The Surprising Results of Sennelier Pro vs Student Watercolors.

We're pitting the professional-grade line of Sennelier watercolors against the student-grade line and you might be surprised. Check it out! This is the Aquarelle line versus the La Petite Aquarelle line.
#SkyIsTheLimitArtChallenge
Hi! I'm Miranda Watson and I create fun art videos on this channel twice a week. I do a fun art subscription box every month, plus many other fun art-related projects. My passion is watercolor and water-based media. Subscribe to my channel if this appeals to you, and hit the All Notifications on the Bell to be notified when I upload a new video. A Like on this video if you enjoyed it also helps me out. Thank you for spending your time with me today, I appreciate you!
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VIDEOS AND CHANNELS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
‪@DenaTollefson‬
1st video with La Petite Aquarelle: • Sennelier La Petite Aq...
Acquiring the Aqua Mini palette: • SO MANY Art Subscripti...
Mexico watercolor retreat: • WATERCOLORS in MEXICO!...
Making the Sennelier palette: • PAINTING with NEW WATE...
Lightfast Playlist: • Lightfast Tests
Finishing my A4 sketchbook: • Watercolor Sketchbook ...
Dot Card playlist: • Dot Card Paintings
VanGogh Palette video: • Customizing a Watercol...
SUPPLIES USED IN THIS VIDEO (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Sennelier La Petite Aquarelle Wood Box Set: amzn.to/43C957n
Sennelier 12-Tube Watercolor Set with Metal Palette: amzn.to/35G2A7f
Sennelier Bright Red, 10ml: amzn.to/3x4AMF6
Sennelier, Cadmium Yellow Light, 10ml: amzn.to/3A4cgG9
Sennelier Aqua Mini Watercolor Palette: amzn.to/425Fu4H
Etchr 100% Cotton Sketchbook, Set of 3, Sizes A4, A5 and A6: amzn.to/2TnLisk
Pinstriping Tape: amzn.to/3qf5ee8
Princeton Aqua Elite Watercolor Brushes: amzn.to/3lLHoaH
Lindsay Weirich’s Brush Set (Craftamo): www.craftamo.com/products/lin...
JACKSON'S ART LINKS:
Sennelier La Petite Aquarelle Wood Box Set: bit.ly/41oKr8M
Sennelier Watercolors: bit.ly/3GUMPM1
Sennelier 12-Tube Set of Watercolors: bit.ly/3WT4WHg
Etchr Products: bit.ly/3Jz1AX8
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[@BeckyTregear]

I'm so glad you've done this so I don't have to get the La Petites! Thank you for the really useful comparison, as I've always wondered how both ranges compare with each other. It's not like the petites are bad, but the pro paints are clearly superior. As I knew they would be, haha. The Phthalo Blue and Payne's Grey!!! 💙 It really shows the differences in the two paintings as well....awesome stuff!

[@joellefabbri]

the difference in the dark is remarkable

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Right?

[@joellefabbri]

@@MirandaWatsonArt i'm curious about your big test, i won't buy just expensive paint, but if certain colours from certain brands stick out, that's good to know

[@diamondslashranch]

Sennelier is a very old and reputable firm and I have been using their watercolor paint for years. As we all know the pigment level is usually what the price is based on. In my experience the professional line is much more pigmented than the student line but even their student line is better than a lot of other companies Artist quality. Enjoyed the video.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Nicely put. Thank you 😊

[@INCWorks]

Thanks for making this video! I have only a handful of Sennelier watercolors, so it's really helpful to see these paints demonstrated, especially in comparison with their student line.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

You're welcome; I'm glad it was helpful!

[@jillwiswall5386]

Great comparisons! I think the petite Aquarelle are very nice for student grade, though I can see exactly what you mean about the darks and the struggles with them that you mentioned. Those are two lovely pieces, and I prefer the color saturation of the professional side. It was neat to see the two develop beside each other!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks, Jill; this was a fun one!

[@erickreichmann3062]

I have the tubes from both the student and profesional and they definitively dry different. The student grade dry completely and the profesional remain tacky to the touch. So I would say definitively different binders. Also the profesional have the picture of a bee whereas the student line doesn't.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Ah, good info! Thank you.

[@bblossomstudioinwatercolor]

These comparisons were equally fun and very useful! I'm taking notes on how you back light those trees, especially going from orange to yellow. I love it.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thank you; I'm glad it was useful. I had a lot of fun painting these. 🖼

[@ginabadeaux9319]

thank you this was fun,i have 2 sets of the student paints very good price ,mine are in tubes ,i like them but havent used them alot only because like you i have ever so many paints ,many student and alot of professional,i love all of them ,great video ,i love the nature you live in ,i wish i could live out in nature im in a city ,my goal is to get out with water and trees to plien air paint,

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Living in this area IS really nice. It's so pretty here. And quiet and peaceful. Yeah, it's hard to use all of the paint we have because there's only so much time in the day. But it's fun to try!

[@E4Alabbasy]

Wow O didn't realize how different they were. I actually love cotman watercolor because they are not as strong and tainting as professional watercolor, as a beginner they were easier for me to use and make mistakes and fix them, but having such a light Payne's grey hurts my heart 😩 but at least you can use it as a grey 😅 Thank you for the comparison and I lived the clouds in your paintings 😍

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Interesting about the Cotman being easier for you to learn with! I never thought about that before... Thanks, E4!

[@Davy.J.Y]

Hello there, this is a great looking watercolor artwork. Wonderful entry into the Sky is the Limit art challenege.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thank you. 😊

[@DenaTollefson]

Hi Miranda! Wow there is a big difference between the student grade and the professional grade in the darks (other colors look great!) Yes, that cobalt blue hue is gorgeous. I love the two paintings you created for the challenge, Miranda! So neat to see the side by side comparisons. I have added your wonderful video to the Sky Is The Limit Art Challenge Official Playlist. Hugs to you my friend

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks, Dena! It was fun to have a few paintings with clouds in them to add to the challenge.

[@DenaTollefson]

@@MirandaWatsonArt I love to see how you interpret each challenge prompt. Miranda you are always a delight to watch

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

@@DenaTollefson aw, thank you. ♥

[@dianethoroughman9541]

Hi Miranda, I am not first. 😅 But, I tried. I like the Sennelier paints. You know, when I look at the student grade paint swatches and painting separately from the professional, I can't tell a difference. But, next to each other, the difference is obvious. I have the aqua mini set. Thank you for posting puppy videos.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

You tried! Love it. Yeah, they're pretty good on their own, thank goodness. The aqua mini set has a great color selection!

[@loveandlife4222]

Fun video ~ thanks Miranda! I have the professional grade Sennelier and think it’s a wonderful paint. I don’t have a problem with the honey base. I always keep it on hand to give to my granddaughters, daughters, daughter-in-laws that want to watercolor. I feel it’s so much easier to learn with professional paints and paper.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I agree - having nice paint makes the process more enjoyable no matter what level you're at!

[@sfoss9470]

I just bought the student line in the travel box and it states right on the box that there is honey in it.

[@PaintinHiding]

i love the painted wood box now :D

[@jennw6809]

Schmincke French Ultramarine is super granulating! So I consider this a brand by brand difference.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Ah, interesting!

[@SeaSoulArt]

What a beauty! Incredibly beautiful sky!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thank you. 😊

[@threehorsez]

This was extremely useful. Thank you so much.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

You're very welcome!

[@rhemasartspace]

This is a really good guide, especially I still haven't had Sennelier paints yet because they are sooooo expensive 😅 But this just shows how good this product is. Both student grade and professional grade have good results, but the latter have stronger dark pigments. I love that ❤

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks - I'm glad it was a useful video!

[@cj_kirby]

Thanks for showing how to pull those rails out of the metal tin. Sometimes there is so much wasted space in the tins with those rails. Not so bad if you can squeeze some pans in the middle but better when there are no rails IMO. I use magnets on the back of my pans anyway and do not really need the rails. More colors in the palette is a good thing. 🙂

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Oh, you're welcome; I'm glad it helped! Yeah, I always like to make my palettes more useful. 😀

[@Elvraie]

Very eye opening! I have only a few of the professional Sennelier and I like them. (Your pronunciation is excellent). The paintings are beautiful and the box redo is impressive. Have a great weekend, Miranda.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks, Valerie!

[@debsmith7050]

I have the sennelier aqua mini watercolor set so I guess that is the professional one.... I'll go back and use it again; I really did not give it a good try :) I really appreciate your comparisons. TY

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I'll be curious what you think of them again.

[@NanaBeth1]

This was really interesting. Got to say I would have been very disappointed in the student grade. I also didn't like the weak earth colors in the professional ones. But big kudos to Sennelier for good construction on their palette. I was trying to get he pans in my Opacity palette to stop sliding around while watching the video. Accidentally snatched the pan holder out of the palette with just my thumb and one finder when I tried to squeeze it tighter to hold a pan. I like both pictures. The colors played so nice. Glad you enjoyed painting with them. Oops forget to tell you I got the Rembrandt Sepia-it's gorgeous!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Oh no on your palette, lol! Ironic that mine was so hard to get out. Yea on the Sepia!

[@NanaBeth1]

@@MirandaWatsonArt Do you have a staple remover? Not more old age brain fog. Putting some filled pans in small plastic bags & want to staple labels on them Think it would be safer that using straight pins.

[@K.ART_vlog]

very nice ❤️

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks. 🙂

[@artonthecreek]

Interesting that the student grade Ultramarine is more Granulating! I love Sennelier professional for plein air. The honey in the binder makes them so easy to rewet here in CO. I like M Graham for the same reason-but, like you, I use many different brands for different reasons ❤ Love the comparisons! Thanks gif doing this!

[@Kyomiibrown]

I love your pups (and art.) 😊

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thank you. 😊

[@snuuby5468]

The tin of the 8 professional grade paints has a colour French Vermilion. It is too bad that you didn't show that colour. It is one of the Sennelier favourites in their watercolour paint line. It is one of my favourite colours of all the professional brands I own. I am not an orange colour fan but the French Vermilion is a beautiful pink coral when it is diluted with water.

[@InvokeArtSense]

Hi Miranda. How are you? Those paints look amazing.

[@InvokeArtSense]

It’s been forever.

[@InvokeArtSense]

Thank you for reaching out to me before.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Oh my gosh, Hi, how are you??? It's so good to "see" you here again. I'm doing great. I hope you are as well. Hugs!

[@InvokeArtSense]

@@MirandaWatsonArt I’m doing well. It’s a long story but I don’t have any art supplies but I’ll get the mini set of sennelier soon to get back into art. You’ll see me more often now. ❤️

[@InvokeArtSense]

@@MirandaWatsonArt hugs back 🤗

[@ritaputatunda]

Wow, the difference in the darks is quite obvious.. I found this very instructive, although acrylics is my main medium.. Dena's art challenges are a great way meet artists like you.. ☺

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks, Rita! I'm still trying to work my way through the playlist...

[@ritaputatunda]

@@MirandaWatsonArt Hi Miranda, you're welcome.. Yeah, it takes time but such fun going through the playlist.. I'm about half way done ☺

[@jennw6809]

I have no idea about Sennelier paints... I only have one random tube I bought for some reason. But logically, honey is a lot more expensive than glycerine, and they do the same job. Glycerine is a rewet agent, not a binder. I'm sure they use gum arabic for that like everyone else. No reason to put both honey and glycerine in the paints. And if they DON'T say honey, I'm sure there isn't any. I do love the sennelier paints on the cerulean and pyrrol red dotcards I got from Oto Kano. Someday I might try some more.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Makes sense! Thanks, Jenn!

[@eileenvalachovic9435]

Love your art. Found comparison very interesting and informative. There is a big difference between my artist grade Windsor and Newton tube paints put in a pan versus my artist grade half pan (from company). The tube paints rewet SO much faster. Not sure if that's why they feel more intense. Wonder if you'll notice differences over time between the Sennelier tube paints in your pans versus their pan paints. Thank you for this video (and all of them).

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

That's something I'll have to keep in mind as I use them - very interesting. Since my original 14 are from tubes, it should start to be pretty obvious as time goes by if there's a difference between the tube formulation and the pan. Everyone always tells me the pans are easier to re-wet than paint dried from a tube, especially with Winsor & Newton, so this is intriguing...

[@snuuby5468]

I wonder if the Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber are the Raw versions of their colours. I don't the pigment no. for these paints. I did find the same problem with both these paints as well.

[@cj_kirby]

I heard Lindsay mention in one of her videos this week that one of her Craftamo brushes she was using had a loose ferrel. I don't recall which brush it was.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Ah, interesting! I'm a bit behind on her videos...

[@reneecailloux2573]

When I started watercolor, my husband spoiled me with Sennelier (French oblige ;-) and I fell for these beautiful colors, so vibrant, especially the rose Opera. For me they are the best. I'm probably biased, especially is you're American, then it's Daniel Smith for you 🙂

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

They are vibrant and beautiful.

[@sherryfurr9115]

After painting for two years with every brand made, I have decided to make Sennelier my primary palette. These paints are just elegant!

[@awatercolourist]

First!