Are these the best colors of Daniel Smith watercolor paint? Swatching the Angela Fehr dot card.

Thank you, Daniel Smith for making the Angela Fehr dot card! These little samples of watercolor paint will be given to my workshop students in 2020 and I'm excited to show you each color in the palette and explain why I chose it for my palette.
There is no perfect range of colors for every artist, rather, you can choose the colors that work best for you. Start with your basic primary colors, add some beautiful secondary hues if you wish, some dark value colors, maybe a few pleasing neutrals. I like to use sedimentary and granulating colors, so I've included some of those, and I also enjoy semi-transparent and more opaque colors, so this little dot card shows a few of each of those.
You can download a shopping list of the colors here, and a link to the Daniel Smith 238 color dot card from Blick: (affiliate link)
bit.ly/2PZi8vy
My palette is from Robax.com
My sketchbook is a Bockingford FatPad. amzn.to/2Q9MkEe (affiliate link)

[@tanyaperrin8844]

Congratulations on having your own Dot Card, Angela! That is a milestone indeed!

[@coreyduboislinda9]

Thank you of the Daniel smith sample you sent. I can’t remember when I’ve won such a beautiful gift. I love it Linda

[@juliekraut7218]

Thanks for explaining detail on each color. I LOVE Daniel Smith colors. Awesome that you are recognized by them with your own dot card.

[@Vcagle30]

Question. You mention that the Aussie Red Gold is not recommended as a mixing color since it contains multiple pigments. Recently I watched a video made by the owner of Daniel Smith. It was a really interesting video, almost an hour long, and he went into how the different lines of paint are created-which sounds sort of boring but those ended up being the most fascinating parts of the video for me. Which is why I remember something he said about Moonglow, which contains three pigments. According to Mr. DS (I am forgetting his name now), during the manufacturing process of this paint, the gum arabic is mixed in with the pigments before the pigments themselves are mixed to create Moonglow. He was talking about how the muddiness comes from mixing multiple pigment paints that were made in a different way-the pigments were mixed together, then the gum arabic was added. Because each individual molecule of pigment is surrounded by gum Arabic in the DS formulas, they mix like single pigment paints. I am a beginner so I don’t know anything from experience. Can you speak about this-has this been your experience when mixing multi-pigment DS watercolors? Thanks!

[@windywednesday4166]

That is super interesting! ...and it totally makes sense. I will look out for that interview. Thanks for sharing.

[@KaterinaGundar]

As a regular user of DS multi-pigments watercolours, wanna say that as long as I don’t go super wild with mixing 3 colours 3 pigments each, there is no muddy colors. Actually use a Aussie red gold with quinacridones, primateks and some blues (2-3 pigments) to create beautiful shades and granulation ❤ so I recommend you to experiment with mixes as you like)

[@SuzetteG316]

What a great palette on your dot card! So many wonderful colors (and many are my faves). I love hearing your thoughts on each one too. Thanks for another great video!

[@ellenschmidt3005]

I love how vibrant and bright these colors are. I too enjoy colors that granulate so would definitely pick those to use!

[@ArtWorkOfDR]

I love my Daniel Smith watercolors so lovely

[@fiddler1252]

Fantastic to see the names, watch you paint them, and see how the colours move and work with water on paper, will ALL these fabulous colours. Adding a few to my Santa List, now. (y)

[@windywednesday4166]

Wow, I just decided to take the plunge and pick up a few Daniel Smith watercolors. I agonized over which ones to get. I'm glad to see you several of the ones I chose are on your list. This is super helpful.

[@kathleensmith1494]

I just swatched the 238 dot card. I wish I would have done this before I bought a lot of my paints. I really enjoyed this video because made me understand the reasoning behind some of the colors I thought were a total waste. I’d love to see more videos like this one.

[@denaheck1506]

Angela, congrats on getting DS recognition & having your own dot card. Exciting. It seems like it was only a year ago that Daniel Smith allowed you in their family. It was such a big deal, I remember writing them to and. asking them to support you. So happy for you

[@Ann.shecopeswithhope]

11:35 “this is why I don’t swatch” 🤣😂🤣 I just love you being YOU Angela! What a wonderful display of favorites. Congratulations on the dot card. 🎉 Many blessings!

[@sandramathews4915]

Love all of these colors and how they interact. I may make a pocket pallette of these and try out a spring plein air outing as our azaleas are in full bloom now and that only lasts a week!! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@carolineullmann5383]

Love seeing your dot card and hearing your thoughts about each color, what you mix it with, etc. Looking forward to your workshop at Daniel Smith in January 2021!

[@janinacooper4199]

I always like the colors you combine in your paintings very much and these swatches are so pretty. Hopefully they have your dot card next time I'm near Seattle!

[@TheBabs000]

Congratulations on working with a great watercolor paint company! 🎉

[@Eirenmist]

I will be interested and look forward to seeing you create paintings using these colors on your dot card alone. Those will be really helpful demonstrations.

[@virginiarinkel7544]

Thank you Angela Fehr for giving a talk about your favorite colors while you created your swatch card. I use Daniel Smith and a few colors from Holbein too. Great information - thanks.

[@jonlizsam]

This is one of the most excellent watching videos I have seen. I think it’s probably because they’re your own colors and you actually use them often. So thank you. I also have a few of these colors already. I love my cobalt teal blue, lavender. And Aussie red gold. I really want to get the hematite burnt Scarlet now and exciting colors and I can’t wait to see how they will mix.

[@TaraSueSalusso]

I am a DANIEL SMITH virgin and am putting together my very first set of colors and found this video very informative. You have a couple or more of the ones I had also selected. I don’t recall seeing the zoisite on the Daniel Smith swatch cards. I’m sure I haven’t memorized every single name, however, that one does not seem familiar at all nor does how it’s swatches. It has phenomenal texture. I have swatched the entire Daniel Smith set to help determine what my first 12 to 18. colors will be. I was committed to only buying 12 to get started and am already up to 14. After this video, I expect I’ll be adding a couple more. I wonder if the zoisite has been phased out. Thank you for taking the time to do this swatch segment of your 18 colors.

[@RBartsy]

Beeee-uuuuuuu-teeeeee-ful range of colours! I adore & use bright colours but also like earthy colours together! Thanks I don’t have about half these colours-joy of DS massive range!-I’ll try ‘em!

[@mad4paws]

Oh and I took and started a palette with all the DS.textured paints I have and I am going to love it!

[@TrueLoveX1027]

Though I've commented before saying I am not nearly as fearlessly loose as you, I was surprised by how many of your favs are mine also! Ten of your 18 are "musts" for me too. The more I get to know you as an artist, the more I believe that I am and will be even more so in the coming future, be painting more and more expressively. I am only 18 months into my journey and have so much growing to do (what a thrill it is!), but my heart mist definitely feels a real connection with you even though I am so very early in my artistic journey. You have and continue to inspire me like no other artist does. I just love that and always come to your videos and also to your posted art when I am needing inspiration. Thank you so much for always being that bright spot from which I am able to borrow from. I am sure it is because everything that you paint and I am quite certain that everything that you do outside of your art, is led by your heart. I think that is where I feel the connection to you lies. Blessings to you, my lovely Canadian artist connection. XX

[@irenegauger9496]

This was so very interesting! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for taking your time to make this excellent video!

[@mad4paws]

Well LA DE DA Angela...aren’t you special? Well,guess what? You are !! That is so awesome girl! Big hugs, and I totally agree. Color Rocks. Maddy

[@paintingtracey]

wow you have great taste!

[@MrPuddinhead61]

Lovely mixes! And so unexpected. It’s so fun and satisfying to see the granulation.

[@HandmadeByLinanne]

Congratulations on your new dot card! The colors you’ve chosen are beautifully “outside the box”, IMHO. I mean that in a “good” way! I predict Daniel Smith will have a difficult time keeping them in stock!!! ❤️

[@everartokelli]

Congrats on the DS dot card! I don't know how you pick only 18 :) Looking forward to when you come to DS Seattle in 2021. I was also surprised how much I loved DS Lavender, it has lovely grey undertones and it's more versatile than I ever imagined.

[@ARTYCOATY]

I also draw pictures. Your video has become a study. 👏👏👏✨

[@donnacarraway9182]

Thank you! I love to be reminded of some of these beautiful colors!!💕

[@vanessaboman8143]

So gorgeous! These colours are so scrummy! I think I want these too! Just to look at cos I am only a beginner at water colors!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Love your demo - thank you 🙏

[@joburrow9863]

Thank you so much for this video. I have a couple of Daniel Smith colors and intend to stock up, per your recommendations. I am viewing you from Kernersville, North Carolina, USA.

[@marybirder5663]

Congrats on your dot card! Even though Moonglow is made up of 3 pigments, so glad it made the cut......it's one of my all time, favorite colors. I only wish the pigment numbers were written on your swatch card along with all your chosen colors. Thank you, this is a very useful video!

[@carolinesmyth127]

Beautiful colours! I have some of those colours but I use single pigments with top lightfast properties. Now that I have all the pigments I need, I'd probably start collecting some of your colours for my sketchbook just because they're so beautiful... ❤

[@stephaniealex1852]

Awesome to have your dot card!!

[@jenniefrench1338]

Hi Angela! Rose of ultramarine in MG are one pigment but what is cool is that in DS perylene violet and quin magenta have the same mass tone so my mixes would be similar so I removed rose odmf ultramarine. I love tourmaline genuine (black) it mixes super clean and my aunt loves it who has taught for over 65 yrs, yep.Love love love dark Mayan blue and the Mayan orange. I can't live without quin burnt sienna and burnt orange. I use DaVinci cobalt green hue and mix a little white with it and who can forget Wisteria? Miss you!🤗

[@kristinakowalski6573]

Delicious colours

[@ThePattiw]

Beautiful colours!

[@Dedaskitchen]

I"m happy to say I have 6 of the 18 already in my palette! And I've earmarked about 6 more for my family to order for me for Christmas! Thank you-- wonderful color choices!

[@krisbarber6208]

This is going to be so helpful to me. Thank you.

[@timeglass777]

These are beautiful colors but not common in traditional or purest palette. I checked with my collection of watercolors and found 12 of the colors. I used following to substitute the 6 that I don't have: sub W.N. Raw Sienna Mars Yellow; Paul Rubens Lavender Violet Lavender; M. Graham or QoR Cobalt Teal Cobalt Teal; QoR Venetian Red Venetian Red; Turner's Burnt Umber or Daniel Smith Piemontite Hematite Burnt Scarlet; mixing Perylene Green and Hematite Zoisite Gen.

[@jrm2716]

I love this. Thanks for the info.

[@kimsargeant8126]

This is so special..congrats.

[@janetostrand3731]

Love your videos! And so happy to discover you live in BC!

[@Bees123Knees]

Thanks for sharing this but many of these colours don't really appeal to me and I wonder what I'm missing? I do recognize the value of having what another artist calls 'mouse colours' on a palette in order to make more intense colours pop, but, one of the strongest reasons I've fallen in love with watercolour is because of the pure, singing transparent colours (usually quinacridones & phthalos) that remain brilliant and let the light of the paper shine through the paint. I bought both Lunar Blue and Moonglow months ago and although the granulation is spectacular, I have not had any occasion to actually use them. It could be that I will learn to love these colours in time however, as I only began painting approx. one year ago so I'm not very sophisticated yet.

[@lindaruss3772]

I needed this video, for lots of reasons. Feeling a bit bored with my standards. I’m out of Raw Sienna, so I’m excited to replace with Mars Yellow! Have u ever tried DS imperial Purple? It gives either a good dark purple or diluted, great blue/pink! I need to watch video on brushes too, mine are old. I want a good Dagger brush? Not sure if that’s the right word, but it looks so Fun to use! Great video! Thx Angela! 6:46

[@DianaTrout]

This is a beautiful collection! Congratulations, Angela

[@noreenkellett3863]

Congrats on your own dot card 😊

[@j.m.watkins5169]

Brilliant selection of color! Really.

[@SheridansSojourn]

Wonderful to see these painted out. I love daniel smith paints, but there are so many to choose from and experimenting can get pricey. I will have to get the dot cards and try. Cheers!

[@MrldCtyGrl]

Oh yay! What great fun! I am a bit confused about when you're coming to Seattle? The graphic said 2021 but you said workshops in 2020.

[@bellavita2005]

I vote to add a red. However, I have not seen your work. From your chosen colors, my guess would be it has a delicate look to it. I'll take a look. I just dropped in today. Thanks.

[@Megzamani]

Thank you

[@josephineherrera8508]

Angela, Congratulations on your new swatch card! I often watch your beautiful videos. What brush are you using on this video?

[@loveandlife4222]

Beautiful colors! Most of these are not the ones I have. I love Daniel Smith!

[@diannedidomizio52747]

☀️❤️~ Love your Paintings! ~ This answers so many questions! I want to set up a new Palette ~ I think I am going to try Daniel Smith Watercolors ~ It can be confusing with so many to choose from!

[@BarbaraAnne55]

Thank you ever so much for the DS demo I have been wanting too try Watercolour however coloured pencil is challenging me right now.

[@susanwilson1276]

I went to Blick website, no sign of dot card...🤔

[@janesimpson3462]

Angela, do you put a lot of thought into warm and cool colors in your palette and avoid mixing them? I hv a palette w/warm on one side and cool on the other... trying to avoid making muddy colors and then getting discouraged.

[@LCLand]

Great idea thank you!

[@sharonozouf5994]

thank you it is so interesting

[@AFAskygoddess]

Why would you put opera and moonglow on your palette of 18 favorite colors? They are fugitive, so you only really have 16 colors to choose from when painting art work you plan on framing.

[@robincooper9323]

Is your workshop really in 2021? or is it in 2020?

[@zaarteestdanaportiermorvan2453]

Any idea why we can only order the dot card set that has 238 colors if they now have :80 colors?

[@JaEPaLep]

PLease.. I have seen other people show this dot card.. so.. What is the use of this card?

[@anitaprobst426]

You have beautiful skin!,,,,

[@angelfehr]

Thank you!

[@catherinelevison3310]

I do love watching swatching, (okay, that’s a weird rhyme). Perhaps you might get time in your busy future to re-record the swatching process? I would really like to see that. I loved the accidental cat face that appeared in the first mixture using Opera Pink and the teal blue, upper right corner of your chart.

[@twothreefour234]

link doesn't work. where is a list????

[@mjpete27]

I would never give an artist a thumbs down just because I disagree with your opinion. I believe that Dan Smith is a professional line of paints but they are so overrated. I have over 40 colors so I am not just “spouting off!” From ignorance. There are so many other paints that are wonderful and NOT Overpriced! I have become a DaVinci convert. A California company that has so many extraordinary paints! So much more affordable than DS too! I also like the mission gold line of paints from Korea over the DS lines of paints. If you feel like you need to spend more of your money! You presented your line of choices well and I congratulate you on your success. Thank you for sharing your opinion on choices and I wish you a pleasant day.

[@donnalieblick8478]

Thank you!

[@aubreyravenl]

have you tried painting hematite with a piece of magnet?

[@cathyjoerger4676]

It's now 2022 - are these still your favorite choices?

[@lindasmithmccormack5225]

Gorgeous colour choices! May I please ask where you sourced your circular palette that holds sixty colours?

[@suel4269]

It’s a Robax palette .

[@amber6607]

I am wondering how to use the Daniel Smith watercolor mixing set. I brought six colours and then the ground, it came in a set. My question is do I just mix the colour and then the ground and put in a pan? Please can you guide me. Thanks, I have learned so much from you, thanks for you teaching us and sharing your knowledge with us.😆

[@kazfarndon4990]

The ground is used to create a surface to paint onto, not to mix with paint...although you can tint white ground with a touch of colour if you want an off white surface to paint onto...For your paint set of colours, simply use by mixing those colours together in a pallette with a little water to make different hues

[@kazfarndon4990]

Or squeeze a little of each colour into the pans of a pallette, let dry, then re-wet with a brush when needed

[@amber6607]

@@kazfarndon4990 thanks, so I understood it wrong, says makes thirty-six colours. So I thank you, for the new information.

[@kazfarndon4990]

@@amber6607 👍

[@marisawu3646]

Well...if, hypothetically, I paint a painting using opera pink and my buyer rightfully wants to frame it and hang it on a wall....and, it fades awfully. What should be done😞

[@susankievman642]

I notice that you do not have a real red in the mix. You are not a big red lover, I would say?

[@Kyomiibrown]

Love them all - except opera because it’s highly fugitive.

[@marybirder5663]

Yes, on it's own, Opera Pink is considered fugitive, so it is best used as a mixer. Try it with Indanthrone Blue for a gorgeous violet. Also, you can create some amazing oranges. Because Opera is way too bright, at least for my taste, you just need to experiment and find which colors to use to tone it down and be surprised with the mixes and hues you can achieve, imo.

[@Kyomiibrown]

mary birder Yes, it is a good mixer but will weaken the lightfastness of colours it is mixed with. Even water weakens the lightfastness to some extent so a fugitive colour will do even more. It’s a beautiful mixer though and if lightfastness isn’t important then it’s worth being on a palette imho.

[@everartokelli]

The heavily fugitive aspect of Opera Pinks/Roses is the fluorescent part, so that neon brightness will fade, but the pink/magenta color from PR122 is usually much more lightfast. It's not fugitive like PY40 Aureoline which turns grey fairly quickly, but it's still wise to avoid Opera colors in paintings if possible, especially the ones made with PR83 which is generally less lightfast than PR122.

[@Kyomiibrown]

everart okelli Opera pink goes grey/very pale pink regardless which will also change the tone and colour of any mix you put it in. Daniel Smith themselves list it as fugitive and give it a 4 which is poor. danielsmith.com/opera-pink-5ml-tube-daniel-smith-extra-fine-watercolor/ It’s fine for any work you intend to scan or keep in a sketchbook but definitely not for work you are selling unless you make the customer aware of the problem.

[@pesto12601]

Your palette is not for my style.. but thanks for sharing your ideas...

[@RBartsy]

Oops-and now you need an actual metal box of this collection cuz it’s different from their others!

[@rnee1000]

Does Daniel Smith sell your palette dot card?

[@jannettebeatsonberger2516]

Hi Angela. I know its 2yrs later. I'm a fearless artist community member. Can I have a free dot card? Evelyn has my address and I need some inspiration. Maybe your dot card will help? Thank you.

[@jannettebeatsonberger2516]

Hi Angela. I know its 2yrs later. I'm a fearless artist community member. Can I have a free dot card? Evelyn has my address and I need some inspiration. Maybe your dot card will help? Thank you.