Thankfully I only have to write the word Porphyry rather than say it! It means Purple in ancient Greek. This is a paint made from a very unusual mineral pigment.
Initially in masstone it appears very similar to a burnt sienna with a similar dark, reddish orange hue.
However once white is added it is clearly quite different producing soft, warm, grey, violet tints, which are quite surprising given the masstone.
It is also a less powerful tinter than a burnt sienna.
I really, really like this paint, it fills a gap in hue which I have not found anywhere else. It will work so well in a portrait palette, giving a range of subtle violet 'greys', and could be used in transitions from light to dark, cool to warm.
Sometimes when exploring and writing about new paints, one I try really inspires me, to the point at which I must go and paint, this is one of those.
Technical Overview
Pigment - Natural Mineral Pigment - Augite
Vehicle - Linseed Oil
Opacity - Semi-Opaque
Tint Power - Low
