Frequently Asked Questions
You will find below a selection of FAQs relating to using Artists' Acrylic Colour. If you still can't find the answer you're looking for you can email us.
1. What are primary colours in the Cotman Water Colour range?
2. What does hue mean when used in colour name?
3. Which white is in the Cotman Water Colour range?
4. Which are good brushes to use with Cotman Water Colour?
5. Can solidified tubes be rescued?
6. Can you make pans by allowing tube colour to solidify?
1. What are primary colours in the Cotman Water Colour range?
The three primary colours in Cotman Water Colour are Lemon Yellow Hue, Ultramarine and Permanent Rose. If using a six colour mixing system we would recommend Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue, Ultramarine, Intense Blue, Permanent Rose and Cadmium Red Hue.
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2. What does hue mean when used in colour name?
"Hue" means colour and indicates that a modern pigment has been used instead of the traditional one. For example, 'Cadmium Red Pale Hue' in Cotman Water Colour is a 'colour of cadmium red pale'. A hue colour is not necessarily inferior.
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3. Which white is in the Cotman Water Colour range?
Traditionally the white of the paper provides the brilliance to water colour and can be used as highlights. However, some artists utilise Chinese White for highlights at the end of their painting or in dulling some colour mixtures down.
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4. Which are good brushes to use with Cotman Water Colour?
For advice on selecting a brush for Cotman Water Colour please click here. In addition to this Cotman brushes are a range of pure synthetic water colour brushes of the highest quality that have been created using the same skills, generated over many years, as those used in making the finest sable brushes.
For further information on Cotman Brushes click here.
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5. Can solidified tubes be rescued?
It will not be possible to return Winsor and Newton Cotman Water Colour tubes to their liquid form. However, you will be able to use them as a type of pan colour. We would point out that they will not perform as well as our Cotman Water Colour that has been formulated specifically for pan application. Adding a little Winsor & Newton Gum Arabic medium may help as well.
To prolong the life of your water colour tubes for as long as possible always ensure:
1. The threads on the neck are free of colour
2. The lid is replaced tightly
3. The tubes are stored at ambient temperature
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6. Can you make pans by allowing tube colour to solidify?
It is generally not advisable to make pans from solidified tube colour as better results are obtained using the custom formulated pan. It is however possible to create a kind of pan colour by doing this which can be improved by adding a little extra Winsor & Newton Gum Arabic medium.
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