French Ultramarine – Professional Handmade Watercolour Paint

Swatch Painted on: Saunders Waterford, White, Rough, 100% Cotton, Mould Made, Acid-Free, 300 gsm Watercolour Paper

Also Known As: Ultramarine Blue, French Ultramarine (Red Shade)

Discover how we make our Finest Professional Watercolours

Description

French Ultramarine is a deep, warm-toned watercolour pigment renowned for its rich, vibrant blue with subtle red undertones. Revered for its intensity and classic beauty, this pigment evokes the grandeur of a clear twilight sky or the depth of distant mountains, making it a favourite for landscapes, seascapes, and atmospheric effects. Its warm blue tone adds richness and depth to paintings, providing both vivid saturation and a sense of warmth.

With its semi-opaque nature, French Ultramarine is ideal for creating smooth, even washes, as well as layering to achieve luminous depth. In full strength, it offers a bold, deep blue, while diluted, it softens into light, airy blues that are perfect for skies, water reflections, and delicate backgrounds. This pigment also granulates, creating natural, textured effects that enhance the visual interest of washes, giving a sense of movement and depth.

French Ultramarine has excellent lightfastness, ensuring that its intense blue colour remains stable over time. It mixes beautifully with other colours, producing rich purples when combined with reds and earthy, muted greens when mixed with yellows. Artists appreciate this versatile pigment for its warmth, brilliance, and its ability to create both vibrant, saturated areas and soft, transparent layers, making it a staple in watercolour palettes.

Learn more about Ultramarine Pigments in Depth

We Recommend

Using distilled water with all our watercolours to keep each pigment at its purest form.

Feel free to message us with any questions – we’re happy to help!

Our watercolours are perfect for artists of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced, who value high-quality, professional-grade materials.

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