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Norrette Moore

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Apparently this element is now in high demand for the production of rechargeable batteries for electric cars. Not that I am panic buying Cobalt Blue in pure form (PB28) while I can still afford it...😉 Interesting trivia, there is an area in Canada of unmined minerals...a town called Cobalt.
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Tony Auffret

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I suspect supplies of Cobalt Blue (PB28 Cobalt Aluminate, Blue Spinel) will not be too badly hit by the battery business.  Most Cobalt is produced as a by-product of Nickel and Copper mining.  After that the main ores are combinations with arsenic or arsenic and iron, often as some form of oxide but not  PB28, Co(2)Al(2)O(4), a sort of cobalt aluminium oxide.  Aluminium is made principally from Bauxite, which is a mainly aluminium tri-hydroxide, so PB28 is probably safe from the aluminium industry too
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Robert Jones, Napa

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Your reassurance, Tony, is most welcome - I'm a great fan of well-made Cobalt Blue, in all media.  Got to be the real thing, though, and not some mix of pthalo blue with a bit of white.  PB28 every time - though even that can vary, as can the related Cerulean Blue: vary in strength, I mean; try the Daler Rowney Coeruleum (which is Cerulean) and then the Rembrandt Cerulean, ditto with the Cobalt Blues - while I prefer the Rembrandt versions, I wouldn't decry the Daler Rowneys ... (a great company, with a rotten PR department, but that's something else again).  

Norrette Moore

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A year later and I am panic buying.  Single pigment Cobalts (& Cadmiums) have shot up in price for oils. Now upwards of £23.50 for pro quality. I'm stocking up on my lesser quality, but still single pigment, Cobra.
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Robert Jones, Napa

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https://www.artsupplies.co.uk/p/bromleys-artists-oils These are generally good paints, and less stiffly priced than some: they're of artists' quality; I've used the Cadmium Yellow: I have plenty of Cobalt Blue (Michael Harding's) and use it sparingly, because that IS expensive.  Real Cobalt has always been expensive, though.  The Cad Yellow is good. Cobra?  Isn't that a water miscible paint?  I don't know what the price comparison would be, but it might pay you to shop around a bit more.  (Now, why is this not a live link, but the Jackson's one is?)

Edited
by Robert Jones, NAPA

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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https://www.jacksonsart.com/jacksons-artist-oil-colour Try this site - well known to all of us - too; the cad yellow is offered at a reasonable price, but you're not going to be any happier with the Cobalt, which is indeed around £24.00.  This is from Jackson's professional range, their other range offers a Cobalt Blue Hue, for much less - but then: it ain't Cobalt. There are other blues, though, as of course you know: Kings Blue, maybe?   I'm running out of Viridian, so must steel myself for a bit of expenditure - it's so useful, and so much subtler than Pthalo Green; and more expensive..

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by Robert Jones, NAPA

Norrette Moore

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Thanks Robert.  Doing my panic buying.  I feel less guilty (?) about stocking up on paint last year. If these are the sort of price rises we can expect. At least all paints, be they watercolour, acrylic or oil-based, have a decent shelf life. :) ps I like Bromley, have used them before. They send out nice catalogues too.

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by Norrette Moore

Alan Bickley

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Taken from Robert’s text… ‘I’m running out of Viridian, so must steel myself for a bit of expenditure - it's so useful, and so much subtler than Pthalo Green; and more expensive’ I’ve found that Viridian, with a touch of Cobalt blue and white, makes a fabulous Pthalo green alternative!

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by Alan Bickley

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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AND - it doesn't take over and start making aggressive moves against Poland.  Viridian is soft by comparison with the harshness of Pthalo Green.

Norrette Moore

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Well, I did wonder if sanctions were behind the price hikes or shortages. I'm not sure where the main source of these metals is from.