Exploring the Mystery of Holbein Peach Black: Testing Techniques and Textures
Hi, I’m Valerie Englehart, and in today’s blog post, I’m diving into an exciting experiment with a watercolor color that piqued my interest thanks to one of my YouTube viewers—Holbein Peach Black. This unique hue promises (I thought based on my own misunderstanding, note below) subtle peach tones within a deep, moody black, so naturally, I wanted to test its full range of capabilities.
Instead of simply swatching it, I decided to put Peach Black through its paces using a variety of techniques and tools: granulation fluid, salt, and even cling film. This is a great way to see how a paint performs across textures, values, and wetness levels.
Here’s how it went.
Setup for the Test
For my experiment, I used a 10x7 cold-pressed Academy watercolor paper pad. Starting with a generous dollop of paint straight from the tube, I grabbed my size 10 brush and began spreading the pigment across the paper. The color immediately stood out as a rich, dark black.
I worked at an angle, letting gravity guide the water and paint to flow. My goal? To explore Peach Black’s behavior at its darkest and lightest values while encouraging separation in the pigments to reveal any peachy undertones.
Adding Texture: Salt, Granulation Fluid, and Cling Film
Salt: I sprinkled coarse salt onto a few areas, aiming to observe its effects on both heavily pigmented and more diluted sections. Would it create dramatic, textured blooms or subtle crystalline patterns?
Granulation Fluid: A few drops of granulation fluid went straight into the wash. I spread some along the top and tilted the paper to help it mingle with the paint.
Cling Film: Finally, I laid a piece of cling film over part of the painting, pressing it into a curved shape for added interest. This technique can produce fascinating, organic patterns as the paint dries.
The Results
After letting the piece dry, I peeled off the cling film and took a closer look. Here’s what stood out:
Cling Film Patterns: The patterns created were stunning and complex, though any additional colors (like green) were thanks to my habit of reusing cling film without cleaning it.
Salt Effects: The salt added interesting texture, though it seemed to work best in thinner areas of pigment.
Pigment Build-Up: In one spot, I had applied too much pigment directly from the tube, resulting in a heavy, uneven patch.
As for the peachy undertones? I didn’t notice anything distinctly peachy in this test. However, the subtle interplay of tones in the black created an atmospheric depth that could be useful in future projects.
Note: After posting this video, a commenter reached out to let me know that the reason it’s called Peach Black is due to how it’s made: "Peach black is a matte, silky black pigment made by heating peach stones to produce carbon black. "
Final Thoughts on Peach Black
Holbein Peach Black is an intriguing color with potential, but its unique characteristics might depend on the paper or context. It could shine differently on hot-pressed paper or in more controlled applications.
This experiment also reminded me of the value of play in art. Even if a test piece doesn’t reveal everything you hoped for, it can still become the foundation for a future painting or study. So, don’t hesitate to use a whole sheet of paper for experiments—every mark you make is a step toward discovering how a paint can work for you.
Have you tried Holbein Peach Black or a similar experimental process? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear about your experiences.