Cadmium Yellow Medium | Matisse acrylic paint

Cadmium Yellow Medium | Matisse acrylic paint

Considering the problems with bright yellows in preceding centuries it is surprising how slowly the use of Cadmium Yellow caught on. Looking at the dates it became available in different countries charts its slow but steady spread around the world. It was developed in 1817 and was first used as an artists colour in France in 1820. It reached Germany in 1829, and the US in 1842 and was first used in England in 1846. Its introduction was relatively slow because while Chrome Yellow had a reputation for impermanence, paint manufacturers were busy putting a lot of effort into convincing artists that somehow their version of Chrome Yellow was a “secret recipe” that was better than all the rest even though it wasn’t. But Chrome Yellow was cheap and a very attractive golden yellow in the tube while Cadmium Yellow was expensive and it wasn’t then realised just how much better than Chrome Yellow Cadmium would prove to be.

The first recorded instance of a big-name artist using Cadmium Yellow was Monet in which he used it almost purely out of the tube for some willow trees beside a river that were golden with autumn tones. I have seen that picture up close and the beauty of that big slab of Cadmium Yellow is stunning. The great permanence of Cadmium Yellow means that that yellow in Monet’s painting will not change for centuries and will appear and remain just as beautiful to brilliant to future generations.

Cadmium Yellow is now manufactured in a wide range of shades but the one we call Cadmium Yellow Medium is close to the original yellow first used in Paris back in the 1820s. It is useful for mixing with reds to make orange. Golden yellows are common in nature from ripening wheat to beautiful bright coloured flowers. and it It can be used to “lift” ochre when showing sunlight effects anywhere in nature.

There is good reason why there are few artists who do not have a tube of this reliable friend in their paintbox. The CL (Cautionary Labeling) Seal identifies products that are certified to be properly labelled in a program of toxicological evaluation by a medical expert for any known health risks and with information on the safe and proper use of these materials. 

These products are also certified by ACMI to be labelled in accordance with the chronic hazard labelling standard, ASTM D4236. Products with this seal are not hazardous if used correctly. It is important to read the product label in full before opening a product that has the CL Seal. These products should never be given to children 3 years or under or anyone with a physical or mental handicap who is unable to read and understand safety labelling on packages.

WARNING: CADMIUM COLOURS CONTAIN CADMIUM PIGMENT (CADMIUM SULFIDE) KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER. DO NOT SPRAY APPLY, SWALLOW OR INHALE. CANCER AGENT BY INHALATION BASED ON EXPERIMENTAL DATA. FOR FURTHER HEALTH INFORMATION OR ADVICE, CONTACT A LOCAL POISON CONTROL CENTRE. IN AUSTRALIA ph: 13 11 26; IN NEW ZEALAND ph: 0800 764 766; IN US ph: 1-800-222-1222