Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

Ultramarine blue (green shade)

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Author
Message

Keith Orange

  • Forum Member +
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 240
Posted
I bought a tube of ultramarine blue (green shade) by mistake. I've used it a few times in portrait painting, and have missed the violet tint that you get with the original ultramarine blue. I've not used it much since. Is ultramarine blue (green shade) intended to be used as a fairly low cost replacement for the more expensive blue greens such as cobalt or cerulean blue. How do experienced artists use it?

Thea Cable

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 188
Posted
Are you sure that the ultramarine blue (green shade) isn't a student quality paint? I am not sure I have seen this colour in Artist quality paints.

Keith Orange

  • Forum Member +
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 240
Posted
I'm referring to W & N Griffin Alkyd paints, a bit dearer than student quality but not artists quality. W & N also sell ultramarine blue (green shade) in the artist quality range.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 24793
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 8642
Posted
I haven't used it, but I think your assessment is right - it's almost certainly intended to fill a gap between the very strong green-inclining pthalo/Winsor and Prussian blues, and Cobalt and Cerulean/Coeruleum. It will have less overpowering strength that the first two, and more body and covering power than the second two (and be far cheaper than the cobalts). I would imagine it would be useful in painting foliage and grasses when mixed with a range of yellows, or perhaps with Burnt Sienna. I should be inclined to caution in the case of portraits, at least in painting those with Caucasian flesh types - it could be very useful, as is "straight" Ultramarine, in painting other skin types.

Keith Orange

  • Forum Member +
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 240
Posted
Thank you for the advice. I bought a set of W & N artists oil colours recently. I used a 6 colour set up, based on advice from a W & N booklet Hints, Tips and Techniques - Colour Mixing" . It recommends French Ultramarine and Winsor Blue (green shade) for the blues. It doesn't mention French Ultramarine (green shade) The trouble with Winsor Blue is that the colour is so intense that it has to be used with care. A blue sky painted with Winsor Blue looks strange. A better way is to use mainly French Ultramarine and then add a trace of Winsor Blue, although it takes time to get the proportions right. I think I'll have a go at painting skies with the green shade of French Ultramarine.

Keith Orange

  • Forum Member +
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 240
Posted
Thanks for the tip for warming Winsor Blue (phthalo blue). I haven't got rose madder - I'm trying to keep to small range of colours - but I imagine permanent rose will be similar.