Top 8 Watercolor Colors

** Supplies I used **
+ Bockingford 300gsm CP watercolor paper www.jacksonsart.com/bockingfo...
+ Pro Arte Prolene Plus size 12 round brush www.jacksonsart.com/pro-arte-...
+ Pro Arte Prolene Plus size 10 round brush www.jacksonsart.com/pro-arte-...
+ Quinacridone Rose (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsart.com/daniel-sm...
+ Phthalo Turquoise (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsart.com/daniel-sm...
+ Quinacridone Coral (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsart.com/daniel-sm...
+ Bordeaux (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsart.com/daniel-sm...
+ Marine Blue (Holbein) www.jacksonsart.com/holbein-w...
+ Phthalo Blue Yellow Shade (Holbein) www.jacksonsart.com/holbein-w...
+ Aureolin (Holbein) www.jacksonsart.com/holbein-w...
+ Transparent Red Oxide (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsart.com/daniel-sm...
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** My PO Box **
Oto Kano
PO Box 24120
Edinburgh
EH7 9FB
United Kingdom
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[@patriciatolliver4057]

Patty- some of my favorite colors are Burnt Sienna, Delft Blue, scarlet Red, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Sap Green, Hooker's Green, most vieolets/purples and recently Payne's Grey

[@amikap2142]

Time stamps for quick comparison of the end cards (to see the different mix results): 2:02 Quinacridone Rose (Daniel Smith) 3:35 Pthalo Turquoise (Daniel Smith) 5:24 Quinacridone Coral (Daniel Smith) 7:29 Bordeauz (Daniel Smith) 9:32 Marine Blue (Holbein) 11:05 Pthalo Blue (Y.S) (Holbein) 13:24 Aureolin (Holbein) 15:32 Transparent Red Oxide (Daniel Smith)

[@watercolourartincapetown2919]

Thank you!!

[@sandrawhitman3389]

Gracias

[@InLiquidColor]

All the phthalos! Add some quins! Roll it out! This was a fun list to watch Oto! Thanks for sharing. I really have to try DSs trans red oxide. Those jewel tones are so awesome!

[@OtoKano]

It is a beautiful color :D I am sure you'd love the color mixes, that and the transparent brown oxide. Thank you so much for watching Denise :)

[@ni-kingtaehyunjkyoongs2758]

Also known as colors I should try

[@elaineg60]

Oto, I came across your channel after a young lady who I get “1/4 or 1/2” pan samples from highly recommended you. Short; I’m older, no real formal art training in my past..microbiology and medical school yes..art, regretfully, no. But, I have dabbled over the years with everything from simple sketches, ink paintings before I knew it was a “thing”. 7yrs ago my late son took my ink painting of his horse when he was young, to a family gathering of a close friend..outside Chengdu. His friend’s 85yr old grandmother, Lili, (or nainaiLaoshi), spent 30+yrs teaching Chinese art and culture here iN THE US before returning to retire in China in her mid-70’s. I knew I was in trouble when I received a 4am FaceTime with her and my precious son. She was gruff at first, but assured me I would be painting Seal style characters within months...AND THEN we could move on to “flowers and birds”, other animals in the future. I was VERY, VERY concerned and remember actually checking my prescription bottles to make sure I hadn’t overdosed on something. Those 3-5am phone calls became very regular after I received my first box from her and her kids..and grandkids. I just wish I’d spent more time learning painting rather than being completely mesmerized by Chinese history, culture…and language. In the first box, along with ink sticks, liquid, stones, water droplet things, brushes, paper and both Marie’s AND traditional chips…oh, AND color ink sticks which I happily replaced with derwent inktense..mainly because I didn’t want to mess up the intricate carvings on them. My Son had several seals made for me, plus he sent an antique one that basically says “ink is a graceful dance”. The books she sent were in Chinese..”ok, let’s get started then, we have MUCH to do in a short period”. We were struggling against her failing health and my own; including my vision. Unfortunately, shortly before the pandemic and my son returning, Lili went into kidney failure and proudly called and said she’d beat my ONE kidney, now it was my turn to START educating people “just like your fine Son, through actions more than just words..unless you have to. Us old folks are usually better at running our mouths rather than our hands and feet”. A few months later, they moved her into a “resort” and we have mainly only spoken on holidays. Mid-Autumn festival a few months ago, she called from a hammock, between to palms, next to a stream outside her room. Resort indeed! Last year when my Son died suddenly, she was first on WeChat, then the phone, imparting her 92+ years of wisdom..and sympathy. A close friend of the family and my son, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk, sent me and my girls, beautiful, blessed, silver Tibetan urn necklaces to always have my boy near our hearts. Next year, my girls are hoping to take some of his ashes to his beloved adopted country…AND Nepal, possibly Ireland. In less than 32yrs, my son had traveled around the world, as he and his Chinese and Nepalese friends installed solar panels and sometimes cell towers, to remote impoverished..as he said, “forgotten or ignored” villages on most continents. In return, they helped them begin Fair Trade businesses with handicrafts that all of us promoted. Unfortunately, the past almost 3 years they had to focus on small villages in China..with a few border towns also benefiting. Ok, long story over..since my Son died, I began spending more time painting. My dear best friend, also a former art professor, but in Western painting; suggested we begin experimenting with “fusion” of East and West, styles and materials, to honor CJ’s legacy. After she saw me playing with different mixes, (mixing either Chinese gold or silver ink (I actually prefer Kuratake for this), with super granulating paints with different inks..my friend Liz said my kitchen looks more like the lair of a mad scientist..that MAYBE I should have….(instead of the several years I worked in a “spacesuit” in a Level 4 lab 🤷🏼‍♀️😂). My absolute favorites? A deep, but vibrant moss green (combining 3 of the rather redundant greens in the Schminke sets), heavily granulating..with just a tiny drop of Kuratake gold ink! Absolutely PERFECT for subtle highlights in my Chinese landscapes! The color I was working on before my most resent visits to our local hospital this past week? A sea-green/turquoise with just a TOUCH of silver..for two paintings I have sketched out..one in a more traditional Chinese/Sumi style; the other, because of the washes, using mainly Western styles and materials..except for my brushes. After 7 years using only Chinese brushes, I’m just not a fan of, even “the best” western brushes. Just as an aside..I am currently being evicted..my landlords are more than doubling my rent, and now on social security, I can’t afford it. We are still looking for a place near my nurse practitioner daughter in Buffalo-which I’m VERY excited about, mainly because of a large Chinese diaspora there, and a VERY active art community! My best friend and her hubby are actually hoping to join me when he retires next year! They insist, after they lived in Harbin China for 3 years; that I WILL get used to the occasional 77inches, like last week. My VERY southern daughter disagrees and almost decided to return to Florida last week..she’s changed her mind. “We never had anything like snowball fights or sledding and snowboarding right outside the hospital doors..when we had to move into the hospital for hurricanes!” She’s learning…I’ve been here in the Poconos for over 18yrs, you get used to the snow. Besides, you can always put more clothes on when it’s windy and below zero outside. When it’s 100deg F with 99% humidity for weeks on end down south….there’s only so many clothes you can shed in public back home. Painting and playing “mad scientist” are my escapes in between packing, filling out applications, and trips to the hospital. A few days ago, a nurse came into my room asking if I have a Chinese grandmother (uh oh, I thought, here we go again..she has called and yelled at my nurses for taking my ink away in the past). This new nurse then brought in a small pot of chrysanthemums..from a place in NYC (about 90min from here), with a brush and Chinese paint chips stuck in with the beautiful flowers..telling me “get to work, they AREN’T THAT HARD!” In Chinese..but the label was both in Chinese & English saying it was from my Chinese grandmother and family. Poor girl was so confused…but then she said “wait! You’re blind, how do you paint?” I’m legally blind, not completely, and that’s another reason for moving to Buffalo. My daughter found a doctor who’s positive he can help extend, if not drastically improve, my eyesight. I DO have a question after all this. One of the paintings I plan on doing is a beach scene from the almost white fine Sandy beaches of my late father’s hometown in Daytona Beach..AND/or the beaches he frequented in later years up near Panama City. At 93, he was taking his kayak out on rough Gulf waters, to fish not far from shore. I would LOVE to know if you have a suggestion for a granulating barely beige-white…that doesn’t look chalky (Rembrandt titanium bluff looked like an opaque, VERY chalky white gouache..it was a stark contrast to the other colors I used for the water, waves, pier, dunes & sea oats, and sky..TOO STARK!). I tried diluting it, it just did NOT look “right”..certainly nothing like the glimmering sand on these beaches. Any ideas?

[@geckonia]

Not just beautiful colors... but good reasons to use them too. I love it when you read the Daniel Smith descriptions. 😊

[@OtoKano]

awww so glad you like my voice overs, thank you geckonia :D

[@valerielake1674]

I really love the intensity and vibrant colors of DS. My favorite is Quin, magenta. Isn’t it interesting how color can tickle the senses!

[@OtoKano]

You are so right. They really do tickle your senses and you fall in love with them! Color loves are the best loves ❤️

[@Dan.B.Artist]

Yes I have grown to love Aureoline thank you for recommending it!

[@OtoKano]

So glad you've grown to like it Dan :D

[@Gianemakeup]

I loved how your voice brought me peace and relaxed me while I thoroughly enjoyed your video. You’re so knowledgeable! Thank you so much ❤️

[@leah-halliwell9272]

Love the variety of colors you get when you mix quinacridone rose!! 😍

[@OtoKano]

It's soooo nice :D

[@RowanBlake]

I don't understand how a yellow can be cool and a blue can be warm. I guess I have a lot to learn lol. Beautiful colors.

[@jo-yy7ni]

blue can have red/green bias. yellow can have green/red bias, it makes them either warm or cool. cmiiw

[@zibbyzoo4379]

I absolutely LOVE to watch videos like this and I learn so much whenever I watch one of your videos. Thank you!

[@OtoKano]

Aw I am so glad you enjoyed the video Heidi, thank you for watching :D

[@barbaraverser1056]

Holbein's Marine Blue takes my #1 color position. It's so beautiful on its own and in mixes. Gotta try that Bordeaux! Thank you for this and for all your swatch-outs!

[@kimleon-guerrero9980]

Thanks for sharing your favorite colors. Really gorgeous, I love color so much. I see some of my favorites too. 💞💫

[@OtoKano]

which ones are your favourites?

[@merebrillante]

This makes me want to play with my watercolors.

[@OtoKano]

So glad this video inspired you to play with your watercolors :D

[@labaccident2010]

I just got the quinacridone coral yesterday as a birthday gift! I put a bit in one of my travel palettes and swatches it and I love it already! Aaaaaah!

[@cazkiwinz4300]

I love the way you swatch and then do mixes... totally fascinating and a joy to watch... along with your narration, of course! Ty for sharing 🤗🤗🤗

[@Addleysmom]

Thank u so much for this lovely video. It was so enjoyable, helpful, and interesting to hear your descriptions and thoughts on each color. It was wonderful seeing all the mixed swatches especially. I’ve added a couple to my next order list that I must pick up including that gorgeous DS coral and DS red oxide. Much appreciation for all the work that went into this and ur other videos.

[@rachelconnor2327]

Hooray! I just bought quinacridone rose and quinacridone coral! :D

[@maggiebach5791]

I encountered Bordeaux on my Daniel Smith dot card last week and have been dreaming about it since then. Very helpful to hear your observations and to see you mix it with a range of colors. TY. I will be buying it a tube of it. Great video.

[@sharonandersen3669]

fabulous visuals and love the clear explantions.

[@wulfseig1864]

What a fun palette of colors. I think I'll try it because I love painting flowers and colorful birds. It will be my flower and birds palette. TFS.

[@antonea808]

I love your recommendations! The Quina and turquoise are some of my fav too. I’ve been eyeing that Bordeaux for some time, I need it. And the marine blue. I grew up in Hawaii and it just makes me think of the pretty blue water. Need! :)

[@OtoKano]

You are so right Antonea, the Marine blue makes me think of hawaii too :D

[@ogcidman911]

I love your channel. Thank you for all the information.

[@Bees123Knees]

Help please? Of these eight colours, four of them (Quin. Rose, Phthalo Turquoise, Phthalo Blue YS, and Aurelin) are included in your Transparent Watercolour Palette, but the remaining four, Quin. Coral, Bordeaux, Marine Blue (I think), and Transparent Red Oxide are not. Is it because this is a later video (approx. 2 months after posting your Transparent Palette)? All your colours are so beautiful and I'm trying to put together a transparent palette, too, so I'm wondering why those four were not included in yours? Thanks so much for sharing all your skills. I am also working my way through your Colossal Color Countdown (which must be the most definitive WC comparison existing in the whole world)! Well done!! I'm just beginning to paint, and your information is SO helpful. I have a long way to go ~ but it will be made easier just by looking at the stunning colours.

[@OlgaStjarna]

Very beautiful mixes

[@ditadit9548]

oh my god the transparent red oxide and the holbein’s blues are inviting. thank you for sharing 🙏💕

[@juliavalkyrie]

More like Dollop Cards! Thank you for this, I am definitely picking up a tube of transparent red oxide because I love jewel tones and those swatches were delicious.

[@watercolourartincapetown2919]

Dollop cards! What a fun name!

[@vero0721]

You have such a lovely accent! your videos are so enjoyable to watch... and very inspiring! just started learning watercolor and those help me a lot!

[@MrsTiffanyGrey]

Wonderful colors!

[@OtoKano]

Thank you Tiffany, so glad you like them!

[@arsinoe8336]

Awesome video as always 😊💜 I absolutely love the Quinacridone coral from Daniel Smith and I use it as a lip color or very diluted sometimes for shadows on skin. It's such an amazing color.

[@aimannaa1888]

Such bright colours! Thank you for sharing. Personally, I love DSs trans red oxide too. The granulation is to die for. And it makes such beautiful browns/blacks when I mix it with ultramarine deep or cobalt blue deep

[@OtoKano]

You are so right AimanN AA, it's so beautiful and so versatile.

[@melissabailey2209]

No surprises here! Bright and punchy jewel tones are Oto's jam. Love most of these colors myself. DS quin coral gets a lot of use, I find, more than I expected. I like to use it as a blush color for cheeks in my children's book illustrations. And it's also a great color for animal noses and the inside of ears. (By the way, DS quin coral is very similar to M Graham's quin red, both PR209. In my swatches, the colors look almost identical.) Thanks for another great video, Oto!

[@OtoKano]

You know me so well Melissa! I bet Quin Coral looks adorable on cheeks of children :) woooo great tip about the MG quin red, thank you!

[@melissabailey2209]

You're welcome! Forgot to mention: I also bought Holbein's marine blue after watching one of your videos. It's gorgeous!

[@OtoKano]

So glad you like it! It's quite different from the Phthalo Turquoise by DS isn't it?

[@diannemiddaugh2478]

Beautiful colors! Now I have a list of some I have to try! Thanks

[@OtoKano]

Wooo which ones do you think you'll try?

[@diannemiddaugh2478]

@@OtoKano quien turquoise, quien coral, and Bordeaux. I only have DS. How do Holbine paints compare to DS? I may try some.

[@pewpewcat7679]

Watching the bordeaux travel was so satisfying

[@JosieLewisArt]

Thanks for the video, great explanations!

[@OtoKano]

omg Josie! Am I allowed to fan girl? I've been following your instagram for so long. All your rainbow colors makes me so happy. Thank you so much for all your beautiful work

[@archietheredcat]

your top colors are so Inspiring, and from this video I just found out about Phthalo Blue (holbein) and instantly remind me of a summer sky, I usually using more pastel blue when Im painting sky, so I never notice about this color, lol, the other color are also amazing, I will add them to my palette for sure, thank you for the video

[@Oceans1974]

I'd love to know how your color choice has evolved or if these are still your top 8.

[@darleenlee9125]

Fantastically informative! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@jillkama7614]

I love your videos! thx :)

[@OtoKano]

Aw so glad you liked the video Jill! Thank you for watching it :)

[@jesstolley7193]

I know this is a year after the fact but my favorites are M. grahams' anthraquinone blue, all their quinacridones, azo green, and d.s.' indigo and amethyst genuine :D I love my moody blue and purples lol

[@annenglish2935]

Thanks 😊 for sharing this ❤️!!! I react the same way when I receive a color I'm in love with... 😊 HAPPY!!! As a beginner I have several colors with same pigment numbers... glad you mentioned that the colors can be different from each other. I recently bought Quinacridone Coral! WOW!!! Also Marine Blue... love ❤️ it so much!!! I'd like to try Viridian because my Viridian is a student PG7 WN Cotman. I love my Winsor colors... Winsor Red - closest bright vibrant red, almost primary red..Red... Winsor Green, Winsor Blue Yellow shade... I love all the Quinacridone magenta variations I have! Good thing I bought WNP, DANIEL SMITH, AND SCHMINCKE WATERCOLOR DOT CARDS... they help me hold back some! HA! I was just swatching D.S. Phthalo Turquoise, Ultramarine Turquoise, Phthalo Green blue shade... 💙 😍 love them also, but I own close colors to these... thank 😊 you Oto!!! 😊 With love from a California Gramma ❤️

[@annenglish2935]

Have Bordeaux also! Awesome color!

[@susanjaneritter]

I HAVE LOVED DANIEL SMITH QUINACRIDONE CORAL FROM THE FIRST TIME I TRIED IT...DEFINITELY #1 OR CLOSE TO IT FOR ME. IT’S BEAUTIFUL USED FULL STRENGTH OR WATERED DOWN TO THE PALEST PEACHY CORAL...

[@deejcarter2003]

There are so many of your colors I want to try. Your top 3 colors are already on my pallet😍

[@OtoKano]

Yay! What other colors do you want to try?

[@deejcarter2003]

The Marine Blue, Bordeaux, Phathlo blue, and transparent red iron oxide😍 Almost your whole list😂

[@ceciliasawyer2432]

I love this video. Do you have a way to share the blank charts you are showing? I love making color charts. This has been super informative. Thanks so much.

[@anam00090]

Didn't expect to love Quin Coral mixes so much :-o Love every hue featured here! I completely get your love for Bordeaux - it's mesmerizing to watch. If only Phthalos didn't destroy metal and plastic palettes with staining...

[@anam00090]

Thank you so much! Will give it a try ^_^

[@OtoKano]

To be honest, I too was surprised that I liked Quin Coral. I don't even really like coral color. It's so useful for floral paintings though. I hear your pain about the phthalos staining. It's why I changed over to using ceramic plates to do all the mixing with. Phthalos are totally worth it though!

[@melissabailey2209]

Here are two other options for you regarding palettes staining: Jerry's Artarama sells a palette cleaner that's supposed to work wonderfully (I haven't tried it) or you can also use porcelain palettes (you can use old plates, buy them at resale stores--my favorite porcelain "palette" at present is a cheap, repurposed soap dish!). Even highly staining watercolors like the phthalos don't stain porcelain. Happy painting!

[@anam00090]

@@melissabailey2209 Thank you for the suggestions, Melissa. I do use porcelain plates specifically for my Phthalos, but I can't carry them with me. Recently noticed that my traveling palettes like the Portable Painter had very noticeable blue stains :( Will check the cleaner out, thanks again!

[@andreapalma7570]

Treating myself to some new colors: Bordeaux, Marine Blue, Perylene Violet and Holbein Viridian. Thanks Oto! :-)

[@marymary5494]

Thank you

[@ninner196]

I got the shock of my life comparing quin rose side by side with Sennelier’s PV19 Rose Madder Lake. I always thought there could not be anything more bright with no drying shift change until another botanical artist suggested that I try them both side by side and in mixes. Well for outside palettes I mix both because of the honey but my home palette just has Rose Madder Lake, I was surprised indeed.😊

[@vedatkonyali]

Templates for color mixes, very useful advice / idea. Thanks.

[@ogcidman911]

It's trippy to me how turquoise and orange make those natural greens (or sap greens).

[@SMCCRADY2]

Love your video's. Where can I get the swatch and mixing card you use? Do you sell that anywhere? Thanks.

[@carolynderricks3226]

Hi Dr Oto, I’m just exploring your series and appreciate this list! I’m esp intrigued by Bordeaux and by Marine Blue (I just love the names). Do you have an episode on the cobalt colors? I like them but due to their cost I’m looking for good substitutes too. I like M Graham and Winsor-Newton generally, and am not a big fan of granulation.

[@rosemarypetersen143]

I love how you love your paints. I have so many Daniel Smith and just ordered a small Schmenke pallet from Jackson’s. Can’t wait to try because see so often on utube. Do you not like them as much?

[@becool365]

Next up, most unexpectedly good colours! :D Mine is Pyrol Orange.

[@OtoKano]

Woooooo such bright orange :D

[@becool365]

Thanks, yes it is. Why I love it is mixing it with a cool red or magenta. You get really bright neutral reds that are transparent. Beats the Cadmium Red by a mile.

[@So_salty]

Man you’re a mixing queen! Where can I get those swatch mixing papers?

[@heidicook2211]

I have a question, how can one pigments make such different colirs??

[@OtoKano]

Because the same pigment can change color according to the different kinds of treatment it goes through. Anything from how high a temperature it reaches to how big or small the particles are ground down to.

[@stacys447]

Fun video. Thanks! Have your favorite colors changed with your paint investigations over the past few years?

[@SuperExadidas]

Thank you for sharing these demo. I would like to order the Red, Yellow and Blue of Sennelier Artist grade in tubes, as a beginner, can you pls help me what color code l need to use in ordering? Thank you

[@robin_snest1018]

Count me in for quinacridone coral!

[@OtoKano]

*high-five*

[@mettainacan7813]

I don't know if you have seen white nights Azure blue (519), its very much like the Holbein Marine Blue but in my opinion its nicer, it can go a lot darker. I think its my favourite colour of all times and I have two full pans and a tube in reserve just in case 😂

[@mishti06]

Oto I'm so sorry if this is a dumb question, but can you explain what the other swatches on the right side were? Are they your other colours? Sorry but I got a little lost.

[@elizabethraegambaccini9336]

Dr. Oto, is it possible to purchase your swatching pages? Thank you!

[@cigimon4]

have you tried schmincke's aureolin? is a single pigment but I can't remember right now which one

[@OtoKano]

Schmincke's one is just a straight azo yellow (PY151).

[@cigimon4]

oh ok ... but still, the hue can change from brand to brand, have you seen or compared it to authentic or Holbein's aureolin?

[@OtoKano]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHqtkIJ-odCcfbs

[@ArtsiRosi]

How did you choose the 12 colors you mix with the test color?

[@0ceanOfStorms]

she talked about it in season 2 of the daniel smith colour showdown

[@MelanCholy2001]

@@0ceanOfStorms THANK YOU! I was looking through the comments and saw many ask about the base colors, as well, and you answered it (2 years ago)! (For reference later): kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6HLZoajrrSgptk

[@johannabraat8848]

Where can I find the mixing cards you are using?

[@acatssoftnose3940]

My Top 8 Watercolors: 1) Indigo 2) Payne's Gray 3) Potter's Pink 4) Perylene Violet 5) Graphite 6) Lamp Black 7) Phthalo Blue 8) Mars Bordeaux

[@rebeccawong1]

Hi Dr, can these colours be mixed by other colours to become them😅

[@rebeccawong1]

Wow, after seeing how you test your colours, I feel so so inferior and casual with mine 😅

[@tlembro]

I am confused....i have watched many of these videos....the colors do NOT match the names.....am I missing something?

[@dancingtoday]

These are mixes of the colors written with the color swatched bigger

[@bossgoose177]

What beautiful - if unsurprising - choices. Such lovely rich colors and some really pretty mixes there, too. This was so satisfying to watch, thank you for sharing.

[@OtoKano]

Lol yes I am predictable in my love of bright punchy colors 😅So glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for watching Boss Goose!

[@canadatoronto3627]

why never Winsor and Newton? What have they done to you?

[@Felmyst]

Need more phtalo, lol

[@tlembro]

I think some of these charts have the wrong colors listed for the color he is applying....

[@hamerray]

The permanent green don’t look like a green to me more like a brown.

[@charlzpapovitch952]

Top 8 colors according to who?

[@alexshi9320]

Lol this entire list is just pinks and turquoises