Detailed Analysis of Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Chart

Explore pigments, granulation effects, and opacity in a structured, artist-focused guide

artists painting studio watercolour pigments

Highlights

Comprehensive Pigment Breakdown: Detailed categorization of inorganic, organic, and miscellaneous pigments.
Granulation and Opacity Insights: Clear annotations on granulating qualities and the transparency levels of watercolours.
Practical Chart Organization: An organized table that groups each pigment by type, granulation, and opacity features.

Overview of Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolours

The Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour range is renowned among artists for its high quality and vibrant performance. The pigment formulations are designed to offer exceptional brilliance and permanence thanks to the use of pure, high-quality pigments. An extensive colour chart includes vital information regarding:

Pigment Composition: Each watercolour is formulated from either traditional inorganic pigments like cobalts, earths, and ultramarines, or modern organic pigments.
Granulating Qualities: Many colours exhibit granulation – a unique characteristic where pigments clump on paper, adding texture and depth. The chart clearly annotates these with a 'G' indicator.
Opacity Classification: The range includes transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, and opaque finishes, allowing artists to choose colours based on their layering and blending needs.

Detailed Properties: Pigments, Granulation, and Opacity

When organizing the Winsor & Newton Professional watercolour range, it is useful to consider the following aspects:

1. Pigment Categories

The pigments can be broadly classified as:

a) Inorganic Pigments

Traditional pigments such as ultramarines, cobalts, and earth tones form the backbone of the inorganic range. These pigments are often prized for their natural granulation tendencies and durability.

b) Organic Pigments

Organic pigments provide intense colours and often have a modern formulation that optimizes lightfastness, though they generally lack the granulating properties seen in inorganic options.

c) Natural/Synthetic Miscellaneous

This category includes pigments that are either synthetic versions of natural earths or novel pigment formulations designed to retain certain traditional qualities with improved performance.

Organized Chart: Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Pigments

Below is a structured table that organizes selected Winsor & Newton pigments by pigment category, granulation quality, and opacity level:

Pigment Name	Pigment Type	Granulating Quality	Opacity	Notes
Cerulean Blue (Red Shade)	Inorganic	Granulating	Semi-Opaque	Popular for its unique blend of transparency and texture.
Cobalt Violet	Inorganic	Non-Granulating	Semi-Transparent to Opaque	Offers a subtle variation in tone when applied in thin washes.
Ultramarine	Inorganic	Granulating	Transparent	Renowned for its intense blue hue and exquisite textural effects.
Payne's Gray	Inorganic	Non-Granulating	Semi-Transparent	Favored for atmospheric effects in landscape painting.
Phthalocyanine Green (Blue Shade)	Organic	Non-Granulating	Transparent to Semi-Opaque	Valued for its vibrant green tone with excellent mixing properties.
Permanent Rose (Quinacridone)	Organic	Non-Granulating	Variable	Offers intense and enduring colour with modern formulation benefits.
Perylene Red	Organic	Non-Granulating	Lightfast	Known for its high permanence and vibrant tonality.
Dioxazine Purple	Organic	Staining, Non-Granulating	Opaque	Produces deep, rich tones with high pigment load.
Yellow Ochre	Natural/Synthetic	Non-Granulating	Opaque	Classic earthy tone, excellent for natural landscapes and skin tones.
Burnt Sienna	Natural/Synthetic	Non-Granulating	Transparent	Used traditionally for warm, earthy washes or mixed with other colours.
Raw Umber	Natural/Synthetic	Non-Granulating	Transparent to Semi-Opaque	Valued for its versatility in underpainting and tonal studies.
Indian Red	Natural/Synthetic	Non-Granulating	Opaque	Excellent for strong colour accents and dense impasto work.
French Ultramarine	Inorganic	Granulating	Transparent	Exhibits traditional granulation, perfect for sky effects.
Cobalt Blue	Inorganic	Granulating	Variable	High performance in mixing and layering with notable granulation.
Brown Ochre (Granulating Version)	Natural/Synthetic	Granulating	Variable	A newly introduced version that emphasizes texture on paper.
Terre Verte (Yellow Shade)	Natural/Synthetic	Granulating	Generally Transparent	Provides a natural, muted greenish tone with subtle texture.

Understanding Granulation and Opacity

Granulation and opacity are two critical characteristics that define the visual and working properties of watercolour paints:

Granulation

Granulation refers to the tendency of pigment particles to clump together on the surface of the paper, creating a textured or mottled appearance. This effect is primarily seen with traditional inorganic pigments such as ultramarines, cobalts, and some earth tones. Winsor & Newton annotates these pigments on their colour charts, often marking them with a "G" to indicate their granulating properties. Artists can enhance this effect by using a granulation medium or selecting rough, textured papers.

Opacity

Opacity describes how much a pigment blocks or transmits light. In Winsor & Newton watercolours, opacity can range from fully transparent—which is ideal for glazing and layered washes—to fully opaque—which is useful for covering underlying colours or establishing strong focal points. The opacity level is a key factor in achieving depth and contrast in a painting, and the detailed chart helps artists select the right pigment based on the desired visual effect.

Additional Technical Resources

For artists who wish to further explore the technical properties of the Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour range, detailed colour charts and technical data sheets are available. These resources provide:

Extensive pigment composition details including pigment numbers and sources.
Granulation markers that highlight which colours will exhibit texture when applied.
Comprehensive opacity ratings, often described in layers of transparency—from transparent to opaque.
Information on lightfastness and permanence ratings that ensure long-term stability in artwork.

Artists can refer to the official Winsor & Newton website and numerous external reviews for in-depth charts that include all 109 colours, offering a practical dot card reference for quick visual assessments. This organization of information helps in meticulously planning techniques and achieving the desired mix of colour effects.

Practical Applications in Artistic Work

In practice, the selection of the right watercolour pigments is essential for achieving various artistic effects. By understanding the pigment composition, granulating qualities, and opacity, artists can:

Mixing and Layering Techniques

Knowing whether a pigment is granulating or not can help in planning mixes. For instance, a granulating pigment like Ultramarine can be layered with a more uniform pigment to balance texture and smoothness in a wash. Layering transparent colours can build luminous effects, while using opaque pigments strategically can correct or intensify certain visual elements in a painting.

Creating Textural Contrasts

Granulation can introduce unexpected and pleasant textural effects which enhance the visual depth of landscapes and abstract pieces. The ability to organize and understand these properties through a meticulously designed chart empowers artists to experiment confidently, knowing which colours will deliver a granulating effect versus those that will remain smooth.

Ensuring Long-Term Durability

The permanence ratings and lightfastness information provided in these charts also assure artists that their work will endure over time. This is especially important for professional art pieces expected to maintain their integrity over years, making the Winsor & Newton Professional range a trusted resource.

References

Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour - Winsor & Newton
Colour Charts - Winsor & Newton
Professional Watercolour Review - Kim Crick
Artist Pigments Dot Chart - Artist Pigments
Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Paint - Jackson's Art