5/26/21 Update: Following the publication of this article, a new supply of PR168 was secured and QoR Permanent Scarlet is available to order again.
We are sad to announce that after October 31, 2020 we will no longer be able to offer QoR Permanent Scarlet watercolor, as the PR 168 pigment used to make this paint has been discontinued and is no longer available. The artist paint industry is often subject to the whims of the general chemical industry and particularly pigment manufacturers. Because of the critical needs for color lightfastness and performance, we are left with a limited palette of color choices. Within these restricted color choices we then have to conduct long range studies of new pigments to assure that the particular manufacturer can consistently hit the color space accurately over many batches as well as to assure long-term stability. There is no other industry that requires the level of assured performance for longevity than artist materials and we take that responsibility seriously. So when a pigment that has been researched thoroughly is taken away for whatever reason, it disrupts every artist that depends upon that color and negates years of research on the part of our Research and Development team. For this we are truly disappointed.
Permanent Scarlet is a semi-transparent, non-granulating, staining paint of excellent lightfastness. This red color leans toward the orange side of the spectrum in mid-tone and forms beautiful pink washes when highly diluted.
If QoR Permanent Scarlet has made itself at home on your palette, it is possible to create mixtures in the same general color space. QoR Pyrrole Red Light (PR 255), and Quinacridone Red Light (PR 207) are good starting points. Either of these will need to be modified with a touch of orange. We tested both Cadmium Orange (PO 20) and Transparent Pyrrole Orange (PO 71). Of the two oranges, we prefer Transparent Pyrrole Orange due to its transparency and the mixes it makes. Quinacridone Red Light creates mixes a bit too bright, and Pyrrole Red Light creates mixes that are not quite bright enough. Combining these two reds and adding orange creates a color closer to the target.
We recommend approximately equal amounts of Quinacridone Red Light and Pyrrole Red Light mixed together with a tiny bit of Transparent Pyrrole Orange to approximate the glowing color of QoR Permanent Scarlet.
Paints used in our tests:
- QoR Permanent Scarlet, PR 168, LF Ex, semi-transparent, non-granulating, staining
- QoR Pyrrole Red Light, PR 255, LF I, semi-opaque, non-granulating, semi-staining
- QoR Quinacridone Red Light, PR 207, LF Ex, transparent, non-granulating, staining
- QoR Transparent Pyrrole Orange, PO 71, LF VGd, transparent, non-granulating, staining
- QoR Cadmium Orange, PO 20, LF I, semi-opaque, non-granulating, staining
QoR mixes A through E are shown in columns, with additional water added to each mix as the painted squares progress down the paper from top to bottom. The paper is Hahnemühle’s The Collection, 140 lb. cold pressed Aquarelle.
- A: QoR Permanent Scarlet
- B: Approximately equal amounts of QoR Pyrrole Red Light and Quinacridone Red Light mixed with a tiny bit of Transparent Pyrrole Orange
- C: QoR Pyrrole Red Light with a tiny bit of Transparent Pyrrole Orange
- D: QoR Quinacridone Red Light plus a tiny bit of Transparent Pyrrole Orange
- E: Quinacridone Red Light with less Cadmium Orange
