Watercolor Painting - Testing Phthalo Blue by M Graham

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.

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 to be 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.

👉 Do you use Phthalo Blue watercolor paint? If so, tell me what you like about it in the comments below. Thanks!



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