Although the dictionaries usually do not distinguish between the spelling of “grey” and “gray,” and although many decorators use the two words indiscriminately, there is a distinct difference which it is both convenient and advisable to recognise. A “grey” is an admixture of black and white, and may vary from the smallest quantity of black added to white to the other extreme, where there is almost as much black as white. Anything between the two would be termed a “grey.” Examples of this are found in the list which follows under the heads mentioned below: Dark lead, dark slate, lead, etc. When a colour is added to the black and white the admixture is called a “gray,” provided, of course, that the black and white predominate, for example, a French gray is made by tinting white with a little ivory or drop black and adding a little carmine or crimson lake or ultramarine. What may be produced in other ways is noted below. It will be seen that the addition of the lake in ultramarine gives it a peculiar warmth which distinguishes French gray, and changes the spelling from “grey” to “gray.” Gray drabs are those in which a grey is coloured up to produce a yellowish tinge. Black being usually a strong tinting colour, care must be taken that it is used in moderation, and here the importance of adding a small quantity at the time, as already observed, will impress itself on the operator. After the shade desired has been obtained the colour should be added until the desired warmth is arrived at.

Argent.

—A reddish gray tint, which can be produced by mixing together nine parts of black, sixteen of white, one of red and just a little orange.

Ash Gray.

—Lamp black and a little French ochre added to white lead give this colour. Another mixture is as follows: two parts of burnt sienna, three parts of light ultramarine blue, sixty parts of zinc white.

Black Slate.

—Mix together black and Prussian blue in the proportion of about thirteen parts of the former to one of the latter and add a little white.

Dark Gray.

—There is no exact point where this colour is produced by an admixture of black and white and a little orange or red. Mix eight parts of black, one of white and a touch of red to produce this shade.

Dark Lead.

—This is a dark grey, being produced simply by adding lamp black to white lead.

Dark Slate.

—This is simply mineral or other black added to white. The admixture under “Black Slate” would answer.

Deep Lead.

—Black, a little bright blue, and Indian red mixed with white lead produces this colour.

French Gray.

—This can be made by tinting white with a little ivory or drop black and adding a little carmine or crimson lake and ultramarine. This produces a very slight violet tinge. White tinted with a little ultramarine and Venetian red also gives a good French gray. Celestial blue or cobalt may be used instead of the ultramarine if desired.

Granite.

—French ochre and lamp black added to white lead produce this colour.

Graystone.

—Mix five parts of black with three of white and three of blue and add a little red.

Gray Drab.

—Mix five parts of black with four of white and a little deep chrome yellow.

Green Slate.

—Same as lead, but with more black and blue.

Iron Gray.

—Mix eight parts of black with two of white and a little orange.

Jasper.

—This may be described as “a pepper and salt shade.” Mix nine parts of black with two of white, with a touch of deep chrome.

Lead.

—This is simply a dark gray, and is made by adding lamp black to white lead with sufficient blue.

Light Grey.

—Mix together one part of ultramarine blue, one part of lamp black, ten parts of white lead. By adding more or less white lead a darker or a lighter shade may be obtained if required. Another shade is obtained by mixing seven parts of black, four and one-eighth parts of white, and eight parts of blue.

Mastic.

—This is a dark gray shade. To produce it mix twelve parts of black with one of white, rather less than one of yellow and just a touch of orange.

Moss Gray.

—Tint white lead with French ochre, a bright green and a little lamp black.

Mouse Colour.

—Eleven parts burnt umber, to which has been added one part of Prussian blue, mixed with about twenty times the bulk of white lead, will give this tint. Another shade may be had by mixing sixteen parts of white, three of black and one of blue. Some painters tint white with lamp black and add a very little Venetian red and burnt umber.

Neutral Tint.

—An artist’s colour is sold under this name.

Olive Gray.

—Three parts of lamp black, one part chrome green, with about forty times the quantity of white lead, will give this colour.

Opal Gray.

—One part of burnt sienna, two parts of cobalt blue, and thirty parts of zinc white.

Payne’s Gray.

—Is an artist’s colour, which may be described as a gray having a lilac tinge.

Pearl.

—This is the same as French grey, but is much lighter.

Pearl Gray.

—Forty parts white lead, five parts of vermilion and one part of deep chrome green. Some decorators tint white lead with lamp black and call that pearl gray. Strictly speaking, however, it should be called pearl grey, there being no colour present. Six parts of white lead, two parts of Venetian red, and one part of lamp black gives a somewhat dark pearl gray, but a lighter tint may easily be obtained by adding more lead. Ivory black answers equally as well as lamp black.

Quaker Drab.

—This greenish gray shade is produced by mixing two parts each of yellow and green and five parts of white.

Rustic Drab.

—Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black.

Silver Gray.

—Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black, or yellow may be employed instead of the ochre if preferred. White lead tinted with a little lamp black and indigo gives an excellent silver gray.

Slate.

—See “Dark Slate.”

Smoke Gray.

—Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black.

Steel Gray.

—Tint white lead with a mixture of lemon chrome and medium chrome and lamp black.

Stone Gray.

—Add black and chrome to white lead.

Verdant Grey.

—Two parts of oxide zinc and one part of terra verte.

Warm Gray.

—Tint white lead with French ochre and lamp black or sienna and lamp black.

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