Just tried the Cobalt Violet from Blue Ridge Artist Materials. It’s nice. It has a high pigment load. On their website they say that their paint maker—Eric Silver—learned paint-making from Robert Doak. His paint handles similarly to his—not at all stiff, but rather smooth and creamy.
Like Doak, they grind their paint in a linseed/walnut blend in (they say) small batches. The prices are pretty reasonable and they have a nice (if not extremely broad) range of single-pigment paints. They have some interesting historical colors such as genuine vermilion, rose madder, and lead tin yellow. They also offer a copal medium and a copal retouch varnish.
If you are a reader and you have experience with these guys and their products, I’d be obliged if you’d share it in comments.
Hey David,
I’ve purchased a number of Blue Ridge’s paints, haven’t tried all of them yet. I don’t have any experience with Robert Doak’s paint, but if Blue Ridge is similar then that’s another reason to try Doak at some point. Anyway, I’ve used Blue Ridge’s Cobalt Blue, each of their whites, Ivory Black, both Cobalt Green’s and their Cad. Reds, Yellows, and Oranges, a couple others. Haven’t tried the Historical Colors. Wildly fond of their Cobalt Blue and Emerald Green, but not enough of a painter to know how they compare with others.
I’ve found Eric Silver to be a nice guy always willing to answer questions. I like too how he’ll send some samples with each order.
Thanks, Colin. I think I’m going to have to buy some paint from those guys.
Hopefully you’ll like them. I’d be interested to see any color strings you make using Blue Ridge. I’ve appreciated the ones you’ve been adding (I like Graham’s paints too).
I have purchased a few colors of Blue Ridge. I love them. The paint handles beautifully and the pigments are spot on. His historical colors are especially nice– noting exceptional quality to the Genuine Vermillion, which I find exquisite. Also the Ultramarine Blue Light is of remarkable beauty. I also have his Turkey Umber, Viridian, Naples Yellow, Lead Tin Yellow, Flake White, Genuine Rose Madder, and Cobalt Violet Deep. I have tried samples of his Cad Green, his Smalt Blue, his Azo Red and his Quin Red Rose.
The viridian is the best I have tried, the naples yellow is quite dark and I have had a hard time switching over from the pale naples I’m used to– but it’s still a very nice color, the lead tin yellow is strong, but handles well. The flake white is a great consistency, the rose madder is a beautiful color, but doesn’t have much tinting power. I loved his quin red rose. The smalt is also a very beautiful color– I would use it for transparent skies.
Hey Bethann, the Blue Ridge vermilion is the more orange Dutch type?
It seems to be. It’s very bright– brighter and hotter than a cad red light.
Doak’s genuine vermilion, likewise, is very warm and intense.
I love Eric’s Paint, and am only purchasing paint from him now, Exceptional pigments, great workability, it is realy good stuff, and I feel fortunate to live in the same town! (Asheville)
Fleta,
Thanks for the comments. When I need more paint, I will definitely order some from Eric.
Eric’s paint is uniformly excellent. And he’s working on a new line that is being made without stearate or additives. I’ve tried a couple small samples and it’s really great paint. The Flemish White is a must have. Eric’s completely accessible and responsive to any questions or concerns. If one is familiar with Robert Doak’s paint, Eric’s is comparable. Highest quality for a really reasonable price. I’ve never been disappointed with a color I’ve purchased from him.