A mix of blue and red light, magenta is closer to a “true primary” than red. A magenta, rose, or pink color can have a crucial palette slot as a versatile mixer, or for botanicals. Mix with orange or a bit of yellow for red, or with blue for vibrant violets.
Color List
- Quinacridone Red/Coral (PR209) ⭐ – this color is orange-toned but mixes like a pink
Quinacridone Rose (PV19) ⭐ - Quinacridone Pink (PV42)
- Quinacridone Magenta (PR122) ⭐
Mixed pinks (cannot generally be used as a primary magenta):
- Shell Pink – pastel mix with white
- Opera Pink – fugitive fluorescent mix
My thoughts
Necessary slot? Absolutely yes! This is one of my top three colors because it is a primary color (one of yellow, magenta, cyan). Theory aside, I have certainly found anecdotally that the mixing power of the colors in this slot are very great, mixing a wide range of oranges, scarlets, and reds with a yellow (orange-yellow is best for this), and really punchy violets with blues.
Okay, technically, some people get along without a color in this slot. Folks who don’t like pink and don’t want their paintings to look pinkish may wish to skip a pink and go with a crimson instead. The mixing power is nearly as good but the paintings will look more subdued. You could also split the palette role into a red and a violet, as Max Romey does. I wouldn’t, though, because I like pink.
Favorites: Although PR122 is closest to a ‘true magenta’ I love the warm roses you get from PV19. I also tend to use PR209 a lot for sunsets because of its fiery warm coral hue; it also mixes the best oranges.
See Also
- What’s the difference between Quinacridone Rose (PV19) and Quinacridone Magenta (PR122)?
- Da Vinci PV19 Comparison: Is Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone Reduplicative With Red Rose Deep?
Similar Slots
- Crimson [includes Alizarin Crimson]
- Violet [includes Quinacridone Fuchsia/Magenta PR202]
- Earth Red [includes Potter’s Pink]
- Back to all Color Slots