Tag: opaque watercolor

In the past, I used Cadmium Orange as the tertiary yellow-orange on the color wheel. It is a pure color that is perfect for its complementary color listed below. But, there are newer paint color alternatives that I prefer now. They are Transparent Orange and Cadmium-Free Orange. Why? Because Cadmium paints are toxic. So, I avoid using them.

Understanding Cadmium Orange on the Palette

Cadmium Orange is known for its strong chroma and distinctly opaque nature. Unlike transparent watercolor pigments that allow light to pass through the paint layers and reflect back from the paper, Cadmium Orange blocks light. This opacity causes the color to sit more heavily on the paper surface, which affects both layering and mixing.

Because of this, Cadmium Orange does not glaze well and can quickly dull mixtures when combined with transparent pigments. While it produces bold, solid color in a single layer, it often lacks the luminosity that many watercolor artists seek in modern transparent palettes.

Cadmium Orange vs. Modern Transparent Alternatives

Advances in pigment technology have made it possible to achieve vibrant orange hues without the drawbacks of cadmium paints.

• Transparent Orange offers high chroma with excellent transparency, making it ideal for glazing, color layering, and clean mixes.
• Cadmium-Free Orange provides a similar visual warmth to Cadmium Orange without the toxicity, though it may differ slightly in intensity or undertone depending on the manufacturer.

These modern alternatives support luminous watercolor techniques while maintaining safety and versatility in the studio.

Temperature and Color Bias of Cadmium Orange

Cadmium Orange is a warm orange with a noticeable yellow bias. This warmth influences how it behaves in mixes:

• Mixed with blues or blue-violets, it tends to create muted neutrals rather than vibrant secondaries.
• When combined with yellows, it produces strong, earthy yellow-orange passages.
• With reds, it can quickly overpower the mixture due to its opacity.

Understanding this color bias helps predict results and avoid muddy mixes.

Color Schemes Using Cadmium Orange

The following color schemes are based on Stephen Quiller’s “Quiller Color Wheel” and his book “Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory.“

Complementary

The complementary color sits on the opposite side of the color wheel. For Cadmium Orange, the complementary color is:

• Ultramarine Violet

Split-Complementary

The split-complementary colors are the two colors located on either side of the complementary color on the color wheel. The following are the split-complementary colors for Cadmium Orange:

• Winsor Blue (Green Shade)
• Permanent Mauve

Analogous

Going clockwise on the color wheel from YELLOW-ORANGE to YELLOW-GREEN the analogous colors for Cadmium Orange are:

• Aureolin
• Winsor Green (Yellow Shade)

Triadic

This Triadic consists of three INTERMEDIATE colors. In addition to Cadmium Orange, the other colors that make up this Triadic color scheme are:

• Manganese Blue Hue
• Winsor Violet

Opacity, Mixing, and Layering Effects

Because Cadmium Orange is opaque, it can flatten underlying washes when layered on top of transparent colors. This characteristic makes it less suitable for traditional watercolor glazing techniques but more appropriate for:

• Single-layer applications
• Flat color areas
• Graphic or illustrative styles

In contrast, transparent oranges maintain color harmony and optical depth when layered.

Lightfastness vs. Watercolor Technique

Historically, cadmium pigments were prized for their excellent lightfastness, which made them attractive to artists concerned about permanence. However, permanence alone does not guarantee successful watercolor behavior.

Modern transparent pigments now offer both lightfastness and superior handling qualities, allowing artists to achieve longevity without sacrificing luminosity or clean mixing.

Safety Considerations When Using Cadmium Pigments

Cadmium paints are toxic, particularly if inhaled or ingested. While safe handling practices can reduce risk, many artists prefer to eliminate cadmium pigments entirely—especially in home studios, shared workspaces, or teaching environments.

Cadmium-free alternatives provide a safer and more practical choice for everyday watercolor use.

When Cadmium Orange May Still Be Useful

Although no longer part of my regular palette, Cadmium Orange can still be useful in limited situations, such as:

• Painting autumn foliage or rustic subjects
• Creating muted, earthy neutrals
• Working in styles that favor opacity over transparency

Used thoughtfully, it can serve a specific visual purpose rather than a primary mixing role.

Cadmium Scarlet is a bold, warm orange-red known for its opacity, intensity, and visual impact. Historically favored for strong focal points and direct color statements, it sits firmly in the orange family while retaining enough red influence to feel powerful and energetic.

Understanding Cadmium Scarlet on the Palette

Cadmium Scarlet occupies the orange side of the red–orange spectrum, leaning warm and forward on the color wheel. Its hue makes it especially effective for sunlight, florals, fruit, and foreground elements that require immediate attention.

As an opaque watercolor, Cadmium Scarlet behaves very differently from transparent oranges. Rather than relying on glazing and optical mixing, it establishes color through direct application and solid coverage, giving it strong physical presence on the page.

Pigment Information: What Cadmium Scarlet Is Made Of

Cadmium Scarlet is traditionally made from cadmium sulfoselenide pigments (commonly PR108).

Typical characteristics include:

• Opaque
• High chroma
• Dense pigment load
• Strong covering power
• Excellent lightfastness

Handling & Mixing Characteristics

Cadmium Scarlet is known for:

• Strong, opaque washes
• Immediate color payoff
• Reduced luminosity compared to transparent pigments

Because of its opacity:

• It can dominate mixtures easily
• It tends to mute transparent colors
• It performs best when used deliberately and sparingly

It is most effective when paired with other opaque pigments or used intentionally as an accent color.

Why Cadmium Scarlet Works in Color Theory Systems

As a secondary orange, Cadmium Scarlet:

• Creates strong complementary contrast
• Anchors warm color passages
• Makes hue relationships easy to identify

Its solidity and opacity make it useful for teaching color placement and contrast, even though many artists now favor safer alternatives.

Color Schemes Using Cadmium Scarlet

In the past, I used Cadmium Scarlet as the SECONDARY ORANGE on the color wheel because it is a pure opaque watercolor that is perfect for its complementary color listed below. But, now I prefer to use Cadmium Free Scarlet because Cadmium paints are toxic.

The following color schemes are based on Stephen Quiller’s “Quiller Color Wheel” and his book “Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory.“

Complementary

The complementary color sits on the opposite side of the color wheel. For Cadmium Scarlet, the complementary color is:

• Winsor Blue (Green Shade)

This pairing produces strong visual contrast and muted neutrals when mixed.

Split-Complementary

The split-complementary colors are the two colors located on either side of the complementary color on the color wheel. The following are the split-complementary colors for Cadmium Scarlet:

• Manganese Blue Hue
• Ultramarine Violet

This scheme softens contrast while maintaining balance between warm and cool.

Analogous

Going clockwise on the color wheel from ORANGE to YELLOW, the analogous colors for Cadmium Scarlet are:

• Cadmium Orange
• Aureolin

These combinations create strong, cohesive warm passages with high visual energy.

Triadic

This Triadic consists of three SECONDARY colors. In addition to Cadmium Scarlet, the other colors that make up this Triadic color scheme are:

• Viridian
• Permanent Mauve

This triad produces dynamic interaction while maintaining structural balance across the palette.

Cadmium Scarlet Compared to Other Oranges

• Cadmium Scarlet: opaque, bold, warm
• Cadmium Orange: lighter, more yellow-leaning
• Cadmium Free Scarlet: safer, often more transparent

Cadmium Scarlet stands out for its weight and immediacy rather than subtlety.

Best Uses for Cadmium Scarlet

Cadmium Scarlet is most effective for:

• Bold focal areas
• Floral accents
• Sunlit highlights
• Teaching opacity vs transparency
• Direct, painterly techniques

Limitations of Cadmium Scarlet

Despite its strengths, Cadmium Scarlet:

• Reduces luminosity in mixes
• Can overpower transparent pigments
• Contains toxic heavy metals

Because cadmium pigments contain heavy metals, they are considered toxic and must be handled with care. For these reasons, many artists now prefer cadmium-free alternatives such as Cadmium Free Red Deep, Cadmium Free Scarlet, Cadmium Free Orange and Cadmium Free Lemon.

A Note on Cadmium Scarlet’s Role on the Palette

Cadmium Scarlet represents a traditional, assertive approach to color—one rooted in opacity and directness. While modern alternatives offer safer and more transparent options, understanding Cadmium Scarlet remains valuable for color theory education and historical context.

Cadmium Red Deep is a strong, warm red-orange valued for its opacity, weight, and visual authority. Historically favored for bold passages and solid coverage, it occupies a transitional space between red and orange that gives it both warmth and structural strength within a palette.

Understanding Cadmium Red Deep on the Palette

Cadmium Red Deep sits on the red-orange side of the color wheel and leans distinctly warm. Its hue makes it especially effective for sunlit passages, florals, foreground elements, and anywhere visual emphasis is needed.

As an opaque pigment, Cadmium Red Deep behaves very differently from transparent reds. Rather than building color through glazing, it establishes form through direct application, making it a defining color rather than a subtle one.

Pigment Information: What Cadmium Red Deep Is Made Of

Cadmium Red Deep is traditionally made from cadmium sulfoselenide pigments (commonly PR108).

Typical characteristics include:

• Opaque
• High chroma
• Heavy pigment load
• Strong covering power
• Excellent lightfastness

Because cadmium pigments contain heavy metals, they are considered toxic and require careful handling.

Handling & Mixing Characteristics

Cadmium Red Deep is known for:

• Dense, opaque washes
• Strong covering ability
• Reduced luminosity compared to transparent reds

Because of its opacity:

• It can easily overpower mixtures
• It tends to dull transparent colors
• It is best used deliberately rather than casually

This pigment performs best when used sparingly and with intention, particularly in combination with other opaque colors.

Why Cadmium Red Deep Works in Color Theory Systems

As an intermediate red-orange, Cadmium Red Deep:

• Anchors warm passages
• Establishes strong complementary contrast
• Provides visual weight in structured palettes

Its solidity makes color relationships immediately visible, which is why it has historically been included in teaching palettes despite its limitations.

Color Schemes Using Cadmium Red Deep

In the past, I used Cadmium Red Deep as the INTERMEDIATE RED-ORANGE on the color wheel because it is a pure opaque watercolor that is perfect for its complementary color listed below. But, now I prefer to use Cadmium Free Red Deep because Cadmium paints are toxic.

The following color schemes are based on Stephen Quiller’s “Quiller Color Wheel” and his book “Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory.“

Complementary

The complementary color sits on the opposite side of the color wheel. For Cadmium Red Deep, the complementary color is:

• Manganese Blue Hue

This pairing produces strong contrast and muted neutrals, especially useful for structural color studies.

Split-Complementary

The split-complementary colors are the two colors located on either side of the complementary color on the color wheel. The following are the split-complementary colors for Cadmium Red Deep:

• Viridian
• Winsor Blue (Green Shade)

This scheme offers balance while retaining warmth and visual interest.

Analogous

Going clockwise on the color wheel from RED-ORANGE to YELLOW-ORANGE, the analogous colors for Cadmium Red Deep are:

• Cadmium Scarlet
• Cadmium Orange

These combinations create strong, cohesive warm passages but can become heavy if overused.

Triadic

This Triadic consists of three INTERMEDIATE colors. In addition to Cadmium Red Deep, the other colors that make up this Triadic color scheme are:

• Winsor Green (Yellow Shade)
• Ultramarine Violet

This triad produces dynamic contrast while maintaining structural balance across the palette.

Cadmium Red Deep Compared to Other Reds

• Cadmium Red Deep: opaque, heavy, warm
• Alizarin Crimson: transparent, cool, staining
• Permanent Rose: lighter, cleaner, modern

Cadmium Red Deep is best understood as a structural color rather than a luminous one.

Best Uses for Cadmium Red Deep

Cadmium Red Deep is most effective for:

• Bold focal areas
• Floral accents
• Foreground elements
• Teaching opacity vs transparency
• Direct, painterly techniques

Limitations of Cadmium Red Deep

Despite its strengths, Cadmium Red Deep:

• Reduces luminosity in mixes
• Can overpower transparent pigments
• Contains toxic heavy metals

For these reasons, many artists now prefer cadmium-free alternatives such as Cadmium Free Red Deep, Cadmium Free Scarlet, Cadmium Free Orange and Cadmium Free Lemon.

A Note on Cadmium Red Deep’s Role on the Palette

Cadmium Red Deep represents a traditional approach to color—one built on solidity, opacity, and directness. While modern alternatives offer safer and more transparent options, understanding Cadmium Red Deep remains valuable for historical context and color theory education.

Cadmium Lemon is a bright, cool yellow known for its strength, opacity, and unmistakable presence on the palette. It is often chosen for bold color statements and solid coverage, making it fundamentally different in behavior from transparent yellows used for glazing and color theory studies.

Understanding Cadmium Lemon on the Palette

Aureolin is the pure transparent color I use instead of Cadmium Lemon, which is opaque.

This distinction is essential. Cadmium Lemon and Aureolin may appear similar in hue temperature, but they serve very different purposes in watercolor painting. Cadmium Lemon is an opaque, high-impact yellow, while Aureolin is valued for transparency and subtle mixing.

Pigment Information: What Cadmium Lemon Is Made Of

Cadmium Lemon is traditionally made from Cadmium Sulfide (PY35) or closely related cadmium compounds.

Key characteristics of Cadmium Lemon:

• Excellent lightfastness
• High opacity
• Strong tinting strength
• Dense, solid coverage

Because cadmium pigments are heavy-metal based, they are more costly and subject to handling and environmental considerations. Some brands now offer Cadmium Lemon Hue as a non-toxic alternative, though these substitutes behave differently.

Transparency vs. Opacity: Why the Difference Matters

Cadmium Lemon’s opacity means it:

• Covers underlying layers rather than interacting with them
• Flattens layered washes
• Produces chalkier mixtures when combined with complements

This makes it less suitable for:

• Glazing techniques
• Transparent color wheel studies
• Subtle color transitions

However, opacity can be an advantage when clarity and coverage are desired.

Mixing Behavior & Color Characteristics

Cadmium Lemon:

• Produces strong, assertive greens when mixed with blues
• Can overpower mixtures if used heavily
• Neutralizes quickly when mixed with reds or violets

Because of its opacity, color mixtures tend to feel more solid and less luminous than those made with transparent yellows.

Cadmium Lemon vs. Aureolin

Understanding when to choose one over the other clarifies palette decisions:

• Cadmium Lemon: opaque, bold, strong, direct
• Aureolin: transparent, subtle, luminous, ideal for glazing

Cadmium Lemon excels in expressive, graphic, or illustrative watercolor styles, while Aureolin supports classical layering and color harmony.

Best Uses for Cadmium Lemon

Ideal Applications

• Bright highlights
• Solid color passages
• Floral centers and petals
• Sunlit areas requiring impact
• Mixed media or illustrative work

Cadmium Lemon performs best when used intentionally and sparingly.

Limitations of Cadmium Lemon

Despite its strengths, Cadmium Lemon has notable limitations:

• Not well-suited for glazing
• Can create muddy or chalky mixtures
• Heavier feel on paper compared to transparent yellows
• Requires careful handling due to cadmium content

For artists focused on transparency and layered color, these factors are significant. Due to the toxic heavy metals in cadmium , many artists now prefer cadmium-free alternatives such as Cadmium Free Red Deep, Cadmium Free Scarlet, Cadmium Free Orange and Cadmium Free Lemon.

A Note on Cadmium Lemon’s Role on the Palette

Cadmium Lemon is a “statement” yellow, not a subtle one. While it offers unmatched brightness and coverage, it does not replace transparent yellows in color theory systems or glazing-based watercolor techniques.

Used selectively, it can add power and clarity. Used indiscriminately, it can undermine luminosity. Understanding this balance allows Cadmium Lemon to serve the painting—rather than dominate it.