[Tom Edgerton]

Richard--

A little bit of everything. First quality, not student grade, except in the substitution mentioned. Nothing widely discussed as archivally suspect. I have to be able to get some more locally if I run out of a particular color--I value the efficiency--but most of the local stores keep all but the real exotics.

In other words, I don't turn it into an exact science, but I understand those who do, if they are searching for a particular result.

I was given a pretty good assortment of Vasari paints a while back and have liked them.

I haven't experimented a lot as my concerns heretofore have been mostly tonal. But I'm getting into a greater preoccupation for color so I expect the path will lead to more experimentation, as it has with other folks.

As with Allan's Permanent Crimson Lake, the Permanent Alizarin Crimson substitute has a lightfastness rating of I. I wouldn't base my palette on student grades, of course, but in the context of this one discussion, I'm satisfied with the mixtures. I'm sure there are many other good solutions.