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What Watercolor Paints Do You Use?

Posted: February 21st, 2009 1

PaintsWhat watercolors do you use?

I use a limited palette (three to five colors per watercolor painting) of mostly transparent colors.

Blues:  cobalt blue, Thalo blue (often called by other names, such as Windsor blue or Joe’s blue), Ultramarine blue and opaque cerulean blue

Yellows:  Aureolin yellow, New Gamboge yellow, raw sienna and Quinacridone gold

Reds:  Quinacridone red, Alizarin crimson and Napthol red

Others:  Burnt sienna, raw umber violet (a Daniel Smith color), Perylene green, and opaque olive green gouache

My watercolor palette is rarely “cleaned up,” and I try to never let my watercolor paints dry out.  For black, I mix raw umber violet with thalo or ultramarine blue. For most greens, I use perylene green or mix my own.