Exploring Daniel Smith Watercolour: Rose of Ultramarine: A Watercolour Gem
The essential tools for creating beautiful, vibrant watercolour art.
In the world of watercolour painting, the choice of pigments can significantly impact the final artwork. Daniel Smith paints, known for their Extra Fine Watercolours and Watercolour & Gouache products, offer a wide range of high-quality pigments. One of my old favourites is Daniel Smith’s Rose of Ultramarine, a unique blend that has brought my rose painting to life. In this post, I’ll share insights about this exquisite colour, its composition, and why it can be advantageous for artists to use premixed colours like this one.
The final painting, showcasing the rich hues and subtle gradients of Rose of Ultramarine.
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours
Daniel Smith extra fine watercolor - Rose of Ultramarine.
Understanding Rose of Ultramarine: Rose of Ultramarine is a beautiful watercolour paint made by Daniel Smith watercolour paints. This paint is a blend of two pigments: PB29 (Ultramarine Blue) and PV19 (Quinacridone Rose). The combination of these pigments creates a stunning, vibrant hue that shifts between a deep blue-violet and a rich rose-pink, depending on the water dilution and layering techniques used.
Rose of Ultramarine is a versatile and dynamic colour. In its most concentrated form, it reveals a deep, purplish hue with a slight granulation that adds texture to the painting. When diluted, it transitions into softer pinks and blues, offering a wide range of tonal variations. This duality makes it perfect for painting subjects like flowers, where subtle shifts in colour can add depth and realism.
I knew it would be the perfect colour for my rose.
Watercolour Rose Painting Process
Before I discuss why premixed colours can be a valuable addition to your palette, I’ll quickly run through my rose painting process.
I began with a pale wash of Rose of Ultramarine over the lower section of the rose on wet paper. By tilting my board, I encouraged the paint to flow into the background.
I painted a pale wash of Rose of Ultramarine over the lower section of the rose that was in shadow.
I started painting in the outer petals on wet paper using Rose of Ultramarine and dropping in some French Ultramarine for interest.
I continued to paint each petal individually, paying close attention to the colour and tonal variations. I used both Rose of Ultramarine and Quinacridone Rose (PV19) individually, applying multiple layers to achieve the desired depth in the darker areas. While it takes a long time to paint each petal this way, the process is both relaxing and enjoyable, and the results speak for themselves.
Carefully layering the vibrant Rose of Ultramarine to bring out the delicate details of the rose petals.
The journey begins with these light washes, setting the stage for a beautiful rose. 🌸🎨
I continued in this way, gradually building up the depth of colour where needed while preserving the lighter areas on each petal.
Building up the layers to add depth and dimension to this lovely rose. 🌹🖌️
Careful layering of individual colors helped to create a beautiful sunlit rose.
I enjoy mixing my own greens, so I combined a blue and a yellow. For harmony with the rose (since Rose of Ultramarine contains French Ultramarine), I chose French Ultramarine and paired it with Azo Yellow (PY151). This blend produced a beautiful green that I could easily adjust by adding more yellow or blue as needed. I also dropped in some Rose of Ultramarine on one of the leaves while it was still wet to echo the colour used in the rose.
The colours blend so beautifully in this rose. 🌸💖
Here is the finished rose.
The final painting! This rose looks absolutely stunning with those rich colours. 🌹🎨
Why Use Premixed Colours Like Daniel Smith Rose of Ultramarine?
You might wonder why artists would choose a premixed colour when they could mix the individual pigments themselves. Here are some reasons:
1. Consistency and Convenience:
Premixed colours like Daniel Smith Rose of Ultramarine provide consistent results. Mixing the exact same shade manually each time can be challenging, especially in large or repeated works. Having a premixed tube ensures that the colour remains uniform throughout the painting. Daniel Smith's extra fine watercolour tubes are known for their consistent quality, making them a reliable choice for artists.
2. Time-Saving:
Mixing colours can be time-consuming, particularly for complex hues. Using a premixed colour saves valuable painting time, allowing you to focus more on your creative process rather than the technicalities of colour mixing. The variety of extra fine watercolours available from Daniel Smith offers numerous options to suit different artistic needs.
3. Unique Properties:
Premixed colours often exhibit unique characteristics that might be difficult to replicate manually. For example, the granulation effect seen in Rose of Ultramarine is a result of the specific blend of PB29 and PV19. If you try to mix it yourself, achieving the same texture and behaviour with individual pigments might be challenging and you may not get the same results.
4. Expanded Palette:
Premixed colours can expand your palette, providing more options and inspirations. They allow you to experiment with colours that you might not have thought to mix yourself, leading to new and unexpected creative outcomes.
Daniel Smith’s Rose of Ultramarine is a colour that offers consistency, convenience, and creative possibilities. Its unique blend of Ultramarine Blue and Quinacridone Rose produces a dynamic and versatile hue, perfect for bringing life to your paintings. Embracing such premixed colours can enhance your artistic process, allowing you to focus more on your expression and less on the technicalities of mixing. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, Rose of Ultramarine is a valuable addition to your watercolour palette.
If you are interested in learning to paint in watercolour, I have over 170 online, voiced over watercolour tutorials for all skill levels.
