Coolest of the Red Earths

[Benjamin Salley]

I'm looking for the coolest of Red Earth pigments that Natural Pigments sells. The group I'm curious about includes Red Satorious Earth, Pozzuoli Red, Ercolano Red, Venetian Red, Indian Red and French Red Ochre. I'd like for this to be based on actual experience with pigments and not computer color swatch references. Thanks in advance!

PS- I caught this before a reply. I'm also curious where Hematite fit in with the above paints? I know Violet Hematite is too far from where I want to be. It strikes me as the coolest but its also darker which can throw things off using only computer references... If anyone is familiar with Munsell notations I can give the exact Hue I'm looking for.

[ChrisB]

Hello Benjamin,
Although I have not tried all the Red Earth colors that Natural Pigments offers I have tried a few. Here is what I've tried.
Ercolano Red - warm
Venetian Red - cool
Indian Red - cooler (darker than the above)

[George O'Hanlon]

I concur with your assessment as to the color temperature of the different red earths offered by Natural Pigments. Good job, Chris! I will add to your list of red earths from warmest to coolest:

Ercolano Red
Pozzuoli Red
French Red Ocher
Venetian Red
Indian Red
Hematite

Sartorious Red is in its own class, because it is most the brownish red of the group and the color temperature is slightly cool but distinctly brownish.

[John Kennedy]

I have and use all of these pigments and agree that Hematite and Indian Red are the coolist reds of the natural earth colors. When mixed with varing degrees of white you can get some pretty awesome tones and hues from them. I have done several various paintings with them both in watercolor and oil paints. Wonderful colors to work with. Give them all a try!!Blessings, John