Page:Cyclopedia of Painting-Armstrong, George D (1908).djvu/305

Rh red, or raw and burnt sienna together, give with white lead, a good and serviceable variety of permanent orange and salmon tints.

The compounding of the third division of material colors, the tertiary, from either of the two secondaries, is a subject that need scarcely here be dealt with. The painter who works at this subject will soon find those secondary pigments of orange and green which produce the tertiary citrine, whether bright or sombre, such as occasion requires. Of the remaining tertiaries, russet and olive, prepared from the secondaries purple and orange, purple and green, respectively, there is a good supply in the form of simple pigments. Notwithstanding, therefore, the necessity and advantage of the painter being able to obtain any color by the admixture of the three primaries, it is always most desirable to use a simple article of the desired color when it is to be had.

In the actual mixing of paints, it must not be thought that there is any one way that is exactly right while all other methods are exactly wrong. Every painter has his own peculiar way. In nearly all cases, the simplest plan is to use pigments ground in oil instead of dry powders. With a pallet knife break up the lead rather stiff, adding a little oil. Thin down each paint until it is rather stiffer than the whole will be when ready for actual application, or if dry pigments be used, add a little oil, and thoroughly mix. The lead, zinc, or other base being ready, add some pigment, and well stir. If several pigments are required to produce the tint, be sure to add only one at a time, and take great care that each is thoroughly mixed before the next one is added. As a further precaution, it is well not to add the pigment all at once, but to do so a little at a time. When it is certain that a thorough admixture has been effected, the next pigment may be added a little at a time. It is well to remember that some pigments, such as Prussian blue, are very strong, and the addition of too much will spoil the job. It is easy to add a little more, while it is impossible to take any out. A little