Pantone Fashion Color Recipes for Fall-Winter 2026 - Part 2

 So I thought I would have all my color recipes worked out for the remainder Pantone Fall 2026 Fashion colors before now, but I kind of ran into a snag.  Have you ever made something in that perfect color to discover it had shifted and changed after it was baked?  Well that is the reason I like to mix up my clay recipes and bake beforehand to test, before actually using them in my final art work.  Those kind of surprises can be very upsetting after you have put a lot of time and work into that project.

So after baking my Pantone color samples, I discovered that several did not come out the same afterwards.  I have always had issues with the Kato Red, Magenta and Violet darkening somewhat after baking.  I remember a discussion about this on a forum a few years ago where we were discussing this issue with Donna Kato.  Now I am wondering if something changed in the actual clay producing process over the years.  

I had found the magenta color would darken quite a bit after baking.  I was allowing this factor in when mixing up the colors Foxglove and Festival Fuchsia.  The colors shifted a bit but mainly came out much lighter.  You can see the difference in the photo below.  The color sample on the left I made at least 12 years ago.  The color sample on the right was from 2 days ago.  Would you agree that the difference is quite extreme?

The only difference I can think of is that I had opened a new block noticed how fresh it was and how it was extremely soft -- and that is after having it in my stash for at least 4 years.  After baking, I was completely surprised that the color did not darken at all.  So I am wondering how it will affect other colors I had mixed using the magenta.  I will have to test a few of my recipes out and get back to you later on my results.

So, now that I discovered this difference, I had to go back to the drawing board and remix my Foxglove and Festival Fuchsia.  I am happy to say they came out perfect this time and now have the recipes to share with you.

Foxglove

2 parts Kato Magenta

2 parts Kato Brown

1/2 part #10-2 Purple Base *

6 parts #2-7 Ecru Mix *

Festival Fuchsia

3 parts Kato Magenta
 1 part Kato Violet

1/2 part Kato Red

Red Mahogany

3 parts Recipe #3-2 Burnt Umber *

1/2 part Kato Red

Acacia

Same recipe as Lemon Grass

from Fall 2025

All Aboard

1 part Recipe #9-2 Ultra Marine Base *

2 parts Recipe #1-2 White Mix *

Burnt Olive

2 parts Kato Blue

2 parts Kato Gold

2 parts Kato Black

1-1/2 parts Kato White

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato clay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used (such as the white mix base) are from my Clay Color System, which is on sale until the end of this week (August 8).

There are 5 more Pantone Fashion colors for this fall which are referred to as the seasonal neutrals.  I mixed up 3 of those neutrals and will share those recipes with you tomorrow.  I hope you find these colors can provide you with a little inspiration.