🌿 After years of experimenting, I've finally finished selecting my dream watercolor palette. I've put together 40 full pans from a variety of brands including Da Vinci, Isaro, Jackson's, Roman Szmal, Schmincke Horadam, White Nights, and Winsor & Newton.
Here's the full swatch card. I wrote all the details with a waterproof Tombow Mono Drawing pen (available at at Amazon or Blick ) and then painted over the writing, so you can see how transparent most of my choices are.
I started with a repurposed tin from an old watercolor set and removed the rack. You can find similar empty, metal tins on Amazon.
My criteria list is based on my preference for detailed ink and wash watercolor illustrations on hot press paper. I conducted endless comparison tests and favored the following:
- Lightfast colors (except for opera rose!)
- Transparent colors (except for titanium white!)
- Limited blooms / cauliflowering
- Limited bronzing (the shiny finish which appears at masstone)
Fourteen colors are White Nights because they are a nice, economical choice for artist quality paints in full pans. I most appreciate their pinks, reds, blues, and violets.
Jackson's and Sennelier combined for thirteen of my selections. They are reportedly both made in the same facility in France and perform similarly. I like their ability to layer beautifully.
I've also selected several Da Vinci colors, as their earth tones are fantastic and they are a family of third generation paint makers in California. I don't enjoy their reds, blues, and greens as much because many of their colors tend to bronze more than I'd like.
The rest of my selections are scattered across several additional brands.
The rest of my selections are scattered across several additional brands.
Just like grocery shopping, it's nearly impossible to get everything I like from the same shop. Over the years, I've found ArteMiranda (Spain) and Jackson's (UK and/or Maine) to be my favorite sources for watercolors. They're both especially good at carrying full pans which I prefer. Blick, Etsy, and the manufacturer's websites themselves can also be options. I do not purchase open stock watercolors from Amazon, as the prices are typically higher and sourcing isn't as reliable.
🌿 color selections
- Jackson's Titanium White // pw 6 // available at Jackson's
* Note: this is the lone opaque color in my palette and I use it to add catch lights to animals' eyes) - White Nights Neon Pink // pr122 + fluorescent dye // fugitive // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy (shipping from Utah)
* Note: this is what many brands call opera rose. It is not lightfast at all and could easily fade within just a few weeks when displayed in sunlight. However, it's a fun color for florals and for mixing retro colors. I've placed an X on my swatch card to remind me to use it on a separate mixing palette and avoid using it when I plan to frame, sell, or gift my work. - White Nights Quinacridone Rose // pr 122 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- White Nights Quinacridone Violet Rose // pv19 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- White Nights Pyrrol Red // pr254 // available at ArteMiranda
- White Nights Quinacridone Scarlet // pr209 // available at ArteMiranda
- Roman Szmal Aquarius Orange // n/a // available at Jackson's
- White Nights Indian Gold // py150, pr101 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- Da Vinci Nickel Azo Yellow // py150 // available at Blick or Da Vinci
- Jackson's Yellow Light // py154 // available at Jackson's // if it's out of stock, you can substitute Sennelier Yellow Light available at Jackson's
- Winsor & Newton Winsor Lemon // py175 available in otherwise hard-to-find full pans at ArteMiranda
- Isaro Chartreuse Yellow // py129 // available at Isaro
- Sennelier Green Earth // pbr7 // available at Jackson's
- Jackson's Olive Green // pg36, pbr23, py150 // available at Jackson's
- Roman Szmal Sap Green // pg7, py150 // available at ArteMiranda or Jackson's
- White Nights Green Light // pg36 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- Jackson's Phthalo Green Deep // pb15:3, pg7 // available at Jackson's
- Roman Szmal Perylene Green Deep // pbk32 // available at ArteMiranda or Jackson's
- White Nights Cobalt Turquoise // pb28 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- Schmincke Horadam Mountain Blue // pw5, pb29, pg7 // available at ArteMiranda, at Blick, or at Jackson's
- White Nights Helio Blue // pb16 // available at ArteMiranda
- Jackson's Phthalo Blue // pb15:3 // available at Jackson's
- White Nights Blue // pb15:6 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- White Nights Ultramarine // pb29 // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- Sennelier Indanthrene Blue // pb60 // available at Blick or Jackson's
- Jackson's Indigo // pbk7, pb15:1, pb60 // available at Jackson's
- Isaro Indigo Blue // pb15, pb29, pbr7 // available at Isaro
- Isaro Purple Deep // pv23 // available at Isaro
* Note: I'm using this version of pv23 (dioxazine violet) because I already have it and feel like it's easier to control than most other iterations of this pigment; however, feel free to use whichever artist quality brand is more readily available in your country; craft and student grade versions of this pigment are often fugitive) - Da Vinci Permanent Magenta // pv19, pb29 // available at Blick or Da Vinci
- White Nights Venice Purple // pr179 // available at ArteMiranda
- White Nights Rose Brown // pbr25 // available at ArteMiranda
- Jackson's Raw Sienna // pbr7 // available at Jackson's
- Jackson's Burnt Sienna // pbr7 // available at Jackson's
- Da Vinci Burnt Sienna Deep // pr101 // available at Blick or Da Vinci
- Da Vinci Burnt Umber // pbr7 // available at Blick or Da Vinci
- White Nights Mars Brown // pbr6tr // available at ArteMiranda or sometimes Etsy
- Da Vinci Raw Umber // pbr7 // available at Blick or Da Vinci
- Jackson's Warm Sepia // pbk7, pbr7 // available at Jackson's
- Jackson's Payne's Grey // pb15:1, pv19, pbk7 // available at Jackson's
- Jackson's Neutral Tint // pbk7, pb15, pv55 // available at Jackson's
What colors do you enjoy most in your everyday palette?
Happy painting,
Ann
Ann is an artist and writer from Ohio. Support her work and access her printables at Patreon. Follow her on YouTube for fresh journal flips and reviews. Join her newsletter for e-mail updates.
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