[Marcel Coderch Collell]

(Continued) Would like to produce tubes with Munsell Values 2 to 9, if at all possible mixing only two pigments, a black and a white. Most commercial blacks and whites do not generate truly neutrals.

[Michael]

Paul Foxton has a video in which he mixes the neutrals using raw umber and burnt umber to make a neutral dark. Then he adds white as needed, adjusting as he goes.

[Marcel Coderch Collell]

Yes, that’s one way to compensate for the blue/violet tinge most commercial blacks shown when mixed with white. But it is an approximation that should be carefully done for each grey value. What I am looking for is a black pigment/brand that when mixed with white (preferably Titanium White), keeps its neutrality for all grey values. I think I am close to getting it.

[George O'Hanlon]

There is some interest in creating neutral grays among artist materials manufacturers, and some have done so. Williamsburg has a few neutral grays. We do not have any plans to develop neutral grays at this time, but we are interested in making neutral grays based on lead white at some time.

[Marcel Coderch Collell]

Williamsburg greys are not truly gray.

[Marcel Coderch Collell]

I may try with your Lead White. I’ll let you know.

[Åse Maj]

Michael Harding makes an N5, but it used to have zinc white in it. That could have changed since I last checked. Apart from that you could reach out to Graydon Parrish, who does a lot of color experiments, including measurements.

[Marcel Coderch Collell]

Thanks, but it is a single value. I want neutrals for at least 9 values.

[Åse Maj]

You asked if people have mixed and measured. A few have done both. Graydon is one of them.

Personally, I mix and tube my own N3 and N7 in addition to the N5 from MH. I typically use chremnitz white, ivory black and raw umber or raw sienna to mix. I measure against a Munsell grayscale. It is accurate enough for me.

[Pearl]

I have found that to get a neutral gray I start with a palette black, mixing three colors on my palette that will create a black that is in harmony with my colors. Using my palette black I then mix out 4 grays – W2/N8, G4/N6, G6/N4 and B8/N2. From my four mixes I can then create all the grays I need.

As the 9 grays do not exist for purchase, I feel the best way for you to get them is to mix them yourself. Use the Williamsburg 4 grays as a starting point, which I sometimes do when I am short on time, adjust them to the neutrality that you are looking for, and go from there. This is time consuming but well work it. Mix enough that you can create tubes for future use.

[Kimberly]

When I took Graydon’s color class he mixed his neutrals with porcelain white, mars black, and burnt umber. He also said that you can knock it back by adding a bit of raw umber. I believe that he sells the entire scale of neutrals at his paint company Grackle Paint Co.