Watercolor Brand Comparison - The RESULTS will surprise you!

[@izzyg8316]

"The best watercolor is the one that you already have." Words of wisdom. ❤️

[@LeslieStroz]

Saves money too! 😄

[@izzyg8316]

@LeslieStroz Also true! 😂

[@LCLand]

@@izzyg8316 that wasnt true for me until I had Daniel Smith, Davinci, Holbein, sennelier….etc

[@mgeiser6951]

I appear to have developed watercolitis - in a VERY short time I have accrued far too many watercolour paint sets! I’ve had Winsor and Newton from my days at art college in the early 70s. Recently took up my brushes once again after a 50 year break, and thanks to lots of very talented and helpful KZbinrs I now have acquired sets from Schminke (x3), Daniel Smith, Sennelier and another W&N!! I need to get a grip 😂

[@LeslieStroz]

I am not one to judge! 😅 Which is your favourite?

[@mgeiser6951]

I still love W&N. I think I’m emotionally attached to the brand as from the age of 18 when I started art college (and the original set still re-wets beautifully) they have been the only pigments I’ve used - until I discovered all you wonderful KZbinrs! I do like Schminke - like a magpie I’m attracted to all the bright colours! My husband fears this might take over from my handbag obsession (230 bags until I started selling them off recently- which to be fair has helped fund the pigment purchases 😂). I fell for the Schminke “floral” set as I paint mainly botanicals and I find them lovely - can’t I’ve experienced any of the “gumminess” you mentioned. Love watching your videos - keep up the excellent work!

[@CastleMc]

@@mgeiser6951 We have parallel histories. I went to art school in the 1970s, moved to a different career, recently re=engaged with painting...and now have quite a few w/c palettes. W/N is my over-all favorite and go to, possibly because they make the best 24 half pan set. Cheers and happy painting!

[@LCLand]

You’re fine. No need to get a grip 😅

[@LCLand]

@@mgeiser6951try Davinci. I love WN too. And sennelier. And DS etc etc. schmincke is my least favorite of the professionals except I love their granulation series and a few others

[@sararamer-dean7846]

I pick and choose favourites from many different brands. QOR has the most amazing Quinacridone Magenta! Old Holland has the absolute best Dioxazine Mauve! And Old Holland creates the most amazingly smooth graduated washes of all the brands I have tried. Holbein's Cerulean blue is a favourite, and their single-pigment Marine Blue (PB16). Can you tell I am a nerd? I have a favourite Sennelier...Rose Madder Lake! Thanks for the video!

[@LeslieStroz]

Oooh you’ve given me some fun colours to dream about! That Holbein Cerulean sounds divine! Thanks for the colour suggestions. 😊

[@christianebehr138]

Hello Leslie, I was happy to watch your video. Very intressting I think for a perfekt comparison you should paint the same picture with every different brand .I started with a small tin of schmincke then I carried on buying new colours wit the more expensive schmincke paint. What I also think is very important is the paper that you paint on . Or if you weten the paper before painting. Or if you paint on dry paper. ( I watched an Australien artist on KZbin and he wetens th back of his paper. So what do you think of my paper theorie hot pressed,cold pressed, rouge,or smooth extra white etc. That is a jungle of its own. But I went to the community College to a aquarell painting course where we learned how to mix colours by the technik of Johannes Itten . So what do you think. Many greetings Christiane 😊😊❤

[@alisonwonderlandof1]

I never thought I would read a post like this and think..."yeah yeah I've got that too and I agree" yet here I am. Love love love the QOR Quin Magenta. Love it! Their Dioxine Purple is insanely strong lol. I really really love Sennelier....oh my.....so creamy. The one brand I don't own 1 iota of is schmicke and I look at their pallette every day and say "I'm gonna buy that tomorrow" but maybe I should get over it. I definitely don't need it but "need"...lol... I think it's just more money towards my paper pile so I appreciate the input.

[@samstewart9249]

Try QOR Quin Gold too, it's great for painting rust, quin gold and charge in a burnt sienna. Hint, M. Graham makes a great Quin Rust, dark follow to the other two colors on rusty old barns roofs or old cars and trucks, etc.

[@juupiissocool]

Sennelier Transparent brown is my absolute fave brown. Sennelier Lemon Yellow & W&N Lemon Yellow, A Gallo Piettra and potters pink, W&N Winsor Red Deep, Sennelier Red, W&N phtahlo blue green shade, W&N Ultramarine Ash, DS Rhodonite Genuine, DS Apatite Genuine, Lukas Cyan.....i have a whole palette of my favorite shades for mixing and "as is" for botanical work lol. It also includes Sap Green from like 4 different brands.

[@lindahipple4817]

Hi Leslie, I also found the watercolor paper is as important to me as the brand of paint to accomplish the out come I strive for..I also have several brands, Daniel Smith, Sennile, M Graham, Smnicke, & Windsor Newton. Each brand has a few favorite colors for my taste and many times I'll put multiple brands into a painting. Blessings.

[@LeslieStroz]

I agree- paper is more important than paint brand. I don’t know why, but I never mix brands… I always worry that the different binders won’t play well together (a totally unfounded theory!). 😊

[@gerryclarke9795]

One can't go wrong with Arches paper but recently used Baohong 300gsm CP a Chinese paper and I love it, it's fantastic!

[@lindahipple4817]

@@gerryclarke9795 agreed! Love Bahong cp paper!

[@benamisai-kham5892]

I like to mix colors every once in a while because I have shades of tubes I like and shades of halfpans I really wanna use! Paper is a huge one though. I'm a hot press person but I get why cold press is great too!

[@livaga2]

Can you do a video about the paper you use!!

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

Czech watercolours tested are produced by Koh-I-Noor, old European stationery & art materials manufacturer. Their products are affordable and of good quality. The set shown in the video is their inexpensive set for school children, can be applied on food (egg colouring), therefore it is dye-based. (Proper pigments may be toxic if swallowed or used on food.) Despite their initial glossy look and ease of application (which is required), dye-based paints will fade, so they should not be used for serious projects, where colour accuracy and lightfastness are needed. Koh-I-Noor has pigment-based, artist-quality watercolour paints as well.

[@phillipstroll7385]

There is no such thing as a toxic paint pigment. They put more cadmium, lead, mercury, etc in baby food than in paint. Nothing is toxic in the proper qualities. Yet, water can be toxic if to much

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

@@phillipstroll7385 I think you are in the wrong hobby.

[@LeilaAtaya]

I agree they are a really good brand, I love their watercolour pastels.

[@darlenemc3586]

I'm a retired graphic artist/illustrator and started using professional Chinese watercolors called MUNGYO and think they are perfect in every way. Beautiful colors and the price is only $18.00 for a 24 pan professional set. They work fine in my art journal which is etcher 100% cotton. Love, love, love. I purchased them on Amazon last year.

[@eirenmist12]

How are the Mungyo with regard to lightfastness? Thanks for any info!

[@rebeccapage4411]

Sennelier is my favorite. I heard it said, "you can't overwork Sennelier", and I feel that's true.

[@LeslieStroz]

I’ll have to test that theory! 👩🏻‍🎨❤️

[@mihandrian1307]

me too. really big win for me

[@peterwillis4239]

Sennelier are my favourite too. Very smooth with the honey content, perfect for botanical painting on quality hot press paper. Just watch how Billy Showell paints. She is amazing.

[@amandaserrano3249]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@LeslieStrozI hope for a video on that theory! What a fascinating idea… can’t overwork using Sennelier? Now I really am curious!

[@samstewart9249]

Yes you can! Trust me on this.

[@MadelineWalshArt]

I started watercolour painting two years ago with dollar store paints my grandmother gave me. I painted a picture of my grandfather’s fishing boat and it’s on the wall framed and still holding up. I then got myself a Winsor and Newton cotman set and I worked with it for a while. This year I invested in professional watercolours, I bought Daniel Smith watercolours and they’re a joy to use. My mom got me the Rosa Gallery botanical set for my birthday this year and I love them so much. I love the colours and the vibrancy of them. I often do an under painting with sepia and sometimes indigo and then glaze the colours on top and I find Rosa Gallery works well this way, so does Daniel Smith. I love Daniel Smith, but Rosa Gallery is probably my favourite.

[@MadelineWalshArt]

I normally do an under painting and glaze the colours over for still life paintings. I tried doing a landscape painting with my Rosa Gallery watercolours this way. It did not turn out well, it ended up a muddy mess. It would be fine if I just left the painting in monochromatic sepia. I’m redoing this painting using a different technique with my Daniel Smith watercolours.

[@Everywhere2]

Roman Szmal (Polish brand available from Jackson's) is my everyday best-friend pan paints. When I'm in a tube mood, I have a mixed-brand palette of Qor, Daniel Smith (both U.S.) and Isaro (Belgium). There's a box of ignored Winsor & Newton tubes from when I started with watercolors. My instructor preferred W&N and wanted us all to use them so we could achieve the same effects in a predictable way. But I've never liked the way they flow or even mix, so I use a tube only when I'm out of something else.

[@LeslieStroz]

I haven’t tried Roman Szmal or QoR, but one thing this exercise showed me is that different brands have strengths for different styles. I’m glad you’ve found brands that work for you! 😊

[@Yuukinea]

@@LeslieStrozim from poland! Im painting with roman szmal watercolors every single day since 2023. I love aquarius paints so much!

[@pibarrante6901]

Agree. Theyre very predictable, like a classic standard. The black turtleneck of your wardrobe.

[@pibarrante6901]

Agree. Theyre very predictable, like a classic standard. The black turtleneck of your wardrobe.

[@TjVoelkerArt]

I enjoy your videos! And I'm sure you've heard this many times, but your speaking voice is so soothing! I just love it. There, I said it. Have a splendid day.

[@benamisai-kham5892]

This was very unintentional ASMR and it was so relaxing to watch, like a warm blanket.

[@droberts276]

I began with Winser and Newton and then for some reason I began buying Daniel Smith watercolors. Recently, I began painting with my Winser and Newton colors and I was surprised at how much I liked them. The colors seem pure to me, if that makes sense.

[@romesmith9406]

I was surprised that Holbein wasn’t on your list. I mostly paint with Daniel Smith (love the granulation) but my Holbein is my next favorite for the vibrancy. Thank you for your review.

[@LeslieStroz]

I’ve never tried them. Maybe someday! 🤔🤗

[@berolinastrassmann]

​@@LeslieStrozJackson's sells a Holbein starter set of 6 5ml tubes for around 16£. They are great to mix and you can get all sorts of colours out of this humble unassuming starter set. I highly recommend this set to get to know the brand without spending a lot.

[@LCLand]

Agree! They are way up there for me too

[@Angie-pl3uw]

I love Holbein as well, although the pan set which I finally was able to get was a major disappointment!

[@LCLand]

@@Angie-pl3uw really?? I love mine. I find I reach for it always because rich colors. Did you get palm box?

[@StarBarks4U]

I've been using Watercolours since the early 70s when W&N was the only brand that was readily available...But through the years I have tried and purchased countless brands and keep going back to my favorites...My top favorite of recent years has been my Roman Szmal Watercolours...The range goes from stunning muted colours to the most gorgeous vibrant paints I have ever used! A recent close second has become my Rosa Gallery collection of paints! ...As far as my old stand by I absolutely love the Daniel Smith paints but can become like a kid in a Candy Shoppe with all of the choices they have to offer! Thank you for this great video!!! It was fun to see your comparisons! Blessings, Rus from Bucks County Pennsylvania....❤️🖌🎨🤓

[@LeslieStroz]

I keep coming back to the Winsor&Newton too- they are like an old friend. I’ve not yet tried Roman Szmal, but maybe someday. I can’t get on with Rosa Gallery (I have a long video about that!). I prefer more transparent, single pigment colours and found them to be a bit too much like gouache without actually being gouache. Their colours are pretty though. It’s always fun to try different brands. This year I’m trying to use the ones I have and hold off on adding more (for awhile at least!). 👩🏻‍🎨

[@johnsullivan4413]

Thanks so much, Leslie. I started with Winsor & Newton because they were the most readily available and they are highly rated. I use Daniel Smith and M. Graham paints now and I like them too. My palette contains a mixture of all three. I also have used the "Earth Friendly" DaVinci watercolor palette and I really like DaVinci's paints. DaVinci's Cerulean Blue Hue is my favorite cerulean blue. Also, I have only one Schmincke watercolor paint and it is translucent orange and I love it.

[@shells_bells]

I loved the little bloopers and stuff at the end. They felt more like being a part of you as a person than bloopers ❤

[@KittyKarenpoo]

It is kind of interesting that you like Sennelier because the exact same set that you purchased, and after a few paintings I came to the conclusion that it was a fine paint for little things like postcard paintings, but on the broader scale I never go to it. The color choices are also strangely postcard. This also conforms to the difference we have regarding chroma intensity. I want the full intensity of color so I can push the full range, which is why I shy away from brands like Newton that always feels wimpy. I spent my first ten years watercoloring with Newton and was constantly struggling to get the intensity that wasn't there. In the end I moved almost exclusively to M Graham for my major work, which is like an electric guitar compared to the acoustics. But all of that just shows how artists have different needs and comfort zones.

[@threelittlebirdsart9353]

Interesting! I looked up the Aniliky and it says it can be used to decorate Easter eggs! I guess it's because of the dye base. This whole video -bloopers included was so enjoyable!

[@scribe_samples2309]

It made me so happy to know how much you like the Windsor & Newton. I am new to watercolor. I did some research and bought that brand & now I find that you, whom I admire very much, really like them. Thank you.

[@Jaline_on_YouTube]

I often use multiple sets of paints when I work on a project because there are colours or effects that I can achieve with different brands. (I use M. Graham, W&N, Daniel Smith, Holbein, and sometimes even Van Gogh, which are the most economical as well as others.) However, the one paint set I tend to dip into the most is Roman Szmal. I don't know what it is but those paints just work for me and help me to achieve the results I want with the least effort. Like you, Leslie, my goal is almost always for realism - unless I'm just fooling around or practising things like colour combination bubbles. However, I do tend to 'save' my Roman Szmal paints for my more serious work. :)

[@LeslieStroz]

Thanks for the tip. Many here have rated the Roman Szmal. I’ve promised myself to more fully explore the brands I already have before adding more, but they are now definitely on my wish list. 😊

[@Jaline_on_YouTube]

@@LeslieStroz I made the same promise to myself some time ago - and promptly broke it. However, I now have so many palettes to choose from that It has been almost a year since I bought anything new. To be honest, I probably have enough paints to last the rest of my life - lol - Also, thank you for the great video! I have been reading all the comments and find them very interesting and helpful, too. I am so glad I found your channel! Warm regards.

[@ShimmyD-u7g]

I did some testing with Winsor Newton, Daniel Smith and M Graham before settling on M Graham. I live in a dry environment and the fact that the paint stays soft is a bonus. The M Graham paints also stick to my pallet where as the Winsor Newtons dry up, crack and break loose. The Daniel Smiths are in between, they don't crack and stay stuck in the pallet I use, but what I prefer is how easy it is to grab a little M Graham paint.

[@alisonhendry2928]

Always fun to have KZbin find me another person to follow. I loved the comment about what “you” have is the best. It’s good to get information to get started and then also fun to experiment with new and different colours and brands. Sennelier is one of the best bang for your buck professional paints. Larger tube and large amounts of pigment used versus binders. I love them. They perfom a bit differently than Winsor and Newton ( which I admit is use the most and so most comfortable with as I know what they will do), but the vibrancy and rewet ease are lovely. What’s really special is to go to Paris, go to the store and buy some! Monet shopped there too!!!! Thank you for this comparison. Going to watch some of your tiny painting videos now. I am intrigued. ❤

[@petergrech2582]

Top quality are Schmincke and Daniel Smith ......they are fantastic.....I used to use these inexpensive set Koh-I-Noor in Czechoslovakia when I was in the school as kid.

[@alisonwonderlandof1]

This is a great video because it proves 2 things 1. You don't have to spend a lot (did you see her favorite? Her work is lovely and she was using that pan set? Fantastic!). 2. It's all personal and there honestly no good or bad just personall choice. Great video, new subscriber!

[@Janartable]

Now I just want to sit with ALL my watercolors and do a comparison. I think I will!!! :)

[@N1inSK]

I'm not painting nearly enough. I have a Winsor & Newton Cotman pocket sketching box from 1989(!) that I haven't used up. But I'm told that a few years ago, W&N started making their paints in China - both Cotman and professional ranges. And an artist who's opinion I value told me that he found W&N colours aren't the same as they used to be. They're using cheaper materials than they did when they were all English-made, so he's moved to M Graham and other brands of paint. Thanks for your videos, Leslie. You're making me want to paint again. But since it's fall in western Canada, it's getting too cold to do plein air painting. So it's time to make a space indoors for painting. My problem is that I have too many hobbies.

[@lauranewton1566]

I was working with colored pencils after an operation. One day I saw a Daniel Smith zoom call with their ambassadors and immediately got online and ordered a bunch of paint. In the last year I’ve never tried anything else. I think I lucked out. One less decision to make!

[@LeslieStroz]

They are a lovely brand and I can see why you are pleased with them. I use them for my tiny paintings and love them for that. 😊

[@hennybrunner8939]

I like Sennelier. It is vibrant color. If you need to make kind of neutral color you can always mixed it.

[@akschauer]

Out of the brands I own, my preference is for the honey based watercolors, Sennelier and M. Graham. I just really enjoy the feel of those paints while I'm painting.

[@LeslieStroz]

They are definitely lush! 😊

[@TheMaryWriter]

I began with a cheap Prang set (because I wanted to see if I would like watercolors at all). I am trying to use that set up before getting anything more professional, and in the mean time I've made my own watercolors out of mica powders and usually paint with Dr. Martin's India Inks which are pigment based and lightfast. I like the ease of pan/tube based watercolors but the India Inks are so vibrant and make some stunning colors. I don't paint realistically so I enjoy the colors.

[@LeslieStroz]

Prang used to be the “high class” of the student watercolours… so much better than Crayola! You are much braver than me! I found the Anilinky easier to control than the Dr PhMartins, though I’m sure they gets easier with practice. 😊

[@chereliu5565]

I’ve been lucky over the years to try out W&N, DS, M. Graham, Sennelier, Da Vinci, Schmincke, and Roman Szmal. No one has mentioned the fact that each company has different properties of pigment, binders and such to make the painting experience unique. Then, taken in to consideration if your go to norm is using a harder to rewet paint versus a juicer paint then a more delicate touch is required. My Schmincke paints are amazing but they are unique in that I can easily wet and paint immediately and use many layers. I love that watercolor paint doesn’t go bad, but the binder and pigment can separate. I’ve had tubes from DS, M. Graham that squeeze out unevenly, but that can occur and I needed to keep squeezing to get the pigment/binder out to then mix it up. Schmincke is a traditional paint company that is finely ground and need very little touching to use but, if you don’t like the results you might try adding more water to your brush and gently taping and swirling pan to get the paint moving and swirling on a plate to make sure the paint mixture is really mixed if it “feels gummy”. So far my favorite to use are the DS, and the Schmincke and I just got the Da Vinci for Christmas so still learning. I think they are all so fun, except for when I stick my fingers accidentally in my sticky Sennelier or M. Graham paint! 🥳😉

[@LeslieStroz]

It’s so true about companies using different binders and grinding techniques. It’s one reason I don’t really “mix” brands. I tend to use only one brand at a time. I think Schmincke are probably better for graduated washes, which is not really my forte. I should explore that (maybe with the granulating sets I have). The “gummy” thing doesn’t bother me because I prewet my colours and use a palette. Sunny’s style is much faster and more fluid than mine, so I can totally see the appeal of dye based watercolours for her. Thanks for your comment- it’s true that I isn’t talk enough about the different binders and their properties, which makes such a big difference. 😊

[@roselinestephania]

It amazes me how we like/don't like much certain watercolors for the exact same reason; I love Sennelier and Schmincke because they are vibrant, heh! And because of that, I don't use W&N often. QoR are also some of my favorites, they're even more vibrant (in my opinion).

[@miric3427]

Vibrant colors you can always degrade, but I would like to see the reverse process with w & n

[@Kalyanj.Poluri]

Schminke is my first ever expensive professional watercolor set and I loved everything about it. Windsor newton is great too. I recently got Daniel Smith watercolors as a gift. I need to explore them more before I can decide on my favorite among these three. But for now, Schminke is my most favorite.

[@LeslieStroz]

I’d recommend trying a little side-by-side demo like this one to really get a sense of the various strengths and weaknesses. 😊

[@christophem.294]

For my part, I use several brands for my studio palette: It's a selection of colors made up of Roman Szmal watercolors (for price and quality), Daniel Smith, Sennelier. There are also some W&N and Schmincke. In France, Sennelier is very easy to find. We also have easy access to high-quality Belgian watercolors such as Isaro and Blockx. I haven't tried Old Holland, but I'm very keen to give it a try.

[@MyrJuhl]

I like the colour range of Derwent's Inktense. Tricky with permanent paint but the colours are worth it. And I never go wrong with Winsor & Newton :)

[@FaerieDust]

Spontaneously, I want to say that QoR is my favourite paint to paint with. I wouldn't say they're the "best" paint, though - I think there are certain markers of quality that may distinguish one brand as better or higher quality than another (honest marketing, disclosure of pigments etc), but "best" is so very individual. It depends both on your own taste, preference, and techniques, but also on your supplies and circumstances. Really cheap paint that's full of filler is awful with watercolor techniques and watercolor paper, but may be perfect for a crafter painting on cardstock or someone doodling on printer paper. Honey based watercolors may be great for someone in dry, arid climates where the honey makes them easier to rewet, but a frustrating, permanently sticky mess for someone in a humid climate.

[@LeslieStroz]

I don’t know if I’d like QoR… I tend to prefer more traditional pigments and binders. Sunny might like them though! It’s all so personal, isn’t it? I live in a cooler, humid climate and yes, the honey based paints never really dry completely, but I still like them. We are lucky to have so many choices these days! 😊

[@greenspiritarts]

W & N forms the bulk of my collection, but sometimes I go to other brands because they have a color that I just can’t mix out of the W & N line. I’m surprised you didn’t have any Holbein your testing as they are my second fav. I’ve been painting since the early 80s and back then there were not a lot of options. The permanence of the colors was most important to me and I never let myself fall for colors that were fugitive, no matter how much I liked them in the moment. Finally, PAPER makes as much difference to how one gets the results they prefer as does the brand of paints. It took me years to Find my favorite paper and now I won’t use anything else, unless I’m just experimenting or sketching. Thanks for the fun video!

[@sarahmcarthur9107]

Thank you once again for a wonderfully personal and helpful video! I'm still so new to painting at all that I have nothing to offer as to preference of anything; I have WN, Daniel Smith, M. Graham and QOR sort of all over the map (and many duplicates across brands, which is a whole other issue I've had to learn about). There is only one thing I can state that I don't like, and that is that the M. Graham paints don't set well in a palette and are a bit 'high maintenance.' I didn't realize that the (Schminke was it?) paints also use honey as a binder, and I think I've got a couple of those as well so I'll look out for it. Regardless of whether or not it's what you're specifically filming about there are always little bits I learn, sometimes even just in the method in which you go about doing what you do. I really appreciate what you do and how you do it--thank you again so very much!

[@SchubertFan]

My favorite brand overall is DaVinci. At first I bought it because it was the most affordable professional brand I could find, but now that I’ve tried other brands I continue to use it because I honestly prefer it. I also love Winsor & Newton and M. Graham, but M. Graham is a bit too gooey for my travel palettes. I have Daniel Smith and it’s fine, but I never thought it was better or even as good as DaVinci. I don’t plan to buy any more Daniel Smith paint and I rarely actually use what I have because it’s my least favorite of the brands I own. I haven’t tried Sennelier, Roman Szmal, or A. Gallo yet, but I’d like to!

[@patticake5311]

What a fun video! Btw, Schminke is the only one of those paints that uses oxgall.

[@amberdreams_0]

If you're going to go for paints from Czechia, you need to try Roman Szmal - they are beautiful quality paints, and really great value with a big range of single pigment colours.

[@kimberlycorliss9616]

Fun review! Great to meet your friend Sunny!❤

[@GaryScott-pdx]

I have a box full of W&N, QOR and miscellaneous other major brand that I’ve purchased over the last several months but the paints that I keep coming back to are Rosa Galleries from Ukraine. I started buying them to support a small business in a war torn country and to support my heritage. I’m not an expert watercolorist but I feel that they are a good quality paint that will stand up to W&N.

[@pibarrante6901]

Sennelier works best for glazing, in my humble opinion. W&N , to me, seem kinda like 'classic' wc, great as a standard. QOR is my go to for vibrant and pigmented. The colors I have of Marthas are lovely - they just never dry for transporting them. Theyve made for some very colorful & messy tins as a consequence - however, I think they are outstanding. The ones I grab most often - DS. They're pigmented, travel well and they are sooo many colors to choose from. Mayan blue genuine - oh my! The granulation is yummy. Schminke - my dog likes those the best. (? The binder? He smells them out & gets into them whenever possible) i love their supergranulating for rocks/landscapes. Thanks for posting!

[@FuriedHearts]

I’m glad you said “the best is what you already have.” That tells me that you aren’t just a channel focused on getting free products and appealing to brands to try to get sponsorships. So many people do that

[@threesixfiveart563]

Dye based won’t be lightfast. That’s a big selling point for me. I generally like schmincke… i wonder if you didn’t like the particular colors you had? The colors you showed are not my favs… schmincke pure yellow is my all time fav yellow. I find Holbein really vibrant. Their gouache is lovely, too. Have you tried Davinci watercolor? Very nice, too. Davinci red is my favorite (non pink) red

[@lisaseckold9296]

Hi Leslie, gorgeous video. I've been searching for a brand to outshine WN too, and was teetering on the edge recently of deciding Schmincke might be it. But when I compiled a colour swatch folder of all the brands, I noticed repeatedly that, though other brands are sometimes brighter than WN in individual colours, WN achieves greater tonal variation within each colour. With the other brands, I would have to glaze a second layer to achieve the same dramatic dark tones - and work extra hard to gradate out to white paper (due to the over-enthusiastic spreading capacity of other brands). :-)

[@LeslieStroz]

Thanks, Lisa! Yes, I found that the Winsor&Newton was much quicker at achieving the look I wanted. I’d probably say the same about the M Graham. It’s always nice when the colours go down the first time without needing a lot of fussing. 😊

[@TheKingsGarden.]

Leslie, thank you for this take on watercolors. Color-wise, I liked Sennelier and M.Grahm the best. I think it would be helpful if you painted the same scene with each brand you tried for a closer comparison. Schmincke was the first brand I bought and I do like it a lot. I only have one other brand - Windsor and Newton. I dislike it very much. Your counsel to paint with what you have is very wise. Since I cannot afford to purchase any other, I will happily paint away with what I have. Contentment! 😊

[@jomo3512]

I paint most often with Da Vinci watercolors and I think I prefer them. I also have the full set of Schmincke super granulating paints and like many of them (though several are really hard to rewet). I like A. Gallo, Daniel Smith, and Sennelier as well but don’t use them as often as my Da Vinci palette

[@LeslieStroz]

I’ve never tried DaVinci… maybe I’ll put it on my wish list. I’m excited to see how my Schmincke granulating watercolours compare to this set (better I hope!). 😊

[@AmandaMG6]

Yep. DaVinci rocks. Especially Denise's palettes

[@LCLand]

Davinci s my fave too.

[@jomo3512]

@@AmandaMG6those are the ones that got me started with Da Vinci! I have both her Earth-Friendly Palette and the Embrace Opacity Palette.

[@jomo3512]

@@LeslieStrozI wonder if they are available outside the USA? The company is based in Southern California, I believe.

[@caroles5258]

I started watercolour painting with Daniel Smith and I have to say I agree with you in that I can't get the watercolour vibrancy to show up or have to work very hard at it. I do not like Schminke at all. I got one of their granulating watercolours Desert Brown and it was a dismal failure. I tried rubbing it harder to get it darker and it just does not want darken up. It's too light and there is no granulating going on. I like the vibrancy of Holbein and I bought myself a palette of Kusakabe paints from Japan and love them when I want a more complex set of pigment mixes. I like how Qor paints disperse with Aquazol in them but they are pricey here.

[@SuzyMoon864]

I love Winsor and Newton, Da Vinci and Sennelier. I’m in the US and have managed to resist Daniel Smith! Thank you for the comparison video.

[@VickiWalton]

I just don't like granulating colors, which Daniel Smith is famous for. Perhaps for landscapes? But W & N are my favorite!

[@miss_florence]

I haven't tried any professional watercolors, only student grade watercolors. I love the van Gogh watercolors, i like their vibrancy. I have tried a small palette of cotman by Winsor and newton but I struggled having vibrant colors, I recently rediscovered it and in fact I dont use them the same way and for the sale kind of artwork. I use van Gogh for my more fantasy paintings, and the cotman for cosy designs and natural landscapes. I am very tempted to buy professional watercolors now, but Daniel Smith are a bit difficult to find in France, the easiest to find here are sennelier and Winsor and newton and I really dont know what to choose. I feel like I dont really like the color selection as much in Winsor and newton, but I dont know much about how the sennelier watercolor feels and looks.

[@amythomas3745]

Im learning how to water color, so this is helpful. Thank you ❤

[@justry50]

If you decide to donate your Sennelier, I'll be happy to take them. :) absolutely my favorite. I live in Arizona, very dry, so honey-based paints (super creamy) work well here. I know people in more humid climates often don't like them. Apparently, they can mold in the humidity (?).

[@mythokki]

There are several colours by A J Gallo that are always on my palette, Dark forest and Fig! Never tried Sennelier, although I love their pastels. All my paints are mixed brands from just about everyone else!

[@ednalama4244]

This was really interesting. Loved all the little paintings. I think there may an inherent difference between original pan paints and the tube paints. They rewet a little differently. Sennelier is my first love, and these days I use a mix of D.S, W&N, S ... Love them all. I have read that Sennelier is specially formulated for a lot of thin layering of washes.

[@LeslieStroz]

Yes, that’s so true. I always prefer making my own pans with tubes. I find rewetting the pre-made pans to be much more difficult! Thanks for your feedback. 😊

[@mychelledavis]

What watercolors are non toxic for using the wristband? Thank you! Your videos are inspiring 🙂

[@pythonsequel2924]

My favourites are Roman Szmal and Rosa gallery. I use those the most. I have a set of schminke that I haven’t opened yet. And a few Daniel smith tubes with PO48 pigment. I’ve never owned any Windsor and Newton or MGraham. What a fun video. 😊

[@debramatthews9180]

I used to think Daniel Smith watercolors were amazing until I tried Paul Jackson watercolors and brushes. He is an incredible person and artist.

[@m.tieman5863]

I'm totally new to watercolours and am exploring it currently, doing abstract things. After a cheap chinese set, I bought Winsor & Newton Sketcher's Pocket Cotman. They are obviously much better quality than the Chinese one. But after a bit I realized I really missed my bright purple. Googling I discovered that purple is quite a difficult colour! In the end I bought Van Gogh Pocket Box Vibrant Colours and there are several colours in there that I love a lot: the purple, the pink and the 'aquamarine' I would call it. But much depends on what you like to make. If you paint nature scenes you wouldn't have much use for that very bright pink! I look forward to experimenting more with both boxes.

[@nanjudson1089]

I live in a relatively dry, high altitude climate. Things where I live are bright sunny. Honey based don't work for me during travel as they can make a big mess in the palette. Most Winsor & Newton don't rewet easily in my climate, and some Daniel Smith fall out of pans, so I pick and choose various colors from different brands. My Holbein favorites are lavender, marine blue, and sap green. I like Davinci viridian as it re-wets well, and W & N Cobalt Turquoise light. I like Schmincke French Ultramarine. Sometimes I add glycerin to Daniel Smith so they rewet easier, especially the primateks and earth colors.

[@TsukabuNosoratori2]

Schmincke has gotten SO expensive over the last few years too, it's hard to justify buying them unless they're on a really GOOD sale anymore. My favorites are Daniel Smith, Holbein, VanGogh, Kuretake, M Graham and Sennelier. Not necessarily in any order. I find it really fascinating what other artists are into and why too!

[@ardentabacistx5360]

WOW, Leslie, all I have to say is . . . WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL and VUNDERBAR! - Thank you so much for this episode! SUBSCRIBED & LIKED! Aside from being an artist whose work I LOVE to see, this format is just so much fun and I learned a lot! Thank you so much! I can't wait to peruse YOUR CHANNEL AND LEARN MORE! - God Bless! ~

[@catbraunwell6450]

It’s good to hear other people that don’t enjoy schmeinke because neither do I. But some people act like it’s the end all cute all. …and it is so expensive. I actually don’t find a lot of paints match up to my Holbein or Winsor Newton …still my two favorites.

[@acwatercolors]

I love all the extrafine paints I have : Sennelier (cheaper because I leave in France), W&N, Blockx, Isard, Schmincke, and Daniel Smith for sure. My favorite is Daniel Smith I guess. But all brand will be ok to enjoy watercolor !

[@MikeHendleyArt]

Wonderful video as always. I love the vibrancy of QoR watercolors and they have taken over my Art Toolkit palette. They sent me a few samples to try over a year ago and I bought more of them. I visited Golden HQ in upper state New York to have a tour of their factory. Fantastic paint but the people are amazing. Of course, I left with a bunch more QoR and even some of their Williamsburg Oil (already a fan of their Open acrylics). All to say, you should try out their QoR line.

[@conkrotwife]

Years ago when I was teaching myself to paint I had the cheapest paints, paper, and brushes. I used them a lot. As I improved I bought my first “real” paints, the Cotman sketch set. I used it for years before moving into WN professional paints. I know that having cheap supplies helped free me up to practice and improve. I love trying different brands but WN is my favorite. Recently I’ve started using some Daniel Smith, I’m finding colors I really love to add to my regular palette.

[@LeslieStroz]

Yes, I started with WN Cotman too. I loved them, though it was definitely a “revelation” when I got my first professional ones! Such vibrancy! 😅

[@Ch-yz4yt]

I'm definitely the type that would hesitate to practice on expensive paper or with expensive paints. I would feel like I wasn't good enough to waste money on those. For me, using something cheaper to start frees me up to make mistakes and learn. I just recently started watercolors and learning things I prefer to use. But I have zero regrets with starting with less expensive supplies because I know for me personally I will practice more with them and build to other things. I bought a 36 color palette and over the last few weeks have started adding colors from other brands. Which is nice because I can get a feel for some of the paints and get some new colors without breaking the bank. The original palatte I bought has be lovely who I am learning I really like tubes over pans as a general rule.

[@tribalstyle138]

I enjoyed that. Your M.Graham painting was great! Great color!

[@LeslieStroz]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@carolbrozo5749]

For me, there is something about a big, juicy watercolor that fills my brush, especially for botanicals and brighter projects,- and I tend to favor the honey-based brands for that - Sennelier and M Grahm. I began with Windsor and Newton, and I love them for botanicals and for projects where I mix my own colors. I am pretty devoted to them, but I think it's because they are so reliable - I have used them more and the palette I have is very familiar to me. I really LOVE Daniel Smith for the granulation and unusual mixes and rare mineral-based pigments, especially for outdoor scenes or landscapes, or abstract pieces where I want the paint to do its own thing more. I have wanted to try Schminke granulating colors - I have the regular colors and I am very 'eh' about them as well - just my views!

[@vidhi_plays8508]

Thank you for the help!🙏 I was looking for someone who would do a comparison By the way your studio looks amazing!❤ I prefer winsor and Newton the most 😊

[@LeslieStroz]

Thank you!! I wish Winsor and Newton offered more colours, but the ones they do are always so great. 😊

[@vidhi_plays8508]

@@LeslieStroz Yes i also wish they would but i think they have added a few more colours if I'm not wrong🤔 AND thank you for replying leslie❤

[@suzisandpiper]

@@LeslieStrozguess what, they are just launching another special set, with a couple of interesting hues. At the moment only Cass seems to have them in two sets. If they are as popular as the jewel tones they may make part of the permanent collection.

[@jjsartjourney]

Hi. I have to agree on Sennelier. They are my go to everytime. I have MG watercolors, and I only used them once. The paint is vibrant and catches the eye quickly, but it isn't my fav to use. My Schmincke watercolors are beautiful, too, but I still always reach out to Sennelier 95% of the time. I have a few colors from DS, but they are too inconsistent in quality to want a tube set for this brand. For example, my lamp black stinks like ALOT, and that is after a year that I opened the tube again to fill my new palette. Wow, it's bad. I do like the variety offered by them, but that is it. This is only my experience and my personal preference.

[@LeslieStroz]

I’d not heard that before about DS… I’ll have to pay attention! I agree that their variety is appealing, and I do like that they have many nontoxic options. MG are very pretty and they blend well, but it seems half of them have toxic pigments. I will definitely be giving Sennelier some more focus, and of course I still love Winsor&Newton. 😊

[@mahiko1961]

Her little cheap palette has the most beautiful colors and made everything look way better than all the others in my eyes!!!!!!!!!

[@maryannperkins6000]

So interesting to see how you compared the colors and brands . One of the things I like about M Graham is that they do not harden or dry up as WN or Daniel Smith . My tubes dry out and I need to soak them to reactivate and open DS and WN tubes Is that just me with that problem..PS I am loving your UTube and awaiting my tiny sketchbook Thank you

[@juupiissocool]

I used to love W&N and Daniel Smith so much, but a few years ago, I started using Sennelier, and they are hands down my #1 for botanical paintings. I just purchased a Schmincke palette recently, too, and those too are vibrant and beautiful. All I paintings is floral, leaves, fruit, vegetables etc. So these brands are PERFECT for getting realistic imagery. ❤❤❤

[@lizleiart]

When you said "4 quid" I realised you were in the UK 😊 I'm still a newbie, but at the very start, price was a factor. Lovely also to have ready made colours. I have Arteza tubes and still use them, alongside Daniel Smith mainly. A few weird granulating paints from Kuretake, Qor and Schminke - what a dopamine hit 😂

[@GabrieleBaber]

I used to have a great schminke set I bought as a souvenir from Germany. I loved them, but sadly, I don’t know where it went to after a move. It seems to me, having some watercolors be dry start and some wet, that it would affect the experience. Also, one thing I found is that certain colors don’t reconstitute as well as others.. So if I were going to test I would use all starting from dry, and wetting the cakes several times before even starting….and then compare how they work all fresh from the tubes. Certainly each experience would be different.

[@ReiKennex]

My favorites are ROSA, Ukrainian brand with lots of colors, including very interesting multi-pigmented, granulating and unique shades.

[@Jerry10939]

The two I currently use are Sennelier and Windsor and Newton. I want to try other watercolors.

[@hansendesigns]

Dye is fun, has neon colors and bright bubble gum pinks etc. But the fact that it’s not lightfast just kills it pretty much for original works unless you’re scanning and printing or keeping it digitally.

[@eileencollins3126]

I like Daniel Smith, but live near Seattle, and feel a loyalty, having bought their paint since they were a very new company. I also have a few Winsor Newton, and particularly like their lemon yellow for some reason. I like to make custom palettes for my projects, and am switching out half pans to do this. Because of this, I do not particularly like M. Graham, as I am always managing to get my fingernail full of paint from a dry pan, although I do like the colors they have. I have a few other brands sitting around, and one time tried out several different brands of Ultramarine, which was fun. Great video. Thanks!

[@LCLand]

MG is such a joy to paint with I put up with the consistency 😊

[@LeslieStroz]

Oh, I’d feel loyalty to DS too if I lived there. I feel that way about WN since I live in England. 😅 The consistency of honey based paints is definitely different. I don’t really do travel painting with them for that reason, though they are nice in the studio. 😊

[@toniblackmore3016]

Isn’t that funny - I live in downtown Seattle and feel a similar loyalty to Daniel Smith!

[@lesleyking2815]

I’m a Daniel Smith person, I started with Winsor and Newton and then was given a set of sennellier which I really preferred , but I’ve moved over to Daniel smith gradually because I found the honey in the Sennellier gave me problems, I use tubes and the honey separated out, in the tubes but also in the pans when I filled them, also in a travel set, which I refill the pans, they never seemed to dry out to hard so things could get very messy. I don’t have a problem with vibrancy in Daniel Smith but I do use different primaries when choosing a palette depending on the subject, I find this makes huge difference. Loved the video 🤗

[@LeslieStroz]

Of the three you mentioned I think the Daniel Smith are the easiest in travel palettes. The Winsor&Newton have a tendency to shrink and crack when putting them in pans, and Sennelier are lovely in the studio but don’t travel well because of the slow drying time. Mine are over ten years old and still wet! 😅

[@MyrJuhl]

@@LeslieStroz W&N do fall out of the pan. I have to glue them back in :D

[@erin.in.colour]

@@LeslieStroz Sarah Burns also mentioned that Daniel Smith gouache cracks the least in dried gouache palettes, and I agree!

[@hansendesigns]

Dyes are always nice colors. They fade since they are not lightfast. Same issue for people who love copic markers, they’re only good for sketches or for scanning digitally.

[@madebylora]

I think all your little paintings are beautiful! My only paints are Winsor &Newton (Cotman). I’ve got 15 half pans in an altoids tin. Just recently I’ve been thinking about upgrading but I don’t want to start having lots of sets (too many decisions means I don’t do anything haha), so I’m still planning to stick to 15 colours and just replace the ones Ive got with higher quality. I was planning to stick with W&N because I know I can get those at a local shop, so I was very happy to hear that they were your favourite brand! Too many options just get overwhelming for me and I can’t afford to buy lots of brands to test for myself. So, thank you!

[@LeslieStroz]

I think that’s a smart plan! With fewer colours you’ll better learn their mixing capabilities too. 😊

[@parthsavyasachi9348]

I use all of them in sense that i use different colors from each brand together in same painting. Color is always based on the subject at hand. My most used one is lukas though. They stand out to me so when i need strong colors i reach for lukas. For example black that i use is lukas. It is the strongest.

[@cate7777]

That's an interesting experiment and your conclusions are not what I would have expected. I wouldn't have thought there would be such a big difference between the brands. I have most of the paint brands you used and I even mix and match, colors from different pallets. Could it be a mood thing or something else? Why would one paint brand be fine one day and then hard to work with the next? Maybe I need to pay more attention to see if there is a difference that I could discern. You have me curious... As for the dye based paints, the one concern would be lightfastness or lack of...

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

I have not had the privilege to try schminke, sennillier or m Graham yet out of all the handmaids that I've tried honey watercolors are my absolute favorite. M Graham is my dream paint. Hopefully someday I will get to try those three. I do use my Daniel Smith and my da Vinci's quite a lot as well as my sonnets a bit

[@LCLand]

Yes on senn and m graham. Imo no need for schmincke if you have those beauties

[@LeslieStroz]

It sounds like you have some great brands to explore for now. 🤗

[@connied8507]

I love that there is a different watercolor brand for everyone. I agree that schminke has a different feel but it's one of my favorites ❤

[@jjsmakeupobsession323]

M Graham seems to be priced evenly with Daniel Smith, so I am also curious to try m graham.

[@pennypop408]

Yep my two favourites in my pallet are winsor and newton's love love love their blues and m Graham's . Glad to see someone else loves them as well. I also paint realistically.

[@LeslieStroz]

I think both are great brands for realism, as well as glazing. 😊

[@nickstuart200]

Gradually changing over from Holbein (which are very good) to Winsor Newton. Glad they ended up in your first place.

[@jennal1260]

Clicked on the video for the comparison, didn't expect the surprise Sunny! :D

[@LeslieStroz]

Awww 😊

[@MrToryhere]

Yes, Winsor and Newton is the gold standard in that it just does the job without one having to think too much. Daley Rowney is also like this.

[@TheresaREAberilla]

For meh, in "watercolours", I don't seek for vibrant ones, I like the "quality" of Winsor & Newton, by which, I only use for "special art works", and go fo Schmncke, and my others, which might tally to 7, so I have ten or eleven in total!!! I love "transparency, but, the way i paint is with "layers", and I hate leaving a "paper" - potion empty! So, it depends on your style, and the way your "soul" accepts your work, as to whether, a cheaper supplies is what you actually want!!! To each his own! TFS

[@Amy4000]

I get it about the Schmincke. I have to be in the mood for those paints.

[@tanyaratti]

I’m so happy you liked the Sennelier. I’ve had mine almost 10 years and love them. I buy tubes and have a few palettes made up - I have the full boxed set of every colour (gift from hubby) also the neutral and natural colours are gorgeous! Please persevere. Only thing of concern is you need to squish the tube about a bit if they’ve sat for too long. Honey seemed to separate in the tube. So you squeeze out a heap of clear liquid before the paint in some tubes. I still love the paint. It’s moist and lush :). I also have Koh I nor which I love for the intensity when doodling… w&N I also have and find them ok but not as much as Sennelier- agree with schminke…. Love Daniel Smith’s translucent orange so I have a full cake of it. I like all your sketches but sennelier is my fav and I did like W&N and the Koh I nor one. :)

[@kimrodeffer6302]

I also love Beam from Canada! Sennelier and DS are great ones readily available.

[@earthskye]

Winsor & Newton are my favorite. I also use Qor watercolors, but I sort of have a love/hate relationship with them. It kind of depends what I'm working on with those. But W&N is solid. I like experimenting with other brands, but I know I can rely on my W&N.

[@LeslieStroz]

I’m a little afraid of using QoR because their binder is so new. I gravitate towards the materials that have already stood the test of time, but lots of people seem to love them. 😊

[@sweetasbloodredjam]

I‘m kind of surprised that you found Schmincke to be too vibrant, when the common complaint it usually that they‘re kind of dull and subtle, especially in comparison to Daniel Smiths wich are famous for their vibrancy. I absolutely get struggling with Schmincke though, they‘re not for everyone. Personally, i mix and match brands in my pallets nowadays. Some brands just have special pigments or iterations of Colors that I love more than others and I just put all my favourites.

[@MoonstoneCastle1]

Yes, Winsor & Newton is always an excellent, traditional, reliable brand (in the artists'/professional range) and they and the Daler Rowney Artists' watercolours (and even the vintage Georgian paints) are my favourite. Those were the only two brands I stuck with for decades, but now I also have to add to the list Roman Szmal and Rembrandt; such lovely paints. I also have a box of Sennelier, and they are very good, but I place them fifth out of those five, but like you, I need to explore them some more. I hope to not add any more brands as five are enough for me!

[@Jaline_on_YouTube]

@MoonstoneCastle1 - I really love Roman Szmal paints, too. They are definitely my favourites at this point in time. :)

[@MoonstoneCastle1]

@@Jaline_on_KZbin Yes, indeed, I love them, they are beautiful paints!

[@Jaline_on_YouTube]

@@MoonstoneCastle1 I agree that they are beautiful paints. I was so lucky to have found them on an incredible sale - I now have all the colours and I love the wide variety of bright and muted tones. They behave so nicely, too - both in mixing with themselves as well as with other brands of paint. That really amazed me. :)

[@MoonstoneCastle1]

@@Jaline_on_KZbin Wow! How wonderful to have them all! I love mixing colours myself, but these are so irresistible. I have 34 and have my eye on about twelve more colours in particular...at the moment! :)

[@Jaline_on_YouTube]

@@MoonstoneCastle1 Like you, I enjoy mixing colours, too - except mixing while painting means my piece sometimes gets too dry. I do try to pick and mix my colours ahead of painting but it seems inevitable that a particular tone I need isn't pre-mixed. So far, Roman Szmal's paints have saved me grief many times - LOL

[@alinatr2693]

I love A.Gallo paints,but they are so expensive. I use A gallo,Schmincke and Jaxon watercolors😊

[@t-daze]

Alas, I have way too many tubes of watercolor paint which is crazy since I mainly paint in oils. But every time I watch one of your videos I want to go pull out my watercolors. On the rare occasions when I use watercolors, I've liked QOR and Sennelier. I was surprised by how nice the QOR colors were and Sennerlier has always used such rich pigments in all their products. I especially like Sennerlier's soft pastels. Holbein, also uses very rich pigments and interesting combinations; I like their violets--Mineral Violet PV15 and Mars Violet which is a nice convenience color comprised of PR101, PV23 and PBr7. Daniel Smith's Carbazole Violet could probably be used to mix a brown violet and their Quinacridone Gold is such an essential warm color. Schmincke's Transparent Orange is wonderful also. And finally, I got a set of 6 pans of Rublev earth reds from Natural Pigments that I like.

[@LeslieStroz]

Lovely suggestions! I’ve not tried QoR because I’m nervous about their special binder… I prefer to use things that have stood the test of time, old curmudgeon that I am. I tend to paint best with a limited palette, though it’s always fun to discover and include some fun extras! Thanks for the suggestions! 😊

[@davevanfunk8917]

How lightfast are the Kohinoor paints. Do they have an ASTM rating?