Pigfolio

PB36 Cobalt Turquoise / Cerulean (chromium)

Cobalt chromium aluminate.

30 tubes from 18 of 24 paint lines contain PB36. 23 are made from PB36 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 opaque.

About PB36

History

Cobalt chromium aluminate is a modern cobalt pigment used for cobalt turquoise and many ceruleans.

In mixes

A greenish blue, fairly opaque and moderately strong, giving clean sky and sea tints.

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 PB36, by brand

The best single-pigment PB36 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

  1. M. Graham Cobalt TurquoiseSeries 6 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  2. Michael Harding Cobalt Turquoise DeepSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  3. Rembrandt Cobalt Turquoise BlueSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  4. W&N Artists' Cobalt TurquoiseSeries 5 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  5. Williamsburg Cobalt Turquoise GreenishSeries 7 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  6. Blockx Cerulean Blue (PB36)Series 6 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  7. Grumbacher Cobalt Titanate BlueSeries 4 · LF I
  8. Langridge Cerulean BlueSeries 6 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  9. Old Holland Cobalt Blue TurquoiseSeries E · LF I
  10. Holbein Cobalt TurquoiseSeries E · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  11. Da Vinci Cerulean Blue GenuineLF not rated · Opaque Opaque
  12. Maimeri Puro Cobalt Green BlueishLF not rated
  13. Vasari Cerulean BlueLF not rated · Opaque Opaque

Not sold here by: Gamblin, W&N Winton, Van Gogh, Cobra, Art Creation, W&N Griffin.

Made from PB36 alone

Cerulean Blue (PB36)Blockx 212651PB36Series 6OpaqueLF ITurquoise BlueBlockx 212655PB36Series 7OpaqueLF ITurquoise GreenBlockx 212663PB36Series 6OpaqueLF ICerulean Blue GenuineDa VinciPB36Opaque–Cobalt Titanate BlueGrumbacher P059PB36Series 4LF ICobalt TurquoiseHolbein H316PB36Series EVerifyOpaqueLF ICerulean BlueLangridgePB36Series 6OpaqueLF ICerulean BlueM. Graham 080PB36Series 6OpaqueLF ICobalt TurquoiseM. Graham 098PB36Series 6OpaqueLF ICerulean BlueMichael Harding 603PB36Series 6OpaqueLF ICobalt Turquoise DeepMichael Harding 507PB36Series 5Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean BlueMaimeri Puro 368PB36–Cobalt Blue GreenishMaimeri Puro 381PB36–Cobalt Blue LightMaimeri Puro 373PB36–Cobalt Green BlueishMaimeri Puro 318PB36–Cerulean Blue DeepOld Holland E235PB36Series ELF ICobalt Blue TurquoiseOld Holland E42PB36Series ELF ICobalt Turquoise BlueRembrandt 586PB36Series 5Semi-opaqueLF ICerulean BlueVasariPB36Opaque–Cerulean Blue FrenchWilliamsburg 6000857PB36Series 7Semi-opaqueLF ICobalt Turquoise BluishWilliamsburg 6000907PB36Series 7DiscontinuedOpaqueLF ICobalt Turquoise GreenishWilliamsburg 6000887PB36Series 7OpaqueLF ICobalt TurquoiseW&N Artists' 190PB36Series 5OpaqueLF I

PB36 with white added

Cerulean BlueLukas 1862 0121PW5PB36Series 4LF IRoyal Blue LightSchmincke Mussini 10485PW4PW6PB36OpaqueLF IICerulean Blue HueW&N Artisan 138PB36PW4Series 1HueSemi-opaqueLF I

Mixtures that contain PB36

Cobalt GreenArt SpectrumPB36PG50Series 4Semi-transparentLF IViridian HueGeorgian D111014382PG7PB36Hue–Manganese Cerulean BlueLukas 1862 0119PB36PG7Series 2LF ICobalt Green DeepOld Holland E267PG26PB36Series ELF I

Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Da Vinci, Georgian, Grumbacher, Holbein, Langridge, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Vasari, Williamsburg, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan.