Currently shipping within the USA only (USPS $3.95-$7.95). Digital swatch card templates, coloring book line drawings and watercolor printable .jpg files - worldwide - at www.patreon.com/KimberlyCrickArt
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 colors in watercolor, gouache, acrylic paint and inks. 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 paint properties such as opacity, lifting (erasing with a damp brush), layering (see if the 2nd coat produces a darker value) and the ability to smoothly gradient blend.
Fugitive (LFIV). Found in student and "designer" gouache or watercolor, intended for bright illustrations to be scanned for print reproduction. Shinhan brand from Korea is particularly bad about including pigments prone to fading in their professional watercolor lines.
PR3 Mixtures:
PR4 Permanent Red R:
PR4 Mixtures:
PR5 Naphthol Red DK:
Fugitive. Like many red pigments, this color fades when diluted and is not often used in professional paints.
PR5 Mixtures:
PR9 Naphthol AS Red:
Fugitive pigment that appears to be more durable in masstone and mediums other than watercolor (acrylic, oil). Sometimes used in student or designer gouache.
PR9 Mixtures:
PR12 Permanent Bordeaux TRR:
PR12 Mixtures:
PR19 Arylide Maroon:
PR19 Mixtures:
PR23 Naphthol Red Dark:
Fugitive, used in cheap bargain sets. Fades within several weeks of UV exposure (LFV).
PR23 Mixtures:
PR48:1 Permanent Red BB [FIAT]:
Fugitive (LFIV). Rare pigment used in student grade and bright "designers" paints.
PR48:1 Mixtures:
PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B:
PR48:4 Mixtures:
PR57:1 Lithol Rubine:
PR57:1 Mixtures:
PR63:1 Lithol Bordeaux:
PR63:1 Mixtures:
PR83 Alizarin Crimson:
Fugitive. Rated LFIV in watercolor, this rose-red has moderate fading in masstone and is highly fugitive when diluted. You can find Alizarin Crimson "Permanent" Hues in brands like Winsor and Newton, which combine a much more stable PV19 with PR206 mixture. Lightfast colors like PR122 Magenta, PR254 Winsor Red, PR209 Quin Red and deep red browns like Brown Madder PR206 or Perylene Maroon may be helpful with florals as well.
PR83:1 Synthetic Alizarin Lake:
PR83:1 Mixtures:
PR101 Synthetic Iron Oxide Red:
PR101 Mixtures:
PR102 Natural Red Iron Oxide:
PR102 Mixtures:
PR108 Cadmium Red:
Lightfast, opaque, slightly toxic.
PR108 Mixtures:
PR112 Napthol Red AS-D:
Fugitive. This pigment is particularly prone to fading in mixtures, tints or diluted.
PR112 Mixtures:
.
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 Mixtures:
PR123 Perylene Scarlet:
PR123 Mixtures:
PR144 Azo Condensation Red:
PR144 Mixtures:
PR146 Naphthol Red AS:
PR146 Mixtures:
PR166 Azo Condensation Red:
PR170 Naphthol Red AS:
Fugitive. Fairly stable in masstone, but drastic fading when diluted. Particularly a problem in tints, such as when mixed with PW6 in White Night's pastel color "Rose Quartz".
PR170 Mixtures:
PR170:1Naphthol Red:
PR170:1 Mixtures:
PR171 Benzimidazolone Bordeaux:
PR171 Mixtures:
PR175 Benzimidazolone Red HFT:
PR176 Benzimidazolone Carmine:
PR176 Mixtures:
PR177 Anthraquinone Red:
FUGITIVE - Warning, this color is often labeled LFI and recommended to artists as a replacement for Alizarin Crimson PR83. This color is more stable in masstone only, but actually fades when diluted more quickly than PR83.
Used in the popular mixture called "Moonglow" by Daniel Smith which fades badly due to such a small diluted amount of PR177 in it. If you're looking for alternative ways to recreate Moonglow, I've made a video about that:
PR177 Mixtures:
PR178 Perylene Red:
PR178 Mixtures:
PR179 Perylene Maroon:
PR179 Mixtures:
PR184 Permanent Rubine F6G:
PR184 Mixtures:
PR187 Permanent Pink FL:
PR187 Mixtures:
PR188 Napthol Scarlet Lake:
PR188 Mixtures:
PR202 Quinacridone Crimson:
PR202 Mixtures:
PR206 Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet: A good replacement for fugitive Alizarin Crimson PR83 or Anthra Red PR177 in mixtures with PV19 to replicate floral rose reds. PR206 goes by several names including Brown Madder, Quin Burnt Scarlet and "Permanent" Alizarin in brands like Sennelier and Jackson's. While this color was difficult to scan properly, the Winsor and Newton Permanent Alizarin is a decent match for this popular color. All of my tests have shown it to be a very reliable LFI to LFII (unlike the LFIV level fading seen in PR83 and PR177 when diluted). Smooth, staining, red-brown with strong mixing strength. Makes a good alternative to PO48 in the creation of Quin Gold hues with PY150.
PR206 Mixtures:
PR207 Quinacridone Scarlet:
PR207 Mixtures:
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 Mixtures:
PR233 Chrome Tin Pink (Potter's Pink):
PR233 Mixtures:
PR242 Disazo Condensation Scarlet:
PR242 Mixtures:
PR254 Pyrrole Red:
PR254 Mixtures:
PR255 Pyrrole Scarlet:
PR255 Mixtures:
PR259 Ultramarine Pink:
PR259 Mixtures:
PR264 Pyrrole Red Rubine:
PR264 Mixtures:
NR9 Madder Lake:
VR1:
Garnet Genuine: A rare mineral
Red Fuchsite Genuine: This red mineral is rarely used in paint making and I could only find it offered by Daniel Smith. There is a subtle sparkle effect, similar to coarse pearl mica PW20 with an underlying brick red similar to English Red PR101.
Red Jasper Genuine: A rare mineral.
Sedona Genuine:
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:
I primarily purchase my art supplies online at Jackson's or Blick art materials.
I use affiliate links 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:
Daniel Smith watercolors -- available onDB,JackorAma.
Interested in other ways to help this project? Visit me at Kimberly Crick Art on YouTubeor 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 :)
Note: this page contains affiliate links. All product opinions are my own. I am committed to honest reviews showcasing both the pros and cons of each product. I have not received payment from any brand for a review. I earn a commission from sales made through this web page's clickable banners or links to Amazon, Arteza, Scrapbook, Jackson's or Blick Art Materials websites.
