Daniel Smith watercolor sticks review and swatch

Swatching, looking at pigments and comparing Daniel Smith to Winsor Newton Professional Sticks set.
Note** yes I realize I was incorrect as moonflower is not in the primatek range I apologize for my error.
I hope you like the video, please like, comment and subscribe.
Thank you all for Watching!

[@michellehilty2300]

Thanks for the video I just got my first2 sticks😀 Sap green and ultra marine blue;) they are big!!! I’m so excited to enlarge my collection I think $$ wise it’s so smart and convenient too💕 I just made a mini painting with just the too colors😀😊

[@annettefournier9655]

DS colors are of good strength. I just chop a piece off and stick it in s pan to rewet like any pan color. Really good deal to get 3 pans of DS color in one stick.😁

[@angiewright-artist8246]

That's exactly what I did with mine too! :) And they were on sale for $10 each I wAs so impressed and absolutely love them! Thank you so much for watching I'm glad you enjoyed :D

[@annettefournier9655]

@@angiewright-artist8246 Thank YOU. I don't know where you reside but I got mine off Amazon for $8.68 each. They don't the full selection all at once but I got the ones I needed. Take care.

[@angiewright-artist8246]

@@annettefournier9655 thank you so much for your comment Annette! :) I'm in Canada they run about $15.00 per stick at local shops here but.. when I shopped online with a store I love a few hours away kingsframingandartgallery.com has a sale on them right now for 10$ which is fantastic pricing. Deserres.com starts at 13.99$ for them and I see the limited range but I agree with you that the colors they have available are perfect for me so I'm going to buy the sticks in the colors available to save. :) especially want to try the primateks :) I hope you have a great evening take care too my friend.xo

[@annettefournier9655]

@@angiewright-artist8246 Good deal then! Yeah I beat the bushes for for sales too. We have no local art supply stores. Just the big craft stores with way overpriced supplies. See ya.Thanks.

[@boxapaint569]

DS is pretty pricey in the UK and I've not been brave enough to try out the sticks, thank you for the review. Got to go to Blick's in SF a couple of years ago and got my first few tubes and Moon Glow, Shadow Violet and Kyanite (I was apparently missing the grey skies) and have had to bite the bullet to expand my collection because they are so nice to use. Green Gold is the Quin Gold of greens, so many different shades all in one. I think you may have sold me on finally getting some Cobalt colours because they Cobalt teal is lovely! P.S. Moon Glow and Shadow Violet are mixes of complementary colours and they separate into amazing effects, you get hints of green, pink and purple when it dries. So good and really fun convenience colours.

[@angiewright-artist8246]

I love moonglow!! I played with it the first week and omg I completely fell in love and recreated it! Don't buy the WN sticks! Huge dissapointment!!! I love D.S it's my favourite so far, and green gold I tried in Oto's palette when I won it and fell completely in love!!! I had to get it. After this week just cause I'm painting for exhibition I'll send you a message and maybe we can do a halfpan trade? Well both have to check the shipping so it doesn't cost huge for us but I could send you some of whatever you want to try for the sticks I have we could do a pigment trade if your interested. Sorry for the long msg I'm just excited! Omg that magenta looked super nice in your set that's why I was kicking myself for only getting the 18 haha. Talk soon and thank you so much xoxo

[@boxapaint569]

@@angiewright-artist8246 Typed out a reply and hit a funky button and not sure if it went through or vanished :) Shadow Violet is similar but has it's own characteristics. Green gold I've had DS and Turner and both work similarly in the shades you can achieve. The Turner shrunk in the pan but still re-wets with no trouble. I am totally game for a half pan swap. And happy to include the Turner colours you missed out on this time 'round etc. No worries at all, I told you no one believes I'm an introvert because I can talk for the nations hahah and best of luck with the exhibition!

[@angiewright-artist8246]

@@boxapaint569 thank you so much! It's been a true pleasure speaking to you!! I'll touch base with you in a few days xoxo happy painting my friend!!

[@MaryPrasadArt]

Thank you for the information! I am just learning how to use my DS sticks. Mainly I've just cut off the ends for pans (work great for travel, so easy to rewet). PrimaTek are ground minerals, that's the difference. Aside: you may want to update your note about "moonflower" not being PrimaTek - it should be Moonglow. The owner of Daniel Smith pronounces PrimaTek with a short "i" - as in "primitive" where it got its name.

[@kristinakowalski6573]

Lovely review Angie. From edmonton 🇨🇦

[@angiewright-artist8246]

Thank you kindly 🙏❤️

[@kristinakowalski6573]

Angie Wright-Artist /hello Angie. Could you please remind the name of your local art store ? Thx a million

[@angiewright-artist8246]

@@kristinakowalski6573 sure no problem, I use kingsframingandartgallery.com

[@everartokelli]

Thanks so much for doing this comparison! I was lucky enough to go on a Daniel Smith tour a few months ago, and they showed how they made the sticks--they start out about 3 times the size of the final product and are put in a dehydrator (like those used for dried fruit) for a month or two to dry out and shrink down to the size of the stick--so are pretty concentrated. Some colors take longer, or shrink more and I think your Moonglow stick probably kept shrinking after it was packaged (maybe because of the Ultramarine). I think these may be very climate specific, because some videos I've seen show the sticks as very soft and yours seemed fairly hard. I have a few sticks and use them like annette does as pans. I also tried the Winsor & Newton versions last week and they are much harder than the DS sticks, as you said more crayon-like. A lot of the WN stick colors are different formulas than the tubes and pans, maybe to keep them hard enough? Don't know, wish I had asked the WN rep. Anyway, I'd like to find more uses for these as sticks and use them for mark making, so will look for the videos you mentioned with pastel and encaustic artists. Looking forward to your future experiments!

[@everartokelli]

Azomethine Copper Complex is PY 129, is that the name on the stick or is it a combo?

[@angiewright-artist8246]

@@everartokelli thank you so much Everart!! Yes they have it listed in front of the pigment and you just cleared up for me! And moonglow explanation makes so much sense!! I'm going to paste a comment I wrote up on the WN video earlier tonight, you and I have made the exact observation regarding the sticks. I'm so envious you got to go to the D.S. factory I was literally just talking to my parents on our last visit a few weeks ago and told them I want to go to Seattle and visit Daniel Smith. !! I'm so excited even just thinking about it haha ;) Ps. Sorry ahead of time this reply was lengthy... I've been using both the Winsor Newton sticks and the D.S sticks since recording.... In my acrylics work I love Winsor Newton acrylics both the professional range, heavy bodies and the Galleria. There a great quality product and I'm a fan. Now that being said...I'm not impressed with the watercolor sticks. They don't have the pigment payload that I expected of one of my favorite acrylics makers. So much so I'm going to write the company about it. With all the methods of using them I prefer applying a wet brush to them and using like a watercolor pan. There good for flicking paint but I wanted them to use for adding color when I travel or plein air. After a few months of using them I'll do another review to show my artworks used with them and likes vs dislikes. I find the pigment load weak compared to their professional watercolors, even compared to Cotman. They have a waxy feel like a crayon, which is fine except I truly believe whatever binder they use with them doesn't release the pigment load in a vibrant manner. I think they know this too because the more pigment research I did, the yellow ochre has two pigments PY42 and PR101. (The tube is just PY42/PY43 depending which you buy) I have experience with pigments and the associated costs. At first I thought they added the PR101 as a cost filler but now I don't believe that's the case at all. I believe they added the pigment because the pigments on their own are not strong enough with the waxy filler so they use the secondary darker pigment to boost the color payoff. PR101 is a more expensive pigment compared to the PY42 so their not doing it to save on cost. The added pigments make them more expensive to make. I don't regret buying the kit because I was very curious about them and would have thought about them and wondered what they were like... In hindsight for what I paid I could have bought another 7 D.S sticks which they work just like having D.S in the tube or a pan. I'm disappointed in the Winsor Newton sticks if someone asked my professional opinion I'd say buy the D.S sticks, put a chunk in a pan buy the $5.00 case which holds 5 and you'll be happier. The D.S sticks have the drawback that if it's a hot or humid environment they get soft and hard to use like a crayon but there pure pigment baked into stick form. They release just as beautiful as the pans but are better with dabbing a brush and water and not coloring with. Their a cheaper way to obtain 12 MLS of Daniel Smith. I'm sad I wish this was an awesome product that I loved and could say good things about but for these, I like the carry case, it classic Winsor Newton and I'm going to repurpose it when I'm done with the sticks but I'm so dissapointed and would hate for you to buy them and be disappointed too. :( Im working late in my studio tonight so while it's on my mind I'm going to write the company. If nothing else I hope they display pure professionalism in their response as I love their acrylics and they've been one of my brands for over 5 years now. Thank you for asking Rod xoxo sorry about the letter response lol I wanted you to have the best info I could give

[@angiewright-artist8246]

Thank you so much for the great information Everart, taking the time to write such a well thought out response! And thank you for watching I'm happy you enjoyed xoxo

[@everartokelli]

Awesome info!! Thanks for confirming about the climate affecting the softness, I live in Seattle which is pretty temperate so haven't noticed it much. The best deal with the DS sticks are the Primateks, I'm going to get the Sodalite and Piemontite (one of my fave colors) next time I'm at the store as they're more expensive in tube form. I think it's probably a trade off with making watercolor sticks, Daniel Smith seems to be okay with the sticks being a bit inconsistent since they're hand-crafted (Thom called them a labor of love for artists), and Winsor & Newton decided on consistency of texture and size, so suffers with pigment load. However, in my brief chance to test them, the Indigo and Ivory Black seemed pigmented enough to use. I usually find that when art supplies disappoint me, I put them away and eventually find a new use for them I didn't think of originally :) I've been experimenting with using charcoal and soft pastels with my watercolors to combine drawing and painterly techniques, which is why I'm so interested in how artists are using the sticks--I like your idea of using them to splatter paint. I'm so glad I found your channel, now have to catch up on your other videos!!

[@angiewright-artist8246]

@@everartokelli thank you so much my new friend, I hope you won't be dissapointed in my other videos as I've been working up to being comfortable talking on camera. I've shared my art journey for 5 years on Facebook and decided I wanted to share my journey with world and speak to artists everywhere. I do however have many videos and projects in progress that I want to share that I think can help. I think it's great your using your pan pastels and graphite in your works. I enjoy doing a watercolor then going on top with my polychromos pencils to bring in super fine detail for my realism works. I love the experimentation!! When you're using your pan pastels have you used them with alcohol or water, (alcohol dries faster that's all ) for an underpainting to really get it into the tooth. Almost like staining it? I imaging you have I just really enjoy this technique and using a brush with them too :) I'm not sure if you've tried it watercolor then colored pencil I mean... If your new to it just make sure your done the watercolor portion before going into colored pencil as those are oil based, or wax based depending on which brand you use. You can layer colored pencil over watercolor but you can't put watercolor over oil or wax...same as you would with an acrylic underpainting mixed media. :) I'm doing the exact same as you with primatek D.S sticks! I have to wait for the store to restock before buying they were sold out!! I'm so smiling haha :) and I'm totally with you about the Winsor Newton's...I've put them aside and when the right project comes for them I'll find a good use :D there not awful it's just once I saw the comparison and the difference in pigment then of course I want the pigment haha!! Oh and because it's freezing here right now all the sticks are super hard but I have an artist friend in Singapore that told me about the affect of the heat and humidity affecting the sticks so I knew right away that was why In future videos I'll have speed acrylic paintings, and encaustic is coming as soon as all the snow melts and I can work in my garage without freezing! Lol I'm excited to try it, I'm already stocking up materials I'll need. As well as any tips/reviews or even if just need to Vlog to talk art with people like me in the world. It was a pleasure meeting you and chatting with you. thank you so much you truly made my night!

[@sharonwinfield7591]

Is that watercolor paper?

[@angiewright-artist8246]

Yes, this is Canson Xl watercolor paper. It's inexpensive so it's fun to play on and good for swatches, this one you can get at Walmart :)

[@karenhunt2441]

Moonglow is not a Primatek color

[@WatercolourQuickandEasy]

Those are some great colours! I have liked and subscribed. I make art tutorials. Let's try to support each other.

[@angiewright-artist8246]

Thank you Rod and yes that's a great idea thank you for the offer. I have subscribed back, and am excited to check out your videos too xo

[@WatercolourQuickandEasy]

@@angiewright-artist8246 Thanks, have an awesome day!