blue · Oil and Watercolor

Phthalo Blue

Extremely strong. Always start with a fraction of what looks right; it takes over any mixture.

IndexPB15:3

Color#10456B

Tinting strength10/10

Opacitytransparent

Lightfastnessexcellent

Dryingaverage

This is one of the strongest pigments there is. A sliver changes a whole pile of paint, so put out less than looks right and work towards the color.

With white, step by step

pure #10456B 6:1 #1C5780 3:1 #25648E 2:1 #2D6D97 1:1 #4081AA 1:2 #5997BC 1:3 #69A4C6 1:6 #86B8D4 pure #F8F7F3

From pure Phthalo 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 Phthalo 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 Mars Black quietest point #1E1F1E with Ivory Black quietest point #232321 with Zinc White quietest point #FBFAF7 with Titanium White quietest point #F8F7F3 with Burnt Sienna quietest point #353D3C with Burnt Umber quietest point #2F332A

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 Cobalt Blue Cerulean 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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