Pigfolio

PV15 Ultramarine Violet

Sodium aluminosilicate.

21 tubes from 15 of 24 paint lines contain PV15. 16 are made from PV15 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.

Toxicity
No toxic metal Not one of the toxic-metal pigments. As with any paint, keep it out of your mouth and don't sand or spray it.
Drying
Medium
Opacity
Single-pigment tubes are mostly transparent.

About PV15

History

Ultramarine violet is made by further processing ultramarine blue and has been used since the late 19th century.

In mixes

Weak, transparent and soft, a gentle greyed violet. Good for shadows and subtle glazes rather than strong mixes.

Genuine or hue?

Ultramarine is cheap and safe, so a hue here changes how the color handles rather than what it costs.

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 PV15, by brand

The best single-pigment PV15 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

  1. Blockx Ultramarine VioletSeries 3 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  2. Gamblin Ultramarine VioletLF I
  3. Langridge Ultramarine VioletSeries 2 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  4. M. Graham Ultramarine VioletSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  5. Michael Harding Ultramarine VioletSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  6. Old Holland Ultramarine VioletSeries B · LF I
  7. Rembrandt Ultramarine VioletSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  8. W&N Artists' Ultramarine VioletSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  9. Williamsburg Ultramarine PinkSeries 4 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  10. Lukas 1862 Ultramarine VioletSeries 2 · LF I
  11. Da Vinci Ultramarine VioletLF not rated · Transparent Transparent
  12. Maimeri Puro Ultramarine VioletLF not rated
  13. Vasari Ultramarine VioletLF not rated · Transparent Transparent

Not sold here by: Grumbacher, Schmincke Mussini, W&N Winton, Georgian, Van Gogh, Art Creation, W&N Griffin, Art Spectrum, W&N Artisan.

Made from PV15 alone

Ultramarine VioletBlockx 212231PV15Series 3TransparentLF IUltramarine VioletDa VinciPV15Transparent–Ultramarine VioletGamblinPV15LF IUltramarine VioletLangridgePV15Series 2Semi-opaqueLF IUltramarine VioletLukas 1862 0140PV15Series 2LF IUltramarine PurpleM. Graham 192PV15Series 2TransparentLF IUltramarine VioletM. Graham 193PV15Series 2TransparentLF IUltramarine VioletMichael Harding 208PV15Series 2TransparentLF IUltramarine RedMaimeri Puro 195PV15–Ultramarine VioletMaimeri Puro 440PV15–Ultramarine VioletOld Holland B199PV15Series BLF IUltramarine VioletRembrandt 507PV15Series 2TransparentLF IUltramarine VioletVasariPV15Transparent–Ultramarine PinkWilliamsburg 6000774PV15Series 4TransparentLF IUltramarine VioletWilliamsburg 6000764PV15Series 3–Ultramarine VioletW&N Artists' 672PV15Series 2TransparentLF I

PV15 with white added

Violet GreyHolbein H374PV15PW6Series AVerifySemi-opaqueLF II

Mixtures that contain PV15

Ultramarine VioletCobra 507PV15PB29TransparentLF IMineral VioletM. Graham 116PV16PV15Series 4Semi-transparentLF INaples YellowWilliamsburg 6000442PW6PY42PV15PY65PY175Series 2HueOpaqueLF IUltramarine Blue FrenchWilliamsburg 6000962PV15PB29Series 2TransparentLF I

Brands: Blockx, Cobra, Da Vinci, Gamblin, Holbein, Langridge, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Vasari, Williamsburg, W&N Artists'.