Unboxing and Testing the MaimeriBlu 12 Half Pan Watercolor Set

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Really looking forward to seeing you use it outside. As a fellow Coloradoan, I know it'll be a while, but it'll be fun. I'm actually heading to Arizona in January and California in February, so I'll get at least a few weeks of snow-free weather to paint in. Thanks for the review - I'm curious what you'll think of the paints after using them even more.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yay! Enjoy all the outdoor painting!

[@rhondadehoff4966]

I bought the 36 set of Maimeri Blu when they were on sale recently. I love them! Such beautiful colors. Although I had the same problem with the paper sticking to the top of the pans. That was really annoying. But quickly overcome after the first time wetting them. I used a fine tweezer to lift away the paper.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Tweezer would have been smart, hah hah! Glad you are enjoying your paints!

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Emily, I just purchased Jenna Rainey’s new book Everyday Seashore. I am curious if you have continued to use the Maimeri “May Merry Blue” paints? Jenna has changed her entire palette set-up to this Italian brand. I saw this review was over 2 years old and just wondered if you were still using these paints? I suppose that this video was recommended to me since I was watching her conversion video. She was a W&N user but has completely changed all her paints! Thank you for sharing your experience and I will look for more in this vein for more information from you. Please take care and stay safe out there!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I have tried the tubes and I actually really do love them! They haven't found their way into my permanent palette yet, but I love to paint with them from time to time.

[@nscan2]

I have tubes and as well as being beautiful, they mix well and are so concentrated you need hardly any to go a long way.

[@fuzzydragons]

does look like a nice little set, really like the cobalt green light (can never have too many greens) 😀

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Agree! 😄

[@flyinghaggertys9362]

Lovely painting! I have their 36 pan set and I love the color selection, only had a few duds for me that i replaced with poured pans from their tubes. I do absolutely LOVE the tins they come in! so luxe and useful. My only problem with MAI meri blu paints is that they create little bubbles when you re-wet them, like soap almost?? Hasn’t been too much of an issue for me with my painting style, but it is annoying... and I can’t seem to completely avoid making the bubbles no matter how careful or hard i try.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

That's good to know! Thank you! I did not encounter any bubbles, but I will need to do some more testing.

[@mb3938]

Im sorry to hear that. I don’t have that problem with the ones I poured 😊

[@Blick_Art]

Great explanation of the significance of the AP and CL seals on the package. Products that carry the AP seal of the ACMI are determined to be safe for use by people of any age. The CL seal indicates, as you said, that safe use requires understanding and following some special instructions. It's basically whether or not the user is able to understand and follow basic safety instructions. We're not sure what "blending powders" means, BTW- we thought maybe fillers? Love the dog portrait for your demo piece!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks so much for the recap of those seals! It can be confusing for sure!

[@Blick_Art]

@@EmilyOlsonArt We love that you include information like that in your content. People who are self-teaching can really benefit! We also liked that you mentioned how route of introduction (e.g. inhalation, ingestion) is significant- not every instructor makes that clear.

[@LuisAlvaradoR]

I really love the way you paint.....

[@tombryan720]

Very helpful, haven't seen you in a a while

[@artonthecreek]

Thanks for this review, Emily! I have the same pochade box & have used my Sennelier travel set. The unfortunate thing about that is that the travel palette is plastic. Would you say this Italian set is comparable to Sennelier? I’m a little concerned about the gum Arabic as opposed to honey as a binder. We are so dry here-the M Graham and Sennelier have been my go-to choices because of our ,Colorado climate. How was the dryness factor in your home studio? (Also-do you have a whole-house humidifier?)

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I think the quality of these paints is high enough that you are not going to see cracking or pigment separation. I use Daniel Smith paints all the time here in CO, which are also made with gum Arabic, and they are fabulous. I think as long as it's mostly pure gum Arabic without any extra fillers, you'll be fine. I would have to play with the Maimeriblu set some more before I can adequately compare them to Sennelier. We DO have a whole house humidifier which helps, I'm sure!

[@artonthecreek]

@@EmilyOlsonArt thank you that’s helpful! I have several D/S as well and haven’t had a problem. Hmmm. Looking forward to more trial videos of these paints!

[@flyinghaggertys9362]

I also much prefer my honey-paints when I’m living in Colorado (and Cali), but when I come back to Florida…. They are my most avoided watercolor sets Lolol it’s so humid here in FL.

[@artonthecreek]

@@flyinghaggertys9362 agree 100%! I don’t bring my honey-binded paints to SC & FL when I visit the grandkids!

[@cat-ku9te]

I've heard that sticking the pans in the freezer before unwrapping helps prevent the adhesive from sticking. Might be worth trying next time. Great review!

[@weill6872]

I'm italian and I can say your italian is pretty acceptable :D. It's also funny that in your mind is like "I move my hands like this so I can speak italian better" xD

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Hah hah, more gesticulations!!

[@____vish]

Amazing

[@stampinturtles]

I didn’t realize Maimeriblu came in pan paints. I got a 5 color starter kit of the tube paints. I like them so far.

[@PaneeraqKarlsen]

That's not adhesive it's paint sticking to the wrapper. It happens when it was wrapped without it's fully dry.

[@MedaHalmaciu]

I have a large set of Maimeri Blu, mostly from their older range. I bought them on sale in tube form. They are sticky even months after pooring them into pans and they are transparent. You will never get a full strength color in one go. You need at least 3 layers which is why I use them for botanical painting or whenever I need transparent layers.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Oh good to know!

[@eliseb5918]

I noticed a lovebird curled up in a painting along the right edge. I have a peach faced lovebird myself, do you have a tutorial for that? thanks!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Aw, lovebirds are so pretty! I painted this one a few years ago, so no tutorial on that.

[@eliseb5918]

@@EmilyOlsonArt oh, ok thank you! it's beautiful :)

[@vilvile]

Those same palettes (empty) with the separations and rails are sold in aliexpress for relatively reasonable money, if interested. Having said that, I find it strange that they didn’t include a more yellow color, even a light yellow ochre or naples yellow.

[@sharonsunshine2532]

Thanks and Merry Christmas 🎄💛

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Same to you!

[@Cchouette]

The Italian brand Maimeri Blu manufactures monopigment colors ... important detail for mixtures 🎨 Schmincke makes much better colors more vibrant and less grainy 😉

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

Schminke adds more gall into their mixture, and grinds pigment more, that is why they give an illusion of "vibrancy" and "smoothness". But Maimeri paints are better for mixtures and glazes. Traditionally, according to recipes that worked up to 1950s, watercolour SHOULD be grainy, not "smooth".

[@sanctityjohnson289]

I ordered the introductory set of MarimeriBlu tubes, with some other extra colors. And personally, it's really hard to build up strong colors or values. They seem to have a lot of binder (and air bubbles). Their colors aren't as vibrant and seem to have low tinting strength. For one tiny dab of M Graham, or Qor, I need at least 5 more dabs of MarimeriBlu to get the same coverage. I won't be buying any more of them

[@krisyoungsteadt9139]

It looks to me that you received Ultramarine Violet. I have MaimeriBlu Ultramarine Blue and it is not purple.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Oooh maybe!! Mislabeled pan? It’s still a very pretty color. :-)

[@basta.dotto_]

@@EmilyOlsonArt No, you did received Ultramarine Blue 441; it's made with PV15 - that's why it's so violet. Their Ultramarine Violet 440 is also made with PV15, and is even more violet-red than their Ultramarine Blue. The ultramarines we are usually used to are made with PB29, and in MaimeriBlu are Ultramarine Light 391 and Ultramarine Deep 392. If your sticker has 441 on it, it's the Ultramarine Blue. Thank you for swatching the set! I think I would use this one for painting leaves in the Fall.

[@kianartzzs9975]

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