Monday 12 July 2010

The Blues

We decided, a while back, that we were going to paint the Duck in the 'two blues' which used to be used on Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. boats in the thirties. Not because we want to paint it like a trad boat, but because those two blues look fantastic together on every GU boat we've seen restored in that livery, so we knew they'd work.

But, of course, the shade of blue is based on black and white images, contemporary description, and the odd flake of paint which survived, so there are various interpretations of what the colour scheme looked like. Below are two of them: Archimedes and Ara, and Callisto.



Callisto is the only one I've ever seen that uses the light, greenish blue. All the others are variations of the blue Archimedes and Ara use. So I was a bit disappointed to open the can and find it Callisto blue. So we are not sure if we will be using tho other blue after all. It is a shame but I just don't think it will look right. We should have had a swatch sent, but foolishly assumed that because every restoration we'd seen in the two blues was nice-looking, if we bought a 'GU Pale blue' to go with our Union Blue, it would be a colour we liked.

This weekend was absolutely the worst weather for painting: very hot and very windy, right up until quite late on Saturday, and threatening rain on Sunday. Still, we've just got to carry on with the Union Blue now, paint a line along the lid in grey, an then next weekend I shall attempt sighwriting!

6 comments:

  1. Come on Amy, no need to be so negative - I'm sure it won't be "sighwriting".

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  2. Stanton likewise has the turquoise. I think Phil is certain that this is the 'right' GU colour but I don't like it either and it put me off two blues completely. But have you asked if he will take it back and replace it with the blue you do like? He's bound to be able to re sell it....

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  3. John on Pippin has expressed an interest in using it on a non-boat related project. If he doesn't want it, I will contact Craftmaster and see what they can do.

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  4. Regardless of what might be technically "correct"; I imagine El Duck being a blue-blue boat (rather than a blue-turquoise one) ...and you probably did too! I would encourage asking Phil at Craftmaster for a swap, to what you thought you were getting!

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  5. The only thing is, I discovered the other day, Phil is no longer actively involved in the day to day running of the firm - on the plus side, they are now based in Cambridgeshire, at Over, and I'm sure they would be happy to help.

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  6. Ooooh! Just a quick cycle up the deserted busway away...

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