Winsor and newton paints professional#

You can check out more of her writing on MyDomaine and Byrdie. She has an appreciation for watercolors and enjoys painting with her son.

Lifelong arts and crafts enthusiast Theresa Holland has been contributing to The Spruce brands since 2019. A good watercolor brush can hold a lot of water and a lot of paint,' says Meinke-Lau. 'The most important quality about a brush is its absorbency. 'A good brush holds a lot of water, so you're not dipping it all the time,' she says. McEnaney adds that most watercolor artists like a brush that comes to a really nice point, as well as flat brushes that will come in different sizes. Another helpful hint she shares is, 'Look for a synthetic brush with soft bristles that bounce back when held down and come to a point when wet.' These will be useful for those starting out as they begin to understand which brushes work best for them and build their collection. The barrel should be about as wide across as a crayon,' shares Lynne. 'A brush that can be used for many techniques is the mid-size round brush, size 7 or 8. If you purchase student-grade paints which are cakey and dry, you will be frustrated with your artwork and might get easily discouraged and stop painting altogether,' she says.Īgain, brushes are a very specific preference depending on the artist. 'If you want a good painting, you need to purchase high-quality, artist-grade, moist paints-even as a beginner painter. 'They don't blend the same way, and the colors aren't as vibrant.' So if you are serious about your hobby and don't mind spending a few extra bucks, opt for professional-grade picks.įellow watercolor painter Janet Meinke-Lau agrees.

Winsor and newton paints professional#

'Student grade paints don't perform anywhere near what a professional watercolor paint does,' says McEnaney. You can get a kid's set for under $5,' she shares.

'I think this combination is the best for building confidence. She uses kids' watercolor paints with higher-quality brushes at her painting events. 'I feel that even a kid's set is a great way for adult beginners to feel relaxed to explore, play and not feel intimidated,' says watercolor artist Wendra Lynne. And it will be easy to spot a set made specifically for kids. Professional sets will include that word in their packaging or the term 'artist's quality.' Less expensive options with fewer color options are more suited for beginners. Watercolor sets are often labeled in a way that makes it easy to know who they are targeted towards. The texture can also affect how the paint goes on the canvas (or any other material). Your expertise-as well as how you intend to use the paint-will help you determine how much you need to spend to get the effect you want.īeyond pigment, a paint’s texture can make a big difference-some are creamier than others and easier to blend with water. In general, the higher the paint quality, the more expensive it'll be. This may be more suitable for experience painters. You could even start with the three primary colors and mix every other color you need from there, she suggests. 'Different colors have different names between brands, or some will be the same color but have a different name, so it's best to stick to one brand in the beginning,' says watercolor painter Grace Scharr McEnaney.

Beyond that, consider the pigment of various paints, as more heavily-pigmented paints will produce brighter, more intense colors. Others are sold in sets, so you’ll want to evaluate which colors are included to make sure they meet your needs. Some watercolor paints are sold in individual tubes, allowing you to select exactly the colors you want. What to Look for in a Watercolor Paint Color However, if you prefer tube paints or want even more colors, you can't go wrong with the Arteza Premium 60 Water Colors set ( view at Amazon). The Half-Pan Studio Set comes with 45 high-quality paints, each with impressive pigment, tinting strength, and transparency ( view at Amazon). The best watercolor paints overall are Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours.