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All Art History Blogs Colours

Colour story: Winsor Violet

Violet exists at the very edge of our vision, at the end of the rainbow. It became so infectious as a pigment that Monet and the Impressionists were dubbed with...

The inky sea creature preserved in a specimen jar

Who would have thought that ink produced by a sea creature could find its way onto an artist's canvas? The journey from the sea to sepia is a testament to...

Winsor & Newton Prussian Blue Winton Oil

Colour story: Prussian Blue

Born completely by chance in 1704 is Prussian Blue – the world's first synthetic blue pigment. Gracing the palettes of iconic artists like Hokusai and Picasso, discover how this bold...

Cadmium Red Professional Watercolour Swatch

Colour story: Cadmium Red

The colour red evokes power, intensity and big emotions, but there are nuances in every shade. Cadmium paints have the broadest range of hues that come from any inorganic pigment...

Five ways to overcome perfectionism when making art

Artist Chloe Scott-Moncrieff shares her playful ideas to help you overcome perfectionism when making art.

The artist box set invention designed for on-the-go art

In our Items of Intrigue sessions from the Winsor & Newton archives, we explore William Winsor and Henry Newton’s innovative portable watercolour sets. From water-bottle box sets to pocket-sized palettes,...

The power of sketchbooking

Sketchbooking is exactly that: filling sketchbooks with doodles, collages, scrapbooking and journaling. But for many creatives it is so much more. A way to release thoughts on paper. A mindful,...

The twists and turns in developing the Winsor & Newton logo

What’s in a logo? For Winsor & Newton, it is more than just an eye-catching symbol – the logo is a part of history. From the archive, we look at...

Colour story: Turner's Yellow

Explore the story of Turner's Yellow, a tribute to JMW Turner’s rebellious spirit and revolutionary masterpieces that were shaped by the Industrial Revolution.

Mummy Brown: The art world’s most morbid medium

Informed by a sample of Mummy Brown from the Winsor & Newton archive, we uncover the pigment’s bizarre and unsettling history, from its origins to its eventual fall from grace.

Colour story: Permanent Mauve

Did you know that mauve was made by mistake? Discover the pigment’s remarkable story that begins with a humble 15-year-old chemistry student, and goes on to feature high fashion, Oscar...