REVIEW: Daniel Smith Ultimate Mixing half pan set plus unboxing, swatching and sample painting

Daniel Smith is a popular watercolor brand and a personal favorite as well. So despite having already collected tubes, I still wanted to have this Half Pan set mainly because of the plastic palette that has the Daniel Smith Logo in it. For me, it is not the best palette design, but the colors selected for the Ultimate Mixing set will save a little from disappointment.
Locally (Philippines), I got my set from : desartroom.com/…/daniel-smith-extra-fine-…/half-pans/
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If you have questions, suggestions or requests, please don't hesitate to comment them down. 😊👇
Happy painting!

[@PaulaBean]

I make a nice neutral gray color by mixing Sepia and Payne's Gray (both from W&N Professional). I call it "Paula's Gray".

[@AllanJayQuesada]

That sounds interesting im gonna try that out. thanks for sharing your recipe Paula. And sorry for my super delayed response.

[@PaulaBean]

@@AllanJayQuesada No problem!

[@MyCrimsonMischief]

You can mix a variety of Earth greens with Quinn gold and pthalo green you *just need to add more Quin gold to get it to be a earthy shade. Daniel Smith's sap green is a combination of those 2 colors.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Yeah, i agree so much! 😊 that is why i am loving this set and quinn gold is always in my sets in any brands. 😊

[@cwestby]

Awesome review and your landscape painting is beautiful!

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Hi Candace. 😊 thank you so much. I hope you could subscribe to my page for more watercolor contents and reviews.😊

[@karenjames5063]

I received this same set a few days ago and am now doing my swatch's and love the beautiful paints.

[@onemig00]

Hmmm. Why do I feel that the tubes/sticks are still the better option, kuya Alan? Ehehehe. Would really like to try the sticks because it's the most eco-friendly (no plastic pan, no plastic cap and steel/metal tube) of the watercolor options.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Hmmm. Hahaha. (i'll write in English ha, so everyone could understand😊). Sticks, tubes and pans, each has edge over the other. Sticks are ok beacuse aside from the fact that it has no metals or plastics, it is ready for painting. You dont need to dry it, and it is very portable. But, how are you going to use it? Are you going to press it or draw using it directly on paper? Yes you may, but I think doing it that way can be hard to control. So the way i see it, and in my experience with the sticks, i still end up cutting it and pressing it in plstic halfpans. One master watercolorist and a Daniel Smith user as well, said that there is or there may be one component in the sticks that is removed or added to achieve that consistency of being rubber like. So it may appear as vibrant and as pigmented as those in tubes, but they are not exactly the same in components. Despite Daniel Smith's claims that sticks and tubes have exactly the same contents, how come the sticks all have same texture (like oil pastels) while tube paints when dried, dry differntly. Like the ultramarine blue, when It dries, it dries like rock. Unlike the graphite gray and chromium green dries so long and when it dries, dries like a gum. I hope youre getting my comparison. Also, why do the sticks have tge same prices unlike the tubes? All sticks in ArtBar are around 750php, while the tubes of 15ml range from arohnd 600 to 1000php? For this half pans set, i only got it for the logo in the palette, as a collector/fan boy. Haha. But, i think it's not so much of a pain for the environment for as long as we will reuse the half pans once the paints are consumed. The pans and the containers are reusable so it must be fine. Personally, i still believe tubes are the best because it is the most versatile in the sense that you still can bring it everywhere, and it is easier to achieve bigger mixes of colors for larger paintings. In pans or sticks, it requires more effort to mix a teaspoon, let' say, of a specific mix. And it's not easy to repeat achieving a certain mix. 😊 So there is my lengthy point over the 3 options. Hehe

[@onemig00]

@@AllanJayQuesada yey! Thank you for the input, kuya. Yes, planning on just cutting them and making my own set. At least no drying time and no plastic. But yes, worth mentioning if they use a different formula

[@AllanJayQuesada]

@@onemig00 thank din.😊 And maybe you could also make review of the set you are to make out of the sticks?😁 In the future, i am planning to collect ds sticks lalo na yung colors na mas mahal pag sa tubes like the genuines. 😊

[@yuillustrationandsketch9677]

Cool yellow such as lemon yellow is rarely used in my palette. Depends on the personal habit. One mid yellow is enough. In this set the only color I dont know what to do with is the very opaque English red .

[@AllanJayQuesada]

yes, that's what I understand from Jane's choice. and it makes sense. haha. i love the Indian red though. haha ]. yes, it's really personal. :)

[@hxsm8090]

I want to ask if the ultimate set is a true half pan, so i can transfer it into some other palette. That case seems like a wasted opportunitu despite the pretty logo.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Yes, it's a true halfpan. Not like from other brands like DaVinci.

[@LeahElisheva]

Very helpful. Thank you 🙏

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Thank you, Leah. 🙏

[@黎铭棋]

What brush you are using? Looks really nice!

[@AllanJayQuesada]

It's an Isabey Travel brush. 😊 🎨 Theyre red sable. 😊

[@mariepelosi23]

Love my Daniel Smith...

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Me too! Daniel Smith will always be my favorite. 😊

[@toshimaga2634]

do you recommend this set for beginners? or should i buy something else that is cheaper

[@toshimaga2634]

or should i buy schmincke which is also about 5k then it has 24 colors

[@AllanJayQuesada]

@@toshimaga2634 to answer if it is advised to use ds if you're a beginner, i think it's ok, especially if it doesnt hurt you pocket that much. Hehe. I believe it is an investment and the paints go along way, and doesnt actually expire or deteriorate (as long as you keep them in a well ventilated room). It rrally depends on you. If you think you are going to enjoy watercolor no matter what, go get the ds. But if youre really 100% beginning now, you can try a good student line. both Shmincke and Daniel Smith are great brands. Personally and for my style, i prefer daniel smith. Colors have more character and the granulation to granulating colors is so adorable. If you want smoother application and more similar behavior among colors, go for schmincke. But where did you find that Schmincke that is only 5k for 24colors? Maybe thats their student line, the Schmincke Akademy? Back to the advantage of this15 color set by Jane Blundell, ive tested it to be very versatille and all colors are top rated in lightfastness. For 5k i think whatbyou really paid is the container that actually doesnt work well as a paplette. Well, forgive me for getting it, because as fan of the brand, i cant resist having my own copy of the golden logo of ds in the palette cover. Hahaha. But yeah, the colros are great. It will be actually more economical in the long run if you get tubes of those colors or you may want to share with me, since i have tubes of these colors. I can hand pour from tubes to pans for you for only 3k.hehe. That's 2k less. I have around 70plus ds tubes and i actually have more in other brands. A. Lifetime isnt enough for me to use them all so im actually sharing or destashing part by part. 😊

[@toshimaga2634]

so ur selling a hand poured set of DS made by you? is it the pans on a pallet or pans only?

[@AllanJayQuesada]

@@toshimaga2634 i put the half pans in a plastic palette that can fit 18 half pans and a brush. They need a container so that it will be safe to ship and rrady for use once it arrives in your place. 😊

[@toshimaga2634]

@@AllanJayQuesada how much would it cost for a 24 colors DS in a metal tin case.

[@deliapadilla7201]

Where did you get Daniel Smith in the ph?

[@AllanJayQuesada]

One is in desartroom. It is in the video description and i also mentioned it. They sell sticks, sets and tubes. I also find ds in fully booked bgc and greenbelt. Thanks! 😊

[@deliapadilla7201]

Allan Jay Quesada thanks! Sorry, I forwarded the video to the colors. Anyway, nice to know that there are Daniel Smith watercolors in the Philippines, and also Arches papers.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

@@deliapadilla7201 no worries!😊 yes, there are also some tubes in ArtBar, not complete solor aet though. Yes there are arches in fullybooked too, butbin roll. Some smaller art stores online aell arches here.

[@luckyianlulu984]

How much did you bought the set sir? Thanks in advance

[@AllanJayQuesada]

That time, it was 5,000+. Now, i believe it 4k plus nalang at DesArtroom. 😉

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Do daniel smith half pans fit into " the Painters Palette" ? Many half pans are to large.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

You mean the Whiskey Painter's palette? Yes, they do. The spaces are wide enough with allowance. 😊

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

No...the painters palette..has cups that slide on and off to become " legs" that fit over leg for plein aire...has spots for 12 pans and a brush..dont know how to describe , i think teoh did a review.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Called portable painters palette

[@AllanJayQuesada]

@@marjoriejohnson6535 oh yeah. The portable palette. I did a sort of review about it, long time ago, 2018 i guess. And brought it in my Bali vlog. Yes, i does fit in there but fits tightly. If you want to remove it, you'll have to use a tool like sort of a palette knife. For me, it's fine.

[@ralvindizon1140]

Sa totoo lang di ko trip ang palette design ng DS.. Hindi sya flat sa mesa.. Walang harang yung mixing tray nya.. Sino bang kaseng nagdesign nyan hahaha.. Mas maganda pa yung palette ng W&N pocket set cotman, Van Gogh set, L&F Linel WC set at yung Marie's WC set haha.. OK na OK yung paint ng DS of course... Pero yung palette kailangan I redesign ito..

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Totoo! hahaha. angdami ngang nega na comments sa palette ng DS. sana gumawa ng sila ng maayos ayos, kasi top brand sila e. ANong Linel mo sir yung tubes or in pans?

[@ralvindizon1140]

@@AllanJayQuesada yung pans sana .. Kaso ubos na raw yung stocks sa TOPS...

[@marsbeads]

For the money, I don't think it's worth it. I returned mine. I'll continue to buy my own Daniel Smith half pans. Jane's gray is a mixture of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna : ). I love your little paintings.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Oh, thank for calling it out. Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine blue equals Jane's Gray. My bad. Yeah, practically, it is more economical to make your own half pans from the tubes. It was just the fanboy in me that wants this set and the curiosity for the container. 😅 Thank you for noticing my little paintings. 😊

[@marsbeads]

Allan Jay Quesada I hear you. I was excited too, but was so disappointed I returned it. I buy my half pans already poured from a seller on Etsy called mysequineye. That way it’s more economical for me. 😊. Love your channel. Great work.

[@AllanJayQuesada]

@@marsbeads oh that's good to know. Independently poured paints are always more economical than the commercially produced paints. 😊

[@FuriedHearts]

I'm cringing watching you mix paint on the awful slanted lid

[@AllanJayQuesada]

Hahahah. Yeah, it is really awful and they could've done better in the palette design. But, I've also learned to adjust myself using it. 😉