Pigfolio

PB35 Cerulean Blue

Cobalt stannate.

22 tubes from 16 of 24 paint lines contain PB35. 18 are made from PB35 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.

Toxicity
Handle with care Contains cobalt. Avoid breathing in the dust or getting the paint in your mouth, and don't sand or spray it.
Drying
Fast Cobalt speeds drying.
Opacity
Single-pigment tubes are mostly semi-opaque.

About PB35

History

Cerulean blue (cobalt stannate) became an artists' color in the mid-19th century and soon became a favorite for skies.

In mixes

Opaque, slightly greenish and fairly weak. Its tints are clean and quiet, and it is expensive.

Genuine or hue?

Genuine cerulean is opaque, slightly granular and expensive. Hues made with phthalo blue and white cost far less and tint much more strongly, so use less.

Drying speed is typical for linseed oil; tubes ground in safflower or poppy oil, or with driers added, will differ. These are general notes on the pigment, not on any one brand.

Purest PB35, by brand

The best single-pigment PB35 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

  1. Art Spectrum Cerulean BlueSeries 4 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  2. Blockx Cerulean Blue (PB35)Series 7 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  3. Cobra Cerulean BlueLF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  4. Gamblin Cerulean BlueLF I
  5. Grumbacher Cerulean BlueSeries 6 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  6. Old Holland Cerulean BlueSeries F · LF I
  7. Rembrandt Cerulean BlueSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  8. W&N Artisan Cerulean BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  9. W&N Artists' Cerulean BlueSeries 4 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  10. W&N Griffin Cerulean BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  11. Williamsburg Cerulean Blue (Genuine)Series 8 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  12. Holbein Cerulean BlueSeries E · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  13. Schmincke Mussini Cobalt Cerulean BlueLF II · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  14. Maimeri Puro Cerulean Sky BlueLF not rated
  15. Van Gogh Cerulean BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque · student grade
  16. W&N Winton Cerulean BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque Opaque · student grade

Not sold here by: M. Graham, Michael Harding, Georgian, Da Vinci, Art Creation, Lukas 1862, Langridge, Vasari.

Made from PB35 alone

Cerulean BlueArt SpectrumPB35Series 4Semi-transparentLF ICerulean Blue (PB35)Blockx 212751PB35Series 7OpaqueLF ICerulean BlueCobra 534PB35Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean BlueGamblinPB35LF ICerulean BlueGrumbacher P040PB35Series 6Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean BlueHolbein H305PB35Series EVerifySemi-opaqueLF ICerulean Blue Red ShadeHolbein H321PB35Series EVerifySemi-opaqueLF ICerulean Sky BlueMaimeri Puro 417PB35–Cobalt Cerulean BlueSchmincke Mussini 10475PB35Semi-opaqueLF IICerulean BlueOld Holland F39PB35Series FLF ICerulean Blue LightOld Holland F238PB35Series FLF ICerulean BlueRembrandt 534PB35Series 5Semi-transparentLF ICerulean BlueVan Gogh 534PB35Series 2Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean Blue (Genuine)Williamsburg 6000848PB35Series 8OpaqueLF ICerulean BlueW&N Winton 137PB35Series 2OpaqueLF ICerulean BlueW&N Artists' 137PB35Series 4Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean BlueW&N Artisan 137PB35Series 2Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean BlueW&N Griffin 137PB35Series 2OpaqueLF I

PB35 with white added

Turquoise BlueHolbein H315PB35PW6Series BVerifySemi-opaqueLF I

Mixtures that contain PB35

Manganese Blue NovaHolbein H323PB35PB15Series BHueVerifyTransparentLF IManganese Blue Deep ExtraOld Holland C241PB35PG50PB15PV16Series CHueLF IManganese Blue ExtraOld Holland C41PB35PG50PB15Series CHueLF I

Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Cobra, Gamblin, Grumbacher, Holbein, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Williamsburg, W&N Winton, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan, W&N Griffin.