Watercolor painting is a fun and expressive art medium that has been popular for centuries. The range of beautiful colors available in watercolor paints is part of what makes it so appealing to artists. But with so many options out there, how do you know which are the best watercolor paints to choose?
In this guide, we’ll walk through the major factors to consider when selecting watercolor paints. We’ll compare student vs. professional grade paints, explore the characteristics of different pigments, and make recommendations for the highest quality and most vibrant watercolor palettes.
Student vs. Professional Grade Watercolor Paint
The first decision to make when choosing watercolor paint is whether you need student or professional grade paints. Here’s an overview of the key differences between the two:
Student Grade Paint
- Less expensive
- Contains more fillers and less pigment
- Colors are not as vibrant or rich
- Good for beginners practicing techniques
- Examples: Crayola, Prang, Grumbacher Academy
Professional Grade Paint
- More expensive
- Higher concentration of pure pigment
- Brighter, deeper, and more vivid colors
- Best for experienced artists creating finished works
- Examples: Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Holbein, Schmincke
As you can see, professional paints contain more pigment and produce much more intense color. The tradeoff is they are pricier. Student grades are great for practicing and learning techniques, while professional paints are preferable for creating gallery-worthy artwork.
Types of Pigments
Understanding the different types of pigments used in watercolor paints can help guide your color selection.
Staining vs. Non-Staining
Staining pigments penetrate and bind to the paper fibers, causing colors to appear more vivid and resist fading over time. They can be difficult to lift or remove. Common staining pigments include alizarin crimson, phthalo blue, and phthalo green.
Non-staining pigments sit on the surface of the paper and can be reworked or removed more easily. They tend to appear paler in washes. Examples are French ultramarine, burnt sienna, and raw sienna.
Transparent vs. Opaque
Transparent pigments allow light to pass through and underlying layers to show. This allows for glazing techniques and luminous mixes. Some transparent pigments are ultramarine blue, quinacridone gold, and Daniel Smith’s transparent pyrrol orange.
Opaque pigments block light and obscure underlying paint layers. Common opaque pigments include zinc white, titanium white, and mars black.
Color Properties
It’s also helpful to understand the characteristics of individual watercolor pigments. Here’s an overview of popular colors:
| Color | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Cadmium Yellow | Warm, opaque yellow. Toxic metal-based pigment. |
| Cadmium Orange | Vivid orange. Toxic cadmium pigment. |
| Cadmium Red | Bright, warm red. Toxic metal-based pigment. |
| Ultramarine Blue | Cool, mildly granulating blue. Transparent. |
| Cerulean Blue | Greenish blue, somewhat opaque. Non-staining. |
| Phthalo Blue | Intense greenish blue. Staining pigment. |
| Mars Black | Neutral, opaque black. Non-staining. |
| Burnt Sienna | Warm, transparent brown. Non-staining. |
| Sap Green | Translucent green with yellow undertone. Staining. |
This table just covers a sample of common watercolor pigments. Getting to know your paints on an individual level will help you mix more accurately and play to their strengths.
Best Watercolor Paint Brands
Now that we’ve covered the basics of watercolor paints, let’s look at some top-quality professional grade brands:
Winsor & Newton (W&N)
- Classic and trusted brand used by artists worldwide
- Available in student and professional grades
- Known for beautiful, consistent mixing across colors
- Wide range of individual tubes and pan sets
Daniel Smith
- Extensive series of over 240+ colors
- Many unique specialty paints with interesting granulating effects
- High pigment concentration for staining, vivid colors
- Best for artists who enjoy exploring a huge color selection
Holbein
- Japanese brand known for extremely high pigment purity
- Vibrant, staining colors perfect for layering and glazing
- Slightly higher price but beautiful quality
- Great for detail work requiring precision
Schmincke Horadam
- German brand producing paints since 1881
- Known for brilliant, consistent hues across their range
- Carefully formulated for beautiful blending
- Slightly softer feel than some other professional paints
There are many other excellent professional watercolor brands, like Da Vinci, M. Graham, Maimeri, Sennelier, and more. Try a few to get a sense of your favorites!
Choosing Paint Colors
When selecting individual watercolor paint tubes or pans, here are some tips for choosing versatile, mixable color combinations:
- Start with primaries – red, yellow, blue. Winsor Lemon, French Ultramarine, and Winsor or Permanent Rose are safe picks.
- Add secondary mixes – purple, green, orange. Combine your primaries or pick convenient pre-mixed hues.
- Include warm and cool variants of each primary (ex: cadmium red and alizarin crimson).
- Consider staining vs. non-staining – a mix is good for maximum versatility.
- Add neutrals/earths – raw umber, burnt sienna, sepia, black.
- Supplement with convenience colors you use frequently.
Building out a balanced starter palette with about 12-24 colors can prevent you from having to mix every single hue. You can then supplement with more specialty colors over time.
Best Practices for Using Watercolor Paint
Once you’ve selected your dream watercolor paints, be sure to use them to their full potential by following these best practices:
- Use 100% cotton watercolor paper for best results.
- Strengthen washes by mixing in a staining pigment.
- Take advantage of luminous transparency with glazes and backruns.
- Create texture with salt or by lifting color.
- Keep paints fresh by rinsing pans between uses and closing tubes tightly.
With vibrant paints and the right techniques, you’ll be ready to create glowing watercolor works of art!
Conclusion
Exploring and mastering watercolor paints is a lifelong journey for any painter. Start by selecting a versatile set of student or professional grade paints that contain your favorite hues. Pay attention to staining vs. non-staining and transparent vs. opaque pigments. And get to know the mixing qualities and granulation effects that make each color unique.
Top professional brands like Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith, Holbein, and Schmincke offer excellent quality and huge color choices. Combine your favorite tubes or pans into a personalized palette. Then start mixing luminous washes and glazes while employing best watercolor practices. With so many exquisite paints to experiment with, you’ll enjoy a lifetime of colorful creativity with watercolors!
