Ceracolors Cobalt Blue

Cobalt Blue is a "neutral" blue because it is distinct from Cerulean on the green side and ultramarine on the red. When mixed with cadmium yellow, it makes muted greens.

Composition and Permanence

For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit Composition and Permanence.

Ceracolors is a water-soluble wax paint that can be used for encaustic and wax painting techniques. It makes encaustic painting versatile because heat, electricity, and special tools are not required.

Ceracolors is a wax paint for professional artists made from pharmaceutical-grade beeswax blended with other waxes derived from natural sources to provide higher melting temperatures. Ceracolors provide a wide range of painting techniques, from thick impastos that can be sculpted to thin watercolor-like washes. They are fast-drying colors suitable for all supports used for encaustic painting, yet they do not require any special tools or heated instruments. Use any brush suitable for water-based paint. Once dry, Ceracolors can be used in encaustic technique, allowing further sculpting and manipulation of the paint. The ingredients in Ceracolors are found in food and cosmetics, so they are not considered toxic.

Properties

Drying

Ceracolors dry in two stages. First, the paint dries rapidly due to the evaporation of water, so it is touch dry within a short time. After this initial period, the paint can be reopened with a wet brush. During the second stage, wax crystals coalesce as the paint cures. This can take several days or several weeks for thicker applications of paint.

Water Solubility

Ceracolors are thinned with water. The paint comes out of the tube as a paste and can be diluted to the consistency of watercolors. Their water solubility allows easy handling and cleaning.

Color and Optical Quality

Ceracolors are available in a wide range of colors used by artists in other professional-quality mediums. Ceracolors are formulated for high tinting strength, and the optical qualities of wax provide outstanding chroma.

Hardness

Ceracolors are made with a blend of waxes microemulsified in water. The wax is soft and has low-scratch resistance, requiring care when handling and storing.

Durability

Water-soluble wax paint is durable, as attested by the present state of preservation of Roman and Roman-Egyptian paintings of the first century in many museums worldwide.

Toxicity

Ceracolors are composed of ingredients that are not considered toxic—ingredients often found in food and cosmetics. There are no hazardous solvents or additives.

Supports

Rigid supports, such as wood, are best for wax painting technique, but canvas and paper can also be used. Ceracolors can be applied to other materials, such as ceramics, glass, metal, or plastic.

Use Directions

Heat Setting

Uncured paint has limited wet scrub resistance, especially in thick layers. This resistance increases when the paint is fused by heat, which can be applied by a heat gun, hair dryer, or pastry torch.

Impasto

With Ceracolors, you can apply thick passages of paint. However, like all paints that use water as a vehicle, you will experience some shrinkage during drying due to the evaporation of water. We recommend that thick impastos be built up by layering thinner applications of paint and then fusing each layer with heat. Adding Ceracolors Impasto Medium helps avoid excessive volume loss upon drying.

Clean Up

Cleaning brushes and equipment with soap and water is easy. Dried Ceracolors water-soluble wax paint can be cleaned with household ammonia.