Duochrome Emerald (PW 20, PW 6, Iron Oxide/Oxyde de fer) Emeraude Duochrome

The Duochrome Emerald is the slightly reflective green of tender new shoots or buds in the spring. Many living things have a somewhat luminous quality that cannot entirely be painted in regular watercolours.

DANIEL SMITH's Luminescent watercolours, unlike anything ever seen in watercolour, simulate the lustre of a bird's feather, the iridescence of a butterfly or insect, and the luminous quality of flowers and leaves. They're made from mica pigment, thin transparent particles coated with highly reflective metal oxides—Duochrome Emerald shifts between two shades of green—a lovely emerald and a slightly reflective green-gold.

All the DANIEL SMITH Luminous watercolours mix well with other colours and lend their luminosity proportionately to the mix. Mixing our Luminous watercolours with different colours is an ideal way to use them!

• Pigment names: Mica - Mica PW 20, Titanium White - Blanc de Titane PW 6, Iron Oxide - Oxyde de fer
• Lightfastness: I – Excellent
• Transparency: Transparent
• Granulation: Granulating
• Staining: 1 - Non-Staining
• Series: 1

DANIEL SMITH Luminescent Watercolour creates unique luminescent colours, and many artists have asked about the differences between these, as well as between Iridescent, Interference, Duochrome, and Pearlescent watercolours.

• Iridescent: Reflection – a particle of light hits the paint/pigment matrix and bounces back, much like a mirror.
• Interference: Refraction – a particle of light enters the paint/pigment matrix and scatters light.
• Duochrome: one pigment that bounces between two colours.
• Pearlescent: This adds opalescence—like an opal or pearl—to the colour; it can be mixed or glazed.

DANIEL SMITH Luminescent Watercolours are lovely for painting the special visual effects found in nature that have optical surprises in the colours you see in birds' feathers, insects, fish, and seashells. Many flowers also have a pearly, dewy sheen. Consider the iridescence of a snail's trail or a silvery spider's web. Other things also have a sparkle or glow depending on the light: a silvery or golden moon, clouds aglow at sunset, rainbows, the sparkle of snow and ice, and the glint of water reflections. Don't forget the sheen of metals like pewter, copper, silver, and gold. There are also mythological subjects often thought of as having exceptional iridescence, such as fairies, dragons, mermaids, and other fantasy figures.

These excellent subjects beg for special paints, and the DANIEL SMITH Luminescent Watercolours are perfect for painting subjects like these!