My Top 10 Favorite Watercolor Brands - 2019 Edition!

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you all for your patience as I put this together! You can find reviews, swatch with me videos, and product links in the description. If you'd like to learn more about constructing custom watercolor palettes, check out my Skillshare class as well, and come back next week to kick off the new Brand by Brand series with us. This video took every ounce and hour this week that I could sanely spare (and perhaps a few extra I couldn't haha) but I'm so proud of this one, and hope you love it too!

[@EM-ug8ud]

You’re such a talented artist, but also as a teacher and reviewer. Definitely a hard worker to be as skilled as you are. Even though I have too much paint, I am constantly falling in love with things you show me! You hypnotize me.

[@mikayuki9838]

What do you think of van Gogh's watercolors?

[@mjpete27]

I will be diving into more of the DaVinci paints that arrived just this morning! I look forward to your indepth reviewing process and see what you make of them!

[@k.r.9606]

Hello!! So I found something I thought you would be interested in. I know you're a fan of PO49, I know you said you wouldn't be making your own paints but I thought you would be interested in it any way? This is literally the only place I could find it besides a couple 100$ tubes of DS. www.guerrapaint.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=305

[@lydiagrey]

In Liquid Color I've come across ur channel for the 1st time., Extremely beautiful portraits 🎨😍😍😍😍and lots of helpful information. Thanks alot👍👍👍 I want to know ,hv u tried Fiber castle water color pallettes? And can u share info abt watercolor paper and those two brushes that u were using in this video? I've checked ur description box below but for some reason I'm unable to figure out. 😅🙈 And can u guide us about ur favorite top 10 affordable yet professional watercolor papers and water color brushes starting from affordable to expensive promising brands??? And can u share

[@tesegiwa-amu5481]

Timestamps 1:42 #10 Holbein 3:48 #9 White Nights 5:20 #8 Mission Gold 7:00 #7 Winsor and Newton 8:59 #6 Sennelier 10:25 #5 Qor 12:00 #4 Schmincke 13:59 #3 M.Graham 15:44 #2 Da Vinci 17:13 #1 Daniel Smith

[@hearttoheart6384]

Thank u

[@abisha6166]

Thank you=)

[@nawally123]

Thank you

[@bansabanana4848]

She has the time stamps in the discription

[@daruleos]

Can we all take a moment to appreaciate the quality of the art made for each sample! Ten pieces for a single video!! Thanks for this quality content Denise🙌🏼 btw I can't believe that Winsor&Newton made it to your top😱

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you Daniel!! I gotta keep you on your toes haha :)

[@yellowbee2954]

Wtf, Luis? XD

[@daruleos]

Cajita Del Dibujo qué pequeño es el mundo🤯

[@yellowbee2954]

DaGarabatos si 😂 no pensé encontrar a un conocido en un video mientras buscaba marcas de acuarela

[@meghanstanley1765]

This is actually the most helpful and informative video I've ever seen about watercolors. Every single one of your demos was gorgeous. This was so in-depth and well thought-out and I absolutely adore it. Sorry for gushing but ahhhh this was great.

[@InLiquidColor]

😭😭😭💜💜💜 thank you so much!

[@Brembelia]

I agree. I just stumbled onto this video half asleep, but the animal portraits certainly woke me up and claimed my full attention. (Not a fan of snakes or other bald animals, but even he is beautifully done.) I hit the notification channel and hope to get a lot more of your videos as you are the only animal portraitist I've ever come across and as I enter the world of painting, botanical illustration and animal portraiture are strong interests of mine. Thanks so much for your video. It's a sweet treat. 😊 💐 🦒 🐈 🐕 🐘 🐓 🐦‍⬛ 🦜 🦚

[@fufufuaru]

i love that you painted a different animal for each brand and also added swatches beside the painting

[@thejoydecision724]

Wow! A sample painting per brand! 🤩 That’s incredible for a mini review of 10 different brands. Every moment of this video is quality. How do you manage to wrap all that up in under an hour let alone in just less than 22 minutes!

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks! It was a behemoth to take on!

[@anam00090]

Love that you included a dedicated demo painting with each brand *and* the swatches. Very well thought-out selection! Especially loved the Schmincke demonstration - what is the softer green hue that you used for the body?

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you! The green was a mixture.

[@Smmurrs]

Daniel Smith is my all time favorite because of the granulation. In college we got to tour their manufacturing area and it was the coolest thing ever!

[@InLiquidColor]

Ahhh! I hope to tour their facility someday!

[@lilbird2734]

I just love their cobalt violet. It is transparent and granulates enough to look great!

[@cathiestauffer9117]

For a beginner watercolour artist, I found this video to be one of the best in describing the various paints from a variety all the time not biased, only giving me what Denise likes to use herself. I learned a great deal. Thank you!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Fun and interesting to hear your thoughts. I echo the comments of how hard it is to rank them when you get to the top 5-6. So true! I’m still befuddled by the M. Graham running issue. I talk to so many people about it on both sides of the issue mostly with no problem and have wondered if it’s a batch issue. I live in a relatively humid climate and never had even the first pan move once they set properly. I have 3 palettes poured, one a plein air palette that is stored vertically 24/7 with no movement. I’ve talked to Tonya at length about her issues with running upon moving to NC (M. Graham used to be her favorite until then) and I’m more confused now than when I started asking questions about it. Which has me leaning to batch problems but I don’t know. In the end I totally agree. If you need to be sure of your travel palette security best to avoid it. Which is a shame because easy rewettability is a key factor when painting on location. Thankfully we have other great choices for that. Great info as usual Denise.

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

(Following your suggestion, Steve) about 18 months ago, I started collecting M Graham tubes as my first artist-grade watercolors. I bought them over a period of 12 months from a dozen different stores across three states, and online, and created 3 different-sized pallets from them. Whether I've been in California, Oregon, Seattle or Sydney, every single one of them is as sticky and gooey as the day I bought them. So now they stay put in my studio. ;)

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks Steve! I can now store my MG palette vertically during the drier months of the year without issue. The main problem for me is that if you want to swap colors in fullish pans, or god forbid scrape it out of a porcelain palette well, you'll be there forever haha. I guess they just want you to be committed ;)

[@mindofwatercolor]

@@InLiquidColor LOL! yep!

[@empress_craft]

Here in Northwestern Ireland, about 1 hour from the ocean, I've found that some M. Graham paints set up just fine (Burnt Sienna and most earth colors, Perylene Maroon, Transparent Red Oxide, Hooker's Green, and surprisingly Phthalo Green, and a few others)... Other paints are tacky but still safe to cart around without kid gloves (almost every blue I have from them, though Anthraquinone Blue and Ultramarine set up a bit better, Nickel Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Rust, and most of the reds)... And then there are a small group that are dangerously tacky (Terra Rosa, Cobalt Teal) and some actually separate from the binder even if I mix it with a toothpick (Cobalt Green, Cobalt Violet, Cobalt Blue). I've done some research into this, and from what I've found most people have had their nightmare experiences with the more dense pigments such as the Cobalt and Cadmium pigments. Because the pigments are so dense, they seem to separate in open-pans, and sink to the bottom while separating from the binder almost entirely. Since the binder is so humuctant heavy, it never really dries... Which prevents the pan from setting up, altogether. My personal nightmare experience happened just a couple of months ago, after using M. Graham since late 2016. I had just put Cobalt Green into a new palette. I made sure to shake the tube and kind of squish it around to mix any separated binder that occurs from sitting too long in a shop. I also only filled the pan 3/4 of the way, and then stirred the poured paint with a toothpick just to double-insure the binder was well-mixed in. I let it set in a dry room-temperature place, out of the sun, for several days. It didn't really set, but that happens with some MG paints from my experience... So I decided to glue it into my palette and let it finish setting up there, hopefully to at least a tacky state, just as I have several times before. A few days later I noticed a very thick transparent-yellow goo sitting on top of the paint... the binder! I tried to mix it back up with a toothpick, but it just got stuck to the toothpick and caused a huge mess. So I thought, just let it lie and when you paint with it, you can sort it out with a crappy brush that is wet and won't pick up too much pigment. One week later I re-opened the palette... and the cobalt green had exploded everywhere and coated several other pans of paint. It was like a horrible sticky green bomb went off. This palette was sitting undisturbed or moved in a room no warmer than 50 degrees (F) at any given time, completely flat and out of sunlight, and the pan had been setting up for a couple weeks! Maybe I got a bad tube of Cobalt Green. That's totally possible. However, both Cobalt Blue and Violet have had separation issues in the last couple of years I've bought M. Graham. They haven't exploded like Cobalt Green, but now I'm pretty gun shy. I can put up with semi-tacky paint, as long as it's safe to cart around. But exploding paint is another issue! I love love love M. Graham. I was hoping to carry them around as my main plein-air palette this summer in Montenegro and Croatia... but I'm just so gunshy that in more extreme heat/humidity they will have repeated bad reactions! Someone suggested carrying little sachets of silica gel to soak up excess moisture. I'm going to give it a try. But I've also got a contingency store of Da Vinci paints I just purchased and an extra palette, just to be safe.

[@mindofwatercolor]

@@AlphaGeekgirl Yep, they'll always be sticky/gooey. Thats fine with me. My main concern is whether they run or move in a travel palette. They never have for me but there are reports of it. I've been trying for 4 years to track down the reasons by talking to various people. I'm not convinced humidity has anything to do with it.

[@KJayPlays]

I really enjoyed this video. I know it may sound patronizing, I do not mean to be, but I can really tell how much you’ve grown as an artist and content creator since your last “Favorites” video. I hope you know important your voice is in this community and how you influence how people think about this wonderful medium we share a love for. Thank you.

[@jenthulhu]

What a lovely, wonderful, and informative video! THIS kind of dedication is precisely why I recently chose to support Denise on Patreon. I've never seen someone so free and giving of time, energy, thought, and research. And the talent! I have so much to learn from Denise. I know I'll be referring to this video again and again. Early in my watercolor journey, I bought brands willy-nilly with no idea what I was doing. Now I feel more informed. Thank you!

[@anik3216]

I just bought the 36 set of white nights to upgrade from my koi and cotman sets and I LOVE the paints! So vibrant and flowy! I bought the set as a birthday gift to myself after receiving $75 worth of Amazon. I've been feeling the urge to paint even more!

[@imbored4929]

That is *LITERALLY* what I did!!!

[@wulfseig1864]

Yep, Daniel Smith is definitely my go to for watercolors. Love the granulation and they all just flow together so nicely. I say if you can only pick one brand, pick Daniel Smith. Don't waste time or money on anything else. If you're a beginner in the US grab that Essentials Set of split primaries for 25$, a pack of Aquabee paper and Silver Brush Black Velvet brushes. Learn color theory and making color charts and play, a lot. Watch tons of Denise's videos. Then when you fall in love with the flow of watercolors you can try other brands.

[@meldixon1918]

I’m not a big “re-watcher” of KZbin videos but this one I keep coming back to. Thanks for all of your work on it!

[@midwinter78]

Pouring Sennelier into pans - I got some Sennelier to share with my Mum, it was indeed quite hard to get them to dry. I ended up putting the poured palettes in a sealed box with several large sachets of silica gel, and left them for a week or two. That got them nice and dry. Of course, once you start using them they get and stay damp on the surface again, but the box has survived being thrown in a backpack and taking on cycling trips halfway across town with no problems, no special care over which way is up. Where I live (Cambridge, UK) is a cool maritime climate (but about as dry as the UK gets), so if you live somewhere much warmer, cooler, dryer or damper your experiences might vary.

[@everartokelli]

What a great tip! I'm going to try using the silica I used to dry flowers & leaves to harden my M Graham watercolors. I live in a similar marine climate, but only the MG Cerulean and MG Nickel Azo Yellow don't make a mess on the palette :)

[@empress_craft]

Excellent tip, Peter! I'll give this a go with some of the misbehaving M. Graham paints that I love, and see how it fairs. Right now I'm in the Northwestern part of the Republic of Ireland, about 1 hour from the ocean. But this summer I'll be in Montenegro and Croatia--which is where the real test will begin as I practice plein air painting daily! I don't even mind spraying my paints before using, or carting some ox-gall around, if the paints get a little dry... I just REALLY want my super-pigmented M. Graham paints, if I have the choice! Brilliant idea, mate! Should have thought of this before, as I use silica "sand" to dry-preserve flowers.

[@5yarcottages397]

Agree with your criterion for choosing brands. Living in the UK, painting in layers and prefering tubes to pans make Winsor and Newton, Sennelier and Schmincke my top 3. DaVinci and M Graham don't offer qualities that outweigh their expense in the UK in my opioion. Daniel Smith on the other hand offer some beautiful colours that I wouldn't be without despite the expense: Sap Green, Pyrrol Red, Rhodonite, Green Apatite and Serpentine Genuine included. Love your paintings !

[@MHiFacesTheWorld]

I adore your facts mixed in with your tried-and-true experiences. This is an incredible mix of knowledge for any of us who watch. I truly appreciate all the effort and insights you give. I'm getting back into art as a therapeutic mechanism of life-ing and re-learning all the ins and outs of each medium. Thank you!

[@flyinghaggertys9362]

I think I’ve said it before, but I just want to tell you, again, what a fabulous and compelling writer & speaker you are! Your fluid and flawless script throughout this video is fantastic. I come back and rewatch this video again, and again, to decide which brands to use, and for what reason. Every time I do, I’m blown away by the quality of this production; from the top to the bottom, you can tell you give every detail your full effort.

[@mattmancool34]

ive always been a fan of mgraham paints because well my names matt graham so its like they were ment for me. that being said my studio pallet has fully evolved into a combination of winsor and newton, mission gold, m graham, sennelier, and daniel smith because of the ways certain colors behave in each line and i highly appreciate that you highlighted the exact reasons why you prefer certain colors or brands for certain techniques. Sennelier is my layering brand i use with lifting techniques, mission gold is my color pop brand, dan smith for earth tones and mixes, winsor and newton fills in the gaps and is a solid middle ground when grouped with the others.

[@InLiquidColor]

I have to admit, I do like that my initials are the same as Daniel Smith as well ;) I'm glad the video was helpful!

[@mattmancool34]

@@InLiquidColor my current studio main pallet is, Sennelier: Primary Yellow , French Vermillion, Cinerous Blue, French Ultramarine, Pthalo Green Light, Sap Green , Burnt Umber, Paynes Grey M. Graham: Viridian, Dioxazine Purple, Burnt Sienna, Yelllow Ochre, Neutral tint, Quinaeridone Rust, Indian yellow, Mineral Violet, Turquoise Daniel Smith: Hansa Yellow Deep, Mayan Orange, Cobalt Blue, Deep Scarlet, Pyrrol Red , Burnt Sienna Light Mission Gold: Sepia, Opera, Lemon Yellow, Van Dyke Green

[@MichaelGutierrez-z9j]

New sub here. Love the list and my all time favorite is QOR and you hit it right on the head with your descriptions. And wherever I go I make sure I take a QOR pan with me juuuuust in case and continually find myself looking for a reason to bust them bad boys out!! Lol thanks for the video.. great job

[@catsinhouse]

I so miss the Daniel Smith catalogs filled with tips and advice and gorgeous art supplies. I saved them for many years. If traffic to their Seattle store and back wasn't such an absolute pain, I would be up there for classes, shopping a lot, like back in the 80's and 90's. A great store, well-informed employees and a wonderous array of art supplies. Thank you for such a diligently done review of all the top brands. Your work is top notch!

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

This is the best description of paints ..thank you for a great comparisons. I have played/ swatched and used all of these paints. ( I also own) . Your paintings have also improved much over your years on KZbin. I am jealous. So again THANK YOU.

[@trishfitzpatrick2066]

I have all the paints on your list but I love the background and critique you offer. Always something to learn.

[@nicolle2126]

Your rant about Daniel Smith's pan set was extremely cathartic

[@InLiquidColor]

Hahaha 💜

[@sciamhach]

I keep coming back and needing timestamps & short reminders... 01:43 #10 Holbein: expensive in US, vibrant, smooth 03:49 #9 White Nights: low end artist quality, affordable, avoid pre-made sets. 05:23 #8 Mission Gold: less granulation/movement, good for beginners/control 07:00 #7 Winsor & Neuton: a few unique colors 08:58 #6 Sennelier: saturated spectral colors, renowned for glazing *10:26** #5 Qor: lots of movement, most vibrant colors* 12:02 #4 Schmincke: soft, delicate, smooth, velvety 14:00 #3 M. Graham: vibrant, high pigment load, tricky to lift, lacks pinks 15:45 #2 Da Vinci: affordable, (has "Denise's Earth Friendly Palette" $99) 17:16 #1 Daniel Smith: best earth tones

[@lilac3374]

Thank you!!! The time stamps are provided but it's helpful knowing short descriptions!

[@AmandaWiley]

This was a phenomenal video, Denise! I love your stance of helping artists find their paints based on properties, rather than outright suggesting your favorite brand! It's always been a pet-peeve of mine to see almost blind recommendations given (in any medium). The one thing you seem to like least about Mission Gold is one of my favorites! I mainly paint more realistic paintings, and their reliability to stay in place, combined with their vibrancy, and super easy rewetability, make them irreplaceable in my collection (although their price tag makes me want to cry open stock). I also love M.Graham, and in my climate (in Northern Vermont) they dry extremely well and are very much able to travel with zero concerns-yay! Daniel Smith I don't like as much, they dry so rock hard across their line (for me), that they all come loose and rattle in any palette. They also flake off in mixing areas, contaminating the entire palette. However, I do appreciate them a bit more in use; I just don't reach for them.

[@elizabethnaisbitt1795]

This has got to be my favourite watercolour demonstration video ever and I have learned so much from it, so it's a big thank you from me. I've been wondering about the Mission Gold for a while now and after seeing this I have made up my mind, they are not for me, so thanks for that too. Your paintings are all wonderful and I truly appreciate the effort you have put into this video which surely benefits all watercolourists out there. Tfs

[@sky44david]

Daniel Smith going back to the 1990's was a grand company to do all art our business with from paper to brushes. It is great that the paint lines that were developed are continuing. I bought 10 sheets of INOMACHI (translates as "the pearl") paper from Daniel Smith when they imported the most beautiful and expensive papers from Japan. It is no longer made, and is just one of the many "treasures" that Daniel Smith offered when in business as an art supply retailer. Thank goodness the full watercolor line is happening now! And thanks for your well considered review here.

[@InLiquidColor]

Oh neat! Thanks for sharing!

[@MandaPanda254]

I can't express my gratitude enough to you Denise! You are so dedicated, thoughtful and talented. The effort, information and dedication you put into your videos is just amazing. You give so much for all of us to learn from, benefit from, gain inspiration from. Thank you so much for this video, and every other video you have shared for us, they are always so joyous to watch, you are so inspiring! Thank you!

[@InLiquidColor]

💜💜💜

[@MyCrimsonMischief]

Thank you denise because of all your hard work and informative videos i have been able to find my favorite brands. I love my mission gold, white nights, davinci and mgraham paints. They spark joy!😊

[@ArtByJUSTSAM]

This video was a HUGE HELP. I’m relatively new to watercolor (1 1/2 years), though not to painting as a whole. I invested in 24 Cotman tubes and some mid grade paper to start out. I did not really enjoy the experience and almost immediately purchased 5 Daniel Smith tubes to make sure it was the paint that was frustrating me. Then I purchased some 100% cotton paper. It was like night and day. I now know that paint really makes the difference. I wanted an in depth comparison before I bought a comprehensive palette, you know? This was all the information I needed and more. Thank you so much.

[@InLiquidColor]

I'm so glad it was helpful! I too went from Reeves straight to DS! There was no turning back :D

[@HandmadeByLinanne]

Me too, I love Daniel Smith! So happy you recognized White Nights as a choice to those wanting an economical step into professional watercolors. Although I’ve added just about all the brands you’ve included in your top 10 over the years, Daniel Smith remains my favorite of all! Thanks for doing this, your paintings are amazing!!!♥️

[@laureltheartist]

Take the dry hard watercolor, and detube it. It can be sanded onto wet watercolor paper and used to add a textural look to walls, foliage, etc. Karlyn Holman suggested this.

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

I appreciate the enormous effort you went to to make this video, Denise!

[@shaustin22]

Your painting and swatches are AMAZING. LOVE 💗 LOVE 💗 LOVE 💗 your channel,

[@Dandelionfish]

Wow the qor demo and colors really just blast the rest in terms of vibrancy.

[@InLiquidColor]

Keep in mind I chose the subjects accordingly to try to make each brand shine, but yes! They are so bright!

[@lemonrose1254]

Here at the speed of watercolor

[@vickie6228]

This is the most comprehensive review of watercolors I've ever seen. Indeed, I have a few of these, and, as it so happens, I find Daniel Smith and Sennelier to be my favorites to work with. Now I need to learn how to use each one for it's specific qualities. I'm a very new "artist" (I have to use that word lightly still), and seeing your gorgeous art creations as you describe each brand is very inspiring. Thank you for this share!

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot to me.

[@jengoodwyn2715]

I can't wait to see how you build palettes from these brands. I really enjoyed this video and watched it twice. As a beginner it was so nice to see all these brands I've heard so much about compared, and their unique properties described. Thank you!

[@MalamikArt]

We all have this evolution of liking something and/or loving something and this changes from time to time, with our first loves in our back pocket always, so it's great to hear where you are now. I have to agree with your list because I appreciate where you are with your earth color favorites. I really like that you disclaim that we all have conditions that press on us what our own preferences are with paint. I also think you have a huge following that wants to paint like you, so knowing what you use is essential. I couldn't agree more with not being able to decide on a favorite. I couldn't answer that for the same reason either, just those that I'm into right now.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks for the kind words! It always rubs me the wrong way when video come out saying "this is THE best" or "use THIS not that." The reason there are so many options is because there is a market for them. All I can do is share what and why I like something and let others form their own opinions based on that. I would never want a viewer to come to me and say "You told me to buy this and I hate it"

[@flyinghaggertys9362]

I’ve been loving your channel for a long time, for the education, clean videos, and all the effort you put in to each painting and video. But on top of all that, this video is a perfect example of what a beautiful writer you are! The script you wrote for this is incredibly fluid and compelling! Amazing job on all counts, all around!

[@Accidental.Genius365]

Your paintings are just so beautiful with all of these palettes.

[@godzandheros]

This may be because I started with Daniel Smith too, but I feel like no other watercolours that I've tried come close to DS paint. I don't know what it is, but when I paint with Daniel Smith, it feels almost magical. Not in a literal sense, but like the experience and process of using them is simply wonderful and incomparable. They're reliable and what I expect from a pigment is exactly what you get, with the exception of lapis lazuli 😒

[@pewpewcat7679]

So many of your videos are in my own playlist lovingly called "watercolor wisdom" 😂 I really get so much out of your videos and I love that you always refer back to steve as well (I watch him too) between the two of you I feel like I've already learned a lot

[@infamousS709]

Your the reason I got into davinci!! They have been so awesome I am so grateful for your vids 🥰🥰🥰

[@MichaelRpdx]

Nice, nice, nice. I really enjoyed your honesty. No mishing and mashing about why something is good or bad, you just say it. Thank you.

[@maybee...]

Thank you for your video. I am still new to watercolor, I have been at it for about a year. I have many different brands, some I purchased before I knew anything about paint qualities. The two that I gravitate the most are Daniel Smith and Windsor Newton, most recently I added Schmincke in a metal box. I found some supplies at a local thrift shop. Lucky find.

[@mikeyfinger8026]

It’s always nice to hear somebody else’s take on all the different brands. I have a few going on right now I seem to gravitate towards those eastern bloc countries I have the white nights because I am a beginner and I put together my own palette as suggested it’s still far too large a pallette for a beginner in my opinion but I don’t know how to eliminate colors I love. I also have Daniel Smith and Schmincke, As well as some M Graham and Renesans galore. Holy crap have I managed to collect a bunch of paint when I barely have enough energy to put paint to paper on most days but I do ❤️ my collection 😉. I love your giggles throughout the video it keeps everything really down to earth!

[@thejoydecision724]

Mikey Finger you’re so right about Denise’s humour is just the best.

[@KimberlyCrick]

I had the same issue with Winsor and Newton, but the Indigo color. Sadly it was the first and last tube I ever bought from them. I put it in a pan with all my other brands of watercolor, and the next time I went to paint I found just that color with what appeared like a white powder residue throughout it. It does not dissolve easily, leaving white specks all over the wash, so I ended up wasting a pan. Glad to hear that is not a problem with most of the other colors!

[@jia01510]

Thank you so much for such a lovely video, so much information and yet so much fun to watch you painting and swatching! I just bought my first Daniel Smith tubes and I selected my colors based on your videos (and Teoh’s as well). I became really in LOVE with granulation in painting over the past year and I’m switching from Holbein to DS :)!

[@lucid_plays]

I've recently got back into watercolor and at least 3 brands you've mention, I already have. So, yeah....everything you've mentioned, I agree with you 1000%. lol. Absolutely love your in depth critique!

[@hangphan9774]

In my country daniel smith is more expensive than holbein, winsor and newton and schmincke but I also love them and I have a decision to buy the essential set

[@xXDivaxChoekyXx]

I bought it for €30 and i loved it so mutch! Still paint with them half a year later and theres still enough left in the tubes! 10/10 would recommend!

[@hangphan9774]

Faith Bartelse oh it is much cheaper in my country so are you lucky

[@VioletGlitterworks]

This was an absolutely gorgeous video and you should be super proud of it!!🥰👏🏻👏🏻 I don’t comment very often but I see how many animal portraits you produced in this one video and it is just so amazing!!!😱💓 It would be so cool if you could eventually do a zine of animal portraits like this and have swatches of the colors you used in each portrait next to it. It would really be amazing to see the thought process behind color mixing those bright hues into such soft dreamy colors. 😉👍🏻🎨

[@everartokelli]

Wonderful group of paintings, I love the leopard, peacock and giraffe the most! I'm really looking forward to the new series and enjoyed the Top 10 update--glad to see my favorites are all at the top of your list. I think the three west coast companies (DS, DV & MG) make the best paint because they are all still small companies who have consciously stayed small to maintain quality. That doesn't mean there aren't large companies who maintain excellent standards and make lovely paint, just that it's harder when there are corporate pressures :). The huge interest in handmade paints shows that artists are looking for quality and depth in their watercolor paints.

[@1991lyly]

Wow! What a comprehensive and beautiful to look at video! I wish i could put 1000 thumbs up!

[@elsad5680]

OMGosh. Your video of comparing and rating various watercolors in pans and tubes is best I've viewed. You are a truly gifted artist and your watercolor animals are stunning! I have learned so much to make a decision in choosing what brand(s) works me. Thank you.

[@c8Lorraine1]

I’m just beginning my journey. I’ve purchased a set of Meeden watercolour paint, and a set of Paul Ruben basics. I did a swatch test and quickly realised I have a lot to learn. Thank you for your videos. It was a joy to watch you paint the various birds and animals.

[@ladeiroses7526]

Your right when you say that experience with different paints and what you paint can influence which paints you like best. After a year or so using all kinds of different brands of paints, M Graham dropped to like #7 on my list. Schmincke stays #1 for me and Da Vinci #2, Mission Gold #9, Daniel Smith #8, Turner #10, Sennelier #3, Holbein #4. I love all the painting demo's with each brand of paint. Beautifully done.

[@peregrine1]

This was so informative! As a beginner, I've taken so many notes as to which palette, paints, brushes, paper, etc! I don't want to waste money on bad purchases. I think my favorite one to try will be QoR only because I absolutely love loose watercolor painting. Thank you for such an awesome video.

[@Rhodeygirl]

Time for another update.

[@kanupriyavyas1531]

Colors don't matter, talent matters! Loved all the paintings.🤩

[@SathishKumar-pw9fu]

Excellent List!! My Choice would be 1.Daniel Smith 2.M.Graham 3.Schmincke 4.Davinci 5.Rembrandt 6.Qor 7.Sennelier 8.White nights 9.Mission Gold 10.Winsor and Newton

[@leanneland]

When I started watercolour a few years ago I started with Cotman because that’s the only brand of pre-set palettes that Michael’s had. Then I purchased the Winsor & Newton Indigo and Turquoise. Which are nice but since I’ve switched to Qor and I love them! They’re so vibrant and I love the way they disperse in water. I enjoyed seeing your list and have a few other brands I’d now like to try!

[@lindyashford7744]

I adore my Kremers, but they did not make it into your list :-( For sheer usability, and the feeling you never have to be frightened of them, I love White Nights. Did you know they have just released nine 2019 colours? I thoroughly enjoyed your roundup of brands, surprised that W&N made it in part because I initially did not find mine that inspiring, but went back to them after a while and really liked them and still do. I am loving the looser way you paint now it works so well, just great results, and so good to watch your wildlife images develop. Thank you.

[@InLiquidColor]

I only have a few Kremer colors so it's not enough to make a full assessment, but I've heard good things! I did hear a out the new White Nights colors. Thanks for your kind words!

[@ArtistWizardry]

What should you start with? I'd say go for artist quality and, well, what's on sale? lol Paints, for the price you pay and how long they'll last, as well as the joy they bring, makes them not at all expensive. You could spend just as much for a full set on a night out to dinner.. or a couple of nights out. Try them all out and see what you like. Definitely get the best watercolor paper, I think that's really important. You will change as you evolve in skill too, so just keep being curious. I'm partial to M. Graham in both their watercolor and oils... but there are SOOOOOO MANY brands that I love for various reasons. Daniel Smith, Sennelier, Da Vinci, Winsor Newton, Schimke, Holbein, Shinhan Premier, Mission Gold, Yarka (I think it's also called St. Petersburg or White Nights).. hmm.. the list could go on. There are even handmade watercolor paints like from Oto Kano.... so many great choices :). Did you know the great masters used to have to make their own paints and had their own secret recipes? Anyway, a lot depends on the pigment, color, binders, behaviour, granulation... it depends on what you like or prefer or willing to sacrifice for the color, etc. OK, I'll admit, I may be suffering from a bit of collector syndrome. lol But bottom line is physically doing the work. Practicing to get better and better, understanding color mixing, value, temperature, composition...all of that. The work is what makes you great, not necessarily what you buy. I mean, of course it helps but really, you could be phenomenal with almost anything you can get your hands on if you actually develop your skills. FInd your mentors and be with your tribe. Oh, BTW Jackson's Art seems to have the best prices for European paints.. which makes sense. Don't be afraid of ordering from them. DHL delivery has been awesome for me. I did a huge first order (use the affiliate link for the one time 10% discount) and I was shocked my shipment arrived in 3-4 days from .. I think they're in London. MIND BLOWN. Amazon, Cheap Joe's, Dick Blick, Jerry's Artarama.. compare prices, whether or not they'll charge shipping and/or taxes.. these all add to the price and there's plenty of sales out there.

[@danielleb.7055]

Your art is amazing! I love your green tree python (sennelier piece). So beautiful. Have a great day

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

Winnie Newts creeping on to your top 10, huh? You are fair and forgiving unlike me who couldn't believe the $20 price tag on their series 4 tube yesterday. 😤 I am glad you seek out the good while being aware of shortcomings. You are trusted and admired by so many and it is an honor to call you friend. Friend-who-is-insanely-talented-and-intelligent! I am still shaking my head that we got an animal to accompany each brand!! 🤯 You crazy! They were so beautiful showcasing each lucky spot holder. Now rest up before you have to do this again in 2020.... 😂😂😂 Love you!!! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you my dear friend!! I'm lucky have you in my life.

[@---mg9jl]

About White Nights ,ALL Russia use them!

[@joesites2250]

About ten years ago the owner of an art supply store passed away and his daughter just wanted to get rid of everything. She had a box with roughly 350 tubes of Holbein watercolors. I asked her what she wanted for ten tubes and she said, $20 for all of them. I told her what they were worth and she didn’t care. I got those and a set of W&N brushes for $45 🙌I still have about 150 left❤

[@nameissturdy1390]

This is very helpful. I appreciate that you didn’t just swatch the colors, but used them on your own drawings....different ones! You covered so much and answered so many questions. New subscriber.

[@sergetailliez6148]

I love this video and your humour. It was occasion for me to discover new brands and it confirmed my experience for some of them (W&N , DS, Schminke). In Europe, DS is expensive. Other brands would deserve to be evaluated (Isaro, Blockx, Maimeri).

[@mare.vitalis]

thanks for your in-depth, informative videos, denise! you've helped guide me in the world of watercolor so i can make educated decisions when spending my hard earned cash on paints i absolutely love! thank you for your dedication to watercolor! just snatched some stickers from your shop to decorate my palettes with too :)

[@samanthaglorioso8440]

I have been sticking those cute stickers on my sketchbooks too!

[@augustosoruco5378]

Great video :D . I would love to see a list of your favourite handmade watercolor brands. Kisses from Argentina

[@kellytaylor8612]

Please know I greatly appreciated all the time you put into this video! It was very helpful to me as a watercolor artist that is picking up water coloring after many years and feel out of the loop! It has helped me get familiar with current products available! Just FYI I have not painted on a regular basis since the 80s and 90s! Your work is beautiful and inspiring! Thank you!

[@jjsartjourney]

Hi Denise, I have watched this video multiple times as I started learning about watercolors. At first I had gotten Schminke and Sonnelier sets and when I learned of your new set in Da Vinci I had to try it. Man o man! I absolutely LOVE Da Vinci colors and brand!! I noticed that I was leaning 1st towards Da Vinci everytime I painted and my second choice was Sennelier. I wanted to say that I loved your paintings, as I know they take up alot of time, but so enjoyed watching them. And I am grateful for your recommendations. Thanks! 🌟 🤩

[@SarahNewburyArt]

This video was so enjoyable! I love that you did a painting for each paint brand and included so much info too- thanks Denise 😊💙

[@SharonCullenArt]

I am in total agreement with everything you said. And I even mentioned exactly what you said about the high price crappy plastic palette by ds. Why not a metal palette if you're charging a fortune?!! But I am and will always be a ds fan.

[@m.c.5124]

So many Daniel Smith are just useless and not necessary.thanks for sharing your art lady. Your the bomb.

[@ainmi2866]

I'm an absolute M. Graham fan girl so I am looking forward to your M. Graham limited set! The snow leopard portrait is gorgeous as well.

[@mnap1595]

A note on Holbein in 2022 and shopping in the USA: Creating as similar a palette as possible using Da Vinci, Daniel Smith, M. Graham, and Holbein, Holbein is actually on the less expensive end, behind only Da Vinci. Something to consider for future painters looking for paint.

[@InLiquidColor]

I think it definitely depends on where you live! :)

[@mnap1595]

@@InLiquidColor Indeed! I've revised my comment to provide more context. Gouache, on the other hand...

[@nauci]

Loved this update so much! You save the rest of us from some serious hoarding and mistakes. I appreciate your channel SO much!!!

[@carolinagirlcreationz7049]

Excellent video! I'm a watercolor lover and have tried lots of brands too. I have recently, in the past few months, finally tried Daniel Smith and HOLY CANOLIES BATMAN!!!! They are absolutely, hands down, COMPLETELY worth the cost of them. I currently only have 11 colors but I have 5 more on the way and couldn't be more stoked to receive them. Thanks for the video comparing the different brands!

[@pringledust6885]

I just started painting and new to this I so far love watercolor beyond any other kind of paint watercolors is just so beautiful and easy for me to work with for me

[@mementolin]

I know my first professional paints were some W&N, but I went to Daniel Smith and Qor since then. Both have their pros, though I found this video after you Earth Friendly palette video, and I know what I want for my birthday, since I love trying out other brands as well.

[@reoalps2311]

This video is so amazing it's hard to say all the things I want to in one comment! For one..thank you for all the hard work put into this amazing video resource! EVERY painting here is beautiful! And for two, I share my top three spots with you (switched around), M graham, Daniel Smith, and Da Vinci being my Favorite brands ever. Sennelier is a close runner up. Da Vinci has such pretty colors, and some really unique ones, that I just love them! I only wish they had a little honey in them since that's my favorite consistency haha. I greeeatly look forward to this new series, especially the Qor focused one, since I only have one tube of that brand. Once again thank you Denise for this treat of a video!

[@dannytries]

I'm really loving all of your art at the moment!💙

[@InLiquidColor]

Thank you 😁

[@jp8649]

I've only started using watercolor within the last year and started with schmincke, which I like, but don't love. Qor? I adore. I'd probably be a 1. M. Graham 2. DS 3. Qor 4. Schmincke, just shows that these things are a huge matter of preference. I'm sure it'll change as I learn and grow. Thank you for taking the time to do this. My wallet is worried, but my heart is excited for more experiments. I'm a big ol' fan of vibrancy, granulation, flow, and lots and lots of layering.

[@Manara111111]

thank you for the review of all these paints.. when it comes to winsor and newton it is not my fav but it is the easiest to find where I leave. the problem with W&N is that some paint are hard to rewet .. so I found it is very useful to watch full colors swatch in the KZbin and choose from the ones that are easier to rewet

[@jekalambert9412]

I enjoyed your analysis of the various paint brands. You've included brands I'm not familiar with so it was good to hear your opinion of them. Great to hear about the different paint properties and why you prefer or don't prefer certain paints. My favorite watercolors are Holbein. I got a set of 24 tubes for around $40 off of Amazon a year ago. After using mostly Winsor & Newton, I was shocked at how easily Holbein rewetted and the vibrancy of the colors. I do illustration and textile design, so Holbein's non-granular vibrant colors really appeal to me. Unlike you, I enjoy sets that include colors I normally wouldn't choose. I experiment with these new to me colors and find pleasure in discovering mixing them and how I can incorporate them into my work.

[@cassiescreations9828]

Excellent video, beautiful paintings (gorgeous Daniel Smith painting) and simply wonderful and useful information, Denise! Thanks for your hard work. Again, beautiful paintings!!! Love them!!! I like the "harshness" actually - I have great respect for anyone stating the facts, especially when comparing all these brands of watercolor.

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks Cassie! It was really important to me to make sure I added that grain of salt to the DS section so that you all know I don't blindly follow them. I see their downfalls, and still find reasons to love them too :)

[@nadinssh]

Wow, this is hands down the most informative and well made watercolors video I've seen... and I've looked through quite a few the past few days, trying to decide what I should buy. Thank you, this was more helpful than anything else! I love your paintings and pretty swatches you made for every brand, it was a pleasure to watch!!!

[@InLiquidColor]

I'm so glad to hear it was helpful!

[@makeupisluv]

Denise thank you so so much for this video. I love how you went into detail with each specific brand and highlighted how they would work with different styles of painting. And the fact that you created little samples of each brand is incredible. To be honest, I haven't really painted in a while, but I think I enjoy watching your videos more! ❤️

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks so much for your kind words Laura!

[@lilianshen]

Thanks for this lovely video, Denise! All the demos are gorgeous!

[@antoniofiorillo2121]

I suggest you try these brands as well : Rembrandt watercolor by Royal Talens Maimeri blu acquerello Old holland classic watercolor Blockx aquarelles Greetings from Italy

[@mariasvensson9983]

Being from Europe I have the choice between W&N and Schmincke, so this was really helpful! Will be looking forward to your new series, especially Schmincke ;)

[@threesixfiveart563]

That is EXACTLY how I feel about my Schmincke paints!!! They feel totally indulgent for some reason!! (Even more so than some handmade that I have that cost more!)Also... I just found Da Vinci recently and LOVE LOVE them. But yeah... Daniel Smith just has so many wonderful things that can't be found anywhere else.

[@camilladillard3501]

Love your animal portraits😊

[@math7699]

Yessss !!!😍😍 thank you for you work this video is great !😄 and I’m so hyped for your future videos ( I loved the little teaser in the end 😂👍) !!😍

[@fangchick93]

I only use Winsor and Newton for the masking fluid and white gouache.