Top Favorite Watercolors 2023 | Part 1: Yellow, Orange, Reds, Pinks, Purples

Hello all! Today we are taking a look at some of my favorite watercolor colors on the market today from A. Gallo, Da Vinci, Daniel Smith, Roman Szmal, Schmincke, Sennelier, and Stoneground Paint Co. This project has been a beast to tackle. In the wee hours of the morn, I was a bit defeated realizing I still wouldn't be done in time for this weeks video. Then it dawned on me that instead of not posting today at all, I could at least post part of it! Here are the first 12 colors of my Top 48 favorite colors in 2023. Stay tuned for the rest of the palette!
* Brands Mentioned *
Sennelier: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/sen...
A. Gallo: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/a-g...
Daniel Smith: amzn.to/44Sug4m
Da Vinci: davincipaints.com/?aff=9
Schmincke: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/col...
Roman Szmal: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/col...
Stoneground: stonegroundpaint.com/
* Resources Mentioned *
Companion Post on Patreon: / top-favorite-88957363
Brand by Brand (KZbin): • Brand by Brand
Brand by Brand (Patreon): www.patreon.com/inliquidcolor...
Skillshare Classes: Skillshare: skl.sh/denisesoden
* Denise's Palettes *
I have created watercolor palettes in collaboration with Da Vinci Paint Co. Your purchase of these palettes and other purchases made with the affiliate links below helps to support two small businesses:
Da Vinci Paint Co: davincipaints.com/?aff=9
Denise's Embrace Opacity Palette: bit.ly/3Q20GDw
Denise’s Earth Friendly Palette: bit.ly/3A6B5CY
Denise’s Wildlife Palette: bit.ly/3NXAgSA
* Supplies *
Jackson's Studio Synthetic 1/2" Flat: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/jac...
Blick Premier Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper
Unless otherwise noted, I am using my favorite supplies listed below:
Favorite Paper: Arches Cold Pressed Watercolor paper
US: amzn.to/3QAJvst
International: bit.ly/3WRgZWe
Favorite Sketchbook: Etchr Perfect Sketchbook
US: amzn.to/3jui73u
International: bit.ly/3Q5hcmc
Favorite Brush: Silver Black Velvet Size 8 Round
US: amzn.to/3QXvBAr
International: bit.ly/3YYqLHT
Filming & Studio Equipment: amzn.to/3WSX0rh
You can find more of my favorite supplies and studio equipment here: www.amazon.com/shop/inliquidcolor
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jackson's Art links are also affiliate links in which a small percentage of the sale supports this channel without costing you more. Thank you for your support!
Jackson's Affiliates: bit.ly/2HztjHF
* Timestamps *
0:00 Introduction
1:05 My Painting Preferences
3:02 Palette Goals & Restrictions
5:02 Yellow Sophie
6:30 Hokkaido Orange
7:20 Pyrrole Scarlet
8:04 Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone
9:02 Quinacridone Rose
9:47 Perylene Violet
10:26 Galaxy Pink
11:21 Potter’s Pink
12:14 Manganese Violet
12:52 Misty Morning
13:28 Shadow Violet
15:31 Delft Cobalt Blue
* Captions *
Captions will be uploaded as soon as possible.
* Support & Shop *
Website: www.denisesoden.com
Patreon: / inliquidcolor
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/denisesoden
RedBubble: www.redbubble.com/people/denis...
* Follow *
Instagram: / inliquidcolor
* Music *
None

[@markkuhn1297]

Keep 'em coming, Denise. So happy to see and hear you on KZbin. Be well.

[@le2382]

I adore Stoneground paints, I’m very lucky to live in Canada where they’re available. I also managed to grab a half pan of Delft Cobalt Blue before they discontinued it and it is my precioussssss 😂 Thanks for sharing your favourites!

[@indygo_art]

I love seeing how your palette changes over time! Great video ☺️

[@JennyGranberry]

I totally feel you on this "should" thing. Practical and objectively "correct" advice has its place, but once everyone has the basics its exciting to hear about all the things that makes your work special!

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks Jenny! I have copious amounts of earth yellows that I use for my warm yellows in practical applications. Poor PY65 never got any love, so may as well let her enjoy a sabbatical!

[@awatercolourist]

I heard that Roman Szmal will introduce paint tubes soon.

[@Red_Carnation]

😮

[@InLiquidColor]

Tis why I mentioned "at the time of recording" :D I have also heard that and wanted to make sure I put in a disclaimer for future views!

[@awatercolourist]

@@InLiquidColor Thanks!

[@britbrat4559]

Omg I can't wait!!

[@awatercolourist]

@@britbrat4559 It is indeed exciting 😃

[@beadsbylara]

Yummy. Look at those lovely colors.

[@akschauer]

The Delft Blue is so gorgeous! It's so disappointing the pigment was discontinued. I would love to see a comparison with the replacement combo that Stone Ground came up with.

[@InLiquidColor]

Hoping to report back soon! I wouldn't have included if this was merely a list to share, but as a practical palette, I couldn't bear not putting her on it!

[@DAYbreaking_Ideas]

I started water coloring in 2008 and quite quickly due to lack of knowledge about paper. I started learning from you in 2018 and have never stepped away from water coloring again. You are always in my thoughts and are a favorite teacher of mine in this life long learning journey. I’m now work art therapy with my clients. I would never be able to move into that level of confidence without creators like you on KZbin. Thank you for the wonderful overview of a great selection! I love pyrrole scarlet. It’s always been my favorite red from Daniel Smith.

[@InLiquidColor]

Oh my goodness, thank you sincerely for the kind words. I've had a hard time keeping focused and motivated, and hearing this really raises my spirits. I really appreciate you sharing. Wishing you all the best!

[@Kaninchenbau]

Really fun that this video emphasizes your personal, favorite, more unique colors instead of like, trying to find the ideal colors for everyone- the latter is extremely helpful of course, but sometimes it's fun to just hear about what different people like personally ❤ Can't wait for Part 2

[@cindyhorton6980]

I love seeing your favorite colors. It gives ideas for ones to try! Cause u just never know, u may be happily suprised! ❤ Looking forward to part 2! Thank you and take care!

[@awatercolourist]

Thanks for this video. I love watching palette videos and swatching videos.

[@ChantelleArts]

wow there's some really lovely unique shades here that I've never heard of, I love the look of perylene violet and Misty morning especially ❤

[@RadishTheFool]

Not only do you always find the most gorgeous colours, you also never fail to film them beautifully. And you talk about them so lovingly that even colours that normally wouldn't appeal to me start beckoning me seductively to paint with them. Thank you.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@RadishTheFool]

@@InLiquidColor 🤗

[@AllanJayQuesada]

It’s so satisfying to see some granulating colors. And I can’t wait for the other parts. 🎨 😊

[@msellenandrea]

Denise! I'm on a no buy until December 😂 definitely putting Roman Szmals Potters Pink on my list because I also have the Schmincke one and while I like it, it's too brown for me

[@aleahlrb]

If you're looking for a pinkier Potter's Pink, MaimeriBlu's Potter's Pink is another good choice, it's also slightly more saturated! I've been using it for a while now, and it's become my favourite version.

[@msellenandrea]

@@aleahlrb oh thank you so much! I will remember that 😍

[@bleuvertetforetdepin7308]

what a delicious delicious eyes candy video ! it's pure joy and variegated beauty .😍

[@kellywest1032]

I love learning about paint colors from you! So helpful. Thanks.

[@lisathaviu1154]

Your comments about needing more space on your palette made me think of the Robax palettes. I love ceramic palettes as much as anyone, but the format of the Robax palette makes me think that it might suit you better, especially if reaching might aggravate your back. The round palette can be fitted with a small ceramic insert. Alternately, you can get a butcher’s tray to mix on.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks for the suggestions! Less arm movement is better for me, so I've found that having my mixing area closest to my painting works best in my situation. This compact 48 color palette is the closest I've come to a comfortable workspace while maximizing color :)

[@SarahAndBoston]

Thanks Denise, it's always fun to see what colors you're into. I also liked the interesting brush texture swatches...good inspiration!

[@kristiw.1823]

Once again, Denise, your videos inspire me to head back to my watercolors! thank you.

[@sigrunella1]

Your colour palette videos have helped me so much in figuring out the colours I need for my work. I keep referencing those old videos and recommending them to others too. I also love those new swatches, little artworks on their own.

[@KRCanetti]

Hi Denise, I only just discovered that your posting video's on your current palette. I followed your channel (and now on IG) with dedication for some years but lost you because watching less on KZbin... now, promised to build some palettes from 2 friends it helps to see some inspiration. I know what i paint with, I just grab whatever paint I want (that's many) and I love to see your shelf with all the metal boxes/ palettes... Leaving me only with the yearning that I was as organised as you are, but at least I'm not alone with so many paints. Thanks for this series.

[@marjesmit8220]

Great video!!! Needed this video❤

[@Megzamani]

Thank you

[@zoetkt]

So many lovely colors on this list! As your videos and color lists are always super Inspiring for trying something new! 💕

[@eugenia.z.art.3789]

Thank you so much for so interesting video ❤

[@badgerbat9723]

I'm so happy to see this! I was just rewatching your top 40 video a week or two ago, and thinking, I'd love to see a redo of your favorites. Hooray!

[@srsigdesigns]

ooh so excited for this series! those Roman Szmal colors look gorgeous I think I'm going to have to try them

[@coloredcarol8074]

Love yellow Sophie, my favourite medium yellow

[@twozsinapod]

Love seeing these updates! Quite a few colors here I already love and some others I'd like to try or spend more time getting to know. Misty Morning is probably my favorite of this group, but that Manganese Violet is also beautiful.

[@dirtyblueshop]

Great video! A YInTiCo red would not be misplaced in the palette at 2:50 😉

[@ericakauffman5786]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@MsMoniqueWilson]

What great colours. I love them all and have many of them. The Delft Blue is stunning and now I will wait for your review :)

[@CBWebb]

SO excited for this one. Seeing the tried and true palette favorites from folks that are actually used regularly are my favorite, favorite, favorite watercolor supply videos to watch, and I wish more took the time to share them! I feel like they always inherently share some really cool insights into someone's art personality--and what an expressive set! Golly though, the way I almost panicked at reading a Delft blue being discontinued comment thinking it was possibly the schmincke pb60, which is my own favorite warm blue. I can breathe a sigh of relief that it's not, but I'm also so sad in seeing how beautiful this smokey blue on your palette is! So looking forward to the rest, and hoping the new palette serves you wonderfully going forward.

[@derwood206]

Gorgeous palette! Thanks for the heads up on the Cobalt Delft Blue. was able to grab a couple half pans of PB36 from a Canadian store today. Thank you again for introducing me to Stoneground, Da Vinci, and so many other brands!

[@cris_ad]

I am very happy to hear that you are focusing on what you want and what is inspiring for you instead of what you "need." I have very strong and intense feelings about this, so I will just say that I am glad for this wonderful art journey you are on and the palette is beautiful!

[@cris_ad]

The delft blue looks like sodalite? Might be a good replacement long term?

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you! Hmm, its similar in that they are desaturated dark blues, but delft is much creamier and more opaque. As timing would have it, I just got a few of the replacements in to test out, so I'll report back soon!

[@cris_ad]

@@InLiquidColor Wonderful! I am excited to see what you have.

[@christopherreilly4450]

It’s cool to see how your palette has changed over time, and I love the galaxy pink and multi pigment violet colors. It’s interesting to see how the purple and violet selection has changed a lot since the first video. I also prefer not splitting yellow into warm and cool on my palette (currently using py3 but will replace with the more lightfast py151/154 once I run out), and this color with yellow ochre are able to give me most of the mixes that I’d want.

[@LindsayKitson]

Wow; I'm glad I picked up that delft cobalt blue when I did. I'm lucky enough to have Stoneground available in my local art supply store and have a bunch of them now; half pans are just so easy to toss one in my basket with the rest of my purchases each trip :P I have their manganese violet too.

[@cynthia5499]

Your DaVinci palette is my favorite!

[@dryingshift]

these colors are stunning! that delft cobalt blue especially, i shall have to try mixing up a pan in that hue. i am trying to buy fewer watercolors and focus on using up what i have, but alas hearing about qor's recently discontinued hues has sped up my plan to buy them before they're gone. i literally (like less than an hour ago) just picked up a manganese violet! also because i keep seeing it in the schmincke mixes :D

[@LilDivette]

Hey Denise, have you checked out the Robax round carousel palettes? It holds a large number of colors of varying capacities, pan inserts of various sizes, and spins to make it easy to access every color but you’ll need a separate mixing palette. I’ve been wanting one for years (I have a collection of standard, handmade, and metallic watercolors which won’t fit in a 48 pan palette even without the tray). It might be lighter and easier to use than your current palette. Glad to see you filming again and hope this helps! 😊

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks for the suggestion! I have looked at them. Much of my shoulder pain come from repetitive movement, and I think the Robax has too much height to be helpful in mitigating movement. For now, I'm enjoying this compact little guy!

[@LilDivette]

@@InLiquidColor I didn’t realize how bad your pain was, so sorry to hear it! 😔 It’s truly amazing how much you do despite of it-very inspiring to others, Denise. ❤️🙏

[@jessbutterfly9801]

Thank you so much. This is absolutely gorgeous to see all these colours and to learn so much about them at the same time. The da Vinci paints are not available in Australia as they cost more to ship them the paints themselves could you give an alternative just for that brand?

[@InLiquidColor]

They handle most similarly to Daniel Smith in my opinion.

[@teacharliechaplin2324]

Oh we have similar taste I think, but I did find a Potters Pink that I like the best and it’s a handmade from the UK ‘Cameo Watercolours’ and it just beats every big brand name for me, even the Roman Szmal.

[@pomegranateslushy244]

White nights also has an orange py216

[@inujojo]

This makes me so nostalgic for my watercolours 😭But they're somewhere in a moving box for the foreseeable future, so these gorgeous swatches will have to scratch the itch for now.

[@InLiquidColor]

I hope they find their way back to you soon!

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Denise, I enjoy watching your videos and I agree it is good to see a video released even if it is in parts! Please, you gotta know we want you to be kind to yourself as well as others! Ok, that said I am one of those who want more yellows because I mix more greens than keep convenience greens on my palette! I am looking forward to seeing what and how you resolve this issue going forward! I have a cool and warm yellows, but also more mid-range yellows with leanings towards cooler and warmer mixes! Yeah I probably have to many, I doubt I could function with only one. I wonder how do you do it? Thanks for posting this video. I know we are all looking forward to the next installment!

[@InLiquidColor]

Lots of greens and earth yellows incoming! :D I look forward to sharing them with you all.

[@themightierpencil]

I love these videos but they get me in trouble because now I want to try that Galaxy Pink on my palette 😂😂

[@InLiquidColor]

Oh nooo haha, I'm sorry! If it makes you feel any better, past Denise *sold* her tube of Galaxy Pink for reasons unknown, so now I have to buy a new one! haha.

[@LindsayKitson]

I'm curious if you've ever tried the PV55 quinacridone purple; it has some really interesting colour separation for a single pigment quinacridone. Red violet that shifts blue in tints.

[@InLiquidColor]

I have! It's a lovely color that I'd like to use more than I do, but even when it's available on a palette, I still end up reaching for other colors. It's beautiful though!

[@anjikauffman6416]

Tell me you have a tutorial for that gorgeous Snow Leopard!!! ❤️ 😮

[@InLiquidColor]

Hi there! That snow leopard was painted for my 2019 Top Brands video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmHOZX-Mj9CFsM0si=bwlLu_33-Av_E5Hm) so it wasn't recorded as a tutorial. I do however have a more detailed version that I did record for Patreon! Here's the link to that post: www.patreon.com/posts/snow-leopard-29559186

[@anjikauffman6416]

@@InLiquidColor ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you so much!!

[@savannahwoods3222]

I just added yellow sophie to my favorites too, its my first sennellier paint and I love it. Do you know about the lightfastness?

[@InLiquidColor]

Only what I've been able to find online, but I haven't done my own tests.

[@joymiller9668]

Da vincis colbalt pb 36 looks close to Stonehenge

[@jaydos2608]

i don't have easy access to da vinic paint here in Australia. so what are the best alternative/ look-a-likes for D.V's Alizarin crimson quinacridone?

[@InLiquidColor]

I used Carmine from Daniel Smith before finding ACQ! It's super gorgeous, just less lightfast than a PV19.

[@FuriedHearts]

Quin burnt orange (PO48) isn’t available anymore…? 4:18 I haven’t been in the hobby for a while so maybe I misunderstood. I just noticed you had an X over the QBO

[@InLiquidColor]

Correct. It's no longer being made. DS still has a supply, but most other brands have started selling replacements.

[@mostlyvoid.partiallystars]

How does shadow violet compare to Artemis? So gorgeous!

[@ArtbyAllisonDakin]

I'm sad about Delft Cobalt Blue! Lucky to own 2 halfpans but I hope I don't get precious about using them!

[@chaddesrosiers1107]

Stone ground not being able to make Cobalt Delft Blue really does suck. I have one half pan left... :( I don't plan to buy their dupe... they have kept it a S3 which makes me not even willing to give it a try, based on the pigments they used in the dupe it should be priced as a S1. Their dupe is also easy to mix yourself. Its too bad it was such a great unique pigment.

[@afrodykeeism]

How does sodalite genuine compare to delft cobalt blue?

[@InLiquidColor]

Oh they're quite different. Both desaturated blues, but I think the similarities end there. Sodalite heavily granulates, leaving the paper showing through underneath. DCB is more opaque and velvety. Hope that helps!

[@mnap1595]

Do you find that as you collect more colors for your palette, the less you feel like you have the right colors, and therefore the more the one palette grows into many (I have three open on my table right now)? As I've accumulated more, I find myself doing less mixing and just defaulting to whatever's the closest match to the color I want. It's a habit I'm trying to breakaway from, to get back to a more limited palette that let's me focus on what inspires me, or my own style, over what feels like a tendency toward realism as a result of having so many colors to choose from.

[@InLiquidColor]

I have always found large palettes really overwhelming. I even downsized my Schmincke from 48+ to 36 because there were just too many choices. I think the difference with this one in particular is that I'm taking my favorites that I'm always reaching for on other palettes and putting them together here. We'll see how it goes over the coming months!

[@markyteo]

This manganese violet looks a lot like pr88

[@InLiquidColor]

I assure you they're quite different! Make sure to check out the still shots of the scans either in the video or on Patreon (the video is as close as I could make it, but not an exact color match). It looks like my other PV16s, but is just more pigmented than most. Plus, it's granulating.

[@markyteo]

​@@InLiquidColorI guess pr88 is a little more muted and duller. I love this version on your swatch. Gonna pull out my RS and Schmincke version and see how they compare.

[@awatercolourist]

First 👋🏼

[@ina_lina]

Lovely video, thank you. I look forward to greens and browns! 💚🤎 I totally understand the only one yellow and only one orange policy, and I love all three earthy pinks, but I'm not an experienced enough "mixologist" to see the need for both aliz. crim. quin. & quin. rose. 😇