Cobalt Green: a new chapter in watercolor Cobalts exploration with PG50, PG26, PG19.

[@artistjoh]

We can thank the computer industry for the appearance since the 1980's of numerous color variations in Cobalt Green. When I was young there was normally just one shade available. It is quite an old pigment. Sven Rinman, a Swedish chemist, accidentally discovered the color in 1780 when he added Cobalt to Zinc Oxide. The relative amount of Zinc Oxide to Cobalt produces color variations from green to pink. Because it is relatively expensive PG19 was the only version manufactured for artists for many years. But Cobalt Green has magnetic properties that mean it became important in the read-heads in spinning hard drives, and similar magnetic storage devices, and as a result Cobalt Green, as a chemical used in the electronics industry, has experienced a large amount of research dollars invested into its "spintronic" capabilities since the 1980's and this has lead to numerous variations being manufactured, each with varying spintronic qualities, and quite by accident for artists, each variation has a different hue meaning that we, as artists, are benefitting from a wide range of choice of greens even though none of them, apart from Rinman's original, were developed specifically as pigments. I am sure that Sven Rinman would be amazed by the uses his green pigment has been used for. I am equally certain that he would be amazed by the variety of shades his Rinman's Green is now sold in. Thank you Sven for what you started.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

And thank you @artistjoh for the richness of these details!! The history of pigments is at least as fascinating as their variety. Have a lovely weekend Joh, and thanks a lot for stopping by. ☺️

[@artistjoh]

@@WatercolorElisabetta A smile from you makes it all worthwhile. And, you can call me Tony. The Joh is from part of my surname.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you Tony! You’re a gentleman indeed.

[@starr-starr]

I have the two WN paints, and love them, they are so gorgeous. I decided to try some other brands, and these are definitely pigments that vary by manufacturer, more so than any other I think. I got a handmade version by Wallace Seymour (UK) that glows like an emerald. Absolutely smashing. Thanks for this comparison!

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you you for your message!! I don’t know this brand! Let me check it out! 🤩

[@sararamer-dean7846]

My favourite is the Winsor and Newton Cobalt Green Deep. It has a lot of texture and is a pretty blue-leaning green. Thanks for sharing them. It never fails to amaze me how each version of paint with the same pigment can be so very very different.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Dear Sara, thank you! Yes, Winsor & Newton is always a favourite of mine as well. And even more when swatched side by side with other similar paints! Have a nice weekend! Elisabetta

[@awatercolourist]

I love this cobalt series you’ve made. The videos are extremely useful, fun and informative 😊

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad you like it 🤩

[@sonyaoart]

I can’t decide whether it’s good or bad that they’re all so different. My watercolour wish list has definitely grown thanks to your cobalt comparisons 😊

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

It’s definitely a bad thing! 😂have a lovely weekend Sonya

[@nadinevandenhende8999]

The two schminke colors are the most usefull and beautiful!

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Schminke are always special! Thanks a lot for your comment!

[@morrisonwatercolors]

I am not actually not very familiar with Cobalt Green, so this video was very helpful to see the color in action. Thanks Elisabetta! :)

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank to you Morrison! You are always very kind, I’m so glad it was of some interest. Have a lovely weekend 😄

[@awatercolourist]

I love the olive greens made with the permanent orange ❤

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

So do I!! ❤️

[@paulinabm_]

I'm glad I found your channel. Is always nice to meet other watercolor pigment nerds like me 😊. Thank you so much for this comparison. I don't have any cobalt green and I find it difficult to choose one. They all look beautiful.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you Paulina!! We pigment nerds are the best! Great to share this passion ❤️

[@anjaanja7684]

Thanks for another great and informative video! 🙏😊

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank to you Anja!! Have a great weekend!

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

I love cobalts. I want to get m Graham paints and will be looking into that. I will look at my DS cobalt and see if I have the same binder problem. Great idea on doing a swatch comparison on pigments of different brands just to see the difference.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you for you comment ! I’d love ti Knowles if you have binder issues as well. Enjoy your weekend!

[@jenneke9763]

This was another fascinating comparison! As others have noted, it was so interesting to see how dissimilar the hues were. I have only the Lukas pg50 cobalt green. It was interesting when I was swatching all my greens, because this particular shade of green was so different from any of the other greens I have. I couldn’t decide if it leaned more blue or yellow. I also have schmincke’s cobalt green turquoise ( pg36) which seems to be a very close match to your sennelier pg36. It’s a magical color! Thanks for another delightful video!

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you so much Jenneke 😃. I also find this color a very interesting mixing green. I can’t wait to use it more in my paintings! Schminke is a fantastic brand very easy to find over here. Thanks for your comment!! Have a great weekend. I will be painting and you?

[@awatercolourist]

It’s amazing how different each pigment could be. PG50 is especially surprising I didn’t expect such variety.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Neither did I!

[@creativesolutionsart-h3o]

I learned so much about cobalts from your channel! I had no idea there was a PG 19! or a PG 26… The only cobalt greens I have are by Mission gold, cobalt green deep, and Maimeri blu, Cobalt green. both are very rich and I love them!💚💚💚

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you so much! You made my day! So glad you found it useful 😄❤️

[@roxym.3933]

In every video that you include M. graham For me is always the winner I do like Daniel smith to But I found my self Picking up my M. graham palette before others But Like I say Daniel smith has a very special Space in my heart

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

They are both great brands, very saturated and with personality. Too bad they are so expensive here in Italy!

[@nopiselaaceituna]

Hola; muchas gracias por la comparativa, se agradece sinceramente. Increíble lo bien que queda el pg19 de schminkle con el amarillo naranja y ocre amarillo. Con el amarillo cadmio y el pg19 se puede hacer directamente la vegetación de árboles que estén muy juntos. Saludos.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Grazie mille! Un caro saluto.

[@debbrantstevens8826]

PG50 W&N Cobalt Turquoise Light is not a Cobalt Green name but it's worthy of adding to your green palette swash. The best of some of the Cobalt Green Dark almost blue shades and the strength of Cobalt Green W&N. A perfect addition for beach seascapes where you can pebbles beneath the waves!

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you so much! Actually I love it very much and is a staple in my palette. I couldn’t agree more! I have swatched it in my video about cobalt Turquoises! Thanks for sharing!

[@hannahthufvesson]

It's a lot of fun to see all these variations!! ☺️ On screen the M. Graham PG50 looks very similar to the Schminke PG19, may I ask how similar they are in real life? 🙏

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Yes they look very similar, MG is slightly more pigmented…good eye!!! Have a lovely Sunday Hannah!!

[@hannahthufvesson]

@@WatercolorElisabetta Thank you so much! And I wish you a lovely Sunday as well! ☺️

[@jennw6809]

I think PG26 is so underrated. I've ended up using it so much for floral stems and fruit leaves. I've been enjoying the Schmincke; I also have Qor which is the same hue but has way too much binder. I'm very impressed by the MaimeriBlu; if I ever run out I'll replace with that brand!

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

I agree about PG26….so happy to read your words!! Maimeri is not so famous, but the quality is incredible! Thank you for reaching out!

[@carlosdommar]

The only one I have used so far is WN Cobalt green PG50 and I love it. It has replaces viridian, which I love too but we all know viridian's tendency to dry too gritty and sandy so I ended up removing it from my palette. Now WN cobalt green is my only green in a limited 8-colors palette and works great.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Hi Carlos!! I need to reevaluate my palette…I’m so lazy that I basically only use Viridian for mixing, especially gray with Alizarin Crimson, and Sap Green…. Tomorrow I will squeeze some cobalt green on my palette! It’s great to chat about colours because it always makes me challenge my choices. It’s fun!! Thank you!

[@przemekkulesza3242]

Unfortunately Daniel Smith has significant problem with excess of binder. I have a couple of really useless tubes like Manganese Blue, Italian Venet. Red, Minnesota Pipestone, Cobalt Violet Deep and Ultram. Violet to mentioned a few. In other brands at least this excessive binder gets separated and can be just squeezed out of the tube, in Daniel Smith not.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

It happens with tubes! However, I still like Daniel Smith very much. Maybe because it’s not so easy to find here in Italy! Thank you for your comment! Elisabetta

[@przemekkulesza3242]

@@WatercolorElisabetta I also like Danie Smith, because where they do not have the binder issue, the paint is great :-) Great and inspiring channel, keep on great work! Przemek

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you so much!! This is so kind of you, I really appreciate! Take care, Elisabetta

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Thank you Przemek! ☺️

[@Zyswest]

my verona green earth looks wayyyy different than yours! wonder what’s up with that

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

How weird! Is your from Lukas?

[@awatercolourist]

The Sennelier Cobalt Green looks a lot like a turquoise rather than a green.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Absolutely!!! They don’t have a proper cobalt green. But it’s a wonderful colour…

[@awatercolourist]

@@WatercolorElisabetta Indeed it is!

[@nadinevandenhende8999]

The Cobalt green Pale from D Smith that i have is a really weak color even without binderissues...the PG50 is better and it is warmer (Cobalt green) schminken has better Cobalt greens this time ( normally I like D Smith better)

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

Hi Nadine!! I find it very interesting how different in value and tones cobalt green can be!! Thanks for your comment 😀

[@joymiller9668]

Daniel smith pale is always messed up

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

So it’s not my tube! Thank you for letting me know…it was seriously messed up!

[@clairevalentine9220]

Generally speaking I love daniel smith however their cobalt green pale and lapis lazuli genuine seem like disasters for me.

[@WatercolorElisabetta]

I’ve heard lapis lazuli is not a success! Good for me! Not a temptation…thanks for sharing!

[@awatercolourist]

First!