Carmine varnish

Carmine varnish is a natural carmine lake: a raspberry-pink pigment made by precipitating the red dye of cochineal insects with alum, sometimes with tin salts. Despite the name it is a dry pigment, not a varnish. It suits oil glazes, acrylic, egg tempera, watercolor and gouache.

Key facts

• Color: raspberry pink with a violet tint
• Pigment type: Natural organic pigment (lake)
• Colour Index: NR4 (C.I. 75470)
• Composition: carminic acid, the cochineal dye, precipitated with alum, sometimes with tin salt
• Origin: cochineal scale insects (Dactylopius coccus) that live on cacti, mainly in South America
• Also known as: carmine lake, crimson lake
• Opacity: semi-transparent (a glazing lake)
• Lightfastness: 3 of 8 on the Blue Wool Scale (supplier data): fugitive, though more durable in oil than in watercolor
• Chemical resistance: unstable in acidic and alkaline conditions
• Suitable for: oil, acrylic, egg tempera, watercolor, gouache
• Not recommended for: fresco and lime plaster; work that will hang in daylight
• Packaging: 10 g jar · 100 g jar

How to use

In oil, mull it with linseed oil and apply it as a glaze over a light, dry underlayer: thin layers give the clearest pinks and crimsons. For watercolor and gouache mix it with gum arabic, for tempera with egg yolk, or stir it into acrylic medium. Keep it away from lime, other alkalis and acids, store it dry, and display finished work away from direct sunlight.

About carmine lake

A lake is a pigment made by fixing a dye with a metallic salt such as alum; the word shares its root with lacquer. Carmine, or crimson, lake was made from cochineal, which reached Europe from the Americas in the 16th century and became the second most valuable Spanish colonial export after silver. Because red lakes are translucent, painters layered them as glazes over more opaque paint.

Safety

Made from cochineal insects; can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Handle dry pigment with care: avoid breathing the dust and contact with eyes. Wear a dust mask (FFP2/N95) and gloves when working with the powder, work in a well-ventilated area and wipe up spills with a damp cloth. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working; wash your hands afterwards. Keep away from children and pets. For artistic and technical use only — not for cosmetics, food or tattoos.

FAQ

Is Carmine varnish a varnish?

No. It is a dry pigment powder, carmine lake. The name translates the Russian karmin-lak, in which lak means both varnish and lake pigment.

Is carmine lake lightfast?

No. It is rated 3 of 8 on the Blue Wool Scale (supplier data). It lasts longer in oil than in watercolor washes but still fades in daylight.

How is it different from our Carmine?

Carmine is the concentrated pigment, an almost black-purple powder for water-based media and acrylic; Carmine varnish is a lighter, raspberry-pink lake that also works in oil.