GRAYS AND GREYS.
Although the dictionaries usually do not distinguish between the
spelling of “grey” and “gray,” and although many decorators use the two
words indiscriminately, there is a distinct difference which it is both
convenient and advisable to recognise. A “grey” is an admixture of black
and white, and may vary from the smallest quantity of black added to
white to the other extreme, where there is almost as much black as
white. Anything between the two would be termed a “grey.” Examples of
this are found in the list which follows under the heads mentioned
below: Dark lead, dark slate, lead, etc. When a colour is added to the
black and white the admixture is called a “gray,” provided, of course,
that the black and white predominate, for example, a French gray is made
by tinting white with a little ivory or drop black and adding a little
carmine or crimson lake or ultramarine. What may be produced in other
ways is noted below. It will be seen that the addition of the lake in
ultramarine gives it a peculiar warmth which distinguishes French gray,
and changes the spelling from “grey” to “gray.” Gray drabs are those in
which a grey is coloured up to produce a yellowish tinge. Black being
usually a strong tinting colour, care must be taken that it is used in
moderation, and here the importance of adding a small quantity at the
time, as already observed, will impress itself on the operator. After
the shade desired has been obtained the colour should be added until the
desired warmth is arrived at.
ARGENT.--A reddish gray tint, which can be produced by mixing together
nine parts of black, sixteen of white, one of red and just a little
orange.
ASH GRAY.--Lamp black and a little French ochre added to white lead give
this colour. Another mixture is as follows: two parts of burnt sienna,
three parts of light ultramarine blue, sixty parts of zinc white.
BLACK SLATE.--Mix together black and Prussian blue in the proportion of
about thirteen parts of the former to one of the latter and add a little
white.
DARK GRAY.--There is no exact point where this colour is produced by an
admixture of black and white and a little orange or red. Mix eight parts
of black, one of white and a touch of red to produce this shade.
DARK LEAD.--This is a dark grey, being produced simply by adding lamp
black to white lead.
DARK SLATE.--This is simply mineral or other black added to white. The
admixture under “Black Slate” would answer.
DEEP LEAD.--Black, a little bright blue, and Indian red mixed with white
lead produces this colour.
FRENCH GRAY.--This can be made by tinting white with a little ivory or
drop black and adding a little carmine or crimson lake and ultramarine.
This produces a very slight violet tinge. White tinted with a little
ultramarine and Venetian red also gives a good French gray. Celestial
blue or cobalt may be used instead of the ultramarine if desired.
GRANITE.--French ochre and lamp black added to white lead produce this
colour.
GRAYSTONE.--Mix five parts of black with three of white and three of
blue and add a little red.
GRAY DRAB.--Mix five parts of black with four of white and a little deep
chrome yellow.
GREEN SLATE.--Same as lead, but with more black and blue.
IRON GRAY.--Mix eight parts of black with two of white and a little
orange.
JASPER.--This may be described as “a pepper and salt shade.” Mix nine
parts of black with two of white, with a touch of deep chrome.
LEAD.--This is simply a dark gray, and is made by adding lamp black to
white lead with sufficient blue.
LIGHT GREY.--Mix together one part of ultramarine blue, one part of lamp
black, ten parts of white lead. By adding more or less white lead a
darker or a lighter shade may be obtained if required. Another shade is
obtained by mixing seven parts of black, four and one-eighth parts of
white, and eight parts of blue.
MASTIC.--This is a dark gray shade. To produce it mix twelve parts of
black with one of white, rather less than one of yellow and just a touch
of orange.
MOSS GRAY.--Tint white lead with French ochre, a bright green and a
little lamp black.
MOUSE COLOUR.--Eleven parts burnt umber, to which has been added one
part of Prussian blue, mixed with about twenty times the bulk of white
lead, will give this tint. Another shade may be had by mixing sixteen
parts of white, three of black and one of blue. Some painters tint white
with lamp black and add a very little Venetian red and burnt umber.
NEUTRAL TINT.--An artist’s colour is sold under this name.
OLIVE GRAY.--Three parts of lamp black, one part chrome green, with
about forty times the quantity of white lead, will give this colour.
OPAL GRAY.--One part of burnt sienna, two parts of cobalt blue, and
thirty parts of zinc white.
PAYNE’S GRAY.--Is an artist’s colour, which may be described as a gray
having a lilac tinge.
PEARL.--This is the same as French grey, but is much lighter.
PEARL GRAY.--Forty parts white lead, five parts of vermilion and one
part of deep chrome green. Some decorators tint white lead with lamp
black and call that pearl gr_a_y. Strictly speaking, however, it should
be called pearl gr_e_y, there being no colour present. Six parts of
white lead, two parts of Venetian red, and one part of lamp black gives
a somewhat dark pearl gray, but a lighter tint may easily be obtained by
adding more lead. Ivory black answers equally as well as lamp black.
QUAKER DRAB.--This greenish gray shade is produced by mixing two parts
each of yellow and green and five parts of white.
RUSTIC DRAB.--Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black.
SILVER GRAY.--Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black, or
yellow may be employed instead of the ochre if preferred. White lead
tinted with a little lamp black and indigo gives an excellent silver
gray.
SLATE.--See “Dark Slate.”
SMOKE GRAY.--Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black.
STEEL GRAY.--Tint white lead with a mixture of lemon chrome and medium
chrome and lamp black.
STONE GRAY.--Add black and chrome to white lead.
VERDANT GREY.--Two parts of oxide zinc and one part of terra verte.
WARM GRAY.--Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black or sienna
and lamp black.
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