Ultramarine Blue

Ultramarine Blue is one of the most useful blues for watercolour painting, and probably for any painting for that matter. It is a warm blue, so on the purple side rather than the green side, and will mix with crimsons to make wonderful purples, with warm yellows to make realistic greens, and with oranges/orange-browns to make great neutrals, as well as a whole range of other colours. It granulates nicely and is great when sprinkled with water or salt for special effects. If you only want one blue, make it this one!

Ultramarine Blue, Daniel Smith Watercolour.

Buy artist quality, and look for PB29 in the pigment section of the tube.


I have added a lot more information on mixing with Ultramarine Blue under Palette Building in my website. www.janeblundellart.com

You can also see a number of brands of Ultramarine blue compared here.

To see it in a limited palette see here