[Antir_scribes] A Question about Blues...

[SPYDRBAET at aol.com]

I made a slight mistake this weekend which by happenstance showed me a new  
way to try and achieve that lovely Madonna (Lapis) blue from period using  
Gouache. And I was wondering if anyone else has done something similar or has  any 
tips on achieving that color using Gouache and not pigments? (I have  
respiratory issues that preclude pigments right now)
 
I mistakenly painted some areas of a scroll with permanent white that were  
supposed to be blue. So after it dried I painted over it with Azure blue (both  
Winsor-Newton) and wow I had the closest match to that lovely shade of blue 
that  I have ever seen. And I have tried mixing it using every shade of blue I 
own. 
Then I got to thinking about grounds, in period, on panel painting and the  
use of lead white to give tooth to the vellum for silverpoint drawing and the  
whole transparent versus opaqueness in layers and realized I may have stumbled 
 upon my way of creating that effect in future scrolls. Also am kinda curious 
to  try it with some other colors and see what the effect is.
Have any of you utilized this technique or something like it and had good  
results? Do you have any suggestions on what Gouache colors you mix to make that 
 Celestial blue?
 
Alainne
 
 
 
 
Summits Rocks!