Amethyst Genuine - Daniel Smith Primatek Watercolor

[@kathrynt98011]

I use it for a shadow color in landscapes, particularly in forests or deep undergrowth. You know how if you’re in the forest, the deep shadows seem impenetrably dark, but if you look at them for a while, your eyes adjust and you see that there are depths and details and everything even there? I find the subtle sparkle creates that illusion in a painting, because much like that forest example, you only really see the sparkle when you’re looking JUST at the dark areas.

[@OtoKano]

Kathryn T. Thank you! That is so useful info. I really appreciate it. I’m going to pin your comment if that’s ok with you, as I’m sure it’ll be useful to other people as well.

[@kathrynt98011]

Dr. Oto Kano oh yes it’s fine! I’m glad you found it so useful!

[@everartokelli]

HI Kathryn, thanks for this poetic tip! I always love your comments and your geometric swatches on instagram are sublime!! I hope you start a KZbin channel someday.

[@Roslyngal]

Lots of folks like doing those cosmic/galaxy illustrations, this would work well swirled with strong, non sparkly pigments like Quin rose and indigo. Fantasy genre folk would use it a lot too, I think.

[@FannyMMOs]

Oh myyy, I wouldn't even paint with this thing. I'd just dissolve it in water and stare at the sparkly stuff in that gorgeous purple. Forever.

[@OtoKano]

FannyMMOs Lmao 😂 you should’ve seen my water jar after painting with this and the next episode’s color. The most beautiful glittery snow globe

[@Lacroix999]

I have a hard time wanting to rinse my brush when I’m done with these colors knowing how precious they are.

[@farmwife7944]

I use this primarily for water. Our farm ponds are best captured using deep greens such as perylene green as well as neutral pigment or Paynes gray depending on weather conditions. I use the amethyst to give a final light glaze over those areas in shade, which gives the color I want and a bit of sparkle from bits of sun peeking through. For sunny areas I lightly glaze over the under color with kyanite which makes for more gray tones with lots of sunny sparkles. These paints are really fun to use and add a whole new dimension when trying to capture the almost mystical elusive sparkle that shows up in nature.

[@farmwife7944]

Palmira Farkash I have used kyanite for an ice covered pond at sunset.....breathtaking.

[@OtoKano]

Farmwife this is an amazing use of this color! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Such a great tip 👍

[@jodihigginsjh]

I had to look up kyanite on my dot card! It must be breathtaking in the application! Thanks!

[@stacyamazedbylife7508]

@@jodihigginsjh , I just did the same thing! I want it! Then again, I would love every single paint in the Daniel Smith line! 🤪🤪

[@jodihigginsjh]

Me too @Stacy Amazed by life!

[@jillwiswall5386]

I love to use this paint in galaxy paintings as it has a huge range of color and the sparkles catching the light are reminiscent of stars!

[@artycraftyalchemy]

I'm going to have to try this. I only have the 5ml so hoard it a lot lol. But I like painting galaxies :)

[@mixedemotionsy4]

what other daniel smith colors do you use in galaxy paintings please?

[@OtoKano]

Wooo that is a wonderful use of the color Jill! Thank you for sharing it with us 😊

[@kristendeem]

@@mixedemotionsy4 I have used this for galaxy paintings and love it for the slight sparkle. For other colors where you want blue tones, I have enjoyed using mixes of DS Prussian Blue and Indigo gradating to the darker shades of Payne's Blue Gray and Black Tourmaline Genuine (also a touch sparkly) and for the galaxy parts, I like DS Pthalo Turquoise and regular Pthalo Green BS with touches of Quin Rose and Amethyst Genuine. Not Daniel Smith, but I have also used and loved DaVinci's Cobalt Violet Deep for purple parts without sparkle and for the darkest black where you don't want any sparkle, WN Mars Black is good as it's opaque. I'm sure DS has equivalent colors to those two. I preferred to limit the paints with sparkle to select areas of the galaxies and not use it all over so it stood out more.

[@msellenandrea]

This is one of my favorites! I have actually mostly used this color for monochrome paintings. It goes to almost black if you use little water and then dilutes gorgeously as you know!

[@OtoKano]

Ellen Wilberg that’s a great point. It does have a great range in value. Thank you for sharing your use with us!

[@LeySketch]

This is one of my favourite new paints that I have barely touched! One of my favourite artists (Ellen Wilberg) creates these gorgeous monochromatic paintings using just Amethyst Genuine, and it just has so much depth and nuance. Not to mention, it's my birthstone!

[@OtoKano]

Art of Ley Saulnier woooo I’m going to check out Ellen, thank you. So you are born in Feb 💕

[@leeannsolice7473]

Just purchased a tube of this to do some painting of dragon skin and some shadows on whimsical illustrations of magical creatures. I had previously bought a colorshifting purple for this, and it covers the range of purply-rosy two tones with some sparkle, but this is a nice addition to other areas on the dragons' bodies. Thank you for such a comprehensive swatching.

[@JacquelineJax]

One of my favorite watercolors

[@aimannaa1888]

That Daniel Smith employee was right, it is a gorgeous colour! I wouldn't purchase it myself, with the price point that high, and DS paints not easily available here in Malaysia but rest assured I will return back to this video to enjoy it's pretty-ness. Thank you Dr Oto for this!

[@kaidusa]

After watching this video, I decided to try the Primatek set and this was the first color I tried. Instead of swatching it, I decided to do a monochromatic painting of it. I like that you described it as a classy version compared to the Sugilite, because its dark and rich and this monochromatic painting that I did almost looks like an old Sailor's ship illustration, but also it sparkles so it gives it a bit of fantasy and ethereal feel. I do have to say though that the color itself is a little tricky to use because depending on how much water or how long the paint is pooled in the palette(at least a porcelain palette), the color can be misleading in wet form versus when it's dried. Either way, thank you so much for making these videos, they are absolutely so useful.

[@eternal8song]

thanks so much for this! I've been hemming and hawing about buying this color for a while, but this has convinced me that it's perfect for a project that I want to do.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you found this useful. Really hope you enjoy this color!

[@NLCleopatra]

I think the sparkly colour is very lovely in watercolor flower paintings

[@ArtBrain]

I love it for rocks and waterfalls because of the sparkle. I bought the Primatek sampler and amethyst is the only one I can't live without, honestly.

[@aislinngraves4291]

This would make lovely shadows for snow or sand at twilight.

[@sherrikent6628]

Just noticed that the Ultra Blue was made by Oto. That really made me smile after watching your making the paints! Thank you for this review

[@OtoKano]

Aw thank you for noticing Sherri :D

[@wendykleeb2071]

I just found your very informative channel. I became a Patron. I live in the USA.

[@macCALICOmac]

Wooow!!! Loved seeing the mix "before" and"after". Fascinating! How insane is the perm green combination! :)

[@OtoKano]

Pippa yes! Perm green is always a surprise how it reacts to colors 😊

[@bastet469]

I've been saving up for for this color. I think it would add interest to any floral, sunset or winter landscape painting.

[@OtoKano]

bastet469 I think you are right! Really hope you enjoy this color when you get it.

[@nathaliemarshall3079]

I used this color in a sunrise painting and it worked very nicely. The sparkle also added an interesting aspect to the shadows, especially the way the it disappears and shines depending on the lighting and even your viewing angle.

[@ArtistWizardry]

Mmmmm! My favorite Primatek! This one and Sleeping Beauty Tuquoise are my top but Amethyst takes a clear lead over all. Now I'd really love to create beautiful paintings with them.

[@SPQRKlio]

I recently re-swatched all my Daniel Smith dot cards and noticed I’d put Amethyst Genuine in the wrong place because of its sparkle-but not right away because, as you say, it doesn’t have as much sparkle as some of the others. Fuchsite and Red Fuchsite are much more glittery, and if I were going to buy sparkly watercolours I’d get those-but I don’t think I have enough of a use for them to justify the high price. Maybe for making gifts and cards and decorating a journal? It would have to be something where the recipient will see it up close to be able to appreciate and enjoy the glitter.

[@OtoKano]

K Lio I think that’s a great use, because then the recipient can tilt the piece and see all that shimmer too!

[@mssushibeauty]

Love this colour. I think it may be my favourite. But like you, I’m not sure how to use it practically. Thanks for the informative video!

[@OtoKano]

artntell it is such a beautiful color 💕

[@WordsofaReader]

I have this dried in two seperate place (both from the same tube and squeezed out around the same time) and one rewets well enough. Not super easy but fine but the other is impossible. Even if I soak it minutes before I try to get it on my brush. No amount of scrubbing can get more than a super light wash of colour. It’s the oddest thing. Really enjoying this series btw. Super interesting so far. X

[@OtoKano]

That's so strange. I wonder if the binder in the hard to rewet one separated and floated to the top? So maybe there's a shield of gum arabic blocking you way to that beautiful color?

[@threesixfiveart563]

That's interesting. I have no problem rewetting mine... it is s half pan I got on Etsy. Perhaps it is thicker than some and needs to be squished around a little before panning up??

[@SusanFilerAus]

I have the same problem when trying to pick up paint from my dried half pan. I pre wet but even that doesn’t help much and I thought that was just how the paint was. Reading that others don’t have this issue is interesting. But how to save the paint in my pan as it is almost unusable in its current state?

[@Donna_G]

I don't think I have this color; but, I have used some of Daniel Smiths iridescent colors. When fish are in their element, they tend to have that same iridescent quality. I painted a goldfish using a couple of colors along with my regular Daniel Smith paints. To use them effectively, I think they should be used in small amounts within a larger painting for the special effects that they can provide.

[@OtoKano]

Woooo using it for goldfish! I like that and it totally makes sense. Thank you for sharing your tip with us Donna!

[@elaineg60]

Oto, I won’t bore you again with my autobiography except to say after 9 years of traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting..I got into Western WC after my Son passed a year and a half ago. He was the one who got me into Asian painting…his friends great grandmother adopted me (she was an feisty 85yr old former professor who taught here in the US for 35yrs before retiring back to Chengdu. Lili is no longer teaching, now in her mid-90’s, but believe me, everytime her kids are around she messages me on WeChat and cusses me out in Chinese 😂🤷🏼‍♀️) Anyways, my Sons legacy was bringing people and cultures together; finding ways to share and cooperate while teaching each other about our cultures. That’s what we’ve been trying to do with painting. I played mad scientist for a year searching for a high quality western paint that could be used on Xuan..,there’s been an issue with the deterioration of traditional paints in recent years. Now that I found that magic paint..one of my tutors is obsessed with PrimaTek paints. ALL traditional paints were either natural minerals, flowers or herbs…again, until recent years. The problem is DS adds too much “stuff” for me to adapt it to Xuan paper. Some of the paints can be used in small amounts..but trying to do a large landscape wash on raw Xuan? It doesn’t look good. I’m going to keep trying..but I’m also getting into just trying to grow in western WC..and my best friend bought me a lab coat a few weeks ago that says “mad scientist”..even though my 4yrs of organic and inorganic…and PChem,,were 30+years ago..I remember more than I though I did. (I blame my advisor..he and Lili would have made a terrifying pair! 😂) Anyways: amethyst…ooohhh my! I thought about it for a few days…used 2 of my handmade Cobalt green, blue-green; a granulating CAD red (QOR) and held my breath and tried PY159. (There’s very good reasons why Schminke uses this so much!). My swatch page, according to several people who have seen it, looks like a piece of art itself..or did before i wrote on it. If you like separation..this amethyst does it like almost no other pigment I’ve tried. All 4 were striking…but…I took a picture of my palette and sent it to my best friend, a former art professor. “Oh how nice..a sparkly gray-brown? 🙄”. That’s what I thought too, until I swiped it and the magic started. It separates into the purple, yellow and streaks of gray-brown! It’s striking…but..I have a question. Prof Chen said separating colors would be perfect for some of his landscapes…Uhmm..of other planets? 😂. He does a lot of freehand (Xieyi) landscapes..but..HOW? WHERE? I LOVE these unpredictable separations..but, where could one use it? As much as I love the amethyst, even that alone is limited to some florals. Maybe I’m just being too analytical? 🤷🏼‍♀️😂 I’ll read through the comments..I HAVE an open mind, but tend to be a perfectionist, unfortunately, even with art. I’m on try #4 of my pair of cranes on a rocky beach…(all with western material it’s a rendition of a famous painting. My best friend stole #3 and said she’s going to finish it and get rich…I made the mistake of putting her and Lili in touch last year…which is why I get cussed out.😂). I understand..I’m not treating a patient, no lives are at stake in my painting; I may now have a lab coat, but I’m mixing pigments and painting pictures..not handling viruses and chemicals, or drawing data maps. Maybe I need to go back to counseling…🤷🏼‍♀️😂 If you have any suggestions, let me know!

[@bluemorpho7346]

Thank you for doing this series! I have DS Amethyst on my palette curently because I got it in a prematek set. It is a beautiful color and I love the sparkle but if I was choosing a purple for sparkle I would not chose this one. It's is a beautiful color but I haven't found a good use for it.

[@OtoKano]

lol yes I am in the same boat with you. It's a beautiful color but I don't reach for it when I am actually painting 😂

[@Achatfell]

I like that purple a lot

[@OtoKano]

Achatfell so glad you like it!

[@anam00090]

It looks so much darker on Arches. Prefer having Purpurite and Moonglow, as I just don't care for the sparkle, but like the hue. Can't wait for Sugilite video - have been contemplating buying it for months now, but couldn't decide. Like its hue but can't really imagine it in mixes. Also, did not know it was SO sparkly... Final comparison swatches are very helpful, by the way. They put everything into perspective ^_^

[@OtoKano]

Ana Markozashvili sugilite is coming this Friday! But if you don’t care for sparkles, you might be disappointed 😞

[@anam00090]

@@OtoKano Don't know why I thought it was a regular non-sparkly paint... 😂 Oh well. Maybe it converts me into sparkle-loving person, we'll see 👀

[@itsteganyay]

I'm not sure how I would use Amethyst, but it is like a duskier, granulating PV23, and I like that the color is so deep and rich. I think I prefer the Purpurite from the last video though, as I have no idea how to use any sort of sparkly color, and I need to find a warmer purple for my palette. Thank you again for the video, it's so nice to see these paints in action :)

[@OtoKano]

You are so welcome! Thank you so much for watching the videos 😊

[@rebeccapage4411]

Many flower petals in African Violets have natural sparkle--I bet it would be beautiful in a wide variety of flower petals.

[@OtoKano]

Oh really? I would love to see such flowers, they must be so beautiful. Thank you for your tip Rebecca.

[@threesixfiveart563]

That's how I've used it, flowers. But I just play around, so I use it anywhere I want purple right now :)

[@madamebutterfly6470]

How is it that there is no pigment information on the DS website for this color? No Pigment identification number?

[@christinahutchison3967]

LOVE this color. I have a question were do you get your Swatch paper. I love it and would like to try it.

[@OtoKano]

I print them myself :)

[@ritagjefle3995]

Dr. Oto Kano Are these templates available for download on your Patreon page?

[@Lacroix999]

This color in particular is why I don’t think this line is 100% ONLY pure minerals and no added pigments to their formulas since I have never seen an amethyst so dark before and even though I know they exist, most are not this rich dark in color. They’d have to hand pick their gems very precisely in all of their process in order to get the colors this consistent like this. Even if they’re not 100% pure with no additives except for the binder, I’d still keep using them because they are so beautiful and I honestly think the cost is still justified just the same either way. The only color I didn’t care for was the expensive lapis lazuli since it is such a stubborn color to work with and is the least strongest color in this line. No matter what I do, I cannot get it to be stronger and it’s VERY pale and weak and even when used straight out of the tube. It just looks like it’s so ‘watered down’ like it’s just mostly binder. I’m disappointed that’s one of the most ‘valuable’ ones of them all.

[@jesstolley7193]

I LOVE this color! :D

[@melissabailey2209]

Gorgeous color! But not one I'll ever get, probably, because of the sparkle. Most of the client work I do is scanned and my concern is how that sparkle will react with the bright light of a scanner and how that will affect the appearance of the artwork. Bummer. But as a viable replacement, I do love moonglow and find myself using it often, mostly for a granulating shadow. That would probably be how I'd use the amethyst genuine so really no justification for buying a similar color that is expensive & sparkly. Thanks for another great video, Oto!

[@OtoKano]

Melissa Bailey that is totally understandable! Sparkles and shimmers don’t play well with scanners.

[@LizatHome]

I poured some into a pan about 6 months ago and was trying to re wet and use it today, but it kept giving off little gritty pieces of the paint that would not dissolve. I am not talking about granulation. I was fairly sad and wonder if there is anything I can do to fix this.

[@everartokelli]

My only suggestion would be to add a drop of glycerin or honey to the paint to add moisture and make it easier to rewet.

[@LizatHome]

@@everartokelli thanks for the suggestion, I will try that.

[@ianjackson5834]

Primatek range is not some thing i would tend to go for but its a nice colour for one of the prematek colour range, tfs

[@OtoKano]

Ian Jackson so glad you like this color Ian 😊

[@atelieradela]

The color is beautiful, not sure what I would use it for (I do not tend to use watercolors with sparky pieces). On the other hand I like it a lot as a mixing color, does the sparkel show a lot in the mixes?

[@OtoKano]

Yes it does. It is a very subtle simmer, less shimmer than using the Amethyst on its own.

[@atelieradela]

Thank you for replying :)

[@karsasuontintti5875]

hi Oto! Oh I love this one. It was the first one from the 7 sparkling Primateks i'v got. It works great is illustrations as base for the sky mixed with Rose of UM or Moonglow. It is also great for shadow. It might be challenging in the washes as you suggested, but when you layer them down or add another colour for stronger structure it works fine. One of the bloggers from russia suggested that DS adds mica powder in sparkling primateks, and that the genuine ingredients might be actually synthetic replication diluted in tons of arabic gum and sold overprice to us. -> I don't know about that. I guess i prefer sapphires and rubies in jewellery more than in paint tubes :) What do You think about it Oto? Anyway, these sparkling geniuines are amazing! Specially when used fresh from the tube. Also it would be nice to see a conclusion analysis about how all the special primateks: sugilite kyanite bronzites fuchsites and amazonite mixes with other colors and each other. I have them all, but your detailed and exclusive analyses are even more interesting to watch dear Oto :D Ofcourse if you have time. And Finally, Nice Video, Thank You!. -Karsasuon Tintti

[@OtoKano]

Tintti Karsasuo That has always been a rumour about the primatek range. I wouldn’t want to say either way without someone actually scientifically testing t. Minerals have a huge variations in color and textures so I can totally see a paint being possible that doesn’t look like any gems I’ve seen. It’s hard to say without real tests.

[@nekochii911]

Is there a purple similar to this without sparkles?

[@Roslyngal]

See her video, at the 8.25 minute point.

[@cisco2084]

Ok but how is it so vibrant? Doesn't a gemstone color become more faint as it gets crushed? I have this color and love it but I don't believe it's only amethyst gemstone

[@OtoKano]

Cisco that you’ll have to ask Daniel Smith about. I would never want to speculate without running some scientific tests (that is way out of what I can carry out).

[@sharkranger6]

I think I might use it to paint far off hazy mountains, but I don’t actually own it.

[@OtoKano]

That's a great idea Caitlin :)

[@greyghost5696]

Beautiful color but I wouldn’t know how to use it to be honest, haha

[@greyghost5696]

But those mixes! Gorgeous :’)

[@OtoKano]

I agree with you. This is a color I love but don’t know how to use it yet 😂

[@jeanettegillings7202]

Sadly mine has dried rock hard in my palette. It’s next to impossible to re wet... I end up with a very pale colour on my brush. does anyone have any suggestions?

[@everartokelli]

My only suggestion would be to add a drop of glycerin or honey to the paint to add moisture and make it easier to rewet.

[@macCALICOmac]

I'm in South Africa, so if you want to use South African affiliate links, I'd love to support you. I usually shop at loot.co.za 🤷‍♀️ not sure how it works but thought I'd mention it in case. Xx

[@OtoKano]

Pippa aw thank you so much. I will look into it 😊

[@marymccaslin1690]

I have this color from Daniel Smith and although I’ve used it in many many sketches, it’s still a disappointment to me🙁