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Cerulean Is a Weird Color

I sat down to paint with nothing in mind. I really wanted to try out some basic shapes and forms - putting in some practice with flat washes and diffused edges. I didn't end up with a finished painting, but I do feel a little more comfortable with the paint.

As the title and picture would suggest, Cerulean is odd. Cotman brand Cerulean pigment has really weak tinting strength. Even in its most concentrated form, Cerulean is extremely light in color. Oddly enough, it is also the only hue in my palette that stains and separates on the page. I really like the effect it created on this sphere, but it's not appropriate for most things.

I appreciate that Cerulean is more subdued than Pthalo Blue; it just happens to go a little too far in the opposite direction. I may have to look into French Ultramarine for something in between the two.

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