We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
"Little Gidding"
T S Eliot

Saturday 5 November 2016

An ultra celebration ...

The Craft Barn's next dictionary challenge letter is U.

As I'm currently learning about primary layering in my art class, and as it is my all time favourite colour - I've chosen Ultramarine.

So this is a bit of an abstract celebration of ultramarine, on watercolour paper, with ink and ultramarine paint (in graduated steps) with a bit of coloured pencil too. I've also added some sparkle with glitter glue.


It is the most used colour in my six colour palette, and I'm already on my 3rd tube of the stuff!

Its history ...
Ultramarine is a deep blue colour and a pigment which was originally made by grinding lapis lazuli into a powder. The name comes from the Latin ultramarinus, literally "beyond the sea", because the pigment was imported into Europe from mines in Afghanistan by Italian traders during the 14th and 15th centuries.
Ultramarine was the finest and most expensive blue used by Renaissance painters. It was often used for the robes of the Virgin Mary, and symbolized holiness and humility. It remained an extremely expensive pigment until a synthetic ultramarine was invented in 1826.

10 comments:

  1. What a fantastic entry. I'm also a big fan of ultramarine. I remember it is often used for Mary's robe, but had no idea about the rest of the history you provided. Loving that I learned something new. This is a beautiful abstract.

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  2. Yep I'm a fan of most blues but ultramarine is a favourite. Thanks for all the information - I had no idea of it's history!

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  3. What a great insight into your favourite colour.

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  4. This is really interesting. I like the symmetry of it and the little people with their hands in the air. Thanks for the notes on the history of ultramarine too.

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  5. Yay, that's very different & such a gorgeous colour:-)

    Sally

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  6. My favourite (and also most used) colour! It's also more interesting than other blues, because of the pigment size in watercolour, Ultramarine granulates beautifully in washes...
    Fun page!

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  7. Nice washes there. Love this colour too. Thanks for entering the Craft Barn Alpha Challenge xx

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  8. One of my favourite colours too. I love the extra information, very interesting xx

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  9. Great word choice and colour! Love the little people on the top! xx

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  10. Ticks all the boxes for me as its my favourite colour too. I love the little people who are also celebrating the joy of blue.

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