Description
A single pigment paint made with Magnetite, an iron ore which is the most magnetic of all the naturally occurring minerals on earth (see picture above). Who would have thought it would make really good paint!
Well, there is some logic as arguably the best and most stable pigments - the 'earth' pigments - are usually derived from iron rich ores and this is just a progression from that.
The paint possesses a rich, opacity alongside that earthy, almost creamy quality which earth pigments have in oil.
When I first saw the tube (after trying to stick it to a steel radiator) I did think this will be black, but like a green earth is green - quite thin with low tint power - that is not the case - it can take plenty of titanium white and has a tint power similar to most of the other more familiar blacks.
It has real body and none of the oily nature of generic carbon black.
The tints are just slightly cooler than bone black/ivory black - so would make an interesting substitute on a Zorn type palette. I can't think of a cooler single pigment black.
Smooth and fairly long in handling.
Technical Overview
Pigment - Magnetite
Vehicle - Cold Pressed Linseed Oil
Opacity - Opaque
Tint Power - Medium
Munsell - Hue 5 PB - Value 1 - Chroma 1
Wallace Seymour
