Blue watercolor paint is a color that I use a lot! My normal blue paints in my palette include Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt, and Cerulean. But I have a full tube of Phthalo Blue watercolor by M. Graham (I think it was a bonus for purchasing so many tubes at my local art supply store) and I’ve been meaning to use it.
This week I did a test with Phthalo Blue and a few other transparent, staining colors; Quinacridone Rose, Azo Yellow, and Neutral Tint.
I also tried lifting Phthalo Blue to test its staining strength next to the non-staining Cerulean Blue.
You can see all of this in the video below.
After my test, here is my take on Phthalo Blue
PROS
- Beautiful shade of blue
- A little goes a long way
- Blends well with other strongly pigmented colors
- One of the more affordable shades of blue (Cobalt is usually the most expensive)
CONS
- Needs toned down a bit to look more natural
- Tends to push and run into a wet area
- Staining (although it can be lifted somewhat without much effort)
Now comes the question, will I add Phthalo Blue to my regular palette? Could it replace Cobalt or Cerulean? I’m not sure! I think I will need to put it to use in an actual painting to make that determination.
