Naples Yellow

[Karin Wells]

I think that you're being a bit too hard on Mr. Gamblin...there really is no particular standard as to what "Naples Yellow" should look like.

I gather the pigment for "Naples Yellow" was originally found in the earth around Naples, Italy. I also imagine that there are naturally occuring variations found in each pile of dirt dug up to get the stuff.

"Naples Yellow" is a term as general as "Apple Pie"...there are as many recipies as there are cooks to make it (and my mom's was the best ever...) Fortunately, we each get to choose our favorite.

And I don't particularly like Gamblin's Naples Yellow either...

You're right, Karin, I was a bit too harsh on my previous post regarding Mr. Gamblin (I guess some general anger was manifesting itself here...!)...

Many of their products are great--their Transparent Earth Yellow is marvelous--like a classical Indian yellow, and it makes the most wonderful greens (ala Vermeer) when glazed over Ultramarine blue. I also am a big fan of their PVA size.

I do wish that Gamblin would get more specific about their pigments/hues. Many of the European manufacturers (who seem to me much more "classic" oriented about pigments and hue names) also make the same mustard-ish Naples yellow that Gamblin makes, but they all call it "Naples Yellow Dark"; I think such definations are most helpful to me when I am purchasing paints.

[Karin Wells]

Paint names seem to only be a general indication of the color. And that drives me nuts too....as they vary so much from brand to brand.

I seldon buy a color I'm unfamiliar with unless I can unscrew the cap and look at it. I find that the color charts are seldom accurate either.

I use a very limited palette, but can't resist trying new paints. I have made some expensive mistakes

Thank heavens the manufacturers don't use color names like: Duck Yellow, Baby Toe Pink, Bubble Gum Blue, Early Sage, and Mushroom.

It is bad enough to have "Flesh" which doesn't match anybody's skin tone...ever.

[Marta Prime]

Or...not! Even the "sample" color of the Gamblin Naples Yellow looked mustardy in the Dick Blick web site. Although I know these are not true representations, I still thought "yuk"! The truth is, I rarely use a color right out of the tube anyway, I am always mixing up some concoction to find the color I want.

For me, mixing up the paint is part of the fun of being an artist. Stems from my childhood I guess. I still remember mixing up a white frosting and adding blue food coloring a drop at a time an then running the mixer and saying...ooooooH! My mother came in and saw dark blue frosting and thought it was a disgusting looking cake....but yummy tasting!

My main concern is the health factor, and Gamblin has the corner on that. I've been pretty good at being able to repeat paint mix recipies, but Karin's post on how to "save paint" has really helped too.