Caput Mortuum: my portrait secret weapon! 8 brands comparison, mixes, example sketch
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 лют 2024
- Hello friends!
I’m Elisabetta, an Italian watercolor artist with a passion and a curiosity for art supplies and pigments.
Today we are swatching and comparing 8 different watercolor brands of Caput Mortuum (also known as Mars Violet, or Violet Iron Oxide): Winsor & Newton, Lukas, Sennelier, R. Szmal, Della Magna, Turner, Davinci and White Nights.
Caput Mortuum is a soft dark mauve, very opaque. It is made with PR101, and it is ideal in landscapes and portraits.
I love it! But I do not know if there are big differences across brands....let's find out!
Come swatch with me! And comment please!
----------------------------------------------------------
LINKS
You can find Della Magna Watercolors here: www.dellamagna.com/
Hereafter my affiliated links to the products used (they will support my channel without costing you any extra money because I get a small commission):
If you live in Europe, I suggest to visit Momarte, my favourite online store. They are very friendly and have extraordinary offers and sales. They ship internationally and will help you in English if you contact them.
WINSOR & NEWTON www.momarte.com/prodotti-per-...
BRUSH UNICO by BORCIANI & BONAZZI www.momarte.com/prodotti-per-...
Here you can find my favourite art supplies: www.lp.momarte.com/recommende...
_______________________________________
Jackson's Art (this link will give you 10% discount if it is the first time you shop at Jackson's Art):
Sennelier www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/sen...
Roman Szmal www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/rom...
Turner:
www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/tur...
---------------------------------------------
The sketchbook I'm using for the swatches is made by Arteza
Amazon Com amzn.to/3OQaodx
Amazon UK amzn.to/44YOavb
Amazon France amzn.to/3Ys3dLv
Amazon Italy amzn.to/3DPMaJY
------------------------------------------------
Also, if you appreciate my videos, don't hesitate to like and subscribe to my channel, that would be amazing.
You can follow me on Instagram to see my art:
/ elisabettafurcht
I am also a Skillshare teacher with over 20 watercolor classes, especially suited for beginners or intermediate students. My link will give you 1 month free trial: www.skillshare.com/r/user/eli...
That's all for now!
Ciao from Italy
your Elisabetta xxx
#caputmortuum #watercolor #arthaul - Розваги
I am in the same boat. Mum and I love pigments and often refer to their numbers. Quiz each other on what color we would use to achieve a certain color etc.... it's fun for us. No one else cares. 😂😂
Lucky you!! I have tried to teach my son a bit of this but he kept yawning 🥱😂. I will try again. Yes not only no one cares but they must think we are slightly obsessive compulsive 😂
One of my favourite colours, in several different mediums. Is very good for cool hues or dark lit figurative work in combo with all Naples yellow hues, especially reddish deep and greenish. I also like it for deep dark backgrounds. A very underrated colour, perhaps because it is so opaque. I love how you have used it in your painting. It can also be used to create shadowed areas against warmer brighter sunlit skin tones.The more violet leaning the better I like it. The neck and shoulders in your little portrait illustrates this perfectly.
I particularly enjoyed your mixes. Thank you for alqays bringing something fresh to the enjoyment of pigments!
Thank you Lindy!! I had overlooked this colour for a long time before understanding it….
Caput Mortuum violet by Winsor & Newton is a staple in my palette. It’s so nice to see many versions being compared. Thank you!
Thank to you for your words of appreciation!!
I love your painting. Yes, I agree that it is a beautiful skin shadow color. I use Da Vinci's violet iron oxide and cerulean blue to make a beautiful separating grey violet color. I have used it for cloudy skies in landscape painting. I need to try portraits again.
…..and I need to go back to landscapes!! This mix you suggest must be fascinating. I sometimes use Indian Red for this! Thank you for your comment and suggestion.
Im an oil artist, but watching your work im getting inspired to branch out! Watercolor has always intimidated me
Thank you! Watercolor needs just a little practice I’m sure you will do great!
I've just gotten my first tube of Violet Iron Oxide by Da Vinci. I love it with Potters pink W&N
Hi Nicole! Enjoy!! Such a great feeling to have new colors 😀
Agreed, UA-cam is great for chatting about pigments. I love Caput Mortuum, it was one of the first colours I bought open stock when I first started painting in watercolour in my teens. It makes great shadow mixes for fur.
Oh really?? You know I have 3 cats….i would like to try and paint them. Cats are difficult to paint!!
Hello. I forgot to mention before that I was told to massage or shake the tubes of watercolor paint to keep the binder and pigment blended together. I did that to my Winsor and Newton Viridian tube and it seemed to help. Also, thanks for doing Caput Mortum in this video... by the way I think Daniel Smith Mummy Bauxite is supposed to be the same too.
Cheers.
Hi Sarah! I asked myself the same question about mummy bauxite; however, despite the very evocative name, I think it’s more cinnamon. Thank you for your suggestion about binder! Have a lovely day.
The caput mortuum works so well in the portrait you painted. I always love your videos.
Aaawwww thank you! This is so kind to hear. 😍
I think what I admired the most was your quick blotting of all the highligh areas on the face. Nice move. 😊
Ahah thank you Tracy, I love taking short cuts 😃
One of my favourite pigments that is also useful for cityscapes. It's great for some industrial brick buildings. I prefer the PR 101 to the 102 which is a bit too brown and gritty in the versions I have. My favourite out of the five I own is the Sennelier which seems less streaky in application than others. Fortunately I haven't had binder problems so far and am on my second tube. Many thanks from another pigment nerd.
Pigment nerds unite 💪! I sometimes use a touch of purple for bricks but now that you say it, caput Mortuum is perfect! Thank you!
Caput Mortuum is a must have in my pallet! Thank you for the comparison.
Thank to you! Now it’s a must have for me too…
I love that Da Vinci Violet Iron Oxide. ♥️
Thank you Miranda!! It is beautiful indeed!
I see Schmincke makes this colour too; they call it "Indian Red" in English for some reason, but "Caput mortum" in German: number 645 made from PR101 and PR226. So interesting you use it for portraits, I use a lot of Potters Pink for skin tones and it strikes me that's a fairly similar type of colour. :)
Hi Irma! I have never tried potter’s pink in portraits….i think that it should be a nice combination with Caput Mortuum! Thank you a lot, I will give it a try 😀
Thank you Elisabetta, I've developed an interest in pigments too, and I agree it's so nice to interact with others :) Caput mortuum is such an interesting version of this pigment.
Yes, pigments are addictive but it’s rare to meet someone who shares this passion. So welcome to the community! 🤗
I love caput mortum so so much! I use it in every painting. Its a great neuturalizer and adds such a lovely softness.
It is indeed a great neutralizer! I do not know why it is so underrated…thank you very much 😄
Oh OH!! EXACTLY the person I need to ask! 😁. Hi Elizabetta! I’m kind of stuck…I have a sketch, started the painting, but I have never painted people! I’ve been playing with mixes for 2 weeks (I have a LOT of single pigment paints from Rosa’s, WNights, WN, Daniel Smith, my own and about 6 Sennelier), watching videos….
First let me explain, it’s a large painting for my wonderful daughter and her incredible wife, who will be celebrating 21 years together next month. I did a sketch of them, from behind (both because I felt it would be easier..but it’s also the setting of the painting), sitting together with their arms around each other, gazing on their fur babies..Marley, their black cat is playing my daughter’s Panjo, the younger kitty is playing my daughter-in-law’s keyboard. There’s much more to the painting, other things related to their years together. I’ve done almost everything except the girls. My daughter in law has very dark curly auburn hair..no problem! My daughter? Has light golden blond, natural, very long hair. I KNOW I’m probably being too picky..but I can’t find a mix or single pigment that doesn’t look weird. I have made more “sample sheets”, but I find something that looks close, try and add just a little natural variation..and it looks WAY off. ANY hints you can give me? 🙏🏼. As for skin, there isn’t much, just some of their arms. Again, my daughter in law is Italian 😁 and I had no problem with her skin color. My precious daughter? Irish, British & French…and VERY light skinned. I tried a Naples yellow…but it was just a bit too un-natural and orangey (or yellow orange..all I could think about was it looked like she had liver failure 😖😂. Any ideas?
Also, after Miranda’s video yesterday…couldnt wait any longer…ordered Azure Green, Magenta Gray and one of their new ones, pyrrol red. (Rosa’s, of course). My bestie, Liz, says she’s going to find me a 12-step program….AFTER I get my tubes and make her some pans. 😂🤷🏼♀️🥰.
Ahaha 😂 your comments are always super funny and entertaining! You are a great storyteller. Now for blond hair I mainly use yellow ochre, and a growing percentage of dioxazine violet. It works!
For fair skin, don’t be afraid to go orangey!! It looks weird when wet, but it usually dries into a wonderful peach. Maybe you can try (as I do) Naples Yellow with Quinacridone Red.
Thanks a lot for your comment it was fun to read!
I dont know why I have never purchased a Caput Mortuum, but you've shown how helpful it is with portraits. I have PLENTY of red PR101 & PR102s. My most Violet red shades are DV Violet Iron Oxide and Purple Ochre Deep by Prodigal Sons Pigments. Both are delightful colors because of their dark richness and depth. I also have some Armenian Purple ochre pigment, but it isn't as dark. Thank goodness we all have YT to share our love of pigments. 😂😂 Of course, I will now be interested in this particular color along with cochineal extract. The journey never ends.😊 Loved your portrait Elisabetta 😍 I hope you are yours are are happy and healthy. Thank your hubby again for an outstanding DV haul. 👏
Thank you Tracy! Yes, pigments are available rabbit hole ! A never ending journey. Luckily! One of my next steps is to find the perfect colour for painting Golden Retrievers ❤️
@@WatercolorElisabetta Oh yes! Those sweet babies deserve their own portraits. 😍😊
I love that you are doing this UA-cam thing! ❤
Yes, I real life no one I know wants to talk about pigments! 😄😂
These are really beautiful. I think initially the opacity scared me off. I have a mars violet- really beautiful. This portrait is precious- you make it all look so simple! A joy to watch it come together.
Cool! I have the Rosa Gallery one, too, but I don't use it as much as I would like. It is a lovely dull violet and very nice to paint with. Great for monochrome studies, too (I add a bit of black to get very dark values)
You are not the first to mention this Rosa Gallery version….it must be really lovely! Thank you for stopping by 😃
I love your videos and I‘m also really into pigments, can‘t stop mymelf…! Actually it’s you that made me discover Della Magna, that have lovely colours.
I see you!! It’s definitely unstoppable 😉❤️
I look forward to see the embrace opacity set. I watched Denise Soden’s swatching video of her set. I’m not much of an opaque watercolour lover, but I still like to see them being swatched.
Hi buddy! I think opaque watercolor can be useful to cover up mishaps, you can still water them down to a more translucent layer, and it is a bit of an acquired taste!! Thank you as usual for your active presence. Not being always first makes you more human 😍😍
I avoided opaque colors at first, but I have now learned to appreciate them. Everyone is different, and there is no right or wrong in preferences. 🤪😊
@@TracyIndy Indeed! I might embrace opaque watercolours in the future; but for now, it’s transparent and semitransparent paints for me. I do use a couple of opaque paints, but I’m not too leased with them.
@@WatercolorElisabetta 😂 Thanks again!!
Thank you for the video! I enjoyed your brand comparison a lot. It’s such a rich and hefty color, the purple leaning brands are especially attractive, I think.
I agree! The more violet the better….thank a lot!
Thank you for your ideas, I never had tried this colour for shading skin tones, the result is wonderful. You are very good painting portraits :) I use this colour for moody landscapes and enriching dark tones and neutrals. I love how easy you can get beaufitul organic greens when mixing with the lighter greens, the ones I never use by themself because they look too bright and unnatural. So this colour mutes down very well other ones. Very useful :)
I must tell you that you just forgot to include the Rosa Gallery version I sent you last year on this comparison. Hahaha! But there is nothing new, they are all pretty much the same.
😭 my bad! I kept it in your lovely box and not with my other Rosa Gallery 🥹. I will make you forgive me because one of my next videos will be putting up a Sennelier palette….with your Yellow Sophie and Brown pink.
@@WatercolorElisabetta Hahaha! You are always forgiven my dear friend. Yes, you should add the colours to your other palettes and use the box for whatever you want ;) Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you again Elisabetta! I really enjoy your channel. I also love pigment information and history so I appreciate your enthusiasm 😊. You do a great job of reviewing and swatching so please keep them coming! 🎨🖌️🌎✌️
Thank you! It’s great to find people who share my passion. Your comment means a lot! 😃 it’s such a niche interest….
Ciao Elisabetta, ho notato che acquisti materiale artistico da Momarte. Mi chiedevo se ci fossero dei pennelli per acquerello che trasportano che non potrei trovare in America? Ho diversi pennelli Tintoretto ma sono sempre interessato ai materiali artistici. Mi scuso se scrivo male. Ciao e grazie@@WatercolorElisabetta
Ma no il tuo italiano è perfetto!! Sei mezzo italiano? Complimenti! Guarda io uso sempre i pennelli Borciani & Bonazzi, in particolare uno meraviglioso che si chiama Unico Infinito. È sintetico ma performante come uno naturale. Aspetta un attimo che ti mando un link.
Allora il pennello è questo www.momarte.com/prodotti-per-pittura/pennelli-per-pittura/pennelli-sintetici/pennello-borciani-e-bonazzi-unico-infinito-serie-850.html?aff=44
Poi ti consiglio di scrivere al servizio clienti di Momarte, hanno una chat whatsapp. Rispondono sempre velocissimamente. In genere risponde Tiziano che è gentilissimo e molto competente. Ti aiuterà di sicuro!
Thank youi for this wonderful video. Caput Mortuum is one of my favourites and thank you for that terra rosa is in watch list.
Aaawww thank to you!! It’s nice to receive appreciation like this. Have a lovely weekend!
Grazie Elisabetta , ho il caput mortuum di Sennellier e non lo ho mai usato in un ritratto. Adesso provo!
Ciao Lia! Mi vergogno quasi un po’ ad usarlo perché è un trucco magico, come fare le torte Cameo 😂. Fammi sapere 😍
Your kindness is what keeps me watching and I love the investigation into the pigments, it's very useful and does matter to me. I hope that by featuring white nights doesn't encourage folks to buy it. I am sure many here will disagree with me saying that. The suffering in the Ukraine is immeasurable. Much love, Michele
I perfectly agree with you Michele. I thank you for your constant support and your kindness! Btw Schminke will be releasing a new range without oxgall! ❤️
@@WatercolorElisabettaOh no, be careful what I wish for, more paint to buy!! It's because you brought magnetite to my attention, I ordered a pan this morning from Kremer! My "banker" said I must stop watching such seductive videos by that temptress Elisabetta😆 Love you! xo
@michelemarchesani5139 Michele! I have spent last night browsing Kremer’s website. What do you think of their colors? I’m curious!!
@olorElisabetta I'd bought dried pigments and fresco making ingredients from Kremer years ago, when I was making small frescoes. I was on their mailing list and when they made their first ready-made palettes I bought one. It's was my first proper palette, it's very old but I use it from time to time.All the colors (with the exception of the Umber) still re-wet nicely. I kind of forgot about them when you swatched magnetite I found it on the kremer site. I let you know when I get it. xo
I will still buy White Nights if I need more of it. No guilt about it... Paint maker's don't start wars. Ukraine's government is also abusing and misusing financial aid we have sent them, but I will also still buy Rosa Gallery watercolors.
I love the history of the pigments and their names. In past centuries this pigment was derived from actual ground up mummy... 🥴
I researched a little before shooting the video. The origin of the name is debated and I believe a different story…I copy and paste from Wikipedia “The name for this pigment may have come from the alchemical usage, since iron oxide (rust) is the useless residue (caput mortuum) of oxidization. It was originally a byproduct of sulfuric acid manufacture during the 17th and 18th centuries, and was possibly an early form of the copperas process used for the manufacture of Venetian red and copperas red.[3][4]”. Your version is more fascinating and this one less macabre… however, the alchemy origin I believe is the most credible.
Oh, I see. Learned something. My grandfather had a pharmacy and among some old bottles that he found in the storage from his predecessor was a small jar with a brown'ish powder. The label said 'Mummy'. I asked and he told me the thing about the paints that were derived from it. Well, anyway, I like your explanation better! @@WatercolorElisabetta
Beautiful portrait! And paints. It is a color that I don't use much, but I now see it's useful. You may be interested in Gallo's Morellone, made up with PR101 and PR102, very similar to Winsor and Newton's, but a bit darker.
Mmmmh it’s tempting! I try to stay away from their website it’s too tempting! Actually, I think I will make a tour right now 😰
😂
Love the color and use it a lot. Awesome video as always. I really can recommend the Rosa Gallery version of Caput Mortuum it's very violetish. Or the version of Schmincke, which I don't know how long you can get it because they use a combination of PR101 and the discontinued PR206. What's very confusing is that the name in German is Caput Mortuum but in English the color is called Indian red. Don't know why but it's definitely the same color.
Wish you a wonderful weekend 💜
Hello dear Arsinoe! I am now very curious about both…. as you know I love both brands! Schminke looks kind of more urgent…. Do you think they will replace PR206 with PR179? Thank you for your recommendations as always! I wish you a great painting weekend as well!
@@WatercolorElisabetta That's a really good question. I've been thinking about that as well. Maybe they replace it with PR176 or maybe they will make a single pigment color out of it. I've just checked their website but they don't have any information about it. It's still listed with PR206. Maybe they have a little bit of stock, or they're just slow with changing the website. I really don't know. I've bought a tube of the color 2022 when I heard about PR206 being discontinued.
Caput Mortum is one of my favourite colours because it's so versatile. I have it in my 12 colour set.
Is it a set that you set up yourself?
Excellent review. It is a beautiful colour, a very warm sepia.
I was quite taken aback by the title of this video. You are using a "Dead head" pigment to "bring alive" heads (portraits) in painting.😂
😂😂 that’s really true!! An inherent contradiction….thanks for making me smile 😊
Ooooo! A new burnt sienna video; I like that idea.
Now that I’m doing (as you know) many portraits, I found out that diluted burnt sienna is a perfect base skin tones for darker skins; however, this trick only works with burnt siennas made with PR101 and not PBr7. 😀
@@WatercolorElisabetta Thanks for the tip. That is so interesting!
I love caput mortuum, such a good colour ☺☺☺
I didn’t expect so many people to like it! It’s a nice surprise. Thanks!
Wow! Ive never seen such a color that would mute all other colors!!! I usually have to tone with its opposite color on color wheel, 😳
Caput Mortuum is brilliant! It took me a while to find it out, but definitely worthy 😁. Thank you!
Beautiful pigment for sure. It is so useful for mixing and toning. Thank you for taking the time for brand comparison... Again, it proves to me why I have chosen Da Vinci watercolors as my #1, even though I have and have tried many other brands. Across the range of colors and brands, if I had to choose only one for the rest of my life it would be Da Vinci.
Dear Russell, it is very unfortunate that Da Vinci is not sold over here, because I agree with you that it’s wonderful paint. And prices are fair. I do hope that one day Jackson’s might include them in their offer! Only recently I’ve had the chance to try them, and I was actually blown away by the colors, texture, dispersion…. Thanks for sharing!
@@WatercolorElisabetta I could really feel the same about A Gallo... That is one brand of watercolor I would love to have above any other right now, but it is hard to get here and is very costly in comparison. It would only be a luxury to me. :)
@Adoratek to be totally honest, A.Gallo is impossible to buy here too!! They are sold in selected stores (I think only 2 stores in Italy carry them). If I want to buy them I have to wait for the restock just like you! Shipping costs will lower but that’s it. 😭
Great!
Thank you so much Effy 😄😄
Wonderful video ❤ I always love everything about your videos. Looking forward to the da Vinci!
Aawww Wendy thank you so much!! 🥹🤗❤️
Lo trovo un colore bellissimo… molto sfruttabile nei ritratti
Ci ho messo molto tempo a scoprirlo!!
What watercolour brushes are you using? They look really nice?
Hi! Those are by far my go to brushes! Very performing, at a very attractive price. They are Unico by Borciani & Bonazzi, an Italian manufacturer. The link to the product is in the description box! Thanks for asking.
Veeeery late 😅
I was very surprised i beat you to first this time lol
You are a human being luckily!! 🤗
@@nicoletheknightowl7560 Yay for you 😄😄
@@WatercolorElisabetta Thanks 😁
It's about time. 😂 👋👋👋