VIOLET Art Supply Pigment Database Watercolor Acrylic Ink Pencil Color Chart Swatch
Artist reference guide to Violet 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).
PV3 , PV14 , PV15 , PV16 , PV19 , PV23 , PV29 , PV32 , PV55 , PV62
PV3 M Methyl Violet: Also called Blue Violet or Spectrum Violet. Fugitive, LF-IV. Slightly toxic.
PV3 Mixtures:
PV14 Cobalt Violet: Also labled as "genuine", can be both deep or light versions. Granulating. Lightfast, LF-I. Slightly toxic.
PV14 Mixtures:
PV15 Ultramarine Violet: Some brands also offer it as Ultra "Red" which is a muted, dusty pink-purple similar to Ultra Pink PR259. Ultramarine Violet is granulating and lightfast (LFI, BW8). This pigment varies in color from a deep blue, purple to pale pink depending on how it was manufactured (heat a trace elements can change it's final hue dramatically). Overall uncommon, rarely found in student grade paints and the hue is different from each of the handful of manufacturers that carry it. Rembrandt makes a lovely version that has minor color separation with a hint of blue in salt reaction and back runs as well as pink tinges when very diluted. While notably granulating, in practice my Winsor and Newton Ultramarine Violet was even more eager to be textural in wet washes. W&N's is a deeper purple than Rembrandt's, but with a more uniform color. I appreciate both versions for being so clearly different than Ultramarine Blues (PB29).
W&N's U.V. when used heavily in a very wet wash produces incredible texture, shown here as a gradient to Cobalt Violet PV14. If you have seen my video about W&N, I have since updated the swatch card to better reflect wet washes using more pigment. It is easier to achieve a deep masstone using this color fresh from the tube compared to a dry pan.
This granulation is better shown off in larger close up images than the smaller swatch card below:
PV15 Mixtures:
PV16 Mixtures:
PV19 Quinacridone Violet:
Also called Permanent Rose or Magenta in many brands. PV19 can come in multiple hues ranging from a cool red to a bluish magenta similar to PR122. Often used as a primary mixing red, as it is capable of bright floral pinks as well as mixing vibrant purples. Although rated LFII, I have yet to see signs of fading in paints made with this pigment.
PV19 Mixtures:
PV23 Mixtures:
PV29 Perylene Violet:
PV29 Mixtures:
PV32 Benzimidazolone Violet:
PV32 Mixtures:
PV55 Quinacridone Purple:
PV55 Mixtures:
PV62 Strontium Phosphate Violet:
PV62 Mixtures:
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:
OR
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:
Daniel Smith watercolors -- available on
DB,
Jack or
Ama.
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 :)
