PG18 Viridian
Hydrated chromium oxide.
44 tubes from 18 of 24 paint lines contain PG18. 17 are made from PG18 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.
- Toxicity
- No toxic metal Not one of the toxic-metal pigments. As with any paint, keep it out of your mouth and don't sand or spray it.
- Drying
- Medium
- Opacity
- Single-pigment tubes are mostly transparent.
About PG18
History
Viridian, a hydrated chromium oxide, was first made in France in the mid-19th century and became the standard cool, transparent green.
In mixes
Cool, transparent and fairly weak compared with phthalo green. Makes clean, cool greens and, with alizarin or quinacridone, deep darks.
Genuine or hue?
Genuine viridian is transparent, fairly weak and costly. Phthalo-based hues are far stronger, so add them sparingly.
Drying speed is typical for linseed oil; tubes ground in safflower or poppy oil, or with driers added, will differ. These are general notes on the pigment, not on any one brand.
Purest PG18, by brand
The best single-pigment PG18 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.
- Art Spectrum ViridianSeries 4 · LF I · Transparent
- Blockx ViridianSeries 7 · LF I · Transparent
- Gamblin ViridianLF I
- M. Graham ViridianSeries 6 · LF I · Transparent
- Michael Harding ViridianSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-transparent
- Old Holland Viridian Green DeepSeries D · LF I
- Rembrandt ViridianSeries 3 · LF I · Semi-transparent
- W&N Artisan ViridianSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
- W&N Artists' ViridianSeries 4 · LF I · Transparent
- W&N Griffin ViridianSeries 3 · LF I · Transparent
- Williamsburg ViridianSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-transparent
- Schmincke Mussini Chromium Oxide Green BrilliantLF I · Semi-transparent
- Lukas 1862 ViridianSeries 4 · LF I
- Holbein ViridianSeries C · LF I · Semi-transparent
- Da Vinci Viridian GreenLF not rated · Transparent
- Maimeri Puro ViridianLF not rated
- Vasari ViridianLF not rated · Transparent
Not sold here by: W&N Winton, Georgian, Van Gogh, Cobra, Art Creation, Langridge.
Made from PG18 alone
Mixtures that contain PG18
Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Da Vinci, Gamblin, Grumbacher, Holbein, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Vasari, Williamsburg, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan, W&N Griffin.