Old Holland New Masters Classic Acrylic Paints have been developed with a high pigment concentration and a patented binding system, allowing each colour to display the unique characteristics of the individual pigment. In this Artist Review of the Month, Sheila Buggy shares her thoughts on the Quinacridone Fuchsia Acrylic paint that dries to a satin gloss and can be used for techniques ranging from thick impasto to ultra-thin glazing.
Artist Review of Old Holland Quinacridone Fuchsia Acrylic Paint
by Sheila Buggy
One of my guilty pleasures, which is similar to Holbein’s Quinacridone Magenta colour-wise, is Old Holland’s Quinacridone Fuchsia. The red/violet balance is just perfect and I highly recommend this colour. It has a glossier finish than the Quinacridone Magenta and holds the brushstrokes well straight out of the tube. I call it my guilty pleasure because of the cost. Old Holland is great paint, but pricey. For a smoother finish, a bit of acrylic flow medium and distilled water can help. But don’t overdo it, as too much flow may cause saponification (or soapiness) over time. Supposedly, it’s recommended to gently wipe a well-cured painting with a damp cloth before applying an isolation coat.
I also found that I needed an acrylic version of the oil-based glazing medium I used for faux finishes. Since I started out with oils, I wanted a change with the acrylics, and I wanted to take advantage of the effort Old Holland has put into their development of acrylics. I needed a stable and flowing glaze medium that was more matt in finish and would provide the necessary tooth for overlays. One that would blend well with the paints, but would also lay down nicely for that smoothness in finish. I prefer Jackson’s Acrylic Fluid Matt Medium, as it is perfect for this. I find that it flows beautifully, the finish lays down nicely, it’s cured after a few days, and there is no milkiness.
I prefer to use colours that are rich in pigment and don’t fade or lose their richness when mixed with a glaze medium. I want a multiple-colour, layered effect with depth, similar to oil painting, but using acrylics. I had to find user-friendly media since oils can be smelly, and odour is a concern in my home studio. I use various brands of everything to achieve this, and am still finding new combinations to explore. I was a painting contractor doing specialty finishes for over 30 years, and that gives me an insight into using multiple media, which combined with my art background, allows me to create faux and other effects.
After much trial and error, I found the perfect reddish-purple translucent glaze in Old Holland’s Quinacridone Fuchsia. It creates such a rich colour when overlaid as a glaze over the Cadmium. Whether using reds, or different shades of purples and violets, the colours just mesh together seamlessly, adding a different dimension and complexity to the final finish. When the acrylic has set and cured for a good week or so, I then apply an isolation coat to even out the varied sheens of colours and mediums used throughout the process. This gels them together. And then after a good curing time for that coat, which is a barrier coat for the next couple of varnish coats to follow, you can then have the effect of oils and the richness of colours.
Further Reading
Acrylic Soak-Stain Painting: Preparation and Methods
Green Gold and its Colour Mixing Possibilities
Fugitive Pigments: Why Do They Fade, and Does it Matter?
Shop Old Holland New Masters Classic Quinacridone Fuchsia Acrylic Paint on jacksonsart.com
