Explore Art
Color

A language made from pigment and light

Color Index

Explore Art’s color language draws from pigments, papers, stones, metals, dyes, glazes, and the working materials of artists.

Choose a family to find art with a meaningful share of that color, or choose an individual name to search near its exact chromatic character.

Colors
170
Families
12

01

Red

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Vivid pigments

6 colors
  1. Vermilion Standard A commanding mineral red with the hot opacity of vermilion laid across a ceremonial standard.
  2. Cinnabar Seal A brilliant seal red recalling compressed cinnabar and freshly impressed lacquer.
  3. Cardinal Silk A saturated crimson red with the deep luminosity of ceremonial silk.
  4. Lacquer Altar A polished altar red whose hard gloss suggests many thin layers of colored lacquer.
  5. Scarlet Tempera A clear warm scarlet with the direct, matte body of egg tempera.
  6. Madder Flare A luminous lake red carrying the radiant pink edge of concentrated madder.

Natural & material

6 colors
  1. Madder Lake A deep botanical red with the transparent richness of a traditional madder lake.
  2. Sanguine Study An earthy drawing red like sanguine chalk worked into warm laid paper.
  3. Bole Workshop A clay-rich workshop red recalling the bole prepared beneath water gilding.
  4. Pomegranate Lake A fruit-darkened red poised between transparent dye and a full-bodied lake pigment.
  5. Iron Rosette A dense iron red with the sober warmth of forged ornament and oxidized relief.
  6. Kiln Brick Red A fired brick red balanced between mineral earth and the heat of a masonry kiln.

Muted & weathered

6 colors
  1. Venetian Dust A softened Venetian red as though dry pigment had settled into old plaster.
  2. Faded Tapestry Red A time-dulled textile red retaining the quiet depth of woven wool.
  3. Rosewood Wash A restrained wood red suggesting a translucent wash over polished rosewood grain.
  4. Weathered Madder A cool, attenuated madder red softened by light, age, and repeated washing.
  5. Terra Sigillata Red A smooth earthen red recalling the satin surface of polished terra sigillata.
  6. Archive Wax Red A subdued archival red like an old wax seal cooled against faded paper.

02

Orange

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Vivid pigments

6 colors
  1. Realgar Spark A concentrated mineral orange with the ember brightness associated with realgar.
  2. Mandarin Enamel A lucid citrus orange with the hard, reflective color of fired enamel.
  3. Kiln Flame Orange A red-hot orange recalling the brief flare visible through a kiln opening.
  4. Saffron Blaze A radiant golden orange with the saturated warmth of saffron-dyed cloth.
  5. Persimmon Lacquer A polished fruit orange held in the depth and clarity of lacquered wood.
  6. Molten Copper A forceful metallic orange recalling copper at the threshold of molten heat.

Natural & material

6 colors
  1. Burnt Sienna Wall A warm earth orange with the architectural gravity of burnt sienna on plaster.
  2. Terracotta Slip A fired-clay orange with the opaque smoothness of ceramic slip.
  3. Amber Varnish A translucent amber orange like aged resin varnish warming a painted surface.
  4. Pumpkin Tempera A substantial harvest orange with the chalky body of matte tempera.
  5. Ochre Kiln An ochre-rich orange deepened by firing and the shadowed warmth of a kiln.
  6. Annatto Fiber A plant-dyed orange with the dry brilliance of annatto worked into natural fiber.

Muted & weathered

6 colors
  1. Apricot Plaster A pale chalky orange softened as though absorbed into lime plaster.
  2. Peach Bole A muted peach-orange carrying the earthen opacity of a fine gilding bole.
  3. Weathered Brick A rain-softened masonry orange worn toward red-brown at the edges.
  4. Waxed Cedar A quiet wood orange deepened by wax and the close grain of cedar.
  5. Dried Marigold A desaturated floral orange like dried petals kept between folio pages.
  6. Sandstone Orange A mineral orange tempered by the powdery surface of weathered sandstone.

03

Yellow

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Vivid pigments

6 colors
  1. Orpiment Flash A brilliant mineral yellow with the fierce golden presence of orpiment.
  2. Gamboge Glaze A saturated golden yellow with the clarity of a thin resinous glaze.
  3. Citron Enamel A sharp citron yellow hardened into the glossy brilliance of enamel.
  4. Cadmium Banner A dense modern yellow with the opaque force of cadmium pigment on cloth.
  5. Lemon Tempera A clean lemon yellow with the luminous matte body of egg tempera.
  6. Gilded Sun A radiant yellow-gold recalling fresh leaf burnished across a carved sun.

Natural & material

6 colors
  1. Raw Ochre Field A grounded earth yellow with the dry, reliable body of raw ochre.
  2. Saffron Fiber A warm botanical yellow held in the uneven depth of dyed natural fiber.
  3. Beeswax Light A mellow translucent yellow like polished beeswax catching studio light.
  4. Wheat Straw A fibrous field yellow recalling dried straw, rush matting, and woven grain.
  5. Turmeric Lake A plant-derived yellow with the concentrated warmth of a translucent dye lake.
  6. Golden Bole A clay-muted gold yellow recalling the warm ground beneath worn metal leaf.

Muted & weathered

6 colors
  1. Aged Vellum A quiet manuscript yellow mellowed by the surface and age of vellum.
  2. Flax Ground A dry linen yellow with the restrained warmth of an unpainted support.
  3. Limestone Honey A mineral honey yellow softened by pale architectural limestone.
  4. Olive Ground A muted yellow-olive with the matte authority of a prepared painting ground.
  5. Faded Gilt A restrained metallic yellow like gold leaf thinned by handling and age.
  6. Parchment Ochre A paper-soft ochre yellow balanced between earth pigment and aged parchment.

04

Green

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Vivid pigments

6 colors
  1. Emerald Glaze A jewel-bright green with the translucent depth of emerald-colored glaze.
  2. Viridian Panel A cool, concentrated green with the firm modern body of viridian on panel.
  3. Malachite Mosaic A brilliant mineral green like malachite tesserae set into a luminous mosaic.
  4. Copper Green Enamel A vivid copper-derived green with the hard brilliance of fired enamel.
  5. Celandine Tempera A bright yellow-green with the fresh opacity of botanical tempera.
  6. Glasshouse Green A saturated leaf green intensified as though seen through architectural glass.

Natural & material

6 colors
  1. Moss Fresco A mineral moss green with the matte, breathing surface of old fresco.
  2. Laurel Cloth A deep botanical green with the soft absorption of dyed wool cloth.
  3. Fern Pigment A balanced fern green translated into a substantial, earth-tempered pigment.
  4. Pine Needle A shadowed evergreen recalling pine needles against dark bark.
  5. Celadon Body A softened ceramic green with the quiet depth of celadon beneath glaze.
  6. Herbarium Green A pressed-leaf green moderated by paper, age, and botanical study.

Muted & weathered

6 colors
  1. Mossed Limestone A mineral green dulled by the meeting of lichen, moss, and weathered limestone.
  2. Sage Plaster A pale gray-green softened by the powdery surface of lime plaster.
  3. Lichen Stone A mineral green suspended between weathered stone and dry lichen.
  4. Oxidized Bronze A restrained patina green recalling bronze slowly altered by air and rain.
  5. Faded Verdure A time-muted tapestry green whose botanical color has thinned into the weave.
  6. Willow Ash A dry silvery green like willow leaves and wood ash blended on paper.

05

Teal

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Vivid pigments

4 colors
  1. Turquoise Tessera A lucid blue-green with the concentrated color of turquoise mosaic glass.
  2. Verdigris Fountain A flowing copper teal brightened by water and newly formed verdigris.
  3. Peacock Enamel A saturated peacock teal with the hard luster of enamel over metal.
  4. Faience Turquoise A brilliant faience teal carrying the opaque radiance of an ancient fired glaze.

Natural & material

4 colors
  1. Patinated Copper A balanced copper teal shaped by slow oxidation across worked metal.
  2. Blue Spruce Cloth A dark botanical teal with the fibrous softness of deeply dyed cloth.
  3. River Glass A water-worn teal with the softened translucence of old river glass.
  4. Ottoman Tile A ceramic blue-green recalling dense teal passages in architectural tile.

Muted & weathered

4 colors
  1. Tarnished Aquamarine A grayed aquamarine tempered by the surface bloom of tarnished metal.
  2. Seaworn Fresco A salt-softened teal like coastal pigment surviving in weathered plaster.
  3. Duck Egg Slip A pale blue-green with the smooth opacity of colored ceramic slip.
  4. Faded Damask Teal A quiet blue-green softened as though woven silk damask had faded beneath filtered gallery light.

06

Blue

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Vivid pigments

6 colors
  1. Ultramarine Altar A commanding deep blue recalling costly ultramarine concentrated on an altar panel.
  2. Cobalt Enamel A brilliant cobalt blue with the clean reflective depth of fired enamel.
  3. Azurite Panel A mineral middle blue with the granular body of azurite on prepared wood.
  4. Egyptian Blue Tile A luminous ancient blue translated into the dense color of architectural tile.
  5. Cerulean Fresco An open sky blue with the mineral softness of cerulean dispersed through fresco.
  6. Indigo Banner A saturated cloth blue with the layered density of an indigo-dyed banner.

Natural & material

6 colors
  1. Woad Cloth A plant-dyed blue with the uneven, breathable depth of woad in wool.
  2. Lapis Dust A mineral blue softened as though lapis particles were scattered across a ground.
  3. Delft Glaze A clear ceramic blue with the pooled variation of cobalt beneath glaze.
  4. Slatewater Blue A mineral water blue balanced between split slate and a reflected sky.
  5. Studio Smalt A workmanlike glass blue recalling smalt ground and mixed at the studio table.
  6. Marine Tempera A deep maritime blue given the opaque calm of matte tempera.

Muted & weathered

6 colors
  1. Faded Indigo A worn textile blue thinned by light while retaining the character of indigo.
  2. Blue Rag Paper A pale fibrous blue like handmade rag paper colored in the vat.
  3. Stormwash A weathered blue-gray laid as a broad transparent wash over paper.
  4. Blueprint Wash A restrained drafting blue with the measured coolness of a washed architectural blueprint.
  5. Lead Blue Veil A subdued leaden blue with the thin translucence of a painted veil.
  6. Indigo Vault A near-black indigo blue with the shadowed depth of a painted architectural vault.

07

Purple

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Vivid pigments

4 colors
  1. Tyrian Velvet A saturated imperial purple with the plush depth of deeply dyed velvet.
  2. Amethyst Glass A lucid jewel purple with the refracted intensity of amethyst-colored glass.
  3. Manganese Enamel A forceful red-purple recalling manganese color fused into enamel.
  4. Iris Tempera A clear blue-purple with the matte floral radiance of tempera.

Natural & material

4 colors
  1. Mulberry Lake A fruit-darkened purple with the translucent body of a botanical lake.
  2. Plum Wool A substantial plum purple softened by the absorbent surface of dyed wool.
  3. Porphyry Shadow A blue-violet mineral purple recalling the shadowed crystalline grain of carved porphyry.
  4. Aubergine Glaze A deep blue-violet aubergine held beneath a transparent ceramic glaze.

Muted & weathered

4 colors
  1. Mauve Plaster A pale blue-mauve softened by the absorbent body of lime plaster.
  2. Faded Bishop Cloth A time-muted vestment purple whose former depth survives in woven cloth.
  3. Lavender Ash A cool blue-lavender gray with the dry softness of pigment mixed into ash.
  4. Damson Wash A restrained damson purple opened into a thin, atmospheric wash.

08

Pink

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Vivid pigments

4 colors
  1. Rhodamine Lake A brilliant cool magenta-pink with the jewel-like transparency of a concentrated rhodamine lake.
  2. Cochineal Ribbon A saturated crimson-pink recalling cochineal dye carried through silk ribbon.
  3. Cyclamen Enamel A clear cool floral pink with the smooth brilliance of fired cyclamen enamel.
  4. Coral Miniature A warm coral pink with the concentrated clarity of a painted miniature.

Natural & material

4 colors
  1. Madder Blush A softened botanical pink carrying the warm red depth of diluted madder.
  2. Shell Cameo A warm shell pink recalling the polished relief and translucence of a cameo.
  3. Orchid Silk A softened magenta-pink with the shifting luster of orchid-colored silk.
  4. Carnation Fresco A flesh-warm pink moderated by the mineral surface of fresco plaster.

Muted & weathered

4 colors
  1. Dusty Ballet Silk A muted textile pink with the powdery softness of worn silk slippers.
  2. Plaster Rose A chalky architectural pink diluted by lime and a pale plaster ground.
  3. Faded Magenta Paper A cool muted magenta as though printed color had faded into rag paper.
  4. Antique Rose Dust A subdued rose pink carrying the dry gray cast of aged powdered pigment.

09

Brown

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Earth pigments

4 colors
  1. Burnt Umber Ground A deep earth brown with the compact mineral body of burnt umber.
  2. Raw Sienna Bank A warm ochre-brown recalling raw sienna cut from a dry earthen bank.
  3. Roman Brick Earth A red-leaning brown with the dense fired character of ancient masonry.
  4. Clay Tablet A balanced earthen brown with the dry, handled surface of an unfired tablet.

Wood & metal

4 colors
  1. Raw Walnut A clear wood brown grounded in the close grain and natural oil of raw walnut.
  2. Oiled Oak A substantial timber brown warmed by oil and the broad grain of oak.
  3. Aged Bronze Brown A muted metallic brown recalling bronze beneath a thin, uneven patina.
  4. Hammered Copper Brown A red-brown shaped by the darkened recesses of hammered copper.

Weathered

4 colors
  1. Sooted Timber A shadowed timber brown deepened by soot across an old structural beam.
  2. Weathered Leather A softened hide brown marked by handling, age, and dry surface wear.
  3. Sepia Archive A quiet archival brown recalling sepia image tones and aged paper fibers.
  4. Rainworn Cedar A cool weathered brown like cedar repeatedly washed by rain and sun.

10

Gray

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Pale

4 colors
  1. Plaster Cast A pale warm gray like fine plaster across the surface of a study cast.
  2. Silverpoint Paper A delicate cool gray recalling a silverpoint line over prepared paper.
  3. Limestone Dust A pale mineral gray carrying the dry warmth of freshly cut limestone.
  4. Museum Mount A quiet display gray designed in spirit to recede behind paper and object.

Mineral & metal

4 colors
  1. Pewter Vessel A balanced metallic gray with the subdued luster of a handled pewter vessel.
  2. Lead Type A cool printing gray recalling worn blocks of lead type.
  3. Granite Face A firm stone gray like the close-grained face of dressed granite.
  4. Zinc Ground A clean industrial gray with the muted reflectance of prepared zinc.

Charcoal

4 colors
  1. Vine Charcoal A dark drawing gray with the dry, friable softness of vine charcoal.
  2. Graphite Block A dense cool gray with the compressed sheen of a graphite block.
  3. Kiln Ash A warm dark gray recalling ash gathered from the floor of a kiln.
  4. Etching Plate Gray A dark steel gray with the cool authority of an inked etching plate.

11

Black

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Core blacks

3 colors
  1. Lampblack A dense neutral black recalling soot gathered for traditional lampblack pigment.
  2. Press Black A compact working black like fresh ink rolled across a printing plate.
  3. Carbon Ground A matte carbon black with the quiet depth of a prepared painting ground.

Cool blacks

3 colors
  1. Midnight Indigo A near-neutral midnight black carrying only the faintest memory of indigo.
  2. Iron Gall Black A cool archival black recalling iron gall ink at its deepest concentration.
  3. Slate Night A stone-cool black with the restrained blue cast of slate after rain.

Warm blacks

2 colors
  1. Charred Umber A warm black-brown recalling umber pigment darkened almost to char.
  2. Bitumen Shadow A viscous warm black like bituminous glaze pooled in a carved recess.

12

White

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Crisp whites

4 colors
  1. Gallery White A near-pure display white softened just enough to hold surrounding color.
  2. Fresh Gesso A luminous warm white like a newly prepared gesso ground.
  3. Porcelain Light A clear warm white with the gentle polish of glazed porcelain.
  4. Cotton Ground A clean textile white with the soft opacity of primed cotton.

Mineral whites

4 colors
  1. Chalk Ground A matte mineral white softened by the natural warmth of chalk.
  2. Marble Flour A fine cool white recalling marble reduced to powder for plaster and ground.
  3. Calcite Veil A pale mineral white with the barely visible warmth of translucent calcite.
  4. Limewash White A breathable architectural white with the cool haze of cured limewash.

Material whites

4 colors
  1. Linen Gesso A creamy support white carrying the warm fiber of linen beneath gesso.
  2. Waxed Parchment A mellow manuscript white with the translucence of a waxed support.
  3. Rice Paper A soft fibrous white suggesting thin handmade paper held to light.
  4. Unglazed Porcelain A quiet ceramic white with the dry opacity of porcelain before glaze.