My Top 40 Favorite Watercolor Colors | Revisiting My Top 5 Favorites Series

Happy World Watercolor Month! We’re kicking things off by celebrating some of my most favorite watercolors. We are revisiting my Top 5 Favorites Series from 2018, updating you with my current picks, and ending up with my Top 40 Favorite Watercolor Colors for 2021.
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** Timestamps **
0:00 World Watercolor Month
1:37 Top 5 Series
2:17 Yellows
5:16 Oranges
8:05 Reds & Pinks
11:03 Purples
14:12 Blues
17:18 Greens
20:33 Browns
23:32 Blacks & Greys
26:40 My Top 40 Watercolor Colors
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** Music **
Music licensed by Artlist.io
Like Paper Planes by Michael Shynes (ft. Marco Vendame)
Abigail (Instrumental Version) by Assaf Ayalon
Midday Moon (Instrumental Version) by Vikings in Tibet
She (Instrumental Version) by The Lighthearts
Icicles by Biba Dupont
Avalanche (Instrumental Version) by Low-Light
Words (B&G) by Assaf Ayalon
Living by Borrtex

[@daniellewales]

I would love to see a video on choosing only 12 shades for a "stranded on a deserted island!" I would love to see your educated take on what you would choose and why! Love this series

[@marigasudaisuki]

when i saw the video title i thought this wasn't going to be divided by color section so my brain was like "this is going to be a list dominated by earth tones, isnt it" HAHA, in any case i'm looking forward to watching this, you always have great taste in color

[@NaomiCoutureArt]

I love how in depth you are and explaining why you choose certain colors 😍

[@JennyGranberry]

WORLD WATERCOLOR MONTH AHHHHHHHHHHHH GOING TO GET CRAZYYYYYYYYY AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@Gyouseii]

I also wish there was a top mixed versions of these colors! Like your favourite mixed orange, blacks, etc. I think it would be interesting to see if these hues are close to current favourite pigments, and see the difference between the mixed and single pigment versions. With mixed I mean self-mixed with pigments, not pre-made mixtures of paints! You already did this with some colors :)

[@hannahthufvesson]

Oooh, I'd wanna see that! 😍

[@keepyourshoesathedoor]

I want to see

[@lauraheller2366]

I have watched this same video at least 30 times, I even took a screen shot of the swatches at the end, but I just keep playing it over and over. Sorry, I have no explanation or excuse, just thanks for sharing your expertise.

[@TheBenevolent]

I am all for this flat brush swatching! So juicy and satisfying! Please do more of these just like the brand by brand series!

[@MarlyMcG]

Florentine green and Denise’s green making it into the video 👏👏👏👏

[@MarlyMcG]

I commented before vivianite showed up!!

[@InLiquidColor]

I knew you'd be pleased! :D

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

This was the perfect video for my lunch break. So relaxing and love those juicy closeups!

[@VickyFlint]

Lovely swatching! I’ve just done a piece using a mix of Caput Mortuum and Phthalo Turquoise… the colour separation is stunning!

[@MandaPanda254]

There is something soothing and magical about watching your colour swatchings. I love the colour vibrancy before the swatches dry 😍 Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[@jelly_unjarred]

Best wishes for your surgery. I hope your recovery goes smoothly

[@mnap1595]

That Shadow Violet! 😍

[@daruleos]

it's so interesting to see how your taste has evolved in this three years! and it's cute to see that there are some staples that haven't left your favorites. I found soo many cool tones i would wanna try out in this video! I must say that the cerulean/indian red combo is one of my favorite greys too. Lovely video Denise! Hope you have a good and fast recovery :)

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you, Daniel! Thanks for hanging out all this time! :)

[@italiangabster]

Gosh this will be such a nice video to reference when I'm itching to try new colors! I just treated myself to a single tube of DS yesterday only for you to release this today LOL (Also! You are such a master at delicately swatching colors w/ slight gradation I can't help but watch the entire video in awe) Wishin' you the best with your surgery and hope you can make a speedy recovery!

[@alejandromorales9516]

I love this! It never fails to fascinate me hearing other artists discuss their color choices! It gets me excited about my own favorites :)

[@theresarowe1656]

I so love you included Florentine Green from Stoneground Paint. I love that green and it’s permanent on my palette.

[@InLiquidColor]

I bought an extra full pan to keep on my main palette in addition to my half pan on the SG palette. I love it so much!

[@PencilandPigment]

Your favorite grey (Indian Red + Cerulean) is gorgeous!!! I always have a tube/pan of Prussian Green on hand. It's such a fave of mine.

[@anaghasharma7433]

I LOVE your channel. I love how detailed information you have about colors and pigments. Watching you swatch different colors from different brands makes me happy 😇 I feel like I am in color heaven.

[@1958shiner]

Denise you have me so spoiled that I can’t seem to watch anyone else doing anything with pigments. You are the queen!!! If I was rich I would send so much of it your way. You’re amazing.

[@1827handmade]

What a pleasure to watch! Gorgeous video!

[@corylouwho]

This was so relaxing to watch, I love hearing your thoughts on all the colors. Love your nails too, that color is beautiful!

[@corriemcginnis4400]

That was fun. I love mixing rhe Indian red with EVERYTHING. You never know what might happen 😊 ah, see it even found its way mixed on your list😁

[@heartswellgardens6419]

If you haven't tried D.S. Quinacridone Sienna, it has become one of my very favorite earthy orange browns (and I have a ton of oranges and browns because I paint so many horses)- I love it for reddish brown coats on animals, AND it is one of my favorite colors for human skin tones of all shades.

[@patti3d]

Thanks Denise! Love all these colors! Blessings for a successful procedure and recovery!

[@KRCanetti]

Such an exquisite choice. Thank you for sharing this with us, Denise.

[@maryellen9503]

I'm kind of excited that so many of my favourite colors were referenced! Your swatching is so soothing and I enjoy the voiceovers! :) Good vibes for your surgery!

[@lauraalejandra4884]

I love the juicy washes that you made... Thanks Denise!!!!!!!

[@callepaints7394]

This was a pleasure to watch as always. I hope your surgery goes well and that you get plenty of time and space to recover--plenty of reminders in my life and in my family that you really gotta take all that R&R after a procedure.

[@sigrunella1]

I loved this video!! Your original top five series was so useful for making my own pallette and figuring out my specific colour preferences.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Such an informative and inspiring video, thank you! I love your choices. I just ordered Roman Szmal’s Shadow Violet this morning and I’m excited to try it, so I was thrilled to see that it’s one of your favourites! I hope your surgery goes well and that you recover quickly.

[@amberzartwork1466]

Oh, I loved watching this roundup. In addition to just enjoying a peek into an artist's preferences, your swatches are so soothing & exact. Nice to see some Stoneground on there - I have several Stoneground paints and I really enjoy them. :) Thank you!

[@RoryP22]

I like the bigger swatches, thank you. Good luck on your surgery and speedy healing to you.

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

That is a gorgeous collection. I think you could paint anything with those.

[@annesophieg-n]

This was such a beautiful and soothing video to watch, thank you so much 💕💕💕 I hope the operation goes well and i wish you a speedy recovery! Sending all the love and encouragement 😊

[@na.nella.]

I've been binging your videos lately for color recommendations, so this was timely! I recently bought a perylene green and phthalo turquoise because of your videos, and I love the moody teals it creates 😊 good luck with your surgery and wishing you a quick recovery!

[@InLiquidColor]

So glad you're enjoying them! Thank you for the well wishes.

[@kristiw.1823]

Thank you for this lovely resource to start of World Watercolor Month!

[@slateportraichu5416]

Grays are so magical=) Thank you, this was such a relaxing experience=)

[@charityariverpixie998]

Wow I was literally re watching your “top 5” series this morning . What a perfect video ! Sending love to you and speedy recovery 🧚

[@InLiquidColor]

I love when things work out like that! Thank you.

[@LanaGoesArt]

This was a wonderful overview over your favourites. They change for sure over time, but you certainly created your perfect palette there. :)

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

Your favorites are lovely! Oranges look great and no need to apologize for your beautiful picks!

[@InLiquidColor]

Phew! I always worry about shorting you, T! 🧡😋

[@sterlingmarkum]

I have added so many new colors to my list. Lovely, informative, and beautifully edited as always. Thank you for putting so much effort in to your videos!

[@fenix6627]

The way you explain every detail is like being in heaven. Thank you so much.

[@hershelroswell]

oh man seeing the notification for this video made my day!! thank you so much for making this, and all the detail and info you put into explaining your colour choices and why you like them :D

[@anikaphillips1372]

Such a lovely video, as always your switching is so calming to watch. Also I hope everything goes well with the surgery and you recover safely.

[@rachaelnarimalla]

Ugh, love your videos. So precise and informative.

[@InTheBlackBoxTV]

great colors! very similar to my own favorites. I'm afraid that Shadow Violet has taken over my art as well! I just have to use it everywhere. I even use scans of its texture in digital artwork, the color separation effect is very special :)

[@alvax2455]

love your selection. all the best for your surgery!

[@waymire01]

I don't think cerulean blue gets enough love as a mixing color. I didn't own it for a long time but wound up with it on a palette and it makes really gorgeous colors that you just can't get with other blues.

[@PinkWytchBytch]

Ok hear me out: I’ve never been able get that paint name right. I always used an M, as in Ceruleum, and I actually have seen a couple brands spell it this way too, so is it just a misspelling or it is a different pigment??

[@waymire01]

@@PinkWytchBytch There are various spellings, some are regional to different parts of the world. There are also a couple of different pigments that are considered cerulean blue.

[@BrokenAnguissette]

Good luck with your surgery. I hope your recovery goes well and smoothly 😊 This was a beautiful video! I'll have to try mixing done of that grey you showcased last as it looks absolutely lovely!

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks so much, Regina!

[@peggydid]

I am a relatively new watercolor artist. Just setting up a palate using tubes. Your swatching of the colors has been most helpful. Also the comments. I've watched all 4 hours of DS! Most of mine are that brand. I just ordered a doz. (gasp) tubes, and can't wait to swatch them out on cards. So glad I can celebrate World Watercolor Month this way! Wishing you a quick recovery! Take care of yourself! Peggy

[@souIsynapse]

Hey Denise, I just wanted to write to tell you that because of your videos I finally took a proper step forward in learning watercolor. I'm not an artist, but I've always wanted to learn how to do this. Thank you.

[@SarahNewburyArt]

Ooh love your selection Denise! Another super interesting and relaxing video, thank you! Hope all goes well with the op. Take care 😊💜

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you, Sarah!

[@maryalgar8779]

Love your choices and totally agree with your "oranges". Wishing you well with your surgery.

[@alexej6080]

That explains why my cerulean- indian red mix doesn't give that much of a beautiful grey tint, granulation! Thank you for this video, the information and your work in sharing! Happy painting to you too!

[@quoctoantran2175]

Love your video and content. Keep up the good work

[@dneel468]

Beautifully done, thank you.

[@mygardencart9060]

i just want to share with you that although i have numerous greens on my extensive palette, once i tried your "denise's green" i never stopped using it! it is my go to for almost any piece i work on, so much so that i have ordered it multiple times!! quite possibly in my top 3 or 4 colors on my entire palette!

[@InLiquidColor]

That means so much to me! Thank you and I'm so glad you like it!

[@JimCaputoMusic]

@@InLiquidColor Can "denise's green" be purchased anywhere as an individual tube?

[@InLiquidColor]

@@JimCaputoMusic it's available on Da Vinci's website :)

[@JimCaputoMusic]

@@InLiquidColor Thanks. I should have thought to look there after looking every place but there.

[@msellenandrea]

Thank you for this super relaxing video, Denise! :D Also best of luck on your surgery, I hope it goes well

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you Ellen. I hope you are well 💜

[@RebeccaSB]

Wildly nice pallet ! Picked up a few suggestions to try!

[@Wjgustaf]

Wonderful video. All were gorgeous but column five has my favorite grouping. Be well and may your recovery be short.

[@endless_art]

love all this colors too (but have only half of them) XD

[@rebeccawong1]

Speedy recovery … can’t wait to see u again ❤️

[@juliekraut7218]

Aussie Red Gold is an amazing yellow/orange. This was very helpful. Thanks.

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

Thank you for a very lovely video -- very peaceful & interesting. Heal up quick ☺️

[@pennycandyys]

Thank you for the swatches, they’re beautiful! Also, I hope your surgery went well.

[@mjpete27]

I enjoy watching your videos about your preferences in paints! I have changed my preferences many, many times over the years. I will even confess that at times my favorite paint was driven by price and availability! I have completely removed all of the Dan Smith paints from many of my “everyday” palettes. I still have over 40 tubes and I am debating whether I want to sell them or give them away to a good home. I will say that you have converted me to the DaVinci line of paints! I even bought some gouache from them as well as a few tubes of acrylic! My first memories of painting are making watercolor paintings with my Grandma, she got me started with Grumbacher Artists paints and I used it for years! Most of us have a soft spot for the paints we started painting with, I only have 1 color (hookers green) from Grumbacher in use at this point in time. You sure can cause me to jibber jabber in your comments section! Thank you for sharing your wonderful expertise with us. I hope you are doing well and that Cricket is feeling better too! I wish you a wonderful and productive World Watercolor Month! Geeze I sure do miss the Artists over on Patreon, I am truly glad that so many have been able to keep supporting all of the Artists I met over there. I am hopeful that one day I will be able to return. I am sending you only the very best for you and yours.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you as always Michael. Happy painting, and thank you for the well wishes.

[@ZaiyaFineArt]

I love your art as always

[@jillshort9241]

Hope your recovery goes well. It's interesting to see your color "evolution " The neutrals are interesting. Regards for your speedy recovery 👴

[@Geemeel1]

Wow, you are so knowlegdgable , very well presented, and so patient.. hope all goes well with the surgery, love from Europe 💞

[@JayNathanWatercolor]

Wow so much information here. Thank you for sharing 🙏

[@MermaidInTheWater]

Good luck with your surgery! You will be missed. This was such a nice video! I will have to look into that vivianite and that cerulean/indian red mixture. My palette has an entire row dedicated to purples and violets. I just love them so much! My new favorite is Ultramarine Pink PR259 by M. Graham. You also got me hooked on the Sennelier Ultramarine Deep! I would have loved to see an entire row of your favorite turquoises!

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you kindly!

[@SMCCRADY2]

Good Luck with your surgery, speedy recovery!

[@lorijones9579]

A must have on my palette is a medium yellow, Sennelier's Primary Yellow. I love your choice of earthy yellows though and I pretty much want them too.

[@AlexYorim]

Unrelated, but lovely nails you have. Also, God bless you on your surgery.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you kindly! This look was done especially to show off a wide range of colors for such a video :D haha.

[@gwensimmons_gigi1629]

Speedy recovery Denise!

[@sashas3332]

I hope your surgery goes well

[@megperry5586]

Your color choices make such a beautiful palette..Hope all went well with your surgery.

[@Tasmanianval]

I finally bough a perylene green 😍😍 that color is so rare and expensive in my country and Holbein's Perylene green was perfect! I'm so excited to try it ❤️

[@gwenlynn7261]

Love how you swatch these 😍 Also, how sneaky to fit in 3 earth colors as orange 😂 I'm wondering, do you actually use all these pinks and purples in your wildlife painting? I love the hues but would find them more useful for flowers.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks, Gwen! The shadow violet I use often for backgrounds and studies. Perylene violet I use all the time for mixing darks, and its great for things like black iridescent birds. The others I use less often, but when I do my colorful pieces, they get brought out to play :)

[@ankejacobs4649]

Fantastic! Thank you.. going to see if there's a more recent version. I love your colours.

[@InLiquidColor]

Hopefully coming soon!

[@ujjainimukherjee2267]

This is such a bliss.... Hope to grow my collection with time..... I am mainly interested in blues and yellows and pinks

[@lisathaviu1154]

My new one is graphite grey.

[@StephanieArtsIs]

One of my most favorite brown’s is Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet (Daniel Smith)

[@BlushnBlue]

I’ve mad my purchase. Nice to see your shop open again but I am sorry I missed out on your bear zipper pouch. Loved this video and thank you for sharing.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@waymire01]

I agree on the phthalo turquoise... I put together a bunch of brand specific mini palettes and got the PT completely by mistake for my Winsor Newton palette (someone had put it away in the wrong slot in the store and I didn't even notice until I had squirted it in and read the label to check the pigment code).. it's become a favorite.. it just has a completely different feel and mixing ability and I like how different it is from the ultramarines in comparison to the regular PB. Especially since I don't have P green on these little palettes.. it can kind of split the difference between P blue and P green for mixing.

[@caitlinneill]

I love your videos so much! You inspired me to take up water coloring (I’m a pencil/brush virgin). And now I feel inspired to share some of my practice pieces for world watercolor month! I’m nervous because I’m not good yet, but it would be nice to have a visual representation of my progress! This is a great list!

[@InLiquidColor]

Welcome Caitlin! Thanks for joining us here and putting yourself out there :) It's really rewarding to look back at my own work and see the progress I've made! Perhaps I should do a share over on Instagram.

[@caitlinneill]

@@InLiquidColor That would be great!! I love to see where everyone started. It definitely makes me feel better to know good artists at one point didn’t put a shadow in the right spot too 😂

[@marganamaurer]

I think I sent you a sample of DV Burnt Sienna several years ago. It has remained a staple on my palette in part due to its transparency. Few paints have been so consistent for me and the DV brand now rivals DS for slots on my palette. Interesting to see the variety on yours. You are an ace enabler. Thanks for extending my wish list.

[@kiwimiwi5452]

crazy that world watercolor month is the month I was born in! It's my birthday tomorrow already and I picked out 4 professional watercolor paints by Winsor & Newton that I'll be getting, I'm super excited!!

[@InLiquidColor]

Happy early birthday!

[@spillustrations]

Thanks Denise, I am glad you have some Stoneground Paints! I absolutely love them and they are made in my home city😊 I have Florentine Green and I agree it’s lovely. Do you have other colours from SG? Their Quin Magenta and Cobalt Aquamarine are really nice too. I love letting MG’s cerulean blue mix with SG’s cobalt aquamarine, the granulation between the two are magical. All the best with your surgery.❤️

[@InLiquidColor]

I have a whole palette from them! It's lovely :)

[@francineh.7825]

All the best to you with your surgery!

[@rebeccawong1]

Simply charming 🥰

[@bryama2129]

I love seeing those colors and how you explaind each and every color. I live in asia so brand like daniel smith, da vinci, qor are quite expensive. So most of my color colection are from mijello, white night, holbein, rembrandt. I only have few of dniel smith. So my color reference only from those brand. Same as you I dont use much orange but I love mijello autumn orange (PO36), and seems sennelier chinese orange quite nice (although I havent tried it 😅, but planning to get one)

[@snulsim7245]

Hey! I'm debating on which watercolor sets I should choose, either Holbein or Mijello; which is better? I'd love to get Mijello pure pigment due to its vibrancy and the fact that, it's 15ml. I could learn more about color mixing and keep using it for years as it is vibrant and a lot. Though, I'm a little scared of its flow/movement I wouldn't want paints that can't really "move" or "flow". That's why Holbein is my second option for professional paints.. but there are "downsides" to it as it's not the usual western paint. I heard it flows differently but not as less as mijello mission gold. It also has multiple pigments mixed. I use Baohong watercolor paper, I heard paints don't flow the same as with other cotton papers, but it's better than cellulose papers. I'm scared if both the paper and paint will make me bothered with my painting process. If you have it, could you tell me their performance on that paper? I don't really have the budget to get other 100% cotton papers. You don't have to do my request if you can't, but please let me know your thoughts❤️ What do you think I should get? 😅

[@snulsim7245]

I almost forgot to mention, I live in Asia too btw.. That's why I really wanted to know your opinion and thoughts on this

[@awatercolourist]

My best wishes for a speedy recovery 🙂

[@MarySanche]

Yay, Stoneground Paint Co.! ;)

[@artsylove89]

Watching this video again because I'm missing your content!

[@emilymanning2606]

Nice choices. Consider Schmincke Ultramarine Finest. They mill this one an extra time so it does not granulate when mixed with something like Pyrolysis Orange which makes a beautiful cloudscape that is smooth.

[@hannahthufvesson]

It was so lovely to watch this video! Thank you! I too love the W&N Transparent Orange, I just wish it held up in the mid-tones and washes in my lightfastness test 😭 On another note; so many of the colors I now own and love(!) are thanks to you, Denise, and I'm so, so thankful! You have helped bring such beautiful color into my life, and I can't really find words to describe what it has meant to me. 🌻 I hope everything will go well with your surgery and recovery! I'll be a very tiny pep squad over here in Sweden! 🤸

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you for all of your kind words, Hannah!

[@fredhubbard7210]

Please pick up on your final colour choice... Namely compliments and near compliments that mix to a neutral(ish) grey. HANDPRINT has a few of these... I will be getting Perylene Green and Perylene Maroon as a starter....

[@IvaHD]

Loved watching this video, thank you.. How is it that so many varying colors (with varying hues, not just intensities can be made from PV19? Good luck with your surgery. Wishing you a speedy and painless recovery.

[@Everyyoueverymiau]

The chemical behind PV19 has 4 different polymorphs. The molecules in those polymorphs are the same but they form different crystal structures. The molecules are arranged differently in the solid material and therefore the pigment has a different color. Source: Wikipedia- Polymorphism

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks Iva, and everyyoueverymiau for the response. I have a Color Spotlight video (albeit a bit out dated) on PV19. Also check out the PBr7 and PR101 videos as they have similar wide ranges.