Wallace Seymour Carmine lake, natural Bespoke Oil Paint

Carmine Lake, natural pigment NR 3 (Natural Red 3)

C18H12O9. Red lake pigments date back to antiquity. . The colour is derived from the bodies of the insects, which have been fed exclusively on the nopal cactus.

The pigment is formed from an initial dye base. The liquid dye is attached to a substrate (e.g. alumina) by precipitation. In the trade, naccarat carmine is the most applicable form for use in oil paints and varnishes.

As an oil colour, carmine is very transparent and has a very high tinting strength. On exposure to direct sunlight it can fade – more so when heavily admixed with white. In historic paint technique, carmine was often glazed over solid, opaque reds such as vermilion. This method helps reduce fading and gives a deeper crimson glaze.

Slow to dry 10-12 days in thin applications.