Watercolors



Watercolors are a very popular medium for artists that want beauty at a great price. Watercolors have come a long way from the plastic encased circles that filled back to school bags of the past. Watercolors now come in all styles and can appeal to all artistic tastes – and are well loved by both student and professional artists. This directory will give you the basics on finding the best watercolors for your next watercolors project.

When you have decided to invest in some watercolors, choosing the best quality watercolors on the market will make your piece last longer and have better color. Choose the colors that you like and gradually add other colors to your watercolor arsenal as you become more comfortable with painting with watercolors. Some great brands to try that offer the highest quality colors are Da Vinci, Pedeo Fragonard, Winsor & Newton, and Dr. Martin. All of these brands are industry leaders that perform well for both novice and pro watercolor artists. Avoid student grade watercolors because of their lack of long lasting and rich pigmentation.

You will come across the ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) number when purchasing watercolors. This is a lightfastness rating. Go for watercolors that are ASTM rated I or II for the highest quality and best performance from your watercolors. You should also pay attention to the color index name, which is expressed as Pigment Color 000 or PX001 (in which case X represents the first letter of the color family’s name, as in PB=blue or PY=yellow. This number also relates to the chemical composition (and thus true pigmentation).

It is also important when choosing your watercolors that you also select the appropriate paper that you will use to create your piece. Watercolor paper comes in rough, hot pressed or cold pressed (also called NOT paper because it’s not hot pressed) surface choices. For most watercolor projects, you should choose the cold pressed variety. Watercolor paper is normally white, but there are other tins available. Whatever color you choose, always go for acid-free paper for projects that you want to keep for a long period of time to avoid yellowing.
Beginning watercolors artists should have at least one round watercolor brush in a size 8, and for larger paintings, add a number 10 and 12. Go for a sable brush if possible, or settle for one made of squirrel or synthetic only if you can’t afford the sable. You’ll also need a flat wash brush at least ½”, and preferably a few more in sizes ranging from ½” up to 1. Also plan to buy at least one tube of the each primary (red, yellow, blue) color in both warm and cool hues. Find all of your most sought after watercolor supplies by checking our frequently updated directory of premium art supplies for discerning artists.

Da Vinci Artists' Watercolors

Da Vinci Artists' Watercolors

Da Vinci takes the name of their company very seriously. Their paints are exciting, intense, and rated among the best in the world for quality. The paints are permanent, with the highest tinting strength and pigment concentration available. However, they are especially soft, with a creamy consistency for smooth, easy dispersion with water. Available in both 15 ml (.51oz) and 37 ml (1.25 oz) tubes. Da Vinci paints conform to artist's quality standard ASTM D-5067, and to safety standard ASTM D-4236. Gift Idea — Da Vinci Artists' Watercolors make a great gift for professional or student painters. See Da Vinci Artists' Watercolor Sets for a detailed description of sets. -->

Pebeo Fragonard Watercolor Paint

Pebeo Fragonard Watercolor Paint

Enriched with honey for a sticky texture and to aid dilution with water, Fragonard watercolors are intense and transparent. Composed mostly of organic and mineral mono pigments, Fragonard watercolors offer excellent light resistance, even for those colors traditionally known to be very susceptible, such as the madders and the carmines. The heavy concentration of single pigment colors in the line allows for clean color mixing and intense blends. Blick offers Fragonard's full range of colors. Fragonard colors are evenly spread across the chromatic range, so every painter can create their own custom palette.

Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolors

Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolors

Since the 1830s, Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolors have maintained their reputation of being unmatched for purity, quality, and reliability among professional artists colors throughout the world. Gift Idea — Great introductory and travel sets are available. See Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolor Gift Sets for pictures and specifications.

Winsor & Newton Artists' Water Colour Compact Set half pan set of 14

Winsor & Newton Artists' Water Colour Compact Set half pan set of 14

This pocket-sized, lightweight plastic box is ideal watercolor set for the outdoor artist. The set contains 14 Artists' Watercolor half pans: Winsor Lemon, Winsor Yellow, Scarlet Lake, Winsor Red, Permanent Rose, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine, Winsor Blue, Winsor Green, Permanent Sap Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber and Titanium White. It also comes with a white integral palette, an additional sliding palette, a mediums dish, a Series 16 Sable Round watercolor brush, and a Watercolor Tips and Techniques sheet with color chart.

Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Fine Art Watercolor Sets

Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Fine Art Watercolor Sets

Hydrus is lightfast, transparent, fine art quality watercolor in a glass bottle. This liquid product delivers the same brilliance and permanency as traditional tube watercolors. Made from the finest artist pigments, Hydrus watercolors can be blended and intermixed while still maintaining the transparency and luminosity of the colors. Both 12-color sets come in trays that double as mixing palettes and bottle holders, with space for a water cup and 12 individual mixing wells. Hydrus watercolors may be used in technical, calligraphy, and fountain pens, and also in airbrushes.