White The color of purity White is the most important color on the palette. It is not unusual to use as much white in a painting as all the other colors combined. The first whites were weak like chalk but the invention of White Lead during the Greek era was a revolution. It took 2000 years to pass for a competitor to this highly toxic substance to arrive. Zinc White had too many disadvantages of it's own to wean artists off the warmth and opacity of White Lead just yet though. When Titanium White was developed in 1919 the writing was on the wall. Titanium White PW 6   ASTM  l Chemical type and description Inorganic synthetic opaque white from anatase or rutile ore. Vast quantities are used in industry. The best all round white, non toxic and very opaque. Problems with chalking in its early years of introduction were soon overcome and this pigment can be considered problem free, can be used in all media. Also known as Titanium Dioxide. Toxicity Not considered toxic. Do not breath dust. Media suitability Linseed oil,  Alkyd, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Tempera, Encaustic, Fresco, Pastel, Chalk. Zinc White PW 4   ASTM   l Chemical type and description Inorganic synthetic opaque white. Produced by one of two methods, the American method, directly roasting zinc ore, or the French indirect method which is burning vaporized zinc metal. Also known as Chinese White (for no obvious reason) and Permanent White, it is non toxic but while quickly adopted in water based media in the 1830's, its cold tones and relative transparency made it less successful in oil paint. It is the perfect mixing white for Gouache where its transparency is an advantage. While it is safe enough to use in acrylic it is too transparent to compete with Titanium Dioxide. Toxicity Cadmium considered toxic. Do not ingest or breath dust. Media suitability Linseed oil,  Alkyd, Watercolor, Gouache, Tempera, Encaustic, Fresco, Chalk PW 18   ASTM   l Chemical type and description Inorganic synthetic Calcium Carbonate. Calcium Carbonate comes in many forms and was originally natural chalk, now known as whiting in pigment form. The modern version is far whiter as it has no impurities and is called Precipitated Chalk. When used in pastels it makes much softer pastels than the natural equivalent. Chalk is also used in Gouache to impart body, bring out the brilliance of the color. It also imparts the necessary opacity. This inert pigment is often added to Pthalo Blue to reduce its excessive strength. Toxicity Zinc White is not considered toxic. Do not breath dust. Media suitability  Linseed oil, Alkyd, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Tempera, Pastel, Chalk. Other whites Tools and binders Lead White (PW 1) also known as Flake White, Cremnitz White, Underpainting White, and Silver White. Very poisonous and should be avoided. Gofun Shirayuki A traditional Japanese white made by allowing Oyster shells to decompose until all organic matter is gone then grinding the remaining shell. It is believed that there is only one traditional manufacturer left doing this. The pigment can be obtained from Kremer pigments. It has a pearl like luster. Go to pigment main page Go to Red pigments Go to Yellow pigments Go to Orange pigments Go to Brown pigments Go to Green pigments Go to Blue pigments Go to Violet pigments Go to Black pigments Go to Historic pigments Go to Inert pigments Go to Iridescent and Metallic pigments Go to Miscellaneous pigments References Alberti, L B,    On Painting    1435 (Penguin Classics) Cellini, B,    The Life Of Benvenuto Cellini,    finished 1562 but not published until 1730 (Heron) Cennini, C d'A,    The Craftsman's Handbook.    1437 (Dover) Doerner, M,    The Materials Of The Artist And Their Use In Painting,    1921 (Harcourt Brace) Eastlake, Sir C L,    Materials For A History Of Oil Painting,    1847 (Dover) Feller, R L,    Artists Pigments    1986 (National Gallery Of Art / Cambridge University) Gettens, R J, and Stout, G L,      Painting Materials: A Short Encyclopedia,      1942 (Dover) Gottsegen, M D,    A Manual Of Painting Materials And Techniques,    1987 (Harper & Row) Maire, F,    Colors: What They Are And What To Expect Of Them,    1910 (Drake) Mayer, R,   The Artists Handbook Of Materials And Techniques,    fifth edition 1991  (Faber & Faber) Merrifield, Mrs. M P,    Medieval And Renaissance Treatises On The Arts Of Painting    1849 (Dover) Muther, R,    The History Of Painting From The Fourth Century To The Early Nineteenth Century,    1907 (Putnam) Parkhurst, D B,    The Painter In Oil   1898 (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard) Patton, T C,    Pigment Handbook,    1973 (Wiley) Porter, N      Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary,      1913 (Merriam) Pliny, The Elder (Gaius Plinius),    Natural History,    77 AD (Penguin Classics) Roy, A      Artist's Pigments: A Handbook Of Their History And Characteristics,      1994 (Oxford University Press) Taubs, F,    A Guide To Traditional And Modern Painting Methods,    1963 (Thames & Hudson) Theophilus,   On Divers Arts,    1125 (Dover) Various,    Encyclopedia Britannica,    fifteenth edition 1981  (Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc) Various,    Paint And Painting,   1982,  (Winsor & Newton / The Tate Gallery) Various,    The Artist's Colormen's Story,    1984 (Winsor & Newton) Vasari, G,   The Lives Of The Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors And Architects,    1568 (Penguin Classics) Internet Resources  |  Contact  |  Frequently Asked Questions