RED Art Supply Pigment Database Watercolor Acrylic Ink Pencil Color Chart Swatch
Artist reference guide to Red pigments in art supplies. Color chart swatch cards of common pigments in watercolor, acrylic paint, inks and pencils. Includes lightfast or fugitive information, index by pigment number code, brand, manufacturer color name, how the color appears in masstone (full strength) or diluted (with water). Each image displays opacity, lifting (erasing with a damp brush), and layering (glazing a second coat after the first has dried).
PR3 , PR12 , PR19 , PR23 , PR48:1 , PR83 , PR101 , PR102 , PR108 , PR122 , PR146 , PR170:1 , PR171 , PR176 , PR177 , PR179 , PR184 , PR188 , PR202 , PR206 , PR209 , PR233 , PR254 , PR264
Natural, antiquity, mineral or unique red pigments: NR9
PR3 Mixes:
PR12 Mixes:
PR19 Mixes:
PR23 Naphthol Red Dark:
PR23 Mixes:
PR48:1 Mixes:
PR83 Alizarin Crimson:
PR83 Mixes:
PR101 Mixes:
PR108 Cadmium Red:
PR108 Mixes:
PR122 Quinacridone Magenta: An ideal primary mixing color, highly useful in creating vibrant purples when combined with PB15 and dynamic color separating mixtures with PG18 and PB29. This color is typically lightfast with independent studies from myself and Handprint rating it as LFI / BW7-8 in many brands. You may see LFIII ratings due to a single older ASTM test from 1999 that appears to be an error or anomaly. I have never seen any of the following swatched brands fade in any of my window tests in masstone or diluted ranges. However, there is potential for extremely diluted washes, or tints (such as when a small % of PR122 is mixed with PW6 to create a pale pastel pink) to fade slightly when exposed to direct sunlight for longer than 6 months. Note that Sennelier has self-rated their Helios Purple as 3 of 3 stars (and it is indeed LFI) yet they mention the ASTM LFIII rating as well. This may appear as conflicting information for those unaware of the error in the established ASTM rating. Top pick in my personal palette, see my FAVORITE LIGHTFAST PIGMENTS LIST.
PR122 Mixes:
PR146 Naphthol Red AS:
PR146 Mixes:
PR170:1 Naphthol Red:
PR170:1 Mixes:
PR171 Mixes:
PR176 Mixes:
PR177 Mixes:
PR184 Mixes:
PR188 Mixes:
PR202 Mixes:
PR209 Quinacridone Red: A useful red for florals and mixing with other colors, particularly for recreating dupes of Daniel Smith's Moonglow and Roman Szmal's Misty Morning (see my favorite lightfast pigments page for mixing examples). This color can look like a warm red when used side by side with cool Magenta PR122 or Permanent Rose PV19. It looks cool when next to warmer reds like Winsor Red PR254 and Cadmium PR101. It is often easy to spot in a sea of reds because of its tendency to dilute into a punchy coral pink color. LFI-II with very little to no fading after one year in window UV tests. A very subtle shift in extremely diluted range after prolonged direct sunlight (year +) is the reason it often carries a LFII rating. Some brands label PR209 as LFI, but I have not noticed any variances in actual LF test results between brands at this time.
PR209 Mixes:
PR233 Mixes:
PR254 Mixes:
PR264 Mixes:
NR9 Mixes:
Swatch card template available for download here, or get the rubber stamp here. Swatch cards were painted on Legion Black or Arches Cold Press 100% cotton watercolor paper. Paper and brushes are available at Jackson's or Amazon here:
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Where to buy art supplies shown on this page:
The following affiliate links are to places I have purchased my art materials. When available I'll include multiple reputable stores so you can compare and decide where you'd like to shop. Dick Blick ("DB" links below) is a large art supply chain store here in the USA that ships worldwide. Jackson's ("Jack" links below) is a great UK based art supply store which also ships worldwide, but carries some harder to find European products with quick low cost shipping to the USA. Amazon USA ("Ama" links below) often offers unique brands, including small business and Chinese off brand watercolor sets, that can not be found anywhere else. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Arches 100% cotton cold press 140# watercolor paper is one of the most durable surfaces for technical pen, scrubbing and lifting. It's surface sizing (coating) and texture is a good middle ground compared to the extremes of different brands. Due to these traits, and it being around for long enough to be the most commonly recommended paper for professionals, all of my swatches are done on this paper for consistency. Only white (and mica paints that do not show up on white) use the Legion Black paper instead. I buy my arches paper at Blick, and if you are in the USA this is likely the most affordable place to buy it: https://shrsl.com/2765w
Alpha by brand shopping directory:
Rosa Gallery can be found through the following links: 12 set, 24 set, 21 pans in tin, 28 pans in tin, and if none of those sellers are still active or ship to your country you can try the manufacturers website here.
Interested in other ways to help this project? Visit me at Kimberly Crick Art on YouTube or Patreon. If you have supplies that you would like to donate, such as watercolor dot cards or samples from your company that you would like reviewed or displayed in this pigment directory, please email me at enchantedgallery@gmail.com or use the contact form with details. Thank you :)