Holbein's Turquoise Blue is a three-pigment blend, both phthalocyanines with titanium white, and the published notation is more restrained than the name might suggest: hue 5.0B, value 4.0, chroma 7.5. That is a deep, slightly muted turquoise rather than a tropical one. Sitting at 5.0B it is a blue with green in it rather than a green with blue in it, which is the distinction that matters when you are choosing between this and Blue Green.

Deep turquoise is one of those colours that is hard to mix and instantly recognisable when it is right. Water is the obvious use, particularly the darker planes of it, along with peacock and kingfisher colour, glazed tile, and any palette that wants a bit of heat while staying cool. It sits very well against warm earths, and a small area of it will lift a whole muted arrangement. The white in the blend helps it go down evenly for flat work. Horizon Blue is the same hue at a much lighter value if you want the pair.

What Makes This Colour Special

Pigment, lightfastness and series as published by Holbein. Holbein does not publish an opacity rating for individual colours; the range as a whole is described by Holbein as opaque.

Acrylic Gouache, Not Traditional Gouache

Two families of gouache get confused, so here is the short version. Holbein Acrylic Gouache dries to a matte opaque finish and is water resistant once dry, so it does not reactivate with water like traditional gouache. Gum arabic gouache stays soluble indefinitely, which is wonderful for reworking and a nuisance for layering. This is the other way round. Both have their place, and if you want the traditional sort as well you will find it in our gouache range.

Why Holbein Acrylic Gouache Is in Serious Studios

• Genuinely opaque. Holbein describes the range simply as an opaque acrylic paint. It covers, including over darker colour, which is the whole point of reaching for gouache rather than watercolour.
• Velvety matte, no sheen. Holbein describes the colour as opaque, intense, smooth and velvety. It dries flat, which is why it photographs and scans without glare.
• Water resistant once dry, so you can layer. Holbein’s own wording, and the reason the range exists. A dry layer will take another one over the top without lifting.
• The colour you mix is the colour you get. Holbein states it does not shift in colour tone from wet to dried colour. Anyone who has watched a perfect grey dry into a different grey will appreciate that.
• Built to use straight from the tube. Holbein says it is specifically designed to be used directly from the tube and will dry to even, uniform paint layers.
• Works on more than paper. Holbein lists paper, canvas, cloth, stone, wood, leather, plexiglass and concrete, with excellent adhesion, and full compatibility with all acrylic mediums.

Getting the Most Out of This Tube

Straight from the tube is the default. This is what Holbein designed it for, and it is where you get those even, flat, uniform layers. Add a little water to loosen it, but go easy: very diluted washes can dry streaky across a large flat area, so build coverage in thin even coats rather than flooding it on.

Watch the palette, not the clock. Holbein gives an open time of roughly 10 to 30 minutes and notes the drying time is much like ordinary watercolour. The practical consequence is that paint left sitting on the palette will go off and will not come back, so squeeze out small amounts as you need them.

It plays well with acrylic mediums. Holbein states the range is compatible with all acrylic mediums, so you can change the body or extend the working time if you want to. Soft synthetic brushes suit it, since they hold enough paint to lay a flat area without dragging.

Questions About Holbein Turquoise Blue