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Top Pigment

Benzimidazolone Yellow 154

PY154

Alternate Name

Benzimidazolone Yellow H3G

Pigment Description

Usually found as a bright middle yellow. PY154 is a famous yellow that is an alternative to Aureolin, also known as cobalt yellow, as well as other more modern yellows. PY154 has far better lightfastness than the yellows it is able to replace. While not perfect, the lightfastness of PY154 is between good and excellent.

While this color is often more of a pure "primary" yellow, the sample we’ve worked with is a deep yellow-orange so the color may vary a bit.

In terms of health, Monona Rossol's work notes that the chemical in PY154 may metabolize to create something that causes or is related to causing methemoglobinemia.

Resources

PY154 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com

Information about PY154 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors, General information about this class of pigments from Handprint,

Spurgeon, Tad. Living Craft: A Painter's Process. Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, PA: Zoetrope, 2018. Newer version available here: https://www.thomaskitts.com/page/36804/tad-spurgeons-living-craft,

Rossol, Monona. The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York, NY : Allworth Press, 2001. The book is rather dated, updated information is available from her website.

Stats

Lightfastness

Excellent

Considered to be ASTM I. This particular pigment was not mentioned in Golden’s recent testing with mixing whites in oil.

Transparency

Semi-opaque, Semi-Transparent

Toxicity

Thought to be in the category of Lower Concern but may metabolize to a harmful substance

May metabolize to create something that causes or is related to causing methemoglobinemia. See Monona Rossol's research available upon request here for more information. Treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.

Chemical Name

monoazo, acetoacetyl, H3G, benzimidazolone

C₁₈H₁₄FNO

Dry Pigments listing PY154

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