Jane Blundell - Artist
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I am gradually updating all my 
swatches. Those marks with an * have been colour and pigment checked and are as close to accurate as I can get.

10 - Light, Grey and Black Watercolour Swatches

There are literally hundreds of artist quality watercolours available from many brands. I have tested many of them and created swatches as seen on the right. The square box is painted into a damp wash at the top to show the colour mixed in water, with more pigment added towards the bottom. The rectangle is painted in a juicy wash to show the mass-tone. The small squares at the bottom of the swatch have the pigment number and characteristics - staining, lightfast rating, granulation and transparency. 

For more information on White pigments, see the Artiscreation White pigment database page here.

Fro more on black pigments, see the Artiscreation Black pigment database here. 

The Handprint Black, Gray and White page is here, with excellent information based on lightfast tests completed in 2004.
Picture
The size of my swatches

Lights, Greys and Blacks 

Traditionally white is not used as a mixing colour in transparent watercolour paintings, as water is used to lighten a colour and the paper provides the 'white'. Many artists do add a touch of white watercolour or gouache to a painting to add a highlight or recover a lost white so the white shown here has a strip of permanent marker behind it so its opacity can be determined. I use a lot of an unusual granulating light pigment, Buff Titanium, which I have included here. 
Black as also generally avoided as it can have a deadening effect on the other colours, though a convenient dark is very useful. There are a few different forms of Payne's Grey and Neutral Tint. Notice that most of them contain black, except the M.Graham Neutral Tint which is wonderfully dark but made PG7 and PV19. My preference is to make my own darks, my favourite being Jane's Grey, a mix of Ultramarine PB29 and Burnt Sienna PBr7, and various mixed blacks shown at the bottom of this page. I have included some black pigments here too of course, the most amazing being the incredibly granulating Lunar Black.

Whites made with PW4

Whites made with PW4 in alphabetical order by manufacture 
  1. Chinese White - American Journey; Chinese White - Aquarius; Zinc White - Blockx; Chinese White - Daniel Smith; Chinese White - Jackson's (mixed pigment)
  2. Zinc White - Kremer; Chinese White - Maimeri Blu; Chinese White - Rembrandt; ​Zinc White - Rosa; Permanent Chinese White - Schmincke;
  3. Zinc White - White Nights; Chinese White - Winsor & Newton; 
Chinese White, American Journey watercolour. PW4
Chinese White - Aquarius Watercolours. PW4
Zinc White, Blockx. PW4
Chinese White - Daniel Smith Watercolour. PW4
Chinese White, Jackson's Watercolour. PW4, PW6.
Zinc White, Kremer watercolours. PW4
Chinese White - Maimeri Blu Watercolour. PW4
Chinese White, Rembrandt Watercolour. PW4.
Zinc White - Rosa Watercolours. PW4
Permanent Chinese White, Schmincke Watercolour. PW4
Zinc White - White Nights Watercolour. PW4
Chinese White, Winsor & Newton Watercolours. PW4

White Watercolours made with Titanium White PW6

  1. Titanium White - A Gallo; ​ Titanium White - American Journey, Titanium White - Aquarius; Titanium White - Blockx; Titanium White* - Daniel Smith; 
  2. ​​Titanium White - Holbein; Chinese White - Holbein; Chinese White - Jackson's (pigment mix);​ Titanium White - Renesans Pan; Titanium White - Rosa;  
  3. Titanium White (Opaque) - Schmincke; ​​​Titanium White - Winsor & Newton 
Titanium White, A Gallo Watercolour. PW6
Titanium White, American Journey Watercolour. PW6
Titanium White - Aquarius Watercolours. PW6
Titanium White, Blockx watercolour. PW6
Titanium White - Daniel Smith Watercolour. PW6
Titanium White, Holbein Watercolour. PW6
Chinese White, Holbein Watercolour. PW6
Chinese White, Jackson's Watercolour. PW4, PW6
Titanium White, Renesans Pan Watercolour. PW6
Titanium White - Rosa Watercolours. PW6
Titanium White (Opaque), Schmincke Watercolour. PW6
Titanium White, Winsor & Newton Watercolour. PW6

Buff and Grey Watercolours made with PW6 and PW6:1

As well as a being an opaque white, unbleached variations of PW6 such as PW6:1 create granulating Buff Titanium and Grey Titanium options.
  1. Buff Titanium - A Gallo; Aquarius Grey - Aquarius; ​Buff Titanium - Aquarius;  ​​Buff Titanium - Arkaar PW6:1; Gray Titanium* - Daniel Smith; 
  2. Buff Titanium - Daniel Smith;  ​ 
Buff Titanium also available from Da Vinci as Titan Buff (new 2022 not shown) and by Michael Harding as Titanium Buff (new 2022 not shown)
Buff Titanium, A Gallo. PW6:1
Aquarius Grey, Aquarius Watercolours. PW6
Buff Titanium, Aquarius Watercolours. PW6:1
Buff Titanium - Arkaar Watercolour . PW6:1
Gray Titanium - Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PW6
Buff Titanium - Daniel Smith watercolour. PW6:1

Light Greys mixed pigment.

​See also the single pigment greys above.
  1. French Gray - American Journey PW6 + PBr7, Sag Harbor Gray - American Journey PBr7 + PY43 + PW6 Coastal Fog - American Journey PBr7 + PW6; Pat's Coastal Blue - American Journey PBr7 + PB36, Buff Titainium - American Journey PW6 + PBr7;
  2. Australian Grey - Art Spectrum; Grey of Grey - Holbein PBk6 + PW6; Titanium Buff - Rembrandt PW6 + PBr7​
French Gray, American Journey Watercolour. PW6, PBr7
Sag Harbor Gray, American Journey. PBr7, PY43, PW6.
Coastal Fog, American Journey. PBr7, PW6
Pat's Coastal Blue, American Journey watercolour. PBr7, PB36
Buff Titanium, American Journey. PW6, PBr7.
Australian Grey. Art Spectrum Watercolours.
Grey of Grey, Holbein Watercolour PBk6, PW6
Titanium Buff, Rembrandt watercolour. PW6, PBr7

Greys - Davy's Grey

Davy's Grey by Winsor & Newton was named after Henry Davy and was originally made from Powdered slate (PBk19), iron oxide and carbon black. Shown here are: 
  1. ​​Getz Gray (Davy's) - American Journey PW6 + PBk6 + PG7​; Davy's Grey* - Aquarius PBk19, PBk32; Davy's Gray, Da Vinci PW6 + PBk6 + PG7; Davy's Grey - Holbein PBr7 + PBk6 + PW6; Davy's Grey - Old Holland PG23 + PW4 + PBr7; Da Vinci,
  2. Davy's Grey - Rembrandt PBK11 + PBr7; ​​Davy's Grey - Winsor & Newton PBk6 + PG17 + PW4.
Getz Gray (Davy's), American Journey. PW6, PBk6, PG7
Davy's Grey, Aquarius Watercolour. PBk19, PBk32. New 2024
Davy's Gray, Da Vinci watercolour. PW6, PBk6, PG7
Davy's Grey, Holbein Watercolour PBr7, PBk6, PW6
Davy's Grey, Old Holland Watercolour. PG23+PW4+PBr7
Davy's Grey, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBK11, PBr7. New 2019.
Davy's Grey, Winsor & Newton watercolour. PBk6 + PG17 + PW4.

Greys - single pigment


There are also some interesting single pigment greys such as Graphite by Daniel Smith, which is very opaque with a slight sheen. I like using this with pencil drawings. ​There is also an interesting Grey Titanium made with PW6 or PW6:1. Others shown here are made with PBk7 PBk10, PBk19 and PBk26 along with some Primatek grey colours.
  1. Slate Gray - A Gallo PBk19; Aquarius Grey - Aquarius PW6:1; Graphite - Aquarius PBk10. New 2023; Graphite Gray* - Daniel Smith PBk10; Gray Titanium - Daniel Smith PW6; Hematite Genuine - Daniel Smith; 
  2. Black Tourmaline Genuine - Daniel Smith; Ardoise Gray - QoR PBk19; Spinal Grey - Rembrandt PBk26; Charcoal Grey - Schmincke PBk7; ​​Graphite Grey, Schmincke PBk10 (discontinued); 
  3. Anthracite - Schmincke ​
Slate Gray, A Gallo Watercolour. PBk19
Aquarius Grey, Aquarius. PW6:1
Graphite - Aquarius Watercolour. PBk10. New 2023.
Graphite Gray - Daniel Smith watercolour. PBk10
Gray Titanium, Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PW6
Hematite Genuine, Daniel Smith Primatek watercolour. Series 3
Black Tourmaline Genuine, Daniel Smith watercolour. Series 3
Ardoise Gray, QoR watercolour. PBk19
Spinal Grey, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBk26. New 2019 with a new grey pigment.
Charcoal Grey, Schmincke Horadam watercolour. PBk7
Graphite Grey, Schmincke Watercolour. PBk10. Replaced with Anthracite 2017
Anthracite, Schmincke Watercolour. (New version 2017 - was called Charcoal Grey)

Greys - Payne's Grey/Payne's Gray

Payne's Grey is a very common premixed colour, usually made with a black and a blue pigment, though originally, according to Wikipedia it was made with Yellow Ochre, Prussian Blue and Crimson Lake, which would be a much more interesting mix to paint with. It was named after William Payne and first appeared in English in 1835. I experimented with this mix as shown on my blog here. The versions available commercially are created using a different formula, usually containing and black pigment with a staining blue pigment.
  1. ​Payne's Gray - A Gallo PB15.1 + PBk7 + PV19; ​Payne's Gray - American Journey PBk6 + PB27; ​Payne's Grey - Aquarius PBk9 + PB27+ PR264; Payne's Grey - Blockx PBk11 + PB29 + PB15:1; ​Payne's Grey - Daler Rowney PBk7 + PB29; 
  2. Payne's Gray* - Daniel Smith PBk9 + PB29 + PY42; ​Payne's Blue Grey* - Daniel Smith PB60 + PBk6; ​Payne's Gray - Da Vinci PBk 9 + PB29; ​Payne's Grey - Holbein PBk6 + PB15 + PR122; Payne's Grey - Jackson's PV19 + PB15:1 + PBk7; ​ 
  3. Paynes' Gray - Maimeri Blu (discontinued); Payne's Grey - Old Holland PB29+ PBk9; Payne's Gray - M.Graham PBk9 + PB29; ​Payne's Grey - Rembrandt PBk6 + PB15; ​Payne's Grey -Renesans half pan PBk11 PB27; ​
  4. Payne's Grey - Rosa PB15:1 + PV19 + PBk7; Payne's Grey - Sennelier PV19 + PB15:1 + PBk7; ​Payne's Grey - Schmincke PR101 + PB29 + PBk7; Payne's Grey Bluish - Schmincke PBk6 + PB15:6 + PB13:2; Payne's Grey - Winsor & Newton PB15 + PBk6 + PV19
Payne's Gray, A Gallo Watercolour. PB15.1, PBk7, PV19
Payne's Gray, American Journey Watercolour. PBk6, PB27
Payne's Grey, Aquarius Watercolours. PBk9, PB27, PR264
Payne's Grey, Blockx watercolour. PBk11 + PB29 + PB15:1
Payne's Grey, Daler Rowney watercolour. PBk7 + PB29
Payne's Gray - Daniel Smith watercolour. PBk9 + PB29 + PY42
Payne's Blue Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolour. PB60 + PBk6. New 2017
Payne's Gray, Da Vinci watercolour. PBk 9 + PB29
Payne's Grey, Holbein Watercolour.PBk6, PB15, PR122
Payne's Grey, Jackson's Watercolour. PV19, PB15:1, PBk7
Paynes' Gray, Maimeri Blu watercolour.
Payne's Grey, Old Holland. PB29+ PBk9
Payne's Gray, M.Graham watercolour. PBk9 + PB29
Payne's Grey, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBk6, PB15.
Payne's Grey, Renesans half pan watercolour, PBk11 PB27
Payne's Grey - Rosa Watercolours. PB15:1 + PV19 + PBk7
Payne's Grey, Sennelier. PV19, PB15:1, PBk7
Payne's Grey, Schmincke Horodam watercolour. PR101 + PB29 + PBk7
Payne's Grey Bluish, Schmincke Watercolour. PBk6, PB15:6, PB13:2
Payne's Grey, Winsor & Newton watercolour. PB15 + PBk6 + PV19

Grey - Neutral Tint

Neutral Tint was also created in the 18th century, and was originally made with Light Red (red iron oxide), indigo or iron blue and gamboge or yellow ochre. (Bruce MacEvoy) It is a grey designed to deepen other colours without changing them i.e. if you add neutral tint to a yellow will go deeper yellow rather than turning green. These days it is usually made using a black pigment by most manufacturers, though M.Graham and Old Holland are the exception to this.
​
  1. ​Neutral Tint - American Journey PBk6 + PB15 + PV19; Neutral Tint - Aquarius PB60 + PBk6 + PV19; Neutral Tint - Blockx PBk11 + PB15 + PV19; ​Neutral Tint* - Daniel Smith PBk 6 + PV19 + PB15; ​Neutral Tint - Holbein PBk6 + PB1 + PV19; 
  2. Neutral Tint - Jackson's PB60, PBk7, PR209; Neutral Tint - MaimeriBlu PBk7; Neutral Tint - M.Graham PV19 + PG7; Neutral Tint - Rembrandt PBk6, PV19; Neutral Tint - Schmincke PR122 + PB60 + PBk7​; ​
  3. Neutral Tint Old Holland PB15:2 + PV19 + PBr7 + PR259; ​Neutral Tint - Winsor & Newton PB15, PBk6, PV19
Neutral Tint, American Journey Watercolour. PBk6, PB15, PV19.
Neutral Tint - Aquarius Watercolour. PB60 + PBk6 + PV19
Neutral Tint, Blockx watercolour. PBk11 + PB15 + PV19
Neutral Tint - Daniel Smith watercolour. PBk 6 + PV19 + PB15
Neutral Tint, Holbein Watercolour. PBk6, PB15, PV19
Neutral Tint, Jackson's Watercolour. PB60, PBk7, PR209
Neutral Tint, Maimeri blu watercolour. PBk7
Neutral Tint, M.Graham watercolour. PV19 + PG7
Neutral Tint, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBk6, PV19.
Neutral Tint, Schmincke. PR122, PB60 and PBk7
Neutral tint, Old Holland Watercolour. PB15:2+PV19+PBr7+PR259
Neutral Tint, Winsor & Newton watercolour. PB15, PBk6, PV19

Other Mixed Pigment Greys 

There are many ways to mix a grey, my favourite being Ultramarine + Burnt Sienna (see the Jane's Grey swatch below) but many mixing opposites will create interesting grey hues. I've written more about mixed greys and blacks on my blog - All that Grey and Custom watercolour mixes - a question of  greys. See also Payne's Grey and Neutral Tint above.
Most commercial greys are made from black and white pigments, with or without additional coloured pigments.
  1. ​Przybysz's Grey - Aquarius watercolours PB29 + PR177 + PG26; ​Shadow Grey - Aquarius PB29 + PBr7 + PV19; Urban Grey - Aquarius PW6:1 + PBr25 + PB29 + PY150. New 2023; Jane's Grey* - Daniel Smith PB29 + PBr7; Alvaro's Fresco Grey* - Daniel Smith  PB29 + PV15 + PW6; ​
  2. Alvaro's Caliente Grey* - Daniel Smith PBr7 + PB29 + PBk6; ​Joseph Z's Warm Grey* - Daniel Smith PY43 + PB19 + PBk6; Joseph Z's Cool Grey* - Daniel Smith PB36 + PV19 + PBk6; ​Joseph Z's Neutral Grey* - Daniel Smith PB29 + PBk9 + PBk10; Yellow Grey - Holbein PY42 + PBK6 + PW6; ​
  3. Old Holland Blue Grey - Old Holland PB29 + PV23 + PBk7 + PW4;​ Scheveningen Warm Grey - Old Holland PW6 + PBr7 + PBk9;​ Old Holland Cold Grey - Old Holland PW4+PB29+PBK7; ​Old Holland Warm Grey Light - Old Holland PW4 + PBr7 + PBk7; Warm Grey - Rosa PR254 + PBk7 + PW6; ​
  4. Neutral Grey - Schmincke PR255, PB60, PO62; ​​Deep Sea Black* - Schmincke PBk11 + PB74 + PB35; Shire Grey* - Schmincke PBk11 + PB74 + PY159; Desert Grey* - Schmincke PBk11 + PY159Warm Grey - Sennelier PW6 + PY42 + PBk11 + PR101; ​
  5. Charcoal Grey - Winsor & Newton PBk8 + PBr7 + PBk7
Przybysz's Grey, Aquarius watercolours. PB29, PR177, PG26
Shadow Grey, Aquarius. PB29, PBr7, PV19 2021
Urban Grey - Aquarius Watercolour. PW6:1 + PBr25 + PB29 + PY150. New 2023
Jane's Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PB29, PBr7.
Alvaro's Fresco Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolours. PB29, PV15, PW6
Alvaro's Caliente Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PBr7, PB29, PBk6.
Joseph Z's Warm Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PY43, PB19, PBk6
Joseph Z's Cool Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PB36, PV19, PBk6
Joseph Z's Neutral Grey - Daniel Smith Watercolour. New 2019. PB29, PBk9, PBk10.
Yellow Grey - Holbein Watercolour. PY42 + PBK6 + PW6
Old Holland Blue Grey, Old Holland Watercolour. PB29+PV23+PBk7+PW4
Scheveningen Warm Grey, Old Holland Watercolour. PW6+PBr7+PBk9
Old Holland Cold Grey, Old Holland Watercolour. PW4+PB29+PBK7
Old Holland Warm Grey Light, Old Holland Watercolour. PW4+PBr7+PBk7
Warm Grey - Rosa Watercolour. PR254 + PBk7 + PW6
Neutral Grey, Schmincke Watercolours. PR255, PB60, PO62
Deep Sea Black - Schmincke watercolour. PBk11, PB74, PB35 (super granulating series)
Shire Grey - Schmincke Watercolour. PBk11 + PB74 + PY159
Desert Grey - Schmincke Watercolour. PBk11 + PY159
Warm Grey, Sennelier Watercolour. PW6+PY42+PBk11+PR101
Charcoal Grey, Winsor & Newton watercolour. PBk8 + PBr7 + PBk7

Blacks 

Best known are Ivory Black, Lamp Black and Mars Black, but the pigments used for the various blacks are not consistent among different brands. There is also Peach Black, Vine Black etc. Black pigments include PBk1, PBk6, PBk7, PBk8, PBk9, PBk10 and PBk11, PBk26 and the deep green pigments PBk31 and PBk32 shown in the Greens section. 

PBk1

Peach Black - Holbein; Peach Black - ShinHan PWC 
Peach Black, Holbein Watercolour. PBk1
Peach Black, ShinHan PWC Watercolour. PBk1

PBk6

  1. Lamp Black - American Journey; Lamp black - Blockx; Lamp Black* - Daniel Smith; Lamp Black - Da Vinci; Lamp Black, Holbein; ​
  2. Ivory Black - Rembrandt; Lamp black - Schmincke 
Lamp Black, American Journey watercolour. PBk6
Lamp black, Blockx watercolour. PBk6
Lamp Black - Daniel Smith watercolour. PBk6
Lamp Black, Da Vinci Watercolour. PBk6
Lamp Black, Holbein Watercolour. PBk6
Ivory Black, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBk6.
Lamp black, Schmincke Watercolour. PBk6

Blacks made with PBk7

  1. Lamp Black - Daler Rowney; Furnace Black - Kremer; Carbon Black - MaimeriBlu; Scheveningen Intense Black - Old Holland Ivory Black - Renesans half pan 
Lamp Black, Daler Rowney Watercolour. PBk7
Furnace Black, Kremer watercolours. PBk7.
Carbon Black, MaimeriBlu watercolour. PBk7
Ivory Black, Renesans half pan watercolour. PBk7
Scheveningen Intense Black, Old Holland Watercolour. PBk7

PBk8

Vine Black* - Aquarius; Vine Black - Old Holland 
Vine Black - Aquarius Watercolour. PBk8
Vine Black, Old Holland Watercolour. PBk8

PBk9

  1. Ivory Black - A Gallo; Ivory Black - Aquarius; Ivory Black - Blockx; Ivory Black* - Daniel Smith; Ivory Black - Da Vinci; 
  2. Ivory Black - Holbein; ​Ivory Black - Old Holland; ​Ivory Black - Jackson's; ​Ivory Black - Schmincke; ​Ivory Black - Winsor & Newton 
Ivory Black, A Gallo Watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black - Aquarius Watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black, Blockx watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black - Daniel Smith watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black, da Vinci Watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black, Holbein Watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black, Old Holland Watercolour. PBK9
Ivory Black, Jackson's Watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black, Schmincke Horadam watercolour. PBk9
Ivory Black, Winsor & Newton watercolour. PBk9

Blacks made with PBk11

While I don't choose to use black pigments in my painting generally, I love the granulation of Lunar Black (Daniel Smith) for special effects. PBk11 is also known as Mars Black, Magnetite Genuine and Oxide Black.
  1. ​Roman Black Earth - A Gallo; Magnetite Genuine - American Journey; Aquarius Black - Aquarius; Mars Black - Aquarius; Roman Black - Aquarius; 
  2. Lunar Black* - Daniel Smith; Mars Black - Old Holland; ​Oxide Black - Rembrandt; ​Lamp Black - Renesans half pan; Mars Black - Schmincke; 
  3. Mars Black - Winsor & Newton 
Roman Black Earth, A Gallo Watercolour. PBk11
Magnetite Genuine, American Journey Watercolour. PBk11
Aquarius Black - Aquarius Watercolour. PBk11
Mars Black - Aquarius Watercolour. PBk11
Roman Black - Aquarius Watercolour. PBk11
Lunar Black - Daniel Smith watercolour. PBk11.
Mars Black, Old Holland Watercolour. PBk11
Oxide Black, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBk11. New 2019.
Lamp Black, Renesans half pan watercolour. PBk11
Mars Black, Schmincke Watercolour. PBk11. New 2017
Mars Black, Winsor & Newton Watercolours. PBk11

Mixed Pigment Blacks

  1. Peach Black - Holbein PBk1 + PBk 6 (discontinued); Lamp Black - Jackson's PBk9, PY42; Lamp Black - Rembrandt PBk6 + PBk9; Black Grape - Rosa PBk7 + PV19 + PV3; Black Green - Rosa PB15 + PBk7 + PG7; 
  2. Neutral Black - Rosa PB15:1 + PBk7 + PR177; Deep Sea Black - Schmincke PBk11 + PB74 + PB35; Glacier Black - Schmincke PBk11 + PB35; Galaxy Black - Schmincke PBk11 + PB29; Neutral Black - White Nights PR187 + Pb15 + PBk7; 
  3. Lamp Black - Winsor & Newton PBk6 + PBk7
Peach Black, Holbein Watercolour. PBk1 + PBk6
Lamp Black, Jackson's Watercolour. PBk9, PY42
Lamp Black, Rembrandt Watercolour. PBk6, PBk9.
Black Grape - Rosa Watercolour. PBk7 + PV19 + PV3
Black Green - Rosa Watercolour. PB15 + PBk7 + PG7
Neutral Black - Rosa Watercolour. PB15:1 + PBk7 + PR177
Deep Sea Black - Schmincke watercolour. PBk11, PB74, PB35 (super granulating series)
Glacier Black - Schmincke watercolour. PBk11 + PB35.
Galaxy Black - Schmincke PBk11 + PB29
Neutral Black, White Nights watercolour. PR187 + Pb15 + PBk7
Lamp Black, Winsor & Newton watercolour. PBk6 + PBk7

PG17

Hematite Black - Schmincke 
Hematite Black, Schmincke Watercolour. PG17. New 2017

PBr29

Iron Chromite Black - Aquarius

Primatek blacks or near blacks

Each of these colours leans a little away from a neutral black. Black Yourmaline has a greenish hue, as does Ziosite Genuine. Hematite Genuine has a strangely warm undertone - almost like black on a peachy yellow. It is difficult to capture.
Black Tourmaline Genuine* - Daniel Smith; ​Hematite Genuine - Daniel Smith; Zoisite Genuine* - Daniel Smith 
Black Tourmaline Genuine - Daniel Smith watercolour. Series 3
Hematite Genuine - Daniel Smith Watercolour.
Zoisite Genuine - Daniel Smith Watercolour

Blacks made without black pigments

* Blacks don't have to contain black pigments, though in commercial colours they usually do, so I tend to make my own as convenience pre-mixed colours. See my blog posts about mixed blacks and greys here and here. Read about the new Daniel Smith Jane's Blacks here.
Recently Daniel Smith released three new mixed blacks as part of their signature series.
  1. Velvet Black - Aquarius PR264 + PG7. (New 2023); Mc Cracken Black* - Daniel Smith PB27 + PR101 + PV23 + PV19 + PR177 + PY150 + PR149 (new 2022); Jane's Black (Red/Green)*- Daniel Smith PG7 + PR264 (new 2023); Jane's Black (Blue/Orange)* - Daniel Smith PO71 + PR188 + PB15:6 (new 2023); Neutral Tint - M.Graham PV19 + PG7; 
  2. Neutral Grey - Schmincke PR255 + PB60 + PO62.
Velvet Black - Aquarius Watercolour. PR264 + PG7. New 2023
Mc Cracken Black - Daniel Smith watercolour. PB27 + PR101 + PV23 + PV19 + PR177 + PY150 + PR149 (new 2022)
Jane's Black (Red/Green) - Daniel Smith PG7 + PR264 (new 2022)
Jane's Black - Daniel Smith Watercolour PR188 + PO71 + PB15:6 New 2022
Neutral Tint, M.Graham watercolour. PV19 + PG7
Neutral Grey, Schmincke Watercolours. PR255, PB60, PO62
These swatches are painted and added as a guide. The intention is show the characteristics of each colour when painted. The colour reproduction is not perfect but hopefully will still be helpful used in conjunction with the manufacturer's website. I am gradually updating all swatches, and have marked them with an * once they have been checked.
hank you to those of you, from Canada, Sweden, Australia and the USA, who have helped me with this section by sharing your favourite colours. If you notice errors please let me know so I can correct them. If you have artist quality watercolour that are not shown here and want to help me build up this resource, also please let me know :-)
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This page was last updated in October 2023
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