What is earth blue, you ask? I’m defining it as a blue that is granulating. I wouldn’t say that blues are “earth tones” exactly, but granulating blues (especially if they are muted) can look great in an earthy palette. Other colors can have “earth” versions, so why not blue?
Color List
- Ultramarine Blue (PB29) ⭐ – also appears on Violet Blue, Dark Blue
- Cobalt Blue Deep (PB72 or PB74) – also appears on Violet Blue
- Cobalt Blue (PB28) ⭐ – also appears on Middle Blue
- Cerulean Blue (PB35 or PB36) – also appears on Cyan
- Zirconium Cerulean Blue (PB71)
- Manganese Blue (PB33) – discontinued, see hue; also appears on Cyan
- Cobalt Turquoise (PG50, PB28, or PB36) – also appears on Cyan, Turquoise
- Vivianite Blue Ochre
Mixes:
- Manganese Blue Mix or Hue – also appears on Cyan
My thoughts
Necessary slot? Not necessarily, although many of these colors can do double-duty in other blue slots. I sometimes find that when I have multiple blues, it’s nice for one of them to be granulating/earthy to be able to mix granulating greens.
Favorites: Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, and Cobalt Turquoise are the ones I usually gravitate to.
See also
- Limited Palette Study: MANS, Cobalt Blue, Mars Brown
- Blues and Browns Only
- Artists’ Palette Profiles: Jane Blundell – originating the idea of “earth blue”