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Historical Color

Blue Ocher

Alternate Names

Blue Iron Earth

Vivianite

Hydrated Iron Phosphate

Pigment Description

Blue ochre can form naturally, however it is fairy rare. Vivianite is the name of the mineral.

Blue Ochre (Vivianite) oil paint pulled by a palette knife

Gazo Oil Paint - Vivianite or Blue Ochre

A daub of Vivianite or Genuine Blue Ochre oil paint

Gazo Oil Paint - Vivianite or Blue Ochre

In color, blue ochre can be a sort of navy blue but it can also be greenish. It is said that light can catalyze the blue color.

Vivianite or Genuine Blue Ochre oil paint pulled thinly has a gritty texture

Gazo Oil Paint - Vivianite or Blue Ochre has a natural texture

It is usually fairly lightfast, but has also been known to discolor over time, perhaps due to exposure to air. Blue Ocher is seldom available commercially.

A bit of Vivianite or Genuine Blue Ochre oil paint where the thin area is both filmy a gritty. In a daub it shows a deeper solid navy color

Gazo Oil Paint - Vivianite or Blue Ochre, when spread thinly vs. applied thickly

Resources

CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (Accessed March 2026). Ferrous Phosphate https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Ferrous_phosphate. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (Accessed March 2026). Vivianite https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Vivianite. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Stats

Lightfastness

Variable

May not be totally lightfast or stable. Possible to turn yellow under some conditions. See discussions of conservationists and third party sources for more details.

Toxicity

Previously thought to be lower concern, but may contain impurities, according to CAMEO may occur with copper deposits, so take precautions related to copper pigments. Do not breathe dust

Treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.

Particle Size

Varies

Chemical Name

Ferrous phosphate

Fe₃(PO₄)₂.₈H₂O

with Blue Ocher (Historical Color)
No single-pigment Oil found with Blue Ocher

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