Watercolor 

Watercolor

Watercolor painting has the reputation of being quite demanding; it is more accurate to say that watercolor techniques are unique to watercolor. Unlike oil or acrylic painting, where the paints essentially stay where they are put and dry more or less in the form they are applied, water is an active and complex partner in the watercolor painting process, changing both the absorbency and shape of the paper when it is wet and the outlines and appearance of the paint as it dries. The difficulty in watercolor painting is almost entirely in learning how to anticipate and leverage the behavior of water, rather than attempting to control or dominate it.

Watercolor paint consists of four principal ingredients:

  • colorant, commonly pigment (an insoluble inorganic compound or metal oxide crystal, or an organic dye fused to an insoluble metal oxide crystal);
  • binder, the substance that holds the pigment in suspension and fixes the pigment to the painting surface;
  • additives, substances that alter the viscosity, hiding, durability or color of the pigment and vehicle mixture; and
  • solvent, the substance used to thin or dilute the paint for application and that evaporates when the paint hardens or dries.

Watercolor painting has the reputation of being quite demanding; it is more accurate to say that watercolor techniques are unique to watercolor. Unlike oil or acrylic painting, where the paints essentially stay where they are put and dry more or less in the form they are applied, water is an active and complex partner in the watercolor painting process, changing both the absorbency and shape of the paper when it is wet and the outlines and appearance of the paint as it dries. The difficulty in watercolor painting is almost entirely in learning how to anticipate and leverage the behavior of water, rather than attempting to control or dominate it.

Watercolor paint consists of four principal ingredients:

  • colorant, commonly pigment (an insoluble inorganic compound or metal oxide crystal, or an organic dye fused to an insoluble metal oxide crystal);
  • binder, the substance that holds the pigment in suspension and fixes the pigment to the painting surface;
  • additives, substances that alter the viscosity, hiding, durability or color of the pigment and vehicle mixture; and
  • solvent, the substance used to thin or dilute the paint for application and that evaporates when the paint hardens or dries.
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Subcategories

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor
DANIEL SMITH Finest Watercolors – A classic watercolor of unsurpassed purity and permanence.” The vision in the formulation of a new line of watercolors was twofold;
First and foremost, to produce watercolors that are the best in lightfastness and permanence.
Second, to offer a selection of truly unique colors.”
Daniel Smith is truly the worldwide leader of watercolors for artists with 250+ beautiful colors in the 15ml watercolor tubes, the most of any manufacturer, and 88 of the most popular colors in 5ml watercolor tubes.  Many are traditional colors relied upon by all artists, and there are many “truly unique” colors made only by Daniel Smith that have become so important to watercolor artists.

 

Quinacridone Watercolors, Daniel Smith was the first manufacturer to use the high-performance Quinacridone pigments for artists paints.  Quinacridone pigments were developed for the automotive industry which requires extremely lightfast and durable paints.  The Quins are known for their brilliant color and for their luminous transparency which make them wonderful for watercolors.

 

PrimaTek Watercolors are made from minerals, often semi precious minerals, that have been ground into pigments, mixed with gum arabic (the binder) and milled into PrimaTek Watercolors. The first was Lapis Lazuli Genuine in 1998, since then, many more have been added such as Amethyst Genuine, Piemontite Genuine and Serpentine Genuine. Most of these colors have wonderful granulating effects that some artists have called “magical”.

 

Luminescent Watercolors have special optical effects perfect for subjects that have a sparkle, sheen, or reflective glow like the iridescence of hummingbird feathers or the sheen of metals.

 

Cadmium Hues, Daniel Smith has developed safe and vibrant Cadmium Hues with the density and richness of cadmium colors without the cadmium pigment. Virtually identical in color to their namesakes, they are cleaner in mixtures and much stronger in tints. The working properties – staining power, semi-transparency and excellent lightfastness – are nearly identical to those of the low-soluble cadmium colors Daniel Smith previously manufactured.

Lightfastness 
Color value
Tinting strength
Clarity
Vibrancy
Undertone
Particle size
Density
Viscosity 
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks

The Watercolor Sticks are made with the same superior pigment that the DANIEL SMITH Watercolor paints are made with.  The DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Sticks have no fillers or waxes – they are DANIEL SMITH Watercolor paint made with pure pigment and gum arabic, so the paint releases easily with a wet brush. The Watercolor Sticks are a “pan in your hand”, they are DANIEL SMITH Watercolor paint shaped into stick form, baked, wrapped in a label and ready to draw and paint!

                                                            1 DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Stick = 3 Full Pans!

Each DANIEL SMITH Watercolor stick is about 3 full pans of DANIEL SMITH Watercolor paint, which makes it a terrific value.

All Watercolor Sticks are the same price regardless of what series (1. 2, 3, 4) they are in the Watercolor tubes. For example, Sodalite Genuine is a series 4 in the Watercolor tubes, in the Watercolor Stick collection, it is the same price as the rest of the Watercolor Sticks.

The DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Sticks have the same properties of granulation, transparency, staining and lightfastness as the matching color does in the DANIEL SMITH Watercolors in tubes, because they are made with the same pigment.


Pigment Power – Watercolor Sticks offer the exact same superior intensity as DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Paints. No clay fillers or wax of any kind, so they release their pigment easily just like the dried DANIEL SMITH Watercolors in your palette do into rich, vibrant color.


Paint & Mix
 – directly from a Watercolor Stick by applying a wet brush. Perfect for plein air and travel. No watercolor palette needed.

Unique Drawing Tool – Watercolor Sticks are an expressive and fun tool for drawing directly with watercolors. Comfortable to hold and the tip can be sharpened for a more precise drawing tip. When sharpening, be sure to save the shavings, those are pure DANIEL SMITH Watercolor! You can add water to the shavings and turn them into liquid paint in a small dish or container.

With DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Sticks you can –
* Draw directly onto dry or wet paper for different line characteristics.
* Soften your lines with a wet brush.
* Blend colors with your wet brush both on the paper and Stick.
* Draw onto paper, then, with a wet brush, take up Watercolor Stick pigment and paint from that like you would with paint in a pan.
* Add water to create light washes using your brush.
* You can build up layers using the Watercolor Sticks for rich, saturated colors.
* Draw over painted areas with the Watercolor Sticks adding detail or line work.
* Create texture by applying the Watercolor Sticks in different ways both wet or dry.

Derivan Artist Watercolor Paint

Manufactured using traditional methods and carefully stone milled to enhance and retain the luminous nature of each pigment selected, Derivan Watercolours are now available in 24 brilliant colours, covering the full colour spectrum, including uniquely Australian colours. Each colour in the range has been tested for granulation, transparency, staining and permanence.The art of watercolours is defined by brilliant, strong but yet subtle colours; clear and clean transparencies. The build up of thin washes created by this delicate mix of colours results in luminous, translucent effects.

The satisfaction of a beautifully rewarding watercolour artwork begins with the choice of a colour range with excellent light resistance, unique colour strength, solubility and paint flow. 

Derivan Watercolours have been manufactured using a careful selection of pigments to preserve the tradition of characteristic quality of transparency, excellent light fastness, clean color mixing and intense blends.When Derivan set out to create our first watercolour range, we wanted to create a quality product that understood both the role of water in using watercolour and the play of Australian light on colour. While many watercolours have their genesis in Europe, we looked at the colours around us. Australian light is unique in its clarity, and the colours we see around us exemplify this quality. Our final range of 24 colours is testimony to our awareness of the interplay of light and colour, and also our desire to create products developed and manufactured in Australia.Our range of Derivan watercolours are characterized by the use of traditional ingredients like Gum Arabic sourced from a region in Africa and carefully tested for quality and impurities. Derivan Watercolours are the result of precisely selected pigments dispersed in a fluid solution of pure Gum Arabic and the addition, in some cases, of Oxgall, which ensures optimal flow off the brush of the Derivan watercolours.

Lukas Aquarelle Studio
Fine studio quality with only pure, high-quality pigments. Excellent forgeability and bleachability due to binder compound of pure gum arabic, choice dextrins and special glucose derivatives.

Germany's Finest Studio Watercolors!

LUKAS has once again broken the mold and created an affordable watercolor for both students and professionals alike.
Pure, intense pigments combine with exclusive wetting agents to produce vibrant watercolors with exceptional coverage. Now you can have the best for one low price! The only difference between LUKAS Aquarell Studio watercolors and artists' grade paint is the use of high quality substitutes in place of some traditional (and often toxic) pigments. 24 brilliant watercolors are available in 10ml tubes, as well as sets of either tubes or pans; perfect for indoor painting or plein aire work! Experience LUKAS Aquarell Studio Watercolors today and discover the professional quality color behind the student grade facade!

-Highly concentrated pigments allow for intense color and transparency
-Many one-pigment shades make for clean, outstanding mixing capabilities
-Superb light fastness means your paintings will retain their brilliance and not fade over time
-Excellent dispersion and refractive quality
-Artists' quality watercolors at student grade pricing! 

Maimeri Venezia Extra Fine Watercolor

A range of 36 colours which are all maximum lightfast and can all be intermixed together. In coming up with the new palette and choosing pigments, Maimeri removed all cadmium and cobalt based colours and reduced chrome content to a minimum in order to eliminate toxins andheavy metals, offering a final answer to the problem of environmental impact, both in the usage and in the production of this product.

Research continues all over the world, and the relationship between paint and the environment continues to improve, on the basis of a new awareness that Maimeri has made more than a goal, but an ongoing commitment.

In Venezia watercolours pigment concentrations are determined in each individual colour in order to obtain a highly harmonious palette of soft shades reminiscentof the colours of the city they are named after. Made in Italy

Maries Masters Watercolor
  • This superb watercolor is made with only the finest pigments in high concentration with the finest binder to perform flawlessly to achieve brilliant and lightfast results.These sets live up to professional standards, yet allow even first time artists to experience the joys of watercolor.
Old Holland Classic Watercolors
The Old Holland Classic Watercolour range is extensive and excellent quality, providing colours which are unique in their colour strength with maximum pigmentation. This high colour strength requires a different approach, meaning little paint is needed from the tube or pan for the desired colour effect. These paints are rich and beautiful with excellent colour lifting abilities.
It is well-known that Old Holland attaches a hand-painted colour strip to its tubes of oil paint and acrylic paint, showing the paint in the tube. A different solution was chosen for the watercolours. The labels of the tubes and cups of watercolour do not show the full tone of the paint, but the undertone (a logical choice following on from the technique of watercolour painting). The colours on the labels are screen printed with the watercolour in this undertone, using a screen printing technique developed specially for Old Holland.
Founded in 1664, Old Holland has more than three centuries of traditional experience in the manufacture of artist paints. Renown across the world, they were used by both Van Gogh and Vermeer.

Unparalleled colour strength
-a rich range of 168 colours

-made from the best and purest pigments
-maximum pigmentation
-binder based on gum arabic, glycerine etc
-silk screened colour example of the undertone on your tube

Pebeo Studio Watercolor

NOTE:AVAILABLE ONLINE

Properties: o Colours: Transparent, bright and deep. They can be mixed together. o Dilution: Water, easy to thin o Drying: A few dozen minutes depending on the dilution and paper weight o Cleaning the tools: With water.

Applications: Aquarelle Fine is made from ground pigments and Arabic gum, and offers a balanced range that is used on watercolour paper or cardboard. It meets the requirements of the amateur watercolourist perfectly. The tube of paste is not rigid like that of pans, it is pasty and is applied in small quantities on a palette.

QoR Artist Watercolor

Modern Watercolors. The unique formulation of QoR Watercolors accentuates the luminosity and brilliance of pigments even after drying. QoR provides the subtlety, transparency and flow of a great watercolor, with colors that have as much vibrancy and fire as the best acrylic or oil paint.

Choose from 83 high-intensity colors, including three Iridescent colors. The addition of QoR Mediums and Grounds can increase gloss, improve flow or wetting and provide different textured surfaces, to expand the creative opportunities in watercolor painting.

The unique formulation of QoR Watercolors accentuates the luminosity and brilliance of pigments even after drying. QoR provides the subtlety, transparency and flow of a great watercolor, with colors that have as much vibrancy and fire as the best acrylic or oil paint.

Choose from 83 high-intensity colors, including three Iridescent colors. The addition of QoR Mediums and Grounds can increase gloss, improve flow or wetting and provide different textured surfaces, to expand the creative opportunities in watercolor painting.
Schmincke Akademie Aquarell

Fine artists´ watercolours, Series 16

  • 24 multiple liquid-poured colours with high lightfastness in half pans. 

  • 16 one-pigment colours for brilliant mixtures 

  • Fully reusable, even when dried on a palette 

  • Attractive sets in various sizes, with half and full pans, in plastic and a wide range in metal 

The basis range of AKADEMIE® Aquarell includes colours designed for students, comprising 24 highly concentrated watercolours (mostly 4 and 5 star lightfastness). High-quality artists' pigments and an optimum binder combination (natural gum arabic) guarantee brilliant mixtures and good applicability, even on softer watercolour papers. The sets include small and full pans in different compositions (10, 12 and 24 pans).

AKADEMIE® Aquarell colours can be mixed and combined with HORADAM® watercolours as well as all AQUA mediums of Schmincke.

Sakura Watercolor

This portable watercolor set is perfect to bring along whether you're going to the countryside, relaxing at the beach, or walking urban landscapes. The watercolor kit is lightweight and affordable, and features:

  • Half pan watercolor paints, formulated to blend easily and create an endless range of colors. Download color chart here!
  • A refillable water brush to transport and store water while on the road
  • A small, sleek design that fits into shirt or jacket pockets, perfect set for painting on-the-go

 

The 12-color ‘pocket’ size travel watercolor kit contains:

  • A small 4mL size water reservoir barrel handle
  • A detachable medium brush tip
  • A dabbing sponge
  • A divided snap lid cover serves as a palette
  • Weighs: 3.8 ounces Size Dimensions: 4.5” x 3.5” x 0.875”

 

The 18-color, 24-color and 30-color ‘postcard’ size travel watercolor kits contain:

  • A large 9mL size water reservoir barrel
  • A detachable medium brush tip
  • Two dabbing sponges
  • A snap lid acts as an easel for postcard size paper
  • The detachable, pegged palette secures to the kit base either to the right, left or center sides
  • A base pull-down ring allows easy gripping of the kit
  • 18-color weighs: 8.4 ounces 24-color: 9.0 ounces
  • Size Dimensions for all 3 kits: 6.25” x 4.5” x 1.125"

 

The 36-color and 48-color watercolor kits contain:

  • A large 9mL size water reservoir barrel
  • A detachable medium brush tip
  • Half pan watercolors, formulated to blend easily and create an endless range of colors
  • A refillable large (9 ML) water brush to transport and store water
  • A detachable easel that secures to the kit in the center, right or left hand sides
  • Snap lid that acts as an easel for paper. (5” x 7” paper size)
  • A pull-down ring on the base allowing for easy gripping of the kits
  • 36-color weighs: 15 ounces
  • 48 color weighs: 1 lb 1 ounce
  • Size dimensions for both kits: 5.69" x 1.25" x 9.88"

 

Koi® Water Brushes

Koi Water Brushes are designed for the easy transportation and storage of water when you're away from home or the studio. The brush separates into two parts: a fine flexible brush tip, and a barrel handle with a plug to carry the water. The comfortable grip is great for controlled blending, shading, and highlighting. The Koi Water Brush is available in three brush and two barrel sizes for maximum painting versatility.

  • Three brush sizes: small (#2 round), medium (#6 round), and large (#8 round)
  • Two barrel sizes: 4ml tank & 9ml tank
Applications and Qualities
  • Polypropylene, transparent barrel and nib holder section.
  • Nylon fibers for brush tip
  • Small barrel: 4-7/8” overall brush length
  • Large barrel: 6" overall brush length
  • By screwing barrel apart, the small brush collapses into two, 2-7/8” components. The large brush collapses into wo 4-1/4" components.
  • Barrel screws on to tip counter clockwise.
  • For ages 8 + years
  • Small parts (cap & plug) – please keep away from small children
  • Meets ACMI non-toxicity standards (AP seal)
  • Not recommended for use on fabrics intended to be washed, on food service or ceramics that are washed, & not evaluated for cosmetic use on skin.
Schmincke Horadam Aquarell

Finest artists' watercolours, series 14

The new, optimized and enlarged 140 assortment:  

  • 139 brilliant, intense colours + Oxgall: 100 unchanged tones, 35 new tones, 4 optimized tones in highest quality as always