Well, it has been a few months (Jan 21, actually) since I posted a test on whites. It is interesting to see what has happened in even this relatively short time period.
Recap: this is two pics of the same panel, the second does have two additions which show on the bottom pic. In the lead side I have added a dollop of Blue Ridge's cremintz which I got a week or so ago. On the titanium side I added a blob of windsor newton titanium about seven weeks ago. Both pics were taken in an afternoon indirect light.
Discarding the two additions, something to check later and I will find it interesting to see how they age, it is curious to see what the others have done. Remember these were smears dragged down with a knife and no medium.
The lead whites tend to be warmer anyway and have all yellowed. In this strip the Blue Ridge remains the whitest. Frankly, the Old Holland Cremintz alone or with zinc, the Natural Pigments flake and the Windsor Newton lead foundation yellowed about the same. The Williamsburg flake yellowed the most to a deep french vanilla shade.
Onto the titaniums: I think the Blue Ridge edges slightly the Grumbacher but both stayed a smidge whiter than the Old Holland. Remember, the Windsor Newton on the end is still too new.
At the same time we mixed several mediums into the Blue Ridge flemish and the Grumbacher titanium. Firstly we were interested in the finish a medium imparted: matte, shiny, etc. I am including a pic of the board with the whites mixed w/ different mediums. It is divided in two: lead Blue Ridge white on top. Grumbacher titanium on the bottom. Below this board is the whites test board.
I have heard that placing a painting in sunlight will cause whites to brighten. Having not tried it I do not know. The test boards I have had spent their durations in the indirect daylight of an east window.
I do not have a pic of the mediums test from a few months ago, (fail as a "real scientist") as we were mainly curious for ourselves more with what quality each medium imparted into the paint. But for yellowing, well, I find it of interest that mixed with a variety of mediums mostly caused these two paints to yellow less.
So, what is the practicality of all this? Undoubtedly questionable! Seriously, it does depend on how one paints. Lead whites are, by nature warmer, more translucent than titaniums. How a paint handles come into consideration, and that is personal. And really, how much does one consider how a paint will yellow? Whites do tend to get mixed into a fair amount so that stays constant. If it fades, yellows, all fade, yellow depending on how much is in conjunction with what it has been mixed?
Well, okay, a warm undertone of skin may not be so changed by some yellowing and, as our test board shows, mediums make a difference here, too. But what of a snow scene? Well looking at my two test boards and considering that the mediums tests were done with Blue Ridge flemish and Grumbacher titanium, with only slight variations, a medium seems to keep whites, well, whiter.
Perhaps what this all shows mostly is the fine need to have more than one white on the palette, always allowing choice for the moment needed.
