REVIEW! Sakura Koi Watercolors Pocket Field Sketchbox | 12 Colors

Is the Sakura Koi Watercolors Pocket Field Sketchbox your new game changer? Let's find out!
Reference photo from my personal collection: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/42ph0t...
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Sakura Koi Watercolors Pocket Field Scketchbox: amzn.to/3Ru4oYS
Bee Watercolor Paper: amzn.to/4essqNM
Show Theme Music: Charles Shomo, Caffeine Creed Band "Forest Trail"

[@zitaocarroll4925]

Just beautiful ❤❤

[@artonthecreek]

Thank you so much!

[@JoAnneSmith-di8ok]

Beautiful painting! Thank you for the mixing tips.

[@artonthecreek]

Thank you JoAnne! I’m happy you gleaned some helpful info from this review!🫶🏼👩🏻‍🎨🎨

[@craftykat]

Your painting is gorgeous! i got a bigger Sakura Koi set on Amazon a few weeks ago; marked down to under 11 dollars Canadian (from 45). I really love it! I'm like you and lose caps and little parts, almost immediately, lol.

[@artonthecreek]

Thank you! I’m happy you got such a good price! Actually they are such affordable sets it’s almost crazy to NOT have one! 😆 Oh my gosh I am hopeless with small parts! Really happy I’m not the only one!😂🩷😂❤️😂❤️ (Luckily I did find the cap when I was tidying up😇)

[@michaelbusby1802]

Love the cute little palette! Your photos are great. My older iPhone (4 year old) camera can’t do closeups very well. I do have a good digital camera but too heavy to lug around. ~ Kathy

[@artonthecreek]

Thanks!! I still have my SLR camera 🩷 In fact it’s funny you mentioned that-while at the Gardens I was remembering how cumbersome the “real” digital or SLR cameras are and how happy I was that in that 90° + heat I had only my phone to take pictures!

[@INCWorks]

I like the palette design - nicely compact but with mixing space - which I imagine would be great for traveling. I'd like to see Derwent change the dimensions, however, so they can include a regular waterbrush that doesn't require dismantling to fit.🙄

[@artonthecreek]

lol yes, Irene! Perhaps we need to start a “bring back the brush” campaign!!😁🤓 This Koi palette feels like the same plastic used in the Derwent pan sets but just a tad more rigid💪🏼

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

I just love your work. And sometime I would really like a landscape from you. The lovely sweet flower that you sent to me hangs in my bedroom where I can see it everyday and it reminds me of the beauty and encouragement that you provide for all of us. When I got my first pan of watercolors I decided to avoid koi because of reviews I had seen. Hearing from you that they have a powdery finish and are very streaky makes me glad I did skip it because I am such a perfectionist. The fact that I am a colored pencil artist who does realistic animals causes that perfectionism I think. I'm thankful that when I paint an acrylics I can loosen up a little bit and now painting in watercolor is allowing me to let go of so much tension that I gather when I get to Lost in the details. You are such a big part of me being able to find that freedom thank you again

[@artonthecreek]

You’re so very welcome, Amber Marie! I’m happy you’re enjoying my art and tutorials - thank you! 🩷 I do have a few landscape tutorials up! Here are links to a few of them. The Pikes Peak is my personal favorite: Flatirons in Boulder, CO: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpalc2mvadiBj9Usi=555LDK4h-kdZUhNq Roxborough State Park: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqWon3mVfr5rrKssi=j7z_sZj1GnmNs5z6 Colorado’s Maroon Bells: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKu3nH2ibqyJgMUsi=8Iz6lO6BGUYMU62Z Pikes Peak: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKPLd6KohtR-btksi=TUW8ohozhTnA4oh5 Yes, the Koi Watercolors are intended for hobbyists. Often times I will use hobby- or student- grade paints en plein air if they are good enough to paint with, as my plane air work often stays in sketchbooks and lightfastness is not a factor. For the price & its portability, this little set really fits the bill! I am striving to find the patience to work in colored pencil-I’m not there yet! Happy you like the little painting I did for your card😁💜

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

@@artonthecreek I am so backwards when I do things for some reason I start in the hard things and then move to the simpler and then I find a new hard one in my case I started with oils and graphite and then moved to colored pencil and then acrylic and then watercolor 🤣 I don't know if that's because I'm Sicilian or because I'm a redhead or a combination of the two 😆

[@artonthecreek]

@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies 😆 Watercolors are not an easy media to learn! I’m a firm believer that we are drawn to art media that appeals to us as patrons of art. Lately I’ve been creating in ballpoint pen and even Crayona crayons, so go figure!

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

@@artonthecreek I get in those same moods I have every single color of Crayola they make LOL 😆

[@artonthecreek]

@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies that’s awesome!!

[@anitadavidson1266]

Lovely painting Ann. Oddly, the Sakura Koi paints are way more expensive in the UK, not sure about the rest of Europe though. They are so pricey that I have ignored them as I was aware they were more of a hobbyist paint. Obviously, it makes sense to use them if the price is good, but for me, I will pass. They are more expensive than Cotman and some of the Van Gogh sets. How crazy is that? Many thanks as ever for your taking the time and spending the money, so us viewers don’t have too. ❤️👩🏻‍🎨🖌️🎨

[@artonthecreek]

That is crazy! I’m glad this gave you a window into what you are (likely not) missing! I find it so odd that, for example, Holbein is so expensive here (not watercolors, oddly) yet so affordable in other countries. The powers that be, methinks, are not artists!

[@christinewhitacre9287]

I’ve never used a KOI set. I do like how it is displayed in that case, that’s convenient for sure. Not a bid fan of the break apart water brush. I may at some point try the paints. Have you tried Micador paints?

[@artonthecreek]

Hi Chris! Yes, I have tried Micador! To me they feel like they are dye-based, because the vibrancy of the paints is almost too bright. The pans are also very hard and need prepping to re-wet. I should probably do a review on those because they do have a lot of pros and cons!

[@NYSeaNile]

I got this as my first ever palette a month and a half ago. I’ve done a drawing/painting a day. Used the hell out of it so far. Do you have any recommendations on something more intermediate thats a step from this kit ? Or do you recommend buying tubes and building your own pallet.

[@artonthecreek]

Hello! I’m so happy you’ve really gotten your money out of this palette! I always recommend to my students to start with either Winsor Newton Cotman or Paul Rubens. If you are curious, here are some affiliate links: Winsor & Newton Cotman: amzn.to/4bjkxHm Paul Rubens: amzn.to/4cceUfC Both have many different options available. Once you get the actual physical palette that you are happy with, then there’s no need to buy new palettes. Although I do collect them!🥰 Simply refilling your existing palette with Winsor & Newton Cotman or Paul Rubens from the tubes is always an option. I would say get whatever is easy to get in your area & is within your budget. To segue into professional paints, you might be interested in the Rosà Gallery watercolors, which also come in many varieties and the pans are also sold individually (tubes available as well): amzn.to/3RHiBS I hope that helps! Happy painting!

[@NYSeaNile]

@@artonthecreek im definitely not ready for professional paints nor am I willing to pay the $5-$7 per tube. I ended up buying a newton cotman tube set and made an altoids palette that came out so sick today after reading your comment. I was looking for something smaller as I love going out fishing and painting the scene as I wait for bites. I will keep using this palette and refilling it for home use once its done with professional paints when the time comes, as its a little bulky to use out on the field for me personally. Thank you for the input and fast reply I really appreciate it. The $20 tip today helped with this build I would love to show it to you.

[@artonthecreek]

@NYSeaNile that is awesome! I’m so happy to hear you figured out a good solution! I love the small tins-I’ve been saving several to make custom palettes❤️ Hope you find the sweet 🎣 🖌️🎨spot on your next adventure! Angling and plein air sounds just about perfect 🤩 You can always DM me on Instagram or send me an email💜