Mixed with Viridian or Pthalo Green it makes beautiful lively blacks, with Ultramarine it makes vibrant violets, with Umber it makes rich burgundy’s. As a colour it is perfect, as a pigment not so, and should be replaced with permanent alternatives. Fortunately acrylic painters have the perfect alternative in Atelier’s Pyrrole Alizarin and hopefully this beautiful pigment will be used in other mediums eventually.

Alizarin Crimson was hailed when developed in the 19th century as being a better alternative to madder. Early enthusiasm has turned to disappointment as artists discovered it fades rapidly in tints, and makes the oil film brittle and prone to cracking. This is apparent in a famous Jeffrey Smart painting in which the side of a crimson truck is seriously cracked. Seek a permanent alternative, most manufacturers are making them these days.

For a full list of pigments, see: Artists Pigments.