The Top 9 Best Brands Of Watercolor Paints You Should Buy
Watercolor Paints
Watercolor paints are frequently the first paints used by aspiring artists since they are portable, simple to clean up, and may be quite affordable.
Of course, experienced artists and experts also like using watercolor to unleash their creative sides.
To begin, watercolor artist Windy Dawn advises “Spend as little as possible at initially, so you feel free to explore and not like you have to budget your paint or your paper.”
She advises treating yourself to pricey paints and papers if you’re feeling confident because there are so many options available.
By doing this, you can save money and wait until you’re ready to buy a professional set.
Our preferred choice overall following thorough testing and experimentation was the Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colors Studio Set.
Find out more about it and the other top watercolor paints for painters of all levels of experience.
Our Favorites
- The Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colors Studio Set from Amazon is the best overall.
- The Artist’s Loft Necessities Watercolor Paint Value Pack is the most affordable option.
- The MozArt Supplies Watercolor Paint Essential Set from Amazon is the best choice for beginners.
- U.S. Art Supply Professional Watercolor Paint at Amazon has the Best Color Selection
- Professionals should get Arteza Watercolor Paint from Amazon.
- Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Set is the best option on Amazon.
- M. Graham Artists’ Watercolor Tubes from Amazon are the best tubes.
- MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set @ Amazon: Most Vivid
- Crayola Washable Watercolor Set at Amazon is the best choice for children.
1. The Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colors 45 Half-Pan Studio Set is the best overall.
What We Enjoy
- Fantastic color choices
- Integrated palette
- Has a long lifespan
Things We Dislike
- Colors may be more vibrant.
- Colors are easily contaminated.
Your best option if you want a top-notch kit that fulfills all the requirements is the Cotman Water Colors Studio Set.
You’ll receive 45 half-size pans in a variety of hues, including lemon yellow, mauve, indigo, and lamp black.
You won’t have to spend much time combining colors as there are so many gorgeous tones available. Both novice and expert painters will love the collection.
These long-lasting watercolor paints provide excellent transparency and tinting power, as well as beautiful pigmentation.
They are ideal for travel, painting lessons, or at-home creative projects because they have a small case and an integrated mixing tray.
Our tester appreciates the diversity of hues that seem to endure for a while in an artist’s kit.
But also found that light hues can rapidly lose their brilliance, so be sure to apply numerous layers.
2. The Artist’s Loft Necessities 36-Color Watercolor Paint Value Pack is the best price.
What We Enjoy
- Both newcomers and experts
- Good for calligraphy, drawing, and designing cards
- Non-toxic, washable, and acid-free paints
Things We Dislike
- Little pan size
The Watercolor Paint Value Pack from Artist’s Loft Necessities is a good choice if you’re searching for a reasonably priced set that doesn’t sacrifice on colors.
It includes 36 highly pigmented pans that are evenly distributed across the color wheel.
The paint itself has a silky texture and provides excellent coverage on a variety of media, including paper, glass, ceramic, and wood.
Since the pans are on the smaller side, this pack isn’t a good choice if you frequently gravitate toward the same colors or if you have big painting projects planned.
3. MozArt Supplies Watercolor Paint Essential Set is the best choice for beginners.
What We Enjoy
- Use the 3-part, partitioned lid to blend colors.
- Portable and compact palette
Things We Dislike
- 24 colors only
For individuals who are just starting to learn about watercolor painting, the Mozart Essential Set is the best option.
You’ll have everything you need to get started with 24 go-to colors, a mixing tray, and a versatile paintbrush—apart from paper, of course.
The vivid colors create a clean, sharp finish on the paper and are simple to blend.
If you don’t have a particular area of your home for crafting, this set comes in a portable, yet robust metal box, making it simple to store away.
4. U.S. Art Supply Professional Watercolor Paint 36 Colors offers the best color selection.
What We Enjoy
- Permanent paint tubes
- Using a mixing wheel can lessen paint waste.
- Suitable for beginners
Things We Dislike
- Not paints of a professional caliber
This American collection will appeal to experienced artists. Art Materials It includes 36 top-notch watercolor paint tubes in a variety of highly saturated, blendable hues.
Burnt umber, crimson, viridian, and all shades in between are on the table.
A double-sided mixing wheel that aids in predicting the results of mixing various tubes is also included in the package.
To avoid wasting paint, folks who are just beginning to mix colors might use this tool as a guide.
5. Arteza Premium Watercolor Paint 60 Water Colors is recommended for professionals.
What We Enjoy
- An array of 60 colors
- Tubes with a simple squeeze
- Good for all levels of expertise
Things We Dislike
- Expensive
Although you may always mix watercolor paints to get the correct color, the Arteza Premium set allows you to focus more on painting rather than mixing.
Each of the 60 hues in the box is in a tiny, simple-to-squeeze tube.
On the sides of the tubes are printed details regarding the pigment, lightfastness, and transparency.
For those who are more experienced painters choosing paint, all of that information could seem daunting.
Regarding the actual paint, you can rely on a non-toxic recipe that is simple to blend and appropriate for all those just getting started.
6. Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor 36 Colors Set is the best pan.
What We Enjoy
- Finish with a hint of shine
- Large volumes of watercolor
- Included are a palette and color wheel.
Things We Dislike
- Those who dislike the finish
Kuretake’s Gansai Tambi set includes 36 watercolor pans in vibrant, eye-catching colors.
The paint itself has an extremely glossy finish, is opaque, not at all granular, and ultra-smooth.
The package is attractively green and includes a color chart.
The protective layer keeps the pans in place. If you want to blend new colors, you may also remove each one separately and utilize the tray as a palette.
The pans themselves are bigger than typical watercolor pans, so they hold up better over time.
Additionally, you can saturate your brush with them much more quickly, making painting with them simpler.
7. Watercolor tubes from M. Graham Artists are the best tubes.
What We Enjoy
- Colors are quite rich.
- Long-lasting large paint tubes
Things We Dislike
- Merely five hues
With M, you can’t go wrong. Paints for watercolor by Graham Artists. The amazingly pigmented tubes come in a variety of hues and can be purchased individually or in packs.
To highlight the distinct characteristics of the pigment, each color is separately designed.
The small-batch, extremely rich paints are created with honey to prevent drying out and are easily diluted.
They will likely persist for several months, if not years, which is something that hobby painters will value.
Because of this, a little goes a long way, and according to our product tester, you only need a tiny quantity with an equal amount of water to make an impact on paper.
8. MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set is the most vibrant.
What We Enjoy
- Lucid watercolors in 36
- Arabic gum improves clarity and gloss
- Box lid serves as a mixing palette and is portable.
Things We Dislike
- Tiny color palettes
MeiLiang Watercolor Paints are more pigmented than most other brands, non-chalky or gritty, and glossier.
This kit includes a convenient waterbrush and 36 vibrantly powerful colors that are all contained in pans inside a lovely teal case.
The strong metal box is large enough to serve as a mixing palette and is still portable enough to go on a trip or to a painting lesson.
This paint set is highly portable when paired with the waterbrush, allowing you to take it outside and be inspired by nature while painting.
9. Crayola Washable Watercolor Set 16 Colors, best for children
What We Enjoy
- Wonderful for all ages
- Contains a paintbrush
- Very reasonable
Things We Dislike
- Limited color spectrum
The ideal choice for children is the Crayola Washable Paint Set. It includes a paintbrush made for small hands and 16 watercolor pans in all the necessary colors.
We appreciate that the semi-moist paint is simple to transfer to a brush and that the non-toxic composition is simple to remove from skin, clothing, and furnishings with water.
Although the color selection is restricted, any child who enjoys painting or coloring will be content with this set.
Even a paintbrush is included, and if your kid wants to play with blending colors, they may use the clear lid as a palette.
Final Conclusion
Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours are, in general, the greatest watercolor paints.
The Half-Pan Studio Set includes 45 premium paints with outstanding pigment, tinting power, and transparency (view at Amazon).
But you can’t go wrong with the Arteza Premium 60 Water Hues set if you like tube paints or want even more colors (view at Amazon).
Qualities of a Watercolor Paint
Color
You can choose the precise colors you want to use by purchasing some watercolor paints in individual tubes.
Others are offered in sets, so you should check the colors included to be sure they suit your requirements.
Beyond that, think about the pigment used in different paints, as paints with more pigment will yield colors that are brighter and more intense.
According to watercolor artist David McSaney,
“Different colors have different names between manufacturers, or some will be the same color but have a different name, so it’s best to stick to one brand in the beginning.”
She even proposes starting with the three fundamental colors and combining all the extra colors you require from there. This would be better suited for seasoned painters.
Price
The quality of the paint will generally determine how much it costs. You can figure out how much you need to spend to achieve the desired effect using your knowledge and the intended use of the paint.
Texture
Beyond pigment, the texture of a paint can significantly affect its performance; some are creamier than others and blend better with water.
The way the paint applies to the canvas may also depend on its texture (or any other material).
Level of Experience
It is frequently clear from the labeling of watercolor sets who they are intended for.
Professional sets will have that word or the phrase “artist’s quality” in their packaging; novice sets are more likely to have less expensive options with fewer color options.
And a set designed exclusively for children will be simple to identify.
According to Lise, even a kid’s set is a terrific way for adult learners to feel comfortable exploring, playing, and without feeling intimidated.
At her painting activities, she utilizes higher-quality brushes and children’s watercolor paints. You can pick up a kid’s set for under $5, and I think this combination is the ideal for boosting self-confidence,”.
According to McSaney, “student grade paints don’t perform even close to what a professional watercolor paint does.”
Choose professional-grade picks if you are serious about your hobby and don’t mind paying a little more money because they don’t blend the same way and the colors aren’t as vivid.
“If you want a good painting, you need to buy high-quality, artist-grade, moist paints—even as a beginner painter, in fact.”
FAQ
How durable are watercolor paints?
The typical lifespan of watercolor paints is two to three years, although it also depends on the type, composition, and storage method.
Although they can endure for years, many paint tubes are made with chemicals like honey and glycerine to keep them from drying out.
Always keep your caps clean, and shut your tubes firmly.
Make sure to preserve your watercolor paints in an airtight container and in a dry environment to extend their shelf life.
While you don’t want them to dry out, too much humidity can cause the water-soluble substance to soften and eventually dissolve.
Watercolor paints are they non-toxic?
The majority of watercolor paints are non-toxic, which means they don’t include significant amounts of elements that are dangerous to people.
You shouldn’t typically need to be concerned about breathing in the fumes or getting it on your skin.
However, different brands use different formulations. Look at the list of components or choose a product that is particularly marked as non-toxic.
Kids’ watercolor paints are frequently made with skin-friendly ingredients. And they’re often safe even if tiny amounts are swallowed or come into contact with the eyes.
Having said that, if paint is ever consumed, you should always contact poison control or a medical facility.
Can you combine acrylic and watercolor paints?
Acrylic and watercolor paints can be combined because they are both water-based mediums.
Just keep in mind that watercolors won’t adhere to acrylic paints because they have a waterproof surface once they have dried. The best course of action is to begin with watercolors and end with acrylics.
Your watercolor painting can also be covered with an acrylic glaze. The paint underneath will dry as a result, and your creation will be sealed with a weatherproof finish.
According to Lynne, layering is frequently the best approach when using both. Watercolors can’t be layered over acrylics as easily as acrylics can be layered over watercolors, the artist claims.
Additionally, “Acrylic paint shouldn’t be used with watercolor brushes since it creates a film on the bristles that reduces their suppleness.”
Which is preferable, watercolor tubes or pans?
Both paint tubes and pans have their advantages and uses. Pans are frequently more practical and available in small sets with a variety of colors that are simple to transport.
Pans are fantastic for being impulsive and painting while you’re moving, while tubes are great for intense colors.
Which choice is more readily available and within the artist’s preferred price range will determine this.
Eventually, you may amass a collection of tube paints at home, and just refill your pans with them. “This gives you the option to use paints that are dried in your pan or moist straight from the tube.”
Which watercolor brushes work best?
Again, an artist’s preference for brushes will vary greatly. The size 7 or 8 medium round brush, with a barrel that is roughly the width of a crayon, is a versatile tool.
These will be helpful for individuals just starting out as they start to grasp which brushes work best for them and develop their collection.
Most watercolorists prefer flat brushes that come in various sizes as well as brushes that come to a really good point. You won’t need to dip a decent brush in water all the time.
A good watercolor brush can contain a lot of water and paint, which is the brush’s most significant characteristic.
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