Two different material lists
Journal keeps a material catalog for the artwork and, separately, materials used in the selected session. These lists are related, but they are not interchangeable.
- Artwork materials – the reusable catalog for this artwork. Each entry records the material itself: its name, manufacturer, pigment code(s) and general notes. A catalog entry can be assigned to multiple sessions.
- Materials used in session – assignments pointing to entries from that catalog. A session may use only some of the materials. Every assignment has its own usage notes explaining how that material was used in that particular session.
For example, Michael Harding – Indian Yellow (PY83) needs only one catalog entry. It can then be assigned to a first-layer session and a later glazing session, with different Material usage notes for each. Renaming a catalog entry updates the name displayed in all session assignments that reference it.
Journal’s material list is per artwork, not a global database shared across every ARS project. Materials are free-text records; ARS does not validate paint brands or Color Index pigment codes against an external database.
Add a material to the artwork catalog
- Open or create a Journal.
- In Artwork materials, click + (Add material).
- The new item appears with the placeholder name New material and is selected.
- Complete its details below the catalog list.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Name | Material or product name, e.g. Indian Yellow, French linen, Refined linseed oil, Graphite HB. This field is required and accepts 1–160 characters after trimming. |
| Manufacturer | Select a suggestion in the editable dropdown or type a different name. You are not limited to the listed manufacturers. |
| Pigments (CI) | Optional free-text Color Index code(s), e.g. PY83 or PB15:3, PW6. For non-pigment materials, leave blank if not applicable. |
| Notes | General information relevant whenever the material is used: product type, properties, intended role, handling preferences, or identification details. |
The catalog list shows the material’s Name and Pigments (CI). Selecting a material changes the editable details below it; changes do not create a duplicate entry.
Materials are not restricted to paints. The same list can track panels, canvas, gesso, pencils, solvents, mediums, varnishes, and other supplies. A free-text Pigments (CI) field does not imply that every material must have a pigment code.
Assign catalog materials to a session
- Select a session in Sessions.
- In Session details → Materials used in session, open the dropdown and choose a material already entered in Artwork materials.
- Click + (Assign material to session).
- The material appears in the selected session’s material list. Click it to write Material usage notes specific to this session.
- Repeat for other materials used during that session.
A catalog entry can be assigned once to a given session; the same material may still be assigned to multiple different sessions. If the assign button is unavailable, confirm that a session is selected, the material exists in the catalog, and it has not already been assigned to this session.
The session list shows each assigned material’s name and manufacturer. Its notes box belongs to the selected assignment only, not to the whole catalog item.
What to put in the two Notes boxes
| Notes location | Suitable information |
|---|---|
| Artwork materials → Notes | “Transparent yellow pigment; used for warm glazing”; a permanent note about the material. |
| Materials used in session → Material usage notes | “Mixed with ultramarine for foliage, applied in a thin layer”; what happened in this session. |
There is also a separate Session details → Notes field for general session observations. See Sessions.
Removing assignments versus deleting catalog entries
To stop recording a material in the selected session, select it under Materials used in session and click − (Remove material from session). This removes the session’s assignment and its usage notes, not the catalog entry; other sessions remain unchanged.
To delete an entry from Artwork materials, select it in the catalog and click that area’s − (Remove material). ARS prevents deletion while any session still refers to that material. Remove the material’s assignments from every session first, then delete the catalog entry if it is no longer needed.
Be careful which − button you use: one acts on the selected session’s assignment and the other on the artwork’s shared material catalog.
Practical example
An artwork uses a linen panel, Titanium White (PW6) and Indian Yellow (PY83). Enter the three items once in Artwork materials. For Session 1 (Preparation), assign the linen only and note the ground treatment. For Session 2 (First paint layer), assign the two paints and describe their mixing and application. For Session 3 (Glazing), assign Indian Yellow again with new usage notes. The catalog still contains just three items, while each session maintains its own relevant history.
