Ever felt the thrill of unboxing a new set of watercolors? That first brushstroke, where color meets paper feels like magic. But that could last only for a moment if you happen to get a low quality set. And although at the beginning it might not seem that big of a deal, as time passes and your abilities and technique grows, you find yourself looking for something better. And you’ll come to find out that despite what many say, materials do affect the quality of your work and can even help you improve.
So, you’re ready to dive into professional watercolors. But with aisles and online pages filled with countless paint options, where do you begin? It’s not just about picking colors; it’s about understanding quality, consistency, and the magic behind each high quality pigment.
This isn’t your typical article, we’re here to guide both newcomers and those with a few brushstrokes under their belt to the watercolor paints that truly deliver.
But as always, before we give you our recommended products, let’s learn a few things about watercolor paints first.
How to Find the Best Watercolor Paint
To learn how to find and differentiate high quality watercolor paints from the rest of the stuff that’s out there, there are a few criterias you need to consider
Presentation
Watercolors come in different forms and presentations, some might come in sets of small pans, some might come in tubes and some can come in liquid form, like ink. Each of these presentations has its own advantages and is suited for different types of artists and projects:
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Pans:
Pans are compact and portable, perfect for artists on the go or for those who prefer to have a wide variety of colors in small portions. They’re lightweight and can be used in tins that easily fit into a pocket or bag.
They’re very convenient since even if the paint dries out, a little water can quickly reactivate the color, making it as good as new while still keeping its shape. Pans are best for field sketches, travel journals, and quick outdoor paintings.
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Tubes:
Watercolor tubes are a quite versatile watercolor presentation, they offer the flexibility to directly use the paint ensuring maximum color intensity or to dilute it to your desired consistency and transparency, additionally, if you have a empty travel set, you can even fill your own pans and build a custom palette with your preferred colors.
They’re ideal for larger projects, as you can squeeze out as much paint as you need without having to re-activate them constantly.
These are best for studio work, detailed paintings, and for those times when you need a lot of a specific color.
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Liquid (like ink):
Liquid watercolor paints are highly pigmented, and due to their pure nature they deliver more vibrant colors than pans or tubes. These watercolors can be used for both subtle washes and intense colors.
They also provide a smooth, even flow, making them perfect for techniques like wet-on-wet and are best for Illustrations, calligraphy, and when precision is key.
Grade
Watercolors can also be classified by their grade which indicates the quality and use you can give them. We have Artist or Professional Grade, which have a high concentration of finely ground pigment, that provides superior color intensity and longevity. They’re also more resistant to fading and have a consistent texture which makes them excellent for professional work, galley art, illustrations, etc.
We also have Student Grade, which are more affordable, but contain fewer pigments and more fillers. This can result in less vibrant colors and a slightly different texture. They’re great for practice and learning but might not deliver the same professional results.
Binding Agent
Considering the type of binding agent in watercolor paints is essential, especially for professional-grade selections. It ensures pigment particles are evenly distributed, guaranteeing consistent color application. It helps pigment adhere to paper, impacting layering and blending. The binder, often gum arabic in traditional paints, enhances watercolor’s transparency, amplifying the natural luminosity of the white paper. Binder also plays a key role in preserving the watercolor’s longevity, and if you plan on using additives with your paints, the binder will ensure that the paint isn’t damaged or altered white you do it.
Lightfastness
The lightfastness tells us how well a paint’s color lasts when exposed to light, in professional watercolor paints, it’s important because it makes sure artwork stays as it is for many years. This reflects directly in your reputation as an artist since it shows that the materials in your work are high quality. It also helps keep the artwork’s value and ensures that any copies made look like the original.
There are a few ways you can know whether a pigment is lightfast enough, and that is through rating systems. You can find them as stars, going from one (poor lightfastness) to 5 (excellent lightfastness) or as roman numbers from I to VI, where I stands for excellent lightfastness and V or VI for poor lightfastness.
Color Range
Color range refers to the variety of colors that a brand has made available in a certain medium. When choosing watercolor paints, a wide color range is important because it gives artists the possibility to use different pigments for their works.
Some pigments are rarer than others, some might look similar but have different lightfastness, some might have different biases. With more colors, you’ll be able to create detailed and vibrant artworks without having to mix paints over and over again. A broad color range also helps beginners learn about different shades and how they work together.
Price
Price is a key factor when picking the best watercolor paints because it often reflects the quality and ingredients used. Expensive paints usually have better pigments and last longer on paper; however, not everyone needs top-tier paints, especially beginners. It’s essential to find a balance between cost and quality since spending too much might not be worth it if you’re just practicing, but going too cheap might give you poor results.
The 6 Best Watercolor Paints in the Market Today
- Best Watercolor Paint Overall — Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours
- Best Watercolor Paint for Professionals — Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolours.
- Best Watercolor Paint Alternative — Rembrandt Watercolor Metal Tin Set.
- Best Watercolor Paint for Illustration — Schmincke – HORADAM® AQUARELL
- Best Watercolor Paint Student Grade — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Studio Set.
- Best Value Watercolor Paint — M. Graham Artists’ Watercolor Tubes
1. Best Watercolor Paint Overall — Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours
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Selection Criteria
- Grade: Artist set.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Presentation: Tube.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Binding Agent: Gum Arabic.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Lightfastness: lightfastness.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Color range: 240 colors.
- Our Score – 10/10
- Replacements: Yes.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $37.96
- Our Score – 9/10
About the Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours
Daniel Smith is one of the favorites if not the favorite brand of professional artists and illustrators. The brand has been around for over 40 years, starting as a small retailer of art supplies, over the years, it has grown into a globally recognized brand known for its high-quality art materials.
These paints are made with the finest quality pigments and have a broad color range of 261 colors, including luminescent colors, which are unique to Daniel Smith. They also offer Primatek colors which are unique colors made from naturally occurring minerals, often semi-precious stones. They offer artists distinctive textures and colors not found in other watercolors.
Pros
- Wide range of 261 colors.
- Includes unique luminescent colors.
- HIgh lightfastness rating.
Cons
- Premium pricing might not be suitable for beginners.
- Some colors might be too specialized for casual artists.
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2. Best Watercolor Paint for Professionals — Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolours
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Selection Criteria
- Grade: Professional.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Presentation: Tube.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Binding Agent: Gum Arabic.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Lightfastness: lightfastness.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Color range: 108 colors.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Replacements: Yes.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $81.50
- Our Score – 8/10
About the Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolours.
Although better known for their oil paints and student grade watercolor series, Winsor and Newton have a rich history, being used by iconic artists all over the world. Although relatively limited in comparison with other brands, their color range boasts 79 single pigment colors, 108 colors total, ensuring brilliance, permanence, and strength of color. Offering both modern and traditional pigments with excellent permanence and lightfastness in most of them, Winsor and Newton is one of the best professional watercolor brands available in the market.
Pros
- Renowned for exceptional quality.
- High lightfastness ratings for most colors.
- Trusted by professionals worldwide.
Cons
- Color range might be limited for specialized artists.
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3. Best Watercolor Paint Alternative — Rembrandt Watercolor Metal Tin Set
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Selection Criteria
- Grade: Artist set.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Presentation: Half pans.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Binding Agent: Gum Arabic.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Lightfastness: lightfastness.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Color range: 120 colors.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Replacements: Yes.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $192.00
- Our Score – 7/10
About the Rembrandt Watercolor Metal Tin Set.
The Rembrandt Watercolor Metal Tin Set is a high-quality product made in Holland with high quality standards. Renowned for its superior materials, the set offers artists vibrant and long lasting colors, thanks to its pure pigments.
The set provides a diverse color palette, catering to a wide range of artistic needs. Its durable and portable metal tin packaging is ideal for artists on the move and often includes a brush for added convenience. Additionally, Rembrandt, as a brand, holds a reputable position in the art world, with many professionals endorsing its consistent quality.
Pros
- Diverse range of vibrant colors.
- Portable and durable metal tin packaging.
Cons
- Some artists might prefer tubes over pans.
- Limited to the colors in the set
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4. Best Watercolor Paint for Illustration — Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL
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Selection Criteria
- Grade: Artist and Professional.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Presentación: Half pans.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Binding Agent: Kordofan Gum Arabic.
- Our Score – 10/10
- Lightfastness: lightfastness.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Color range: 140 colors.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Replacements: Yes.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $91.35
- Our Score – 8/10
About the Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL
Originating from Germany, Schmincke stands as a pinnacle in the world of premium watercolors. This line boasts 179 vibrant colors, including 40 super granulating colors, which offer unique texture effects. Remarkably, 152 of the 179 colors achieve the highest lightfastness ratings, ensuring longevity in artworks which makes them great for illustrations and artwork that is going to be made into prints.
The paints are known for their exceptional flow control, vibrancy and high quality, as well as for their price since these paints are on the expensive side of the watercolor paints price spectrum.
Pros
- Offers 139 brilliant colors.
- Unique super granulating colors available.
- High-quality ingredients
Cons
- Very Expensive
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5.Best Watercolor Paint Student Grade — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Studio Set
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Selection Criteria
- Grade: Studio Set.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Presentation: Half Pans.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Binding Agent: Gum Arabic.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Lightfastness: lightfastness.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Color range: 108 colors.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Replacements: Yes.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $61.02
- Our Score – 9/10
About the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Studio Set.
One of the safest options when looking for a watercolor set is the Winsor and Newton’s Cotman series. This set is perfect for those who are starting as well as for the more experienced ones who want a set for quick studies that don’t require that much of an investment.
Though these paints might not have the smoothest consistency, the lightfastness rate is great, the set includes a separate palette, a good color selection and they are very affordable.
The pans are removable, replaceable and fairly easy to clean after use. The set is also quite portable making it perfect for indoors and outdoors painting.Pros
- Affordable, making it suitable for students.
- Good quality for the price.
- Trusted brand in the art community.
Cons
- Not as pigmented or vibrant as professional-grade paints.
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6. Best Watercolor Paint Value — M. Graham Artists’ Watercolor Tubes
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Selection Criteria
- Grade: Artist set.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Presentation: Tube.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Binding Agent: Pure Gum arabic and natural blackberry honey.
- Our Score – 10/10
- Lightfastness: lightfastness.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Color range: 70 colors.
- Our Score – 7/10
- Replacements: Yes.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price:$62.94
- Our Score – 9/10
About the M. Graham Artists’ Watercolor Tubes
Graham watercolors are one of the few brands whose products are crafted through traditional methods, which produce amazing results like uniform washes, long lasting paints that are rich and vibrant but also smooth at the moment of the application.
The inclusion of honey in their formulation also amplifies the strength and authenticity of the colors. M. Graham offers a diverse palette, ranging from delicate tints to dark, concentrated hues, ensuring artists have a spectrum of choices for their work.
Pros
- Extensive color range
- High-quality pigments
- Refills available
Cons
- Honey-based formulation might be different from traditional watercolors
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Conclusions
In the vast realm of watercolor paints, the choices can be overwhelming. From the exhilaration of unboxing a new set to the realization that quality truly matters, every artist’s journey is unique. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, the right set can elevate your work to new heights. We’ve dug deep into the world of watercolors, evaluating everything from presentation to price, to bring you a curated list of the best in the market.
From the unparalleled brilliance of Daniel Smith to the student-friendly affordability of Winsor & Newton’s Cotman series, there’s always something for every artist, and every budget.
The magic of watercolors lies not just in the pigments but in the passion and creativity they inspire. We hope this article has been useful for you and helped you learn a bit more about watercolors as well as choose the set that’ll accompany your artistic journey for the next couple of years. Happy painting!
