Daniel Smith Watercolors - Why the Big Fuss?

I've used many top brands of watercolor, but never understood the big fuss about Daniel Smith. After seeing so many of Teoh Yi Chie's videos about how much he enjoys them, I finally took some holiday money and decided to find out for myself! Do they live up? Come see!
A special thank you to Teoh Yi Chie for all his incredible efforts on both his blog site and on KZbin, and for inspiring me to seek out new materials and ideas, as well as his generosity in a recent giveaway in which I won the Portable Painter Palette featured in this video.
Teoh Yi Chie:
KZbin:
/ @teohyc
Blog site:
www.parkablogs...
MUSIC:
“Over the Influence” by M.D. Campbell
noisetrade.com/...
© 2018 M.D. Campbell (aka Me & Boris the Bull)
All rights reserved
MY BLOG:
www.markdcampbe...
Instagram: mdcampbellart
Facebook: m.d. campbell
GEAR:
• Hand•Book Travelogue journal
• Pentel Waterbrush
• Portable Painter Palette
• Daniel Smith watercolors
• Schmincke, M.Graham, & Sakura Koi watercolors
I hope this video was helpful in some way. Please "subscribe" to the channel, and feel free to leave comments, thoughts or questions below. Thank you and cheers!

[@MDCampbell]

Something I didn't mention in the video, which I wish I had, is that Daniel Smith, like many other brands, offers sample "dot cards" which are a great, inexpensive way to try before you buy, to get a tactile feel for their paints and their quality. :)

[@joyfulldj]

I think instead i will buy me their essential set, 6 primary colors for under 30 euro's is one you cant go wrong with since you basicly use those in any set

[@summerbee80]

ya dot cards by schminke are amazing and very helpful if u dont have 200 bucks to spend, hint hint :P

[@joyfulldj]

You are evil, you know i Iam a schmincke addict,or you would not say this,rofl, only have 26 pans of schmincke, i just want to share in the fuzz fun 😂

[@StarsinRain]

I am trying to create my own "set" and I got a 66 try-set for about $7-8 and it's really helpful before investing in buying tubes. I think a ~200 dot test sheet is about $10-15? It's really useful :)

[@AxiomEcho]

This little factoid makes me want to try them now. I lobe when companies have the consumer in mind with things like that.

[@teohyc]

Great to see that the Portable Painter has arrived safely on the other side of the world 😁

[@owingsart]

You discovered each other! The universe is now in alignment. :-)

[@SykesFW]

Teoh Yi Chie can you give info please on where to pickup that traveling pallet, thanks

[@benjisquenge]

I'm not sure where else you can get it, but they sell it on Amazon for around $30.

[@marsbeads]

Most art stores carry it, such as dickblick.com

[@superspark3257]

@@marsbeads is that really a art store or....

[@jasonjones362]

I have just recently discovered your channel and I love it. As an artist myself, I enjoy watching videos of other artists. My theory is that one is never too experienced or too old to learn something new. I am now a new subscriber. Keep up the good work!

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you, Jason Jones! I'm sincerely grateful for your support and your generous words. Thank you so much! :)

[@cindylabare960]

Thank you, I just preordered a set of Daniel Smith through art snacks and was wondering how they would be. I am excited to get them! I have the koi set now and wanted to upgrade to a better set.

[@MDCampbell]

Cindy LaBere, I love my Koi set to take with me for traveling. It's perfect! But, for my professional work and my personal art, I go with the big three: Daniel Smith, M. Graham, and Schmincke, just because their quality is extremely good. I really hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Cheers! :)

[@weiqiuyou9402]

I also have koi and want to upgrade to Daniel Smith as I've been painting more recently. I'm looking at the 24 half pan set.

[@KimberlyFalvoTorres]

Great info! I like how honest your opinion is. Love you videos..keep doing what you do!.

[@EveBolt]

Yay! Congrats on the new set! They are gorgeous paints! And once you step into the Daniel Smith world, good job getting out! Next thing you'll know is that you need a bigger palette ;)

[@Rosemarie04921]

Eve Bolt - Bolt's Vault I agree. I started with very few DS but since I am most successful paint alla prima,...I had to add more and more colors as taking time to mix colors I could buy, sometimes cramps my working preference.

[@carolynderricks3226]

Why ??? I like M Graham!

[@jazzymoe]

Truuuuue. Lol

[@itsatiepoproductions7338]

Thank you so much! I really needed this to start my day and I will be sharing this with so many friends! There are so many things I am wanting to do from starting an art education youtube to creating comics and book illustrations! I am sure I will get there some day.

[@MDCampbell]

Thanks Its a Tiepo Productions, and yes, I agree - you will definitely get there some day, if you want it. :)

[@InLiquidColor]

Whoa! This really took off didn't it?! Congrats Mark!

[@michelletulumello661]

Thalo blue green shade is AMAZING.

[@SharonCullenArt]

I am a Daniel Smith hard core girl. Something that you didn’t mention is the number of colors they have, the PrimaTek line, which are gorgeous although winsor and newton is now copying DS on this. I forget what they are calling their line. But WN is always a year or 2 behind DS. I don’t like sennelier, mostly because they take so long to activate and I am not used to that. But also the flow of color. DS is leaps and bounds above the others in my opinion. Maybe not M Graham but they don’t have nearly the variety of color choice that DS has. But back to the flow, it is amazing. Also the granulating colors especially in the PrimaTek line. But all in all, I think for most artists, our fall back line is what we are most used to. I like to know when I open my palette, exactly what the paint is going to do for me without even thinking about it, and for me that is DS. Oh and I forgot to mention the price. If ordering online, I checked with Dick Blick and the DS and MG paints are pretty comparable in price.in fact many of DS colors are cheaper. The whole “they’re too expensive” thing is a bunch of b.s. if you live in then US. But internationally yes, they are very expensive and marked up ridiculously high, probably to force artists to buy locally made products and not imports.

[@gooddollie]

Excellent review! I've thought the same thing. I did get the DS Primatek set and I have to say it has been fun exploring. I just broke down and ordered a few extra colors like phthalo blue, phthalo turquoise, quin magenta and the coveted green gold (which I'm most excited about). Greens are my favorites.

[@MDCampbell]

Hi gooddollie and thank you so much for your kind thoughts and sharing your interest! I have not explored the Primatek paints, myself, but they do look great! Like you, I love green. And blue. And orange... aw, who am I kidding, I love all the colors! lol! I'm glad you enjoyed this one! Cheers! :)

[@owingsart]

Hi Mark - Great video my friend. It was good to see your comparisons of DS, Schmincke, M Graham and Sukura Koi. One note I would add is that companies will add, "brighteners" to their paints to boost color. It's easy to mistake the pigment for vibrancy that is achieved using the brighteners. Took me a while to figure that our, as the info isn't easy to come by as you might imagine. Happy Monday Mr. Mark. Keep up the great work. ~Marty

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you, Marty! I'm aware of the brighteners, agents, and even dyes that some brands use in their paints, but not the depth of what they are, where they come from, etc. That might be an interesting subject to explore to understand better. I have several sets of the Prima Marketing Watercolor Confections paints, which I fell in love with. However, they provide no pigment or lightfast info, or what kind of fillers/additives they use. So, after using them for a while, I left a couple of sample swatches out in the sun to see what would happen. I was surprised to see how much they shifted and faded, leaving behind more of a "stained" look than paint. I still use them, but now having the more prominent sets, I prefer to stick with those for a while and use the others sparingly. Thank you, again, Marty and happy days for you, as well! (I feel like a Fonzie quote would be appropriate here! ;) )

[@MeowMeowKapow]

Woah, I’d love to see some artistic investigative journalism into this!! Heck, I’d love to DO some investigative watercolor journalism on this, I just have no idea what or how to do it!

[@TheSgyro]

I was just about to comment that you sounded like Mr Marty😁

[@owingsart]

Patricia Langer I've spent a long time digging for the information on many watercolor paints. It's not easy to come by because these companies generally want to keep their recipes a secret. Many will actually patent their recipes and the unique chemical/material compositions. In general, you can look up the ATSM ratings to see if a Paint or material is considered safe. What you won't find out is the individual chemical make up. However, some companies are more transparent about their paints. A lot of people confuse, "chemical" sensitivity with sensitivity to the primary ingredient in a paint, such as cadmium, cobalt or iron oxide. Many more people will be sensitive to those then the more inert ingredients in a paint. I highly recommend the use of non-latex gloves and a painting mask, like the kind you get at the hardware store. This is usually more than enough to avoid any sensitivity issues. Another thing I do when painting with oil paints in my studio, is to use a small fan that blows the odor directionally away from me. If you want a great resource for finding out more about the composition of paints, please check out my friends at handprint.com/HP/WCL/pigmt3.html I hope this helps you out. All the best! ~Marty

[@J.Dibble]

At the beginning of the video you mentioned using Winsor & Newton. I was disappointed that was the last you spoke of them. It seems like you don’t use them any longer? I’d like to know why. Thank you! And thanks for the video! You’re the first I’ve seen to actually address the DS buzz.

[@Dawn24Michele]

Yes, they are the best. I've been using Daniel Smith since they created them. Even their oil paints are the best. Or, should I say, were the best. I haven't oil painted since I discovered watercolor. But back in the day they were the only oil paints I would use after I mistakenly used some. I say mistakenly, because as I recall, they were about twice the price as the ones I were using normally. Then I couldn't go back to after using Daniel Smith.

[@kathrynsloan4694]

Mark, I love Watercolor and Daniel Smith has been my choice. They go on like butter and I love the vibrancy. I live in Minnesota in the Twin Cities. We have a blick art store not from us and I love it there. Thanks for showcasing Daniel Smith Watercolor.

[@MDCampbell]

I'm glad to know I'm in such good company! So many people made the leap into DS paints, so I felt out of the loop. In teaching art, I think it's important to know what to recommend to young people and make them aware of the costs, the benefits, and even the negatives. I totally agree about the texture and vibrancy! Great paints! Cheers, Kathryn and thank you! :)

[@venitha11]

I’ve just come across your video and I have also started using DS paints. Unfortunately I live in South Africa n with the exchange rate I pay 16 times more per tube than what you would pay in the States. So slowly I’m trying to buy a tube at a time. It’s really a vibrant, beautiful paint brand.

[@MDCampbell]

It's unfortunate that the exchange rate makes it difficult for a lot of people. I experience that with other products, here, too, coming from Europe.

[@KerriD777]

I got the M Graham basic 5 color set, the Quin 5 color set and a few extra colors for less than $100. Made a nice palette of colors. On Amazon I priced the same tubes in D Smith and it was double the cost! Think I'm an M Graham fan !!

[@MDCampbell]

lol! I'm definitely with you on being an M. Graham fan! Absolutely wonderful paints, for sure! Thank you, KerriD777!

[@LillenArt2]

I currently use a Sakura Koi set but I really want to try Daniel Smith too. They have some really nice color sets.

[@irenebrowning]

Thanks for the review.

[@jillmayo]

I personally don't like DS water colors. I have many watercolors, but only have 3 Daniel smith tubes. I never understand the hype. Plus $$$$$$. Thanks for your demo.

[@weepingangel8190]

these are so mad expansive

[@susierodriquez5409]

Them smiths. Such entrepreneurs. First Jaclyn now Daniel. Lol

[@MDCampbell]

LOL!! I admit. While all my pals were hanging Farrah Fawcett posters up in the 70s, I was a Jaclyn Smith admirer. Yep. hehe!!!

[@augustg2059]

Have you ever tried QOR watercolours?

[@MEANfied]

they have dot cards if you just want to test them or if you want they do sell set (essential set, primary and secondary set , alvaro castagnet set or the primatek one) :) teoh is amazing i've learned a lot of things from him and soetines uses those when i do demos for daniel smith hehe. love this video :)

[@GreenGestalt]

Uh, try Holbien for expensive but worth it - one man's opinion. Right now only one Daniel Smith tube - Mummy Bauxite - rather a modern re-creation of that classic, controversial paint...

[@TheChryseis]

It's now May, and while I watched this when it first came out and loved it then, I am curious to know how you feel now about the Daniel Smith paints. I bought the Jane Blundell Ultimate Mixing palette (Off etsy), but it's not here yet, so I am wondering how you feel about your set you put together now. Do you still use it? Have you added or subtracted to it? Are you planning to expand on your DS collection? Would love to know your thoughts :)

[@MDCampbell]

You are, literally, some kind of mind reader, TheChryseis! Just yesterday, I set up an order for a new, larger tin and several new DS watercolors on Amazon. The Primateks and a secondary color set, plus some others. I don't just enjoy the DS products, I have actually fallen in deep with them. While I truly love M. Graham and Schmincke paints, the quality, texture, and ease of DS have won me over. I still plan to explore other brands, in the future, but for the work I do, these seem to be fluent for me. Thank you for asking and I hope you are enjoying the JB set. I'd be curious to know your thoughts on them? Cheers! :)

[@TheChryseis]

M.D. Campbell Well I think the mind reading was KZbin’s fault. Your videos get recommended to me all the time, but considering my recent DS purchase, I felt like re-watching :) As for the JB palette, it’s not an “official” palette. Just the 15 colours she recommends as the “ultimate mixing palette.” I was lucky enough to purchase the pre-filled half pans from a lovely woman on Etsy in Singapore (Artistic Katt would be the North American option) as I couldn’t afford all 15 tubes. I only have 2 other DS paints, cascade green and moonglow and they are so beautiful. When the palette arrives, hopefully soon. I will let you know how the mixing goes for sure. But I do suggest seeking out Jane Blundells blog, and her massive watercolour mix book :)

[@MDCampbell]

The JB's are now on my watch list when I can afford to dive back into exploring new paint sets! Thanks so much for your invaluable feedback! It means a lot! :)

[@lauradains2734]

I love how you boost up other artists. I've seen you do this before and I really have enjoyed the artists you've introduced me to. I had already been enjoying Teoh's work because another You Tube artist also gave him a shout out. I really appreciate the community within this community, if that made any sense. I would love to see it spread. I know there is a bit of competition for the valuable likes and subscribes - but I really like the artists who support their fellow artists.

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you, Laura! I really appreciate that feedback. It's nice when someone recognizes the little things in the videos that are somewhat backstage to the main topic. Teoh is terrific and I've admired his work, both in art and in video editing, for a long time. He's so incredibly thorough with his reviews, that I defer to him on specific topics. And yes, that glut for subscribers and likes is ever-present with the bigger names, some of us are merely here because we love what we do and just have an honest interest to share it. If I can build a channel based on that, then I'm happy! And fortunately for me, I have been blessed to be associated with many likeminded, kindhearted, and sincere artists whom I've admired, too, for a long time. Thank you again and I hope you are well! :)

[@vanessachishti1503]

I completely agree! Its so nice see a clutch of creators behind art channels talking about each others work, and writing warm, engaged comments on each others videos. ☺

[@grayblosser6630]

I live in Seattle, where the DS store is, and I have to say the first time I visited DS was the best experience I've ever had in an art store. Their employees are so knowledgeable and kind and the selection is fantastic. They've remembered me every time I go and are quick to help. There's also a space to try out for free every color DS offers which is so much fun and great way to plan out a palette! I love how well DS rewets but also that they're completely dry in a palette. One note I have to offer, and I don't know if anyone else mentioned it, is that potter's pink is one of the hardest to rewet from DS if not the hardest, like it is with other brands. When I've used it in the store an employee always mentions to let water sit on it for a bit before using if you've let it dry.

[@MDCampbell]

How can I not be a little envious of your proximity to the DS store! lol! It must be wonderful! I did notice the Potter's Pink (and the Cerulean Blue, too) is tough to activate. I'll look for that when I use them again, soon. Thank you for taking the time to watch and for that valuable feedback! :)

[@nitikaaleart]

Potter's pink and also i found DS ultramarine violet takes a bit longer to rewet. I spray a bit of water in my palette before painting, makes rewetting quicker :)

[@jafetisraelmendezcastro5648]

Wow, I'm envy in the good way 😂 I have to buy ds being very expensive from other country so I can use it here in Mexico

[@SuperCutealien]

I need a Seattle weekend with my hubby. It’s a bit of a road trip. But I’d love to go to their store.

[@Lacroix999]

This is like some of the PrimaTek colors. But I always spray my whole palette before beginning anyways. It helps to have the colors ready for you so you’re paper doesn’t dry out while you’re getting them ready to paint with. So always prep your paints first before your paper! The only exception to this is if you want dryer paints and know you will be using them that way in your particular piece from the start.

[@sarahguy-levar7955]

My FAVORITE DS combo is Quin Gold, Quin Burnt Orange, and Indigo. The three make STUNNING landscapes.

[@LED816]

What’s amazing are the granulating colors. You need things like moonglow, rose of ultramarine, cascade green, imperial purple, sleeping beauty turquoise, etc. The way some of those colors pull apart is what makes everyone go crazy. You NEED to try those! You’ll fall in love with those colors. If you don’t like granulating colors, Daniel Smith probably isn’t for you. Many of their colors are also made from minerals and gemstones. You’ll actually see bits of sparkle from the gem stones in the colors. You should try their 238 dot card. They provide enough paint to do several small pieces with. I started with that and now have over 50 of their colors. But I like whimsical and fantasy watercolor so things like their interference colors and the granulating colors work wonderfully for me. (Yes I have a slight obsession with them lol)

[@AimeeFleck]

I freaking adore moonglow

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Rewatching ...covid shutdown. Good review..agreed....

[@yurinaka99]

This comment is really old so I'm probably just annoying you - BUT (:D) if u like those moody granulation colors, try mixing any color (preferably bright and translucent) with pbk11 (lunar black/Mars black). The results are awesome and give those great moody heavily granulating and separating effect. :)

[@mydogeatspuke]

@@yurinaka99 or mix any of the other granulating pigments with each other. Cobalt greens with earthy browns, oh look now you've duplicated all of the green/brown shifting paints. Cobalt blues with any of the pinkish violet pigments or a saturated red, throw in a bit of viridian (the real one, not the Phthalo fake) and now you've made Moonglow. Magic. And it won't fade in sunlight like actual Moonglow does. Try Potter's Pink with that same green, saved yourself $20 on a tube someone else mixed for you. Some of the "super special" DS paints are just PBk11 and another pigment though, yes, usually a quin or phthalo. Which is shocking tbh. Even Royal Talens managed that, and in their student line at $2 for 10ml. Some of the cheapest pigments known to man thrown together in a tube, slap a label on it and suddenly it's worth a small fortune. Ridiculous.

[@masja1790]

Couldn't agree more 😊

[@ColoredMud]

I like how you tested them on lower grade paper (at least for watercolor paper) because that's what I use when out sketching; something that could take water if need be, but that's also suitable for pencil or ink sketching. I really want to try these watercolors now, thanks for this! :)

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you, MyArtJourney! I held off on Daniel Smith because of the price tag. But, it irked me and I _had_ to know!!! lol! I just checked the receipt and the total came to $193 with my teacher discount. To me, that's a great deal for what I got, and that's what I consider an investment. It's not for everyone, but like I said, if money is an issue (which it's always been for me), then starting off slow and simple is the best way to approach. As for the paper, I used a higher end paper to do the swatch cards for the sets and to do the line test, so at least I got to see how they look on good paper. Thanks again for checking it out! Grateful for your thoughts! Cheers! :)

[@robynrainwater]

My experience with DS are the amazing colors with granulation and color shifting/blending properties. Try Green Gold, Bloodstone, quin sienna…. They are amazing for landscapes and textures. Those are just three but those made me switch to Daniel Smith from any other brand. I love Daniel Smith products.

[@onthehill3381]

I love ‘em all! I put together a DS palette comprised of colors that Paul Signac (1863-1935) used. He traveled around France to a lot of ports doing paintings of the coastal landscape and ports. I thought it would be a fun way to try out the DS line.

[@bubbanme4]

I like your videos because your intro is brief, you stick to the subject matter of your video, and your information is well organized. Thank you for creating and sharing your content.

[@MojoDi]

I bought my first Daniel smith set a week ago and I am absolutely in love with them 😍

[@nearzero1555]

I started replacing all my water colors with Daniel Smith because of Teoh

[@oldgit4260]

The problem with DS is there are way too many fancy colours, this will make people put too much colour on without learning how to mix colour of their own, resulting in a bright nightmare

[@MDCampbell]

I agree with you, Inflamed Toe Juice in Harlem, to a degree. I've always had that feeling about large watercolor sets from _any_ manufacturer; all the convenience and specialty colors don't promote proper color mixing and understand of the difference between opaque and transparent paints, or low-stain vs high-stain, etc. I have very large sets that feature a variety of colors. My M. Graham currently has 44 full pans, while my Daniel Smith has 65 half pans. The point is, that I could probably live with and be very happy with just eight pans in each set, consisting of necessary colors. But, because (and this is a lame excuse) I'm a bit of an art supply addict, I always crave to use other colors and expand an existing collection - yes, I say collection because while some people collect coins, stamps, or Beanie Baby dolls, I collect art supplies. But, back to your point, the result in not understand the proper science of mixing is becoming a lost art with impatient, over-confident young artists who don't have the interest to learn over the money to spend on convenience. I think, of course.

[@oldgit4260]

@@MDCampbell lol I have to admit I love art supplies too, paper especially, I get it, I must confess I bought about ten tubes of Daniel Smith watercolours last month and i think they're beautiful and am converted, However, next time I get DS I'm going to stick tto the colours I've become so familiar with and know inside out (8 for me too) no more buying fancy colours like moon glow and bright pinks etc.

[@MDCampbell]

@@oldgit4260 I understand and appreciate your perspective on holding off on the fancy colours. I admit, I rarely use Moonglow, though I do love Opera Pink, as it's great to mix with other colors. Opera Pink and Hansa Yellow can produce some useful colors. Cheers!

[@brainysmarticus]

Hello, I have never seen an artist using and purposefully buying a Chinese White (or any white) and always discard that color that came in a set that could be oh so perfect with something else than this evil white. I tried to get information on how to use mine and why is it probably the most disliked and disregarded color in the watercolor sphere but didn’t get much informations. So I was surprised to see your big tube. Can you tell us why and how you use that color? Thank you.

[@MDCampbell]

Hi Nymphalia and thank you for checking this out. I think this is the best question ever, because I was on the fence about buying it, as it wasn't cheap. But, I use white watercolor paints a lot for many various reasons. But, like you, I understand that most people don't like it because it tends to make other colors opaque when mixed. Years ago, I only painted in gouache (opaque watercolor), so I'm fairly familiar with what to expect. I use white to tone down neutral colors, like yellow ochre which is often somewhat opaque anyway, or to create highlight colors, especially with greens, that I can use for foliage or grassy areas. Another great use is to wash over colored pencil drawings to tone down the colors and create an interesting glaze over the wax that you can actually rub away, after to expose the colors more in some areas than others. Another use is to use the white on a fully loaded small brush out of the pan or directly out of the tube to add bold highlight effects on things like lips, glass, or metallic objects. Again, I did go back and forth about buying it, but in the end, my decision was that I'd rather have it and not use too much, than need it and not have it at all. I hope that was helpful! :)

[@angeliquepriore477]

M.D. Campbell x

[@brainysmarticus]

M.D. Campbell Thank you for your answer! It was extremely helpful and made me want to experiment with my whites.

[@nsavar5864]

thanks for this explanation about white. i am very new to wc and enjoy watching you work -- very very helpful to see accomplished artist working. I love your commentary, too. thanks again.

[@marysu4]

One thing you really missed are the FUN colors!! Cascade Green, Undersea Green, Moonglow, Rose of Ultramarine, just to name a few, are why so many people (including me!) love Daniel Smith!! It's the granulation where a second color just falls out on the page and makes it sing! I admit I am addicted to watercolor so I have a lot of different brands. I love the Schminckes and I find they activate really easily and they are vibrant rich beauties. The MGrahams I have are a nice selection of Quinacridones, the Rose is so yummy! But the Daniel Smith paints are really my go-tos. At the very least get a tube of Cascade Green!! You'll never regret it!

[@MDCampbell]

Hi Marysu! I am with you on the FUN colors! It was hard for me not to indulge in the Primatek set that was right there on the shelf! I looked it over and just said, "no! must stick to basics first!" lol! I will definitely look into that Cascade Green! Looking online, it's fabulous! Thank you so much! :)

[@artycraftyalchemy]

The primateks are swoon worthy. I have the small starter set and just got a stick of serpentine genuine which I haven't opened yet :O Amethyst with it's shimmer is just beautiful :) They mix so well with the regular colours aswell, I like to add some of the granulating ones when I want some texture :)

[@marsbeads]

The granulation from cascade green is gorgeous

[@HandmadeByLinanne]

Don’t forget to try my most favorite color Moonglow! I’m totally in love with this color, although I’ve other loved colors from the Daniel Smith line!

[@KimberlyCrick]

I was just saying the same thing in my comment lol. Cascade Green has to be one of the most magical colors to work with ever, no matter how little space I have in a travel palette I always make sure Cascade Green is one of them. I loved Moonglow too, but I hang artwork on walls and it turned out not to be lightfast and faded over the course of a year, so I took that one out. Almost all of their other granulating colors are perfect though :)

[@Scottlp2]

WN uses different formula in their tube paint vs tiny brick (forget term) paint so WN doesn’t rewet as easily. DS and m Graham do. I learned watercolor in course in DS store, but rewetting fir me makes difference (you can add glycerine to WN).

[@suitelady1749]

I wish you had included windsor-newton in your comparison. It is less expensive and more available for me. Good video!

[@nataliedubious5241]

@Awenda you're looking at over $80 for the most basic cotman half pan set in Australia, i skipped straight over them

[@christinamoxon]

@Awenda interesting, because their cotman range are not nearly as good as their professional range. And here in the UK they're nice and affordable. Daniel Smith are harder to find and expensive. And M Graham impossibly so. I would recommend WN professional paints but their cotman range are not very good.

[@Angeliqueceramique]

Agreed,i bought a bigger cotman set because when I started I loved the 12 set so much. Bud it is awful..especially for 40 euros,it is chalky.some colors are OK bud i will sell it again

[@weiqiuyou9402]

@@christinamoxon In US I saw that Daniel Smith 24 half-pan set is even a bit cheaper than Winsor Newton professional 24 hal-pan set. So probably just buy whatever professional watercolor cheapest in your region is the best choice.

[@M123Xoxo]

@@phillipstroll7385 Sorry this is a lie. Winsor and Newton paints are all made in France. Daniel Smith paints are made in the United States in Seattle. Neither have ever made anything in China.

[@KittyKarenpoo]

I'm not too sure that your conclusion was as sound as the rest of the excellent presentation. It seemed to me that you made the case for M Graham or Daniel Smith. Which I'd totally agree with. Schmincke and Koi are super fun sets with some interesting color arrangements, but not nearly on the same level, as you perfectly showed. The pigment density, purity and refinement of Graham and Smith are extremely good. Watercolor tends to do a lot of fading and neutralizing, so that's a powerful distinction that screams superiority in those two products compared to the two competing brands. On a broader surface, other distinctions emerge, also in favor of the more refined pigmentation. Now, if I was inclined to diddle around with tiny paper formats, doing sketches out in the wild, I might even prefer Schmincke or Koi because I'd be less inclined to do electric when I need acoustic, but that's another thing, not suggesting comparable quality per se.

[@gila1959]

All the 3 brands Schmincke and D Graham are also expansiv…thanx for video..

[@RavicaArt]

For others who want to try out these paints before investing a lot of money I really love their dot charts :)

[@MDCampbell]

Yes! I just pinned a message above about this. I wish I'd called it out in the video. Thank you for the reminder and for checking out the video! Cheers! :)

[@AnastasiaR]

I have really wondered about these. Watercolor is down on my list of favorite mediums, mainly because I often find them to be dull. I have Winsor and Newton ones. Maybe I just need these lol

[@MDCampbell]

Thanks for checking this out, Anastasia! I appreciate your time. I used Windsor & Newton for many years, thinking they were the end-all to watercolors. That's because in the 80's, the stores I shopped at only carried W&N. Once I learned about other brands, especially from other countries, it was like the world burst into color. One of my students came in last week with a set of student grade W&N paints and considered them to be "the highest end paints" she'd ever used. I wanted to tell her that there are far better paints out there and she'd get so much more from them, but I realized she'd saved up for months to buy these student grade paints and was SO happy to have them. So, I just reveled in her joy for the paints she bought. :)

[@AnastasiaR]

M.D. Campbell oh man that is SO true! When it comes to learning it’s really fine to use student grade as long as they aren’t terrible. Then there comes a point where our skill surpasses the materials and we know that our work could look better. I never noticed they were dull until recently but now it’s all I see haha

[@debl3063]

I have a basic travel set of W&N paints that I bought my senior year of college. That was over 20 years ago, so I also remember not seeing many alternatives in the art store. I was just amazed they came in pans. I had only ever seen cheep kids paints in pans before. I bought my set and used it all the time for the next ten years. Loved them. I've bought other brands over the years and hold onto that original set with some nostalgia.

[@Rosemarie04921]

My Winsor&Newton paints are way on the back burner at this point. I've switched to a DS transparent-only colors only palette and am setting up a smaller M.Graham palette, again only the transparent S. I'm happy making that decision.

[@charliebaker1427]

Cotman are not bad but professional is pretty good

[@francisalburn4312]

Friend of mine bought 60 tubes then didnt like water color. Gave them to me ;;;;

[@mnap1595]

Six years have passed since this video was posted, but I want to note that Daniel Smiths paints are considerably *less* expensive to buy in the US than European brands like Schmincke and Winsor & Newton. The opposite will be true if you live outside of the US. Of course, certain colors/series will be markedly more expensive than others (e.g., Potter's Pink, Lapis Lazuli, etc), but that's true of any brand. Da Vinci is another great US brand.

[@MDCampbell]

It's true. But even still, Daniel Smith are expensive even here in the US. I've built my sets over years and happy with what I have now. But, I also love the European paints as well. One of my favorites is Sennelier which I imagine are a lot less expensive in France than in the US. Here a set of 48 half pans is about $250+/-, but in France they are about $200+/-. Not a huge difference, but still. Thank you for chiming in on this, even though it's a bit of an older video. Glad it was worth your thoughts!! I appreciate that more than you know!! ~ Mark

[@debbieborden7651]

Thanks. I'm enjoying your videos. Good info. On a few I've heard you mention Windsor and Newton but you don't say if your talking about Cotman or pro grade. Can you specify which please? Also, when I look at them watches of the four brands, I liked the look of these M graham the best.

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you for taking your time to comment, Debbie Borden! As for W&N, I don't use the student grade paints but only the artist grade. I had a set of Cotmans, but didn't enjoy them. W&N artist grade are very good, however. I am partial to M.Graham, as my experience with them has been nothing but positive. Cheers! :)

[@lechat8736]

I`m so glad when I see artists showing respect for each other's work :) "Bravo" to you and Teoh!

[@jerryhall5709]

The only thing I have against Winsor Newton is that they are horribly expensive in my country. Almost twice as expensive as Daniel Smith. I started with WN but with that price was reluctant to use them. Squeezing the 5 ml tube felt like pain. So tiny and worth a half day salary. Then I discovered DS which is quite cheap here and only sold in 15 ml tubes.

[@MDCampbell]

I completely understand that, Jerry Hall. That's how I feel about Schmincke paints. Very expensive and I used to be very hesitant before using them. lol!

[@marcynewman3863]

You have to know how helpful these videos are for beginners. Was great to see your method with the tiny travel set and how you use the water brush. Thank you. I don't really understand a dot card, is it just a wee bit of paint to sample? I will investigate that.

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you, Marcy Newman! I appreciate your kind feedback. As for dot cards, a lot of paint producers give away or sell dot cards so you can try before you buy. I have never ordered or purchased a dot card, but I have made them for friends. For me, I'm all-in when buying products. I don't care for samples.

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

I recently found out that they mix their pigments dry which means that they can have paints with lots of pigments in them (moon glow is an example - it has three) and they don’t get muddy when mixed with other colors. Since it is mixed dry the multiple pigments act as one. Isn’t that cool ?!

[@MDCampbell]

It's super cool, Kate! One thing I love about those multiple mixes, like Moonglow, is that when they dry you can see, very subtly in the wash, the varations of colors going on. I was thrilled the other day when I was using the convenience colors that I mixed in this video to see they had a similar effect where I could distinguish a subtle hint of yellow in the greens. Thank you for checking this out and already waiting for Math Monday! hehe!!! :)

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

M.D. Campbell that is so cool. Moonglow is such an amazing color.

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

M.D. Campbell ooou I still have to film :) but Monday is just around the corner and I’m excited for this one

[@sharonbayger5387]

TheSleepy Teacher thats great information. I love moonglow and some others that behave this way

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

sharon bayger I’m a huge Daniel smith fan. They are amazing :)

[@jaedo71]

It’s like a lot of other things it’s what you get used to

[@mirandawatson3188]

That music is just too loud and annoying. I almost quit watching the video right at the beginning. Agh! But I stuck with it and your content was good.

[@MDCampbell]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad you liked the content! Sorry the music I make isn't to your liking. I know it's not for everyone. Still, I'm kind of partial to it. lol!

[@AMortalDothApproach]

@@MDCampbell it's not the choice that's bad, just you yelling over it ;)

[@m.c.5124]

You’re lucky you didn’t get tubes that had horribly separated. They are the only paints I have had that have had the binder come out first wit no tint. Too expensive to have this happen. Give me m graham or schminke any day. Nothing activates faster than m graham or granulates.

[@MDCampbell]

Oh, you're 100% right and it's happened more times than I care to think about. Don't get me wrong, I love their paints, but DS Potter's Pink, Titanium Biff, and Cerulean Blue spewed gum arabic before the paint came out. It's definitely frustrating. I usually just squeeze the paint out into a pan and mix thoroughly, and I've had no problem. But, if you're the kind who paints from the tube, then it's a real pain. Funny, now that you mention it, M.C, I haven't noticed it with any other brand. And a lot of places won't let you return paints once they're opened.

[@m.c.5124]

There’s a specialty yellow I love that did it too. Paint from the tube kinda gal. $20+ a tube is too much to pay to have this happen. Thanks for your reply. Was going to look into potters pink now not so much. Have a great weekend.

[@MDCampbell]

@@m.c.5124I agree about the price vs. that happening. So frustrating! As for the Potter's Pink, I wanted it so much, as it's a color that really looks great... on screen. But, when I bought it and even now, when I use it, I just hate it. HATE it. I replaced my cruddy DS cerulean blue with M. Graham cerulean blue and what a huge difference. omg. If there was another brand of Potter's Pink, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. But, DS got my money and I got the worst paint in my collection. Love the color, but it's impossible to use. I hope it's just my batch. Cheers! :)

[@everartokelli]

@@MDCampbell I own both DS Cerulean and MG Cerulean and they are different animals! MG is the brightest, bluest real Cerulean I've ever seen, with very little granulation which I found weird at first, but it's very useful for mixing. The DS version granulates a lot of course, but seems to be fairly close to other Ceruleans colorwise in the middle. My fave Cerulean is Winsor & Newton's--just gorgeous, very granulating and leans more turquoise, the color of tropical seas and skies--but not as practical for my Pacific Northwest skies :) I love DS Potter's Pink, but I paint a lot of landscapes and the texture is wonderful for that type of painting. I've seen some reviews that prefer the pinker Schmincke version which is easier to rewet, but I love the neutral pink color of DS. I think of it as a neutral Lunar Black--it adds texture and mood. Sade of Sadie Saves the Day, has a video where she mixes Potter's Pink with cerulean! I know that I sometimes get paints and don't like them at first, but love them when I get to know how they work on the page. I took me awhile to get used to MGraham because they're so sticky, migrate all over a palette and tend to be very staining, but I really enjoy them now. Anyway, looking forward to more videos, I enjoy your channel.

[@AnushaIvaturi]

Hi.. could you please do a video comparison of Winsor Newton vs Daniel Smith. I'm planning to buy professional watercolors but so confused between these two brands! it'll be so helpful if you could suggest/ make a comparison video! Thank you so much :)

[@MDCampbell]

Hi Anusha lvaturi! I will definitely consider doing a comparison if purchase the W&N paints. In the meantime, I'm not sure where you live, but my recommendations would be 1. Daniel Smith 2. Schmincke 3. M. Graham 4. Mission Gold. All of these brands are very expensive, but in my opinion worth it if you plan to use them. W&N was my choice of gouache paints for many, many years, so I can definitely assume you will not be disappointed with their watercolors, either. They make quality products, from my experience.

[@AnushaIvaturi]

Hi. Thanks a lot for the reply! Are the Daniel Smith watercolors granulating? I do Florals and Glaaxy paintings mostly, some people told me that Daniel Smith granulates a lot compared to others. Thanks a lot :)

[@josegomezamunarriz3844]

I just try Álvaro CASTAGNET'S FRESCO GREY...And is just amazing.👾🛸 I paint with MIJELLO brandt,they' re just incredible,and Schmincke' s Silver colour is soooo usefull for paint fireworks...✨👾🛸

[@MDCampbell]

Yes, I also use Mijello and Schmincke, as well. I love all the different brands for many different reasons. Hoping you are well! Cheers!

[@josegomezamunarriz3844]

Hi,yes,I' m very well.Thanks. Hope you' re well too.Let' s paint🛸👾

[@LeighPogue]

Daniel smith all the way. Holbein is also a good line but about the same price point as the DS.

[@KimberlyCrick]

For me "the big fuss" is all about granulation. Their unique mineral Primateks and heavily granulating paints (green apatite genuine, sodalite, lunar blue etc.) and the mixes that seem to do magic even though the pigments are common (cascade green and rose of ultramarine for instance) are a pleasure to watch disperse when working wet on wet. They allow me to make special effects, like textures in landscapes, and organic looking surfaces on leaves, with ease. The rest of the standard colors are nice yes, but I like my Mission Gold, Da Vinci or Sennelier just the same for those normal colors (phthalo blue, magenta, yellows etc). Sometimes, Mission Gold pulls ahead in standard colors because of the vibrancy and lesser degree of wet-to-dry shift.

[@wakeupuk3860]

Started WC painting about three years and after watching loads of videos like yours, loving the granulation of Daniel Smiths went out and spent over all about $150 (£110) on their tubes. Initially very happy with them and would agree with every thing you said. BUT after three years found paint I put in my palette that I don't use much, become pretty much rock hard and in regard to reactivating them with just a watery brush, no way, even squirting some water over them, find may have to leave them for a couple of days to get the consistency I am looking for. Yes, I expect I am being too fussy and the professional artist would say I am expecting too much, and that you only take what you need from a fresh tube. Maybe for them, but I found I was wasting a lot of paint by squeezing too much out and dirtying the top of the tubes (for the next use) by applying a brush directly to the tube. At the time of buying my Daniel Smiths bought a small starter set of M.Grahams and found they do not go hard and reactivate very quickly with just an even light touch of a watered brush. The only thing that was a problem was liking and following Geoff Kersey's KZbin videos, he sells a plastic palette (very thin and extremely expensive for what it is) but it comes with a sponge cover that once covered with a plastic lid is meant to keep paint squeezed out into a palette wet for a long time, as long s you keep wetting the sponge. I did this for my M.Grahams and left on the shelf, spraying the sponge twice over two months, but on opening found a horrible green mould and spots all over the paint, most likely due to the honey in it. I don't use it now, I simply take my dried up M.Grahams and spray with water and they become very moist. Yes they don't have the number of and amount of graduation colours, but I found that after a while too much graduated areas looks forced and not natural. As such M.Grahams do have graduated paints and by mixing can pretty much get a good range of hues if you need to be graduated. Plus found M.Graham's support to be fast, good knowledge and the personal touch is much better than Daniel Smiths.

[@MeowMeowKapow]

Oh my gosh! This is your first foray into Daniel Smith?!? Congratulations! I’m so proud! =^.^= seriously, I love them so much. And congrats on your portable painter! Cool! Very interested in your thoughts on that. Really love the way you did your side-by-side strips that you cropped and cleaned up, that’s a super unique comparison and really helped to see the differences in a clean way. You’re totally right that pretty much any of those paints are good, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I SUPER appreciate that my Daniel smith paints have almost no color shift, but they’re also really textured and vibrant and flow super well. They’re a paint that has a lot of personality, and that’s what I really like about them. Great review! I’m so glad you made it! =^.^=

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you so much, Meow Meow Kapow! It's funny to admit it, but I'd always put off buying into Daniel Smith specifically because of the price. At the end of 2017, I told myself that for the new year, I was going to invest in either Daniel Smith or Faber Castell Polychromos pencils (a large set). Funny, but when I got to the Blick store, they were out of the Polychromos, so that made my decision a lot easier to make! lol! Thank you so much for all your inspiring work and your support. It makes me happy knowing I'm in such good company and feel respected by those whom I respected so much! Cheers and again, thank you!!!

[@MeowMeowKapow]

M.D. Campbell fate has a funny way of forcing our hand sometimes, and I’m all about going with whatever the flow ends up being. Who knows-maybe it turns out you wouldn’t have liked those pencils, or they’re going to be on super kookie sale some time later and you’ll coincidentally be ready then! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ I adore you, and continue to be so glad we stumbled across each other in this weird and wild internet, and can help influence and encourage one another on the regular.

[@createinspain]

For beginners - If you are happy with the pigment content of whatever set you have but find them too hard to activate, add a drop of honey or glycerine to palettes you are making up from tubes. It will soften them considerably.

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

Teoh is a joy! I love DS and especially their Primateks! Enjoy!

[@lisaswank-artfulinspiratio1865]

Great review Mark! Watercolor is one of my most favorite mediums (and my weakness because I want to try all brands...lol😜 ) I’ve been trying to teach myself to watercolor for a few years now...I am currently or gradually building up my of Daniel Smith watercolors- I’m especially curious about the Prima Tek right now ... 😃 Tfs

[@pattiwest2939]

Thanks for the information!!! You do a beautiful tutorial!!!

[@MDCampbell]

I really appreciate your feedback, Patti West! Thank you and thank you, also, for watching! Cheers! :)

[@cyanoxicrose]

My goal is to own every single color.

[@lilitincher4973]

These are 15 ml. tubes, and when compared to Schmincke they are actually less expensive. As for Windsor and Newton, they are very comparable in price. That aside, welcome to the Daniel Smith Side. Wait till you try the rest, they are like potato chips, you can't just have 15, you gotta have the whole bag! :)

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you so much, Lili Tincher! I'm excited to step into the DS world, but I'll definitely go slowly! lol! Cheers! :)

[@brianlove541]

I checked prices (January 2023) for Schmincke, Graham, D Smith and W&N Professional. Schmincke was highest, Graham lowest and D Smith middle; Each of these brands sell their tubes with 15 ml. W&N sells 14 ml tubes (the other brands contain 15 ml) so their cost is similar to Schmincke. Since the prices are CLOSE ENOUGH TO EACH OTHER that the choice should be based on the quality and selection of pigments themselves. (Your review and tests of the three brands confirm my choice for Daniel Smith.)

[@Jacob_Does]

hey! no idea if you'll ever see this, but as a long time viewer now and a long time user of daniel smith, the big fuss is they offer so much veratality! they also work with local shops to get product everywhere. i originally found out about daniel smith and M.Grahm from a local owned art shop. they carry a good selection of both products. including the portable pallet you used! Daniel smith recently made gouche. they work exactly like the water colors they make. i've switched to daniel smith as my main set just from how good they feel, how well pigmented the paints are, and knowing that i can get them and support my local shop. i recently went to a art fest where they were a sponser, and talked to a couple of artists that use daniel smith paints, as well as artists that work for daniel smith. daniel smith has also started selling sets that those artists made, meaning for someone who might be trying to get into a professonal setting its easier for them get a good set. i love the video, and watching it back after 5 years its still really refreshing!

[@MDCampbell]

Hi @Jacob_Does! Thank you for checking back in on this one. I agree that there's a lot of versatility and variety in their products. As I've said before, my personal take is that Schmincke is like painting with your heart, M.Graham is like painting with your soul, and Daniel Smith is like painting with your brain. Of course, those labels are interchangeable. LOL! But, seriously, I've been a fan for years now, so I continue to be use DS as a primary set, among others. In fact, literally just five minutes ago, I just finished building a new set with 24 granulating Primatek pans and 16 granulating regular pans to make a 40 pan set of all Daniel Smith granulating paints. It's a beautiful set and I can't wait to use it! I was going to make a video on building the granulating set, but it was a very complex build, so I didn't want to make any mistakes and I was afraid that if I tried to record it, I would have definitely made mistakes. But, maybe I'll feature the set in an upcoming video, anyway? Who knows. Anyhow, thank you for you kind words and thoughtful feedback. I'm glad to know I'm not alone in my affection for Daniel Smith paints! Stay well! ~ Mark

[@Jacob_Does]

@@MDCampbell I'm glad to hear! It's also an honor to me to have you reply. You've been a big inspiration in my art journey, and you've helped me learn alot!

[@MDCampbell]

@@Jacob_Does well, I consider the honor mine! I'm just grateful to be part of a community of creative people that enjoys sharing ideas and thoughts to help one another improve, learn, and stay motivated. I wish I had this when I was young. We had Bob Ross. lol!

[@joannegrrl]

Sadly you missed out on their true Quinacridone Gold, PO49, which was used to mix their Sap Green at one point. The pigment was discontinued quite a long time ago and Daniel Smith cleverly bought every source they could find when that happened, and so they became the only source of PO49 paint on the market. They recently ran out, much to the despair of many...

[@MDCampbell]

I've heard good things about the ol' QuinGold. Always tough to arrive late to the party _after_ they've served the petit fours. ;)

[@astrog8tr]

If you buy online, DS is quite competitive with Winsor Newton (professional). So I think the price business is much exaggerated, but it makes a nice story.--we are comparing professional paints with each other,. A 15 ounce tube fills the pans many times. I paint every day, and do use them up, but there are colors I have not replaced (like New Gamboge). But fun video anyway. Really like the Portable Painter.

[@AngelOne11]

I had no idea that the color from the tubes needs to dry out first before using. Then why they don't have them dry, to begin with and what will happen if you use them wet or fresh out of the tube?

[@MDCampbell]

Hi AngelOne11. It's mostly a personal preference. Dried pans of paint are easier to travel with and to set up when using. They're easy to re-wet and just dip right into. Tubes, however, are wonderful to use, because you can control how much you want to use and because they're already in a liquid state, they're so easy to just mix with. I love using them both ways, but find dried pans are just more convenient to my style of working. Also, some companies don't sell in tubes, but only in dry pans.

[@AngelOne11]

@@MDCampbell Ah thank you so much. I am a beginner and I am learning. I appreciate your feedback.

[@jmbosquesillo7203]

M graham don’t actually dry dry. They don’t run or leak but they’re more of a bit-o-honey consistency. Daniel Smith dry dry in half pans. I like them both but Daniel Smith sets you need to be careful that you don’t get the “baby” tubes (5mL). M Graham sets are all 15mL. Scmincke, you could also end up with baby tubes in a set. (Particularly, the super granulating) Baby tubes are a cheaper way of trying some of these brands tho’. One simply has to pay attention when purchasing. Great paints. I have them all (including Rembrandt) However, I have far more DS than the others and use them the majority of my urban sketching. Like you, my sketchbook isn’t for a million washes or gobs of water. DS go great the first time.

[@quantum_tarot]

Pigments and Arabic gom, and a drop of glycerin, voila that is watercolor paint easy to make at home , instead of spending hundreds of dollars or euro for name brands , those compagnies laugh there way to the bank .

[@juststartingover2735]

Teoh absolutely does great reviews!,

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

Do you mix colours from different brands and if so, have you noticed any problems? Like mixing DS and WN or MG and Schmincke?

[@MDCampbell]

Hi Jennifer K. I have mixed different brands, specifically Daniel Smith and Windsor & Newton, and the only issue with them was when the paint dried in the pan, it sank in a bit. I also noticed when I paint with them, I can see a clear color separation (for example when making green). Not a problem, but noticeable. When I'm painting straight out of the tube or from pans, mixing has not been an issue that I've noticed. I will add that I do not mix any other brands with M. Graham paints, specifically because they have honey in them and the others don't (except Sennelier, which I don't use). I hope this was helpful. Cheers! :)

[@notme3252]

ACK! Where are you shopping? $200 for 14 tubes? Jerry’s Artarama is where it’s at! I buy DS because they’re CHEAPER than WN!!

[@DianaTrout]

I idon't find these paints expensive when compared to Schmincke and Sennelier. I'm in US so they are very easy to get.

[@romelmadrayart]

I purchased some M. Graham watercolors. However, I have noticed that they get mould quite frequently, especially the gouache. I keep the tubes quite tight and closed. I cleaned my palette, desensitized properly, and squeezed paint straight from the tube. The M. Graham watercolor paints did not dry out by instead got white mold. I understand that leaving watercolor to dry out makes you lose the vibrancy. I am wondering if because M. Graham uses honey this is the reason for the mold. Is there anything I can do to stop the mold?. Must I throw out the entire palette of paint, which includes Windsor and Newton Cotman? On the Cotman and Mjello paints, I have not noticed mold frequently but M. Graham it seems to be quite common. Has anyone else had this problem?

[@margomargo2]

i also wanted to try Daniel Smith watercolors. I just got three 1/2 pans of the primary colors i thought i could get the most use of. Haven't fully explored them yet, though - but, will do!

[@AngelaWeddle]

Check out Daniel Smith watercolor sticks. Best “pan” watercolor ever. I am a heavy user of them and they last me at least a year, if not more. I use them with both water brushes and various qualities of sketchbooks and artist’s watercolor brushes and Arches cold or hot pressed paper or Fabriano soft pressed sometimes. They activate right away, super pigmented. I have some DS tube colors and they are great but I prefer the watercolor sticks. I also would like to see a comparison between DS tube colors and DaVinci Watercolors. I love the large size of DaVinci tubes and used to use them when I was in my twenties. I find Van Gogh watercolors to be the best student brand. I do look for archival qualities because I do fine art in addition to illustration, I hate the separation of the terms. I wish everything was archival. But I sometimes wonder is the lightfastness thing overrated? I’m a disabled artist so I usually use a sale of my work to purchase more supplies.

[@venaamoris5019]

Late comment but I have mostly Daniel Smith and a Schminke palette. I might be bias but I think DS is the best hands down. No brand does granulation as good as DS. Especially their greens and browns. Schmincke doesn't dries down the with same saturation as Daniel Smith and doesn't granulate much. DS dries down with the same saturation as when you first touch them on the paper while Schmincke is lighter when dried. Schmincke make up for layering. They're absolutely beautiful. Get so vibrant and so easy to work with. I enjoy layering on schmincke with their transparent colors more than DS sometime.

[@stereodreamer23]

Totally with you on this brand. I discovered M. Graham and Daniel Smith when I was in grad school, and that's all I use with regards to tube watercolors. (I recently discovered Finetec's metallic pan watercolors, and those have changed my world with regard to metallics. I used to be a Schmincke fanboy when it came to metallics, but Finetecs are, IMO, much better, and less than half the price!) Love my Daniel Smiths, for all the reasons you express, and as my budget allows, I will keep buying them and M.Graham, exclusively...

[@ladeiroses7526]

I don't like Daniel Smith. I find them very hard to work with. M. Graham, Schmincke, professional grade Sennelier much, much better. Sorry.

[@amandalenza4670]

Thank you for the review, and I wanted to say that so far everything that I've watched from you has been well spoken, informative and helpful. As a side note, on mobile at least, when you play music and talk at the same time (like the intro to this video) it's hard to hear and understand what you're saying because the music sounds too loud. I don't know if this carries over to pc or headphone users but it may be worth looking into. Again, thanks for what you do!

[@MDCampbell]

I'll be honest, some people don't put things as constructively as you did here. Very kind of you to put it in such a kind way that I will most definitely review it more closely going forward. I'm really glad you like the work I'm doing and it's feedback like this that will help make my channel better! I'm sincerely grateful! THANK YOU! :)

[@nokiot9]

The selection and quality is just unmatched. I’d used sennelier, schminke, and M graham for years and just recently bit the bullet and bought some. They’re the BEST. The pigment load is so heavy and with more than 200 choices, you have the world at your feet. I also love that they adjust the price for the pigment that’s in the tube. They don’t just avg a price point. So you know you’re getting exactly what you pay for. Oh and that’s cool. Teoh gave another big channel one of his prizes. 😐

[@juststartingover2735]

Thank you for reinforcing how most of us paint “in the real world”. 👏👏👏👏

[@gnostie]

I've gone off DS. They make good (and expensive) paints, but their attitude as a company is iffy, so I thought nah, leave it.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Hope you like both the Daniel Smith's and the painters palette as much as I like. M.gram I love but not for travel. I found that cheap water colorsat a.c Moore that I empty and fit into painters palette or you can get empty half palettes from painters palette now. I carry the extra colors with me when traveling then depending on where I choose the colors I want to use from the 60 I carry with me putting chosen colors into portable painters palet...th5e water is really a good size but since I start with large diluted wash I do carry an extra mixing tray clipped to it. And a little spray bottle filled with clean water.

[@cheergiver]

I purchased a tube of DS watercolors, and the pigment is super grainy- I was not impressed. Now I’m wondering if it’s something I’m doing, or if I got a bad batch.

[@JaredCullum]

I love Daniel Smith and use them for all my illustration and painting work :)

[@autumnfesperman7971]

My paintings done with WN academy watercolors are fading off the paper even with UV glass and NOT in a sunny location.

[@carolynderricks3226]

Because they are masters at aggressive marketing evidently and have bumped my favorite M Graham off the shelves; yet I don’t see any great superiority in their product! Sick of the hype!

[@suree861]

Oh noooo burnt umber is the worst color on the koi set. It cracks more than the others and then it becomes grainy in a weird way and you can’t melt those very well on the water. But that’s the only color that i have a problem with. (Also the reason why i went for winsor and newton after) Also! Crack as in not the normal cracks i saw before i call it croissant crack cause it has this weird puff pastry-like layer

[@robertsussna2322]

The paint is good , and offered in many colors, but please note that they dry up in the tubes easily and the caps are too small, so they get stuck. Other brands don't have these problems in my experience.

[@donnag.3611]

By now you probably realized sources of Daniel Smith paint on sales! That's the way I bought them.

[@c8Lorraine1]

Thank you. I also wondered “what is the fuss over Daniel Smith watercolours “ Very good review. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to us.

[@MDCampbell]

Thank you so much, lorrane! And I appreciate your generous time watching and leaving your feedback. It means more than you know! I'm thrilled you enjoyed this one! Stay well! ~ Mark

[@lauraandrews8072]

How come you don't use Winsor Newton anymore....how do they compare? Are you rinsing your water brush between colors? I can't see it in the video and wonder how you get such a true color if you don't?

[@empress_craft]

Agree -- Schmincke does take longer to activate with water. I tend to mist mine and leave to sit for 5 minutes, before I use them.

[@howdytherestranger2139]

I have the primary set and the gemstone primatek set and I’ve basically stuck to those (though a couple are mixed with W&N paints of the same pigment lol my first pro set of paints and it came in a gift box!) so I never really looked at the full array of DS paint colors. I never even knew that some of these existed like potters pink and moonglow! They’re so beautiful!