DANIEL SMITH Extra-Fine Watercolour Paint Sugilite Genuine 15ml — PrimaTek granulating, transparent

This hand-selected PrimaTek pigment is made from the semi-precious mineral sugilite, ground and suspended in pure gum arabic to create a transparent, granulating watercolour with excellent permanence. Packaged in a convenient 15ml tube, Sugilite Genuine delivers the distinctive colour shifts and subtle texture that watercolourists prize for landscapes, abstracts, and botanical accents. Every batch is rigorously tested to meet professional performance standards and conforms to ASTM D4236.

What makes Sugilite Genuine different from ordinary purple paints?

Sugilite Genuine is a PrimaTek colour formed from the actual mineral, not a synthetic dye or common pigment. Its particle structure causes granulation — the pigment particles settle and separate in washes — creating a two-toned effect where greyish, graphite-like tones mingle with pink-violet highlights.

• Made from genuine sugilite mineral for authentic optical effects.
• Transparent body with pronounced granulation for textured washes.
• Produces multilayered colour shifts within a single wash.

How does Sugilite behave in mixes and glazes?

Sugilite mixes cleanly and can both enrich and neutralize adjacent hues without overpowering them. Because it is low-staining and transparent, it works well in glazes to create subtle colour transitions and to add granular texture when layered.

• Enhances warm tones like golds and oranges without muddying.
• Pairs well with quinacridone and earth colours for depth.
• Useful in thin glazes to preserve underlying details and texture.

Which techniques showcase Sugilite’s granulation best?

Watercolour techniques that allow pigment settling — single-wash skies, wet-on-wet backgrounds, and controlled blooms — highlight sugilite’s granulating nature. Lift, drybrush, and salt effects emphasize its textural character while retaining the luminous pink-violet highlights.

• Wet-on-wet washes reveal natural separation and settling.
• Drybrush and textured paper enhance granulated surfaces.
• Layering glazes keeps luminosity while building texture.

Is Sugilite Genuine durable and artist-grade?

Yes — DANIEL SMITH formulates this colour to meet high permanence and lightfastness standards. The pigment is ground to an optimal particle size and combined with pure gum arabic without fillers, giving reliable performance, good tinting strength, and archival stability.

• Conforms to ASTM D4236 and tested per industry standards.
• Extra-fine grind for consistent flow and pigment load.
• Low staining and excellent longevity in finished work.

Who is this for? Sugilite Genuine is ideal for professional and advanced watercolour artists who want a distinct granulating violet with mineral-derived character. It’s also appealing to illustrators and hobbyists seeking unique washes and subtle colour shifts for atmospheric skies, floral centres, reflective stones, and textured backgrounds. Packaged in a 15ml tube, it provides enough paint for exploration while fitting easily into a travel palette or studio drawer.