News flash - this just in. Was checking out the Kremer-pigmente website for updates - this is new and timely:""Many yellow pigments with good hiding power have recently discontinued because of their toxicity; Chrome yellow contains lead, as does Naples yellow, and many artists are now avoiding cadmium yellow. A new pigment, Bristol yellow, which is based on non-toxic bismuth, is both metal-based and covering, as well as being very brilliant and lightfast, making it not only a good substitute for the discontinued pigments, but also an excellent new color for artists. A customer of ours writes from Germany:
"The Bristol yellow type of pigments are not yet available in tubes. The powder is very soft and can be easily turned into any kind of paint for which a careful mixing with a palette knife or disperion in a mortar and pestle is sufficient. Only when filling the paint into tubes would one recommend mulling the pigment with a glass muller. Because of its high specific weight, one should let the mixture stand a little, add some more pigment if oil separates out, and possibly add some wax paste (no. 79250 wax paste oil medium) to prevent further separation in the tube. Bristol yellow is a normal drying pigment, which can be used in all oils without drier, preferably in walnut or linseed oil.
Bristol yellow is also very suited for tempera technique. After varnishing, there is practically no visual difference to cadmium yellow. Mixed with an acrylic dispersion, one can easily produce acrylic paint that outperforms most commercial products. Despite of its hiding power, the particular brilliance of Bristol yellow makes the hues also very effective in watercolor technique, for which they are dispersed with a gum arabic solution in a mortar and pestle. Bristol yellow is always used on bottom layers in watercolor painting. Bristol yellow is a good example for the emrgence of new and superior materials, that also exhibit a maximum of ecological safety."
43101 Bristol yellow light 100 g / 27.90
43111 Bristol yellow medium 100 g / 27.90
43131 Bristol yellow reddish 100 g / 27.90
79250 Wax paste oil medium 180 ml / 6.80 ""
Who knows if this pigment is any good for fresco. We are the only ones who care, and will be the ones who have to test it. And ten years from now, the old pigments might be unavailable - all because somebody thinks artists eat paint, and have to be protected.
