As long as I am talking about color, I have found a friend in a color that has gone underestimated on the color wheel. Yellow Ochre…..
For some reason, (and I have been very guilty of this) artists try to build portraits in oranges, pinks and boring browns. I see these paintings and I think to myself….”if only this painting had some yellow ochre in it!”
Rembrandt knew the value of yellow-ochre. His paintings are rich and full of the pigment.
Look at how marvelous this portrait is below…the hits of red in the cheek appear red and fresh because of the yellowish yellow-ochre dominance everywhere else.
Apparently, there are a few different kinds of “earth” ochres, Limonite- this little guy below- a mineraloid containing iron hydroxide, is the main ingredient of all the ochre pigments.
Yellow ochre is close to green on the color wheel and it almost feels a little greenish, so it can “cool off” an area without having to pick green or blue hues.
My little paintng below would not have been successful without this color. Otherwise, everything would have been too “pink” on the lit side of his face.
So look for the ochre! It will be your friend too….
This might interest you.In France there is a
an ochre Conservatory in France
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/en/museum/ochre-conservatory
so cool! thanks!
Years ago when I painted oils, I could not imagine flesh tons without yellow ochre..and now that I paint only with pastels, it is still a standard in flesh tones. An occasional practice with the Zorn palette is a great way to appreciate this.
I agree! love Zorn!
agree!
Thank you for sharing this information. I found it quite helpful
great! 🙂
🙂
Thanks for your advice!
🙂
Thanks Christine…good info! And good reminder!
🙂
YO! Back at you, Christine. 😉 Love adding this touch to my pieces… Your posts continue to highlight precious, ARTistic nuggets of information & insight. Gratitude!
P.S. Yes, fascinated & ‘play’ w/Zorn palette in oils when I need a switch-out/stretch…🤔
love Zorn!!!!
In restoring or repairing antique artwork, yellow ochre is the single most important color. Every color seems to be mixed with some degree of it.
agree!