Unique Color: Sepia

UNIQUE COLOR:

SEPIA

Notes on the R&F Paint Making Process

SEPIA

From a paint maker’s point of view this color can be a bit daunting, if not downright frustrating to wrangle into reality (apologies to Management, just being honest here). There are a few reasons for this. Let’s take a look.

#1. There are five pigments in this formula.

Did you say five?

Yes, Five.

#2. It’s just brown, right?

Well, Yes and no.

Yes, it is brown..ish. So no, it’s not just brown. It’s nuanced and subtle, warm and cool at the same time. What we refer to around here as ‘complex.’

Sepia is Richard Frumess at his finest. This formulation found its place in the R&F color line approximately 23 years ago (the first batch was made on 4/10/1996). Many a paint maker past and present has bemoaned its presence on the production schedule. Not because it’s not an interesting color to make or use; because it’s a beast to get right. But when your number is up, it’s up, and you get to work.

When we talk about the ‘complex’ mix this is exactly what we’re referring to. As stated above, it contains five pigments. They are as follows: Quinacridone Magenta, Brown Pink, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium, and Zinc White.

Each of these pigments (every pigment actually) has a unique personality. The paint maker’s job is to bring out the distinctive traits of a pigment – make them known for the painter but also get them to play well with each other. Mill one component too tightly and it could dominate, or worse, fall flat.

But when these mixes work out, when all the pieces come together as intended, the result can deliver a complexity and depth unmatched by any ‘single pigment’ color. It is nuance and discovery prepared with care and experience and delivered directly into the hands of the painter, the printmaker, the artist.

We hope you enjoy. Keep Painting.