Review & demo - Sennelier x Billy Showell watercolor set

✒ Materials used in this video
Sennelier x Billy Showell metal set - @jackson’s: bit.ly/2ASHlhA
There's also these! :
Billy Showell x Sennelier Basic Color Set of 6 - @jackson’s: bit.ly/3tHRJCH
Billy Showell x Sennelier Extra Color Set of 5 - @jackson’s: bit.ly/2QfvvKJ
Billy Showell book I'm referencing
@jackson’s: bit.ly/2C24hdD
Royal and Langnickel Zen brush, round, size 8
@Jetpens: bit.ly/2vJGQ73
I bought mine at a local chain, Deserres.
Jackson's Raven synthetic mops :
@Jackson's : bit.ly/2pooSU3
Pentalic Field Book
@amazon.com: amzn.to/2ptpH15
Canson XL watercolor pad
@amazon.com: amzn.to/2pZtAM1
Strathmore Softcover Mixed Media Journal
@amazon.com: amzn.to/2v6PH2a
@jackson's: bit.ly/2vMI2sK
Painter's tape
@Amazon.com: amzn.to/2oF52Gp
@Amazon.ca: amzn.to/2oFk4fA
(Some of these are affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase anything through those links, I get a small percentage back to no extra expense to you. It helps support this channel! :D )
Music :
"Ambiment" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...

[@lorijones9579]

I enjoy the botanical paintings of Billy Showell and Anna Mason. I have separate palettes and brush sets for both and belong to their online schools. Billy uses some wet on wet technique and Anna does no wet on wet at all, though you end up with similar results. Billy uses brush tricks for plant veins and shine, while Anna is all about the patient layering. I have flower paintings, fruits, and so on from their projects that I'm very happy with. There are other online teachers for looser technique, such as Charles Sand's video where he throws colors on the paper and then takes a credit card and makes a fantastic cliff side out of it. Steven Cronin uses the ugliest palette ever of 7 Cotman colors, a Hake brush and a rigger, and does amazing landscapes with them. The Brits know their watercolor.

[@EveBolt]

I had to go check Steve Cronin's work after that description and wow you were right about the palette!! And Cotman colors, too! This is fascinating!! :D Goes to show that it's not the tools that do the magic, it's the artist! I'll have to check the other artists you named as well! Thank you so much! :D

[@lorijones9579]

Graham Berry is also a fascinating painter to me, with his incredibly sunny paintings. Geoff Kersey also does wonderful work. I spend a lot of time on KZbin on the weekends watching painters.

[@ainmi2866]

I'll admit I was a little put off by the colour selection at first but after your thorough review and showing how you could make a dark painting with these bright colours made me want the palette, you completely sold it to me. keep up with the awesome reviews!!!

[@MeowMeowKapow]

Oh my goodness, these paints are so pretty I could scream!!! I really started to appreciate Sennelier when I started using it for portraits, and also for things that work well with layering (like you said) like outdoor close-ups of things. The way you used them for both your pieces is so lovely, and I really enjoyed the progression of the darkness on the cabin, as you built it up step-by-step. Augh!! Why, Sennelier, why must you be so beautiful and desirable?!?! I kind of wonder if it's just cheaper to get these paints on their own and put them in your palette, or if it's cheaper to get the set and keep the tin in case you found a use for it.

[@alinamarcinkowska8317]

Omg the color selection is great. Finally a palette with only primaries.

[@EveBolt]

Yes, it's lovely! A truly nice color selection and great paints overall. :)

[@joyfulldj]

Im rewatching this swatch as I am in doubt of buying the Billy Showell set since it doesn't come in pans. I own the sennelier tin of 12+6 and I figured some are due for refill soon. I am kindof an ODD person when it comes to brands doing a mix and meet thing specially for botanicals since I finally mastert the art of knowing wich granulating paints to avoid. I know most wc pple are in love with that. I personally am not; perhaps due to my style of painting. I like some mild granulation when it comes to background. But it is a royal pain in my behind to paint tiny petals with heavy granulating paints,lol.

[@patm.7322]

Hi Eve! This is one set of paints I actually own : ) I love the colors in it and if it wasn't for this set, I wouldn't have found my love for quinacridone gold. I also find experimenting with other artists' color palettes opens me up to new ideas. Your paintings are beautiful! You have such a wonderful style.

[@EveBolt]

Thank you! :) Sennelier's Quin. Gold is so very lovely, too! I keep a small notebook in which I write down artists palettes and preferred brands and I find it fascinating. It's really informative! :D

[@caitlinjeanne]

The demos you painted with this set are stunning (the bouquet! omg!). I've never done any botanical painting, but my palette looks kind of like this; I like to mix most of my browns and neutrals from bright pigments instead of having earth tones. You really put these colors to the test!

[@EveBolt]

Thank you!! :) My palettes are all over the place, but I don't have that many like this Sennelier one. It was very fun to use :)

[@ezenami]

I love tube boxes because they are a bit larger than 2 pan row boxes but not as huge as the ones with 4 rows. I just rip the tube holders out with pliers and ta da !!!!! Love Sennelier paints too, they really deserve more recognition, they are great glazing paints

[@EveBolt]

They are like the 36 half-pans boxes, I think? It's a really good size, I agree! Sennelier paints are gorgeous, I don't understand why they are overlooked so much!

[@DrawingWithFire]

Great video Eve! 😁 Those are some gorgeous color choices for the set. I love the purples you mixed. I think it's awesome that you did a bunch of flowers & then a very neutral painting. It really shows the versatility of the colors. Granted, like you said there is a bunch if color triads in the set, but it's nice to see the two sides to compare. I have always liked my Sennelier palette.

[@EveBolt]

Thanks Val! :) Is your Sennelier palette mostly pans or tubes? There's a difference in re-wettability that's very noticeable between both.

[@jillshort9241]

Nice contrast between the really bright flower painting and the muted neutrals of the winter scene. Also enjoyed the extra peek at the brownish toned painting ☺️

[@paulage1art]

Great review as always! I love Sennelier for their layering ability! You said the tube holders in the pan are not removable, however, if you start to remove one of the strips of metal you discover you must remove the rest of the contorted metal! With an extreme amount of effort, some expletives, and strong pliers you can remove them. Lol Paula in Florida

[@EveBolt]

Strong expletives are always a great source of strength ;) We have some choice ones here, in our French dialect... I will leave the insert in for now, as I still store the paints in that box. I don't see how practical tubes are for plein air but I love how they dry much easier to rewet than the pans.

[@ianjackson5834]

my local art shop stock a full range of sennelier tube paints and when i want to treat my self i get a tube or two, this week i go the yellow deep and the green earth colours, the green earth as a very light translucent colour load of green that would work well as a tonal shading paint. the yellow deep is a opaque indian yellow to me but is still a great colour. thanks for the video

[@katya_fhs]

I just ordered a selection of 10 Sennelier colors using Jane Blundell's suggestions, and I can't wait to have it in my hands, so I've been searching for demonstration videos like yours in the meantime. I loved your results! I currently own a selection of 17 Daniel Smith colors and I'm eager to try how they behave with the Sennelier. 💜

[@EveBolt]

I hope you'll enjoy the paints, they are lovely :D Thank you! ♥

[@gwensimmons_gigi1629]

Your color chart created some beautiful greens! Thanks!

[@EveBolt]

Thank you! And you're welcome! :)

[@MDCampbell]

My goodness, there's so much incredible content in this video! So amazing and thorough! The set looks fantastic, and your flower painting really shows off the bold and beautiful colors! Love the barn, as it's more my style! Great work, as always! :)

[@EveBolt]

Thanks Mark! :) It was fun to mix the muted colors of the barn from those super bright paints!! Have you painted (and shared) landscapes, or more plein air/observation studies with us?

[@susanyoung1600]

The sectional divider in the pan can be removed. They are not welded in. I used a pair of pliers to rip them out and am using the tin with full and half pans.

[@EveBolt]

Good to know! Though I'll never be one to take a plier to a Schmincke tin, too terrified to ruin the fancy tin!

[@liart6219]

What a colours fest ! I notice I’m very attracted to strong brilliant colours, so I enjoyed watching this a lot. Have to look into the art of Billy Showell. And, the first time I saw your video I had the icon of Lindsay’s poppies field at the sideline and they matched so beautifully:-) . Your paintings was very helpful to understand the versatile of this colours selection. Thanks Eve. :-)

[@EveBolt]

Thank you! :) Lindsay's poppies are so cheerful and colorful! It was a fun painting to watch come together :D

[@priscellarivera83]

I just bought this set along with the 5 additional color set. The colors are beautiful. The only thing I don’t understand is the couple fugitive colors included, I understand those colors can’t be replicated and are colors that are perfect for botanicals, but I wish lightfast subs would have been included instead. I don’t like the thought of working hard on a piece, and knowing some colors will fade.

[@EveBolt]

I think that since botanical illustrations are usually scanned and reprinted, the fact that a fugitive color is part of the painting doesn't bother them as much.

[@pikkuoo]

I love both your paintings! It really shows the strenght of this beautiful palette, how different paintings and moods you were able to render. Lovely mixes too, although surprisingly few greens, considering that this is a botanical set. Thank you for sharing Eve!

[@Donna_G]

Those are some pretty colors. I can see how they would be use for botanical illustrations. I like to paint landscapes for the most part and as long as I can mix up the colors, I could probably make use of them. Thanks for sharing this review.

[@warmyellowshade]

Love the vibrancy of this palette. Looks like a great set.

[@EveBolt]

It's really super bright, a good set to learn to mix colors for sure :)

[@vanessaboman8143]

I love the way you frame your work in your sketch book! I am going to do that from now on! I am following a few floral and botanical artists ...they are so amazing. I love colour and am collecting the paints they each prefer to use.. I am getting so much from doing colour swatches too.

[@Blissfulthings]

Excellent pallet, you can pretty much paint anything from it, I did add indigo and blue violet from my sennelier 98 tube box and permanent rose from my mission gold set!

[@EveBolt]

I'll take note of those two! I don't have them from Sennelier but I'll check it out (and knowing me, they'll end up on the wishlist! hehe!) Thank you! :)

[@Blissfulthings]

Hehe I won't tell 😘

[@victoriadiazart2364]

Thank you! I just bought this palette and I was a bit worried as I’ve never used Sennelier before. Your paintings are beautiful!

[@azzuparis]

Hi Eve, I loved your sketches and the colors are really bright. I still don't really know my favourite colors but this palette it's pretty nice. Thank you for the review 😊

[@EveBolt]

Hello Azzu! Thank you! :) Favorite colors can be an odd thing, like sometimes a color will be part of a palette but never used on its own! It can only happen through experimentation though :)

[@heathercatlady546]

Interesting choice of colors, but it seems to include enough variety for most subjects. Beautiful bouquet and barn. I especially love the atmosphere of the barn. Thanks for the demo!

[@EveBolt]

Thank you!! I agree! It's always a good surprise to find how colors mix into bright, or muted colors. I'm glad I found this "new" grey through the cobalt and orange of this set, it's super moody! :)

[@heathercatlady546]

Eve Bolt - Bolt's Vault That's why I do mix swatches. I can't remember every possible combination. I vary concentration, charging/dropping in, etc., and end up with multiple mixes per swatch. I've actually had fun just making swatches and finding the next interesting texture.

[@brendalogan7940]

Beautiful! You did an awesome job on your video. I liked how you painted flowers and landscape showing the paints will work both ways even though the are geared towards botanical subjects. you paint beautifully. I'm wanting to look into her as an artist - her books and paints. Thanks again.

[@zig_zagcrafts]

Thank you for the review! I was hard to find, and you deffinitely helped me! I'm in love with this palette!

[@EveBolt]

It's a really great mixing palette, one can get so many vibrant colors from it! :D

[@milenabdesign]

I agree, I'd switch the cobalt blue to cobalt teal, and add phthalo green and burnt sienna. I don't like that the metal that holds the tubes inside is fixed, I'd prefer it to be removable. This is me being picky, of course, it's a great palette with great colours! I loved your florals! I prefer a more loose style than the photo-perfect ones, personally.

[@EveBolt]

I love the cobalt blue but not so much ultramarine in general... but since my palette has extra room, I can really just add the colors I want in the few spaces left. I'm a bit sad that the tin has that unremovable tray, it limits its uses. It's not that picky :)

[@brainysmarticus]

I live triads. That's how I arranged my palette. It's gonna be a great set for a beginner. It looks like mine but I do have a green and Earth tones. My Cobalt teal is on its way. I saw the beautiful mixes it can give. I might -will certainly- add it to my palette. :)

[@EveBolt]

Hehe! Cobalt teal is magic! It's such a pretty and useful color! Which green and earth tones did you add to your palette, I'm curious? :)

[@brainysmarticus]

I have the basic yellow ochre, burnt sienna and burnt umber for earth tones. And phtalo for the green. Yesterday I received my paints, I have to play with cobalt teal, naphthamide marroon (which I'll probably add instead of burnt sienna that I don't use that much) and perylene green. And I think I'll add green umber and/or green gold. I have to swatches some more to be sure :)

[@ColoringKaria]

I dont have the set but i do have all the colors and i am so interest in your mixing chart because it looks different from mine! I wonder if did it wrong. well i tend to do to much of one color or another.

[@judihopewell2499]

Watercolour paint is not cheap,so i had to make a decision and went for local producer, daniel smith. Occasionally i will get an odd colour they do not have. Sennelier is not seen much in canada but i am sure it is very high quality if Miss Billy is endorsing these colours and paint.

[@EveBolt]

I really love Sennelier colors, I'm partial to their pans and half-pans. The tube paints are lovely, but they dry a bit too sticky to be easy to carry around :) They almost rewet too well!

[@waymire01]

I just picked up the six tube set because it was a heck of a deal.. $35 for 6 10ml tubes is half price (Jackson's), there is an add on set of 5 you can purchase as well that is the same price break.. It's a split primary set so I just added a burnt sienna to the six tube for easier mixing. This six tube set would be an excellent foundation for any painters palette. The longer I've painted in watercolor the more I have realized you just don't need that many colors.. seven can give me anything without too much struggle (split primary+sienna), if I add a single pigment green it makes things even faster but it's not necessary.

[@EveBolt]

I agree that the Sennelier x Billy Showell sets are a really good deal! And yeah, with just Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow, one can mix almost all the colors. It's just more time-consuming. I'm glad you picked up that set! I love Sennelier's paints and I'm always happy when I see other people enjoying them too :)

[@waymire01]

@@EveBolt Just FYI the add on 5 tube set is different paints than the big set if you ever feel like expanding on the cheap. Titanium White - 116 Quinacridone Red - 679 Permanent Magenta - 680 Blue Violet - 903 Indigo Blue - 308

[@cockatielnation5425]

Just got this palate and am looking forward to using it. Thank you for showing how neutrals can be achieved. I was a bit nervous about that...

[@salvatore7994]

Great palette

[@EveBolt]

I agree! :)

[@65sunnyday]

What an absolutely gorgeous palette! But where's the black, and the white?!? By the way, that bouquet is STUNNING (done without either b/w. It can be done!)

[@EveBolt]

Hehe! Thank you! I don't really like to use black and white paints in my palettes, with the only exception being the occasional black cat... I feel like for a botanical palette, having black and white would make the colors really flat (but maybe that's just me!)

[@creativecolours2022]

This is not a bad colour selection for botanical paintings but: 1/ The original Alizarin Crimson PR83 is the most fugitive colour that exists in this world . It is actually a dye and not a pigment and it fades when it is exposed to light and the oxygen! It can fade even inside sketchbooks. 2/The Quinacridone Gold is not a particularly useful choice for this palette. I'm of the opinion that a Transparent Red Oxide would have been a more useful colour for mixing darks and mute the other colours. 3/ The Dioxazine Purple could be replaced with an Indigo. And that because purples and browns can be mixed with the other colours but purple can not mix deep darks as Indigo does.

[@micabusby6980]

I love to use those colors. I prefer mixed colors to convenience colors as they are more lively.

[@EveBolt]

That's true, especially when mixing neutral colors :D

[@rivieremelanie6200]

Bonjour, pouvez vous prendre une photo de l'arrière des tubes pour montrer le logo ACMI soit : AP ou CL s'il vous plait ? Merci pour votre démonstration ;-)

[@gnostie]

I've never used Sennelier, and this video is one of the very few that even talk about Sennelier. Most of the world is on the Daniel Smith and Schmincke bandwagon these days. Does anybody know any KZbin watercolour artists channels who use Sennelier predominantly? And by the way, since this video is now a few years old, how did those of you who have this set get on with it? Did you use it a couple of times and set it aside? Did you use it a lot? How does the feel of Sennelier compare to, say DS? Lots of questions, I know, but that's because I'm curious about these paints.

[@EveBolt]

This particular selection of colors I didn't use a lot. I have other Sennelier colors and sets and used those more. I find the colors really vibrant and luminous. They rewet really easily, too. And layer really well. I'm not tied to any brand, but I've always had a great time painting with these colors :)

[@chriserica73]

Hi, kimcrick.com does a sennelier lightfast review, you may like to take a look. I love Sennelier watercolours, I live in South Australia & these are cheaper too for me to purchase than W&N etc.

[@creativecolours2022]

Hi! Is it possible to upload somewhere a photo or scan of the mixing chart that you've made?

[@Marxnchill]

That palette looks lile it would be good for me. I would just want to add an opera and a pthalo green

[@EveBolt]

Opera! Such a fun, bright color :D If you like bright colors, it's definitely a good palette for you!

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

Are you sure you're not a botanical painter?? 😗 very nice review and demo!

[@EveBolt]

LOL Tiffany! Remember that part about scientific accuracy? I'm pretty sure they don't mean abstract blobs of color XD Thank you! ♥

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

I see no blobs!! :) :)

[@unikoniiko]

Why dont you place your pallette on the right side so you won't have to continually reach across the screen when making the swatches? The arm was kinda distracting, lol. Really nice review though.

[@EveBolt]

Thanks! Sorry the arm was distracting!I don't really know, that's just how I work! I think it's to avoid swiping my arm in the palette or paint mixes...?

[@unikoniiko]

Eve Bolt - Bolt's Vault Wow I've never heard that, lol. It's kinda painting 101 to keep your palette on the side of the arm that you use to paint so you wont have to reach over your work and risk smudging it. Never seen someone who preferred it on the opposite, haha! But whatever makes you comfortable 😊 It's just a little distracting, lol.

[@EveBolt]

I'm not saying that my preference makes any sense, maybe I'll try to keep it on the side of the arm I paint with, just to see. I'm aware that smudging is a high-risk... lol. I think in the ideal scenario I'd have it in the space above the painting surface, but being short and having a limited space, it gets difficult with larger pieces of paper. It's like that silly thing that happens with my pinky when I paint, I'm not aware I do these things XD

[@unikoniiko]

Eve Bolt - Bolt's Vault Im 4'11 and it usually works out fine for me keeping the palette (pretty large 24 full pan set) on the upper right side of the paper. (I'm right handed) Not above, since I feel like I still have to reach to far that way 😂 but on the higher right side, lol. The pinky thing is actually pretty amusing though, haha! I sometimes do the same when I'm in the zone and feeling the flow! XD

[@EveBolt]

I'll give it a try!! XD I only noticed the pinky while editing my videos, and I'm pretty sure it's to avoid putting it into paint, but it still looks silly. XD

[@PiNumberblocksBasherFan]

Your mixing table is incomplete. There should be another half of it.

[@EveBolt]

The other half is the same mixes, I don't see the need for that :)

[@pychoanalysticRob]

R

[@EveBolt]

..?

[@reaberilla7134]

duh! that stupid house with its windows from east to west