Color Spotlight: Cobalt Green (PG50)

A version of PG50, which I’ve previously spotlighted as Cobalt Turquoise! WN also has a Cobalt Teal PG50, but this one is much more tilted toward green, resulting in a granulating semi-opaque mint green.

Experiment Results

Hue: A cool green similar to mid-tone Phthalo Green BS. Doesn’t get super dark, a bright bold mint to a pale pastel.

Gradient: Granulating, settling in three distinct levels (full strength, light strength, very light).

Transparency: Opaque to semi-opaque, with residue on the line (admittedly it looked more opaque when wet).

Glazing: Darker green in glaze, closer to Viridian.

Comparison to Other Brands

Letter Sparrow – Kelly Green

Letter Sparrow’s Kelly Green is an even greener/more yellow-toned version of this color, which has the look of a platonic-ideal green. A nice opaque granulating green for foreground foliage, mixing a range of different green tones with various mixers. Quin Magenta is quite an even complement. Very nice dark green mixes with Violet Ochre, Quin Coral, and Burnt Sienna Deep.

Comparison to Other Colors

Each of these “personalities” of PG50 is somewhat similar in hue to another color. LS Kelly Green looks like Phthalo Green Yellow Shade (PG36), only it’s more opaque and granulating. WN Cobalt Green looks like midtone Phthalo Green Blue Shade (PG7), only again, more opaque and granulating. Cobalt Turquoise is pretty unique, being much bolder and greener than, say, Cerulean.

My Overall Review

On my palette? No; I found I didn’t reach for either of these greens as much as my others. WN Cobalt Green looks bright on the sample page, but in comparison to the colors of my Neon Palette, it seemed dull. It looks nice in my palette, but I couldn’t really find a use for it in paintings.