blue · Oil and Watercolor

Cobalt Blue

A neutral blue, low in tinting strength. Ideal for skies that should not go harsh.

IndexPB28

Color#1E52A8

Tinting strength4/10

Opacitysemi-opaque

Lightfastnessexcellent

Dryingfast

In watergranulates

Middling strength: it mixes politely and does not take over.

With white, step by step

pure #1D52A8 6:1 #2E68BB 3:1 #3B76C5 2:1 #4680CC 1:1 #5D94D7 1:2 #79A9E1 1:3 #89B4E5 1:6 #A3C6EB pure #F8F7F3

From pure Cobalt Blue on the left to titanium white on the right. Watch how much chroma you lose on the way — that is the cost of lightening with white, and the reason a tint often needs a trace of something warm putting back.

What to mix it with

These are the partners that take Cobalt Blue furthest towards neutral, which makes them the ones you reach for when you need a shadow or a gray rather than a color.

with Ivory Black quietest point #272828 with Mars Black quietest point #212120 with Zinc White quietest point #FBFAF7 with Titanium White quietest point #F8F7F3 with Burnt Umber quietest point #383E3C with Burnt Sienna quietest point #41444B

Every pair

Titanium White Zinc White Lemon Yellow Cadmium Yellow Light Cadmium Yellow Deep Yellow Ochre Raw Sienna Naples Yellow Cadmium Red Light Cadmium Red Deep Alizarin Crimson (permanent) Quinacridone Rose Indian Red Burnt Sienna Raw Umber Burnt Umber Ultramarine Cerulean Blue Phthalo Blue Prussian Blue Phthalo Green Viridian Chromium Oxide Green Dioxazine Purple Ivory Black Mars Black Payne’s Gray

Is it on your palette?

Tick off what you own and every recipe is worked out for that set, from a color you pick out of your own photo.

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