Hello Guys,

I baught me a bottle of Andrea Confederate Grey.
But in my eyes it is not grey but khaki, like the khaki from Vallejo.
For me the confederate grey is a blueish grey.
Am i wright or am i wrong.
I have from matito a mix for confederate grey. But as i said, it is a different color then from Andrea.

Who helpes me.

Marc

Marc, What is Confederate gray? You almost might ask how long is a piece of string? I would not be too concerned my friend. Given the materials for dying the material, especially later in the war you gray could be just gray, blue gray, brownish gray. A lot of surviving garments are now brown or what a lot of folks would call butternut, although they started life in a lot of instances as a gray garment.~Gary

Hi Megroot, you have come across one of the most intestesting and frustrating parts of the hobby. Getting the colour right. There are just so many variations on the same colour, different factories, different amounts of dye, all manner of factors. I do not think that there is one definative colour. However this does have a good side, we can debate all of these points over a few glasses of beer Sorry i could not help more.

What figure are you working on?.

Thanks Gary and John,

Well i think it is difficult to explain. But all confederate's i have seen are in a light blueish grey colour. Not on the one that Andrea has in the bottle.
But Andrea write on the bottle Confederate Grey.
That is something that make's me a little bit mad. Because you think you buy the wright colour, and when you see it, it seems the wrong colour.

In fact this is the point of my question.

And john if you do not come to Antwerp on 5 and 6 march 2005, i buy you a beer at Euro.
What i working on. I just finished a few minutes ago a bust off Pilipilli that i get as a present when i became a member off AMSS. It is a bust off Pieter Paul Rubens.
It was a great artist (painter) out off the city Antwerp.
And i am working on a Kenox kit The Battle of Chancellorsville.
There are three confederate generals Lee, Jackson and Stuart.
I get it for Fatherday in June from my sons.

Marc.

I have learned to completely disregard the name and color on any pre-packaged paint unless it is one of the standard oil colors, e.g. cadmium red, etc. I look at the color of the paint, and not at the title on the package. As others have said above, the right color is often a matter of debate, and depending on the time and place, there can be several right answers. I look to my research materials, or to the work of more accomplished painters, as a guide and then mix accordingly.

I check the color chart of the paint manufacturer for the right color and buy what looks closest to what I want. Often, you can find these charts online at a dealer's web site. Also bear in mind that you can get any color you need from a very limited palette of about 10 colors, so there's no need to buy every pre-mixed color on the rack.

Happy painting!

How true, Pat!

It's only once we get the fact that one paints with colours and NOT
with names that we can start painting for good.

And Marc, the fact that you're upset because Andrea's interpretation doesn't fit your mental image of that particular colour is a proof that you're painting with your mind and not with your eyes.

My advice is: Trust your eyes and learn to paint what you SEE instead of what you think should be right.

HTH

Q.

There are many differnt colors of confederate gray depending on several factors. The main difference is the depots from which the states supplied there armies. alot of officers uniforms were privately purchased and varied in style as well as color, from a blueish grey to a more "butternut" grey, some have almost of greenish grey as well. With supplies being depleted and cut off during the war the soldiers of the confederacy had to make do with what was available. For example, a shell jacket from Alabama was more of a beige/butternut color versus a Richmond depot from the state of Virginia which varied from a dark grey to an almost denim blue. In my opinion there is no "correct" color of confederate grey. Most were wool but in the for southern states some were made of a jean/linen material. A great refernce of the many different styles is the "Time Life series: Echoes of Glory: Arms and equipment of the confederacy". You can also check Gary Hendeshotts website, he is a dealer in confederate cloth, as well as other high end Confederate collectables. You may also check www.civilwardealers.com for more equipment from cap boxes, rifles, bowie knifes, to hats, kepis, and overcoats. A great source for collectors and reference. Hope this helps.
Good Luck. jason

Hello Quang,

I paint with my eyes , but the colours are always bild in the brain
Thank you for your advice.
I shall mix something that comes just like i see it.

Marc

Hello Marc,

You've put your finger on it. The brain (or reasoning) can be the worst enemy in a creative process (like painting).

To make a parallel, you cannot make music if you're too busy playing the notes. Likewise, you cannot paint if you're too busy struggling with the labels.

Veel succes!

Q.

Hello Quang,

I know what you mean. I shell keep it in mind.

Dank je voor het advies.

Marc