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Top Pigment

Bismuth Vanadate Yellow

PY184

Alternate Names

Bismuth Vanadium

Bristol Yellow

Pigment Description

A famous yellow which can come close to some (but not all) cadmium yellows. This hue is typically portrayed as a cool yellow, however in the context of an intense color-mixing project, we found there are differences in this color from brand to brand in oils. Many of the ones we have encountered in oils were a bit warmer than we realized when we compared it with truly acidic lemon yellow cadmiums. PY184 is light, bright, high chroma, and gorgeous overall. In watercolor, Schmincke's version is a lot brighter and clearer than Daniel Smith's version, which is a rather fascinating lower chroma, lower lightness yellow. Monona Rossol's work notes that natural sources are likely to contain impurities. The Artist's Guide to Health and Safety contains a section on health problems related to pigments containing Vanadium and Bismuth.

Resources

PY184 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com

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,

Information about PY184 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors,

Alfa Chemistry (n.d. Accessed June 2025). Bismuth Vanadate Yellow (PY184) https://materials.alfachemic.com/major-products/bismuth-vanadate-yellow-py184.html. Alfa Chemistry,

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

Lightfastness tends to be excellent. While it is generally in the Excellent category a couple of mixing whites may bring it to Very Good. According to recent research from Golden, there were two mixing whites where it slid to ASTM II - Very Good, namely Flake White in Linseed and pure Zinc White. In the other mixing whites that were tested it was ASTM I - excellent.

Transparency

Semi-Opaque, Opaque

Depending how a paint is formulated, we have seen Transparent to Opaque paints, however the pigment tends to be Semi-Opaque.

Toxicity

Previously thought to be in the category of Lower Concern, however may contain carcinogenic impurities

Artiscreation also mentions the possibility for carcinogenic impurities. Monona Rossol's work also notes that natural sources are likely to contain impurities. Her Artist's Guide to Health and Safety contains a section on health problems related to pigments containing Vanadium and Bismuth.

Dry Time

Medium

Approximately 2-7 days

Oil Content

Moderate-Medium High

25-26g/100g

Particle Size

Very Fine

with PY184 (Bismuth Vanadate Yellow)
No single-pigment Oil found with PY184

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