Hooker’s Green watercolor paints
created at: 2019-08-10
Why is Hooker's Green called that?
Hooker's Green is named after William Hooker, a 19th-century botanical illustrator who needed a reliable, natural-looking green for his plant illustrations. To achieve this, he mixed Prussian Blue with Gamboge (a warm yellow). The resulting green was rich, earthy, and perfect for leaves and stems — not too cold, not too artificial.
Modern versions of Hooker's Green are usually convenience mixtures of blue and yellow pigments, and they can vary quite a bit between brands. Some lean cooler, some warmer, some are more transparent than others — but the name stuck as a tribute to Hooker’s original botanical mixes.
Modern versions of Hooker's Green are usually convenience mixtures of blue and yellow pigments, and they can vary quite a bit between brands. Some lean cooler, some warmer, some are more transparent than others — but the name stuck as a tribute to Hooker’s original botanical mixes.