Joan Breckwoldt · 05-22-2004, 06:13 PM

Marvin,

Hmm, I am slowing coming around in my journey to become a portrait artist to the Paxton palette. (Perhaps that brainwashing you mentioned in an earlier post somehow works through the computer?) I have taken meticulous notes about the Paxton palette and will give it a try. Also I'll find any books I can on Paxton himself. I am actually not unhappy using cads but I think that is only due to my ignorance of knowing what else to do. Thank you for posting so much information about this palette.

Sharon,

I tried to send you an e-mail yesterday using the e-mail address from your website but it got returned. (I'm sure it was technical problems on my end). Could you e-mail me and then I'll hit 'reply' in response to your e-mail? I'll be in R.I. in June and am interested in meeting you and seeing some of your work in person!

Joan
[email protected]

Chris Saper · 05-22-2004, 10:29 PM

Having just spent a week with Gary Hoff in Bill Whitaker's workshop, this is what I have learned about flake white and other lead products:

1. Bill says "Just don't spread it on your toast"

2. Gary says (he is BTW the Dean of Cardiology at his University) (oh, and by the way completely delightful guy) " I have never ever seen a case of adult lead poisoning."

Don't let your kids eat the stuff, and wash your hands before eating.

Linda Brandon · 05-23-2004, 05:14 PM

I had my friend the toxicologist-who-always-wanted-to-be-an-artist over at my studio a few weeks ago and he was of the same opinion as Dr. Gary... but my friend was horrified to discover that I walk around with my brushes stuck in my mouth most of the time. (Not the bristle ends, I'm not that absent-minded.) My use of Maroger probably increases my risk.

At his suggestion, I'm getting a base-level blood test for lead at my next physical. If I come out clean then the rest of you are probably clean, too.

Meanwhile, my parrot that sits on my shoulder while I paint recently did a spectacular belly-flop into my lead white on my hand held palette. I guess I'm using him as an early warning system, sort of a canary-in-the-coal-mine thing.

Michele Rushworth · 05-23-2004, 08:03 PM

Now, Linda, you HAVE to post a picture of you painting with a parrot on your shoulder. That, I gotta see!

Linda Brandon · 05-24-2004, 09:51 AM

I'm waiting for somebody to start a new thread under the "Studio" topic, titled "Studio Pets." I have a feeling that there's a lot of them out there.

Sharon Knettell · 05-25-2004, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

I had my friend the toxicologist-who-always-wanted-to-be-an-artist over at my studio a few weeks ago and he was of the same opinion as Dr. Gary... but my friend was horrified to discover that I walk around with my brushes stuck in my mouth most of the time. (Not the bristle ends, I'm not that absent-minded.) My use of Maroger probably increases my risk.

At his suggestion, I'm getting a base-level blood test for lead at my next physical. If I come out clean then the rest of you are probably clean, too.

Meanwhile, my parrot that sits on my shoulder while I paint recently did a spectacular belly-flop into my lead white on my hand held palette. I guess I'm using him as an early warning system, sort of a canary-in-the-coal-mine thing.

To say I nearly fell off my chair laughing is an understatement!

Ken Smith · 05-29-2004, 11:44 AM

I just read through this thread for the first time. Very interesting, and I'm looking forward to trying out the non-cadmium palette on my next piece.

One thing I didn't understand, when Marvin speaks of using neutral grays to reduce the chromatic intensity (rather than complements), what paint color is that exactly? I've seen a line of neutral grays in acrylic, but I don't recall seeing any in oil. Or is he just speaking of mixing black and white to make the various values of gray?

(Taking his workshop is on my list of things to do as soon as possible).

thanks in advance for the info.