Making ultramarine blue from lapis lazuli is one of the most challenging pigment experiments an artist can attempt. In this ...

The color blue has had a remarkable impact on the history of world trade. Rarely occurring in the natural world, blue pigments were, for centuries, highly sought-after by craftsmen and merchants. This ...

Learn how this rare hue shows up in the natural world with some of the Smithsonian’s bluest specimens Ellyn Lapointe This time of year, the color blue is everywhere from holiday lights and decorations ...