I watched your tutorial and was amazed at the colors - so vibrant! Loved your entire video and your painting. I'm going to order her 1st book and get back to learning!! You're so inspiring and talented. I thank you so much.
Whatever you do do not add water to the white ink. I made the mistake of adding a few drops of distilled water to mine because it had thickened up to the point where it was slightly difficult to use. It coagulated the ink and I ended up with a lovely bottle of cottage cheese.
+GummyTumor Hi Gummy - I had no problem adding water on the palette, but I'll take your word for it and not add it in the bottle. Thanks for the tip. - Marty
Ive been tattooing and using acrylics layered with colored pencil for years but I lost my eyesight regained it thru surgery and had other life changing events happen so I thought Id try a different medium. I start out thinking I wanted radiants. Ive never used watercolors and Im after bright colors. Well Ive spent the lastmonth looking into pan and tube watercolors ect. Just this past weekend I spent 2 12hr days watching swatch videos. yes!!!! i did. now Ive seen this and Im all the way back around to dr ph. just the hydrus instead. Boy what a long journey to get there. lol thank you. best review on it ive seen. i prefer all of your reviews really.
When I first watched this video several months ago, I was already playing around with the idea of buying these. This video made me realize these paints were the number one thing I wanted for Christmas. They are already under my tree, and I am anxiously waiting for Christmas to play! Thank you Marty for your super informative reviews. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!
I watched this video and a few others because I wasn't sure if I wanted these or the Radiants. It just made more since to get these because I might want to display a painting or give one as a gift. I was so fortunate to find an incredible deal. I bought the Hydraus 1oz set for about $55 Thanks for your videos, they are extremely helpful.
hi got my holbeins at long last .love them.thanks to your channel i found the watercolour that suits me.still be watching you and every video you make.would like to see more of your painting pictures.thankyou
+Sylvia Costello Hi Sylvia - Thank you very much for the note and the follow up. I will try to do more painting on camera. :-) You're very kind. ~Marty
I've been watching your channel since it started and I'm glad to see how is growing into a great review site. I buy my supplies online most of the time and having the chance of seeing them in action is really helpful. I hope you even get free samples!
+Nrai Thank you so much Nrai. I really appreciate you watching. I buy 99% of the supplies I review, that way my only responsibility is to the viewer. If I ever do receive art supplies, I'm clear that my only responsibility is to the viewer and Artists who watch the channel. - Marty
Thanks Marty. I've wondered about these for a while and it was great to get your take on them. I am considering treating myself to these to play with for my birthday. Your info was really helpful as always....appreciate it.
+Owings Art Yep, I need to visit an art shop in one of the big cities because they have the range. Had to giggle when you said the paints were $60 a set. I'm from Australia and that set is over $100. So when I decide to experiment, I watch several youtube videos. Your info was excellent, and Im leaning towards this set for my Christmas Stocking.
I had watched this video when you first published it but that was before I had decided to purchase my Dr. Ph. Martin's watercolors. They arrived this morning and I'm wanting to refresh my memory before I open them up and start my first project with them. I always enjoy watching your videos and truly you are inspiring. Thanks again Marty!
I really like them so far, I've only just began to paint with them it's sort of a learning curve compared to what I'm used to but I like them a lot. The colors are so vibrant and strong and I love that.
I was already sold on these thanks to your review, but when you said, "I like a happy flower," I was even more sold. The book sounds terrific too. I may just have to treat myself. :)
I love how you put the colors on to paper as opposed to just talking about it. I just bought this watercolor set the other day. I like that you demonstrated the watercolors in a painting, not only that but I'm going to get that book. I would love to learn how to learn how to draw items realistically.
Gosh, I'm trying to resist buying these things and it's only getting tougher! I have a few bottles of the Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay India inks and they are very beautiful.
I have set 1 as well and I love the colors they're so vibrant. They're gorgeous I really love to use these to do mixed media for really bright backgrounds. Great review Marty, I love your painting!
+Shannon Sand Hi Shannon - Have you done a review on these yet? I see you have some in your Art hauls. I have to use these more in my sketches. I love to work with these because they're so bright and vibrant. Thanks for your comment on the painting, glad you liked you. Have a GREAT day! - Marty
The full line of Hydrus has always been on my wish list for art supplies I'd like to be able to add to my collection. Personally, I definitely put these under (concentrated liquid) watercolors as marketed because they are (mostly) archival due to them being made with pigments and not dyes. I consider the Radiant line to be more of a water-soluble ink since they are dye-based. I like the Hydrus as it is marketed more towards fine artists vs Radiant or their other lines which are marketed more towards commercial artists who's work will probably be turned into a digital form at some stage. Was fun seeing you enjoy these concentrated paints and glad you stressed the "little goes a long way." I've seen too many people pick these up and use up an entire dropper for half of painting! You will probably be interested in their Bombay line (colored inks) as I believe it's also lightfast but permanent when dry and half the price. I love the Hydrus though for their color load and transparency.
+My Panda Paints That's great info. It's funny they don't label these inks really on their website. These Hydrus are really spectacular in lot's of great ways. I'll have to try the Bombay line as well. Looks like they're great as well and less expensive. Thanks for the comments and for watching as always! - Marty
+halowolf Hydrus is concentrated liquid watercolors. They act like watercolors and are pigment-based just like watercolors. The only difference is that they are highly concentrated as the name suggests and in liquid form. As Marty demonstrated, you only need a drop or two to paint a painting. Bombay are liquid Bombay inks that are waterproof when dry. They act similar to using an ink from an ink well. When they dry, since they are a Bombay India inks, there is a slight sheen due to the shellac in the ink. If you don't clean out your brushes or pen nibs, they will dry permanent and make them useless while Hydrus re-activates with water.
I was looking for a review about this and decided to search your channel first and here I am! You have everythig man! :D LOL Great review Marty! Thanks a lot!
For sure I wll Marty! I found you last year when looking for a review about the Inktense pencils, and I have to say that I loved them. My husband travels to Canada for work every year, so I take the chance and ask him to buy some things that are extremelly overpriced in my country, (some you can't find at all in Argentina). I also watch your channel when I have a rough day while having my coffee. So if you read some odd english here, it's because I'm still learning :D Regards!
+SuperFlawless9 Ahhhh, thanks Patrick. You're one of the originals my friend. The channel and my reviews wouldn't be the same without my friend. - Marty
When you posted the other last night I was looking forward to this one because you said you were reviewing the lightfast ones as well. These do look super saturated. Even more than like a Daniel Smith or WN. I don't know though, there is just a joy in the ritual for me, grinding the brush in the paint blob on the palette and the whole mixing process. I may get a couple of these just to try though. There are several here on YT that loves these paints. I would like to see trying something like a flat wash. Good review Marty!
+Adam Wallen Hi Adam - Thanks for the note and your comments on these. They really are super saturated and just pop off the paper. I know what you mean about the joy in the ritual and these take a little getting used to, but I like pushing my comfort zone once in a while, it can be fun. - Marty
My paintings always seem so pale because I am so hesitant, so these hydrus paints are going to be great because I'll have to go out of my way to make my work look washed out!Thanks for the review, kind sir.
I subscribed some time ago, but was looking for RUclipsS about craft mediums like Ken Oliver's ColorBurst. When I started watching, I was mesmerized and couldn't stop. I am not an artist in the terms most people think of art, but I do enjoy using alcohol inks and other forms of color that move and make my heart happy.
+lorrane Ohhhhh and also when you visit the art store BEFORE you do your grocery shopping, and find yourself re-arranging your menu for the week. I'm the same with books. The other day I was feeling low and visited the art store ( mostly children art/craft.....I did pick and choose, but came out $184 lighter. I bought my cat some meat and decided I could live out of my pantry cupboard.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. the paint almost looks like acrylic, it has such beautiful pigment. I live in Australia, does your friendly art store package and post o/s without mentioning "dangerous goods" on the package ?
I have this set of hydrus watercolours & I really like the vibrancy. The only disadvantage I have found is they do not rehydrate well once they have dried on the paper, unlike other watercolour paints.
Very nice review! I got Set #3 for Christmas and I adore these paints. I was wondering if you'd do a review on Holbein watercolors? Also if you'd try gouache could you do a review on their primary mixing set?
I have an old set of Luma concentrated watercolors I bought in art school in the mid-80s. These look like a good replacement for those. It's too bad Luma is no longer made. Luma made outstanding liquid watercolors.
Thank you Marty for this and all your excellent reviews! Beautiful daisy:) I received Set A in the post yesterday and had fun making a colour chart and mixing colours today. I can't wait to use them for a painting. They are such beautiful colours. I'm so glad I got them.
+Carla A. Hi Carla - Happy to do it. These paints are a blast and I'm glad to hear you are enjoying them. They really are beautiful. Thanks for the note and have an AWESOME day! - Marty
I have these and love how vibrant the color is. the problem I run into all the time is, you can't rewet them. also, I find that there is a ton of settlement. sometimes I have to shake them up so much, and I still get bits of grainy color.
Thank-you so much for this review Marty! Excellent as always! I've been eyeing these for a while but in my country (Canada) they are a bit more expensive, and I wasn't sure if I'd like them, so I went with the Bombay India Ink set that they have. I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet as I have not been well, but when I do use them I'll let you know how they are if you'd like my 2 cents. Now that I've seen a well rounded review about these, I will save up for them and will totally be buying these in the near future. I'm currently enjoying my new (first) watercolor set, a W & N Cotman Deluxe Studio Set, I'm going to save up for some M. Graham watercolors or another better artist quality watercolor paints as I do plan on selling my art when I feel confidant enough in my evermore developing abilities. Thanks again, as always I come back to you because I trust your word and appreciate your ethics and all you do. Take care.
+Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermione - Good to hear from you! I'd love to hear what you think of the Bombay. I plan to review them sometime, but just haven't gotten to it yet. Good news is there are lot's of great choices for you when you decide to upgrade your watercolors, maybe Daniel Smith. Have a fantastic day! - Marty
Lightfast? Well the facts are getting Martin's to release pigment information is like pulling hens teeth. Some colors they refuse to submit information stating their proprietary secret blend. We have been discussing the Hydros line for years on WetCanvas and other forums. Your modest. You know plenty on color theory! Your videos are extremely important to the community. I have relied on several of your videos in order to make more informed purchasing decisions. You have saved me money and headaches and I thank you.
Thank you so much Don. Sorry for the delay in my response. Yes, I noticed that about them as well. I wrote to them once (email) and didn't receive a response. That said, I enjoy their products and my tests so far find these are fairly lightfast. :-) ~Marty
Just received these for my birthday and can't wait to use them. Your tutorial was most helpful, and the daisy is beautiful! Just curious, what paper did you use for the daisy?
Thank you so much for these reviews! liked and subscrubed! I've been meaning to buy Dr.Ph Martin's water colour inks but dont know which to get (the radiant or Hydrus) your two review videos really helped me to gain more insight. I'm still on the fence though
Hi Mary - Thank you for the kind remark. I think that's a Winsor & Newton brush I had laying around. Normally I use Isabey brushes. They make some beautiful synthetics and natural hair brushes. Happy New Year! Marty
Marty been a while since we've spoken but found this video while searching for a tutorial on how to use these amazing new toys I just got for Christmas. Thankfully it was you who I found because you know I trust your tutorials 110% over many others. Now my question is is this: If I start a palette for these vibrant colors will I be able to reactivate them with water once they dry on the palette? Please let me know because I don't want to waste any product if at all possible. Happy new Year my friend. I've missed watching your videos.
Hi Elizabeth - Thanks for the note and the question. It's been a while since I used them, but I do think they reactivate nicely. Give it a try, if I'm wrong, apologies in advance. Hope you are doing great! Happy New Year!! ~Marty
I have some Koh-l-Noor Rapidograph pens...I was wondering if this product would work in them. Mixing watercolor and filling the pens is a chore...this looks quick and simple. Then would the Bombay inks be a better choice than the watercolor for the pens. I don't like cleaning up some of them...but when you want a metallic gold...it works.
Hi Marty, I learned about you on the "Ask the Artist" Q&A just the other night, with Lindsay, Steve, Cinnamon, and Lisa. So I've just subbed to your channel. I'm very happy to see your artwork, and views on different materials. This set seems like a dream come true! I was wondering, if you have paint left over, can it still be reactivated? Say like on your palette, like regular watercolors. I usually use the pan sets of watercolor, so wondering if I had these and they were dried, how they would respond. I just ordered a set of Inktense Blocks, so it'll be awhile before I will be able to splurge on anything else for a while. :) TFS Alice
+Alice Clark Howdy Alice - These are a little tricky. I don't recommend leaving them on the palette. The good news is if you use the dropper to just put a little bit on you palette, it goes a long, long way. I like this paint very much and like I mentioned, a little goes a long way. I can reactivate it on paper though. :-) - Marty
amazing colours so beautiful, sorry for bombarding you with questions but as I mentioned before I'm loving your channel and reviews and unlike some other great you tubers you actually get the time to answer people's questions. I noticed that you said you picked these up online and I'm wondering if you know of any sites that ship to Canada at a resonable cost. I have only purchased from Joanne's and amazon amazon is awesome because they ship to Canada free for orders over a certain amount and Joanne's shipping is high but they include taxes and duty into there shipping but I have been doing a lot of window shopping at Jerry's Artarama there shipping is a bit iffy as they have a flat rate to canada of about $38 US even if it was only one sheet of paper but once you start ordering really a thing your hit with the $38 flat rate and goes up quiet high based on weight but there prices are so low that it just about equals out compared to what we pay I canada for these items that about 98% of them we can't buy here anyway but the main problem is that there are no taxes and no duty added on like at Joanne's that means they may come over the boarded for nothing or a massive bill that you can not find out until your order is waiting to be picked up at the post office and it will sit there until you pay what ever amount they come up with. So do you have any suggestions or know of any online sites like jerrys with a good selection of painting supply's with resonable Canadian shipping and with out the worry of a possible huge bill for tax and duty after I paid jerrys so much to ship it in the first place. I can do all the shipping research but I'm hearing of so many sites from you tubers places I have never heard of I canada and just happen to hear like in this video about wet paint. com. There are so many US sites and I only find out about them if the person happens to mention where they found the item there demoing and a lot just don't think to mention it I assume because you lucky America's just don't think to mention the site because you have so many any suggestions would be super helpful thanks again for everything.
+The Chatty crafter No worries lol. I have Canadian friends and they have similar stories. I used to live in Montreal, but luckily there were great Art Stores there. I live close to wetpaintart.com and strongly recommend them. I don't know about the shipping, but they are the most knowledgeable and helpful art supply people I know. You can also just call them. Ask for Darrin and tell him I sent you. The other places I shop online are: Dick Blick dickblick.com Jerry's (which you already use) jerrysartarama.com/ Cheap Joe's cheapjoes.com Jackson's Art Supplies (UK, but I use them fro things I can't find in the States) www.jacksonsart.com Ken Bromley Art Supplies (UK) www.artsupplies.co.uk Art Supply Warehouse www.artsupplywarehouse.com Hobby Lobby www.hobbylobby.com Good luck and I hope this helps you! Marty
I'd say they are okay for beginners, but might start with some pan watercolors instead. Depending on budget, you might want to try Daniel Smith, Schmincke or a less expensive brand. I just happen to love Schmincke even though they are quite expensive.
I am so happy to see this demo. I was given these Hydrus as a gift sometime ago and hesitated to try them. Was your W/C paper wet at the time you painted? Thanks for the demo. Pat
+BIOnerd93 I think you can buy individual bottles. You can check with Wet Paint and they can tell you for sure. You can call them and ask for Darrin at 651.698.6431. Tell him Marty sent you. :-)
+Owings Art thx for the number. .. I saw that they offer international shipping so I might send an email and see when I can buy them. they look so vibrant and nice but I'm still getting to know watercolour. -Sana'a
G'day Marty, thought about these in the past. Love the vibrant colours. Since viewing your review, I'm going to buy these. Unfortunately, can't find them in Australia, so will have to source these inks in the US. Do you know anything about the Dr PH Martin's Bombay Inks?
+Chrissy Murray Hi Chrissy - The Bombay's are on my list, but I haven't had a chance to test them just yet. I've got a long, long backlog :-) Have you tried the Bombay inks? And can you get stuff from Amazon? - Marty
+Owings Art Marty, haven't tried any of the Dr Ph Martin's inks. I think I can get them from Amazon in the US. They do say they ship to Australia.Let's see how that goes. Look forward to your Bombay Ink review.
Great review, Marty! Is there any reason you would want to get both the Radiant and the Hydrous sets? I would think you would always want the lighfast. Also, can you set up a little palette of these and allow to dry and rewet them for a travel kit? I see some people have used ice cube trays with sealing lids for storage - Komax on Amazon. Love the daisy you painted! Thanks, Paula in Florida
+paulage1art Hi Paula - Thanks for the great questions. The main reason to have both the Radiant and Hydrus would be if your were going to do mock ups with the Radiant's in order to save your Hydrus for you finished work, otherwise you're right, there's no compelling reason to own both. I'm not sure about setting up a palette, although I was able to re-wet these and use them. I suppose it could be done if you could keep them air tight. Thanks for the note about the daisy, it was fun to paint. Have a great weekend! - Marty
+Owings Hi Marty - just received my order for sets 1 and 2 of Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Watercolors and I love them! I used the Tim Holtz Ink Palette with 36 wells (about $7 at craft stores and can use a coupon - very affordable, and the wells are about one inch round and allow for quick drying with the large surface area) and put in a dropperful of each color, let it dry overnight and repeated twice. The remaining 12 wells I used for mixtures of my favorite colors. Very portable and they do rehydrate beautifully!I Thanks for the review and inspiring me to get yet another fun and beautiful art supply! Paula in Florida
paulage1art Hi Paula - It sounds like you're having great fun with the Hydrus. They really go a long way don't they? I was impressed as well with the way they rehydrated. Thanks for the follow up Paula, it's great to hear how things work for you. Have a FANTASTIC weekend! - Marty
These do look fantastic, but can you lift the color once it is dry? I find lifting absolutely necessary to render 3d forms, and this looks like it would stain the paper and not be "liftable". Can you use masking fluid with it?
+Claire Bureau Hi Claire - I didn't try masking fluid, but you could give it a try. Yes you can lift these, sort of. By that I mean it depends on the paper and how you're trying to lift them. They will leave some stain on almost all kinds of papers so in that regard these may not be a fit for you. I was able to reactivate and slightly lift the colors. That's it really. Hope it helps! - Marty
As always, fantastic review. I have the Ph. Martin Bombay inks , so nice. Now you are going to make me get these too?! I just splurged on the Van Gogh water colors! I curse you!! :p
Hello you really answered my questions in this video I want to try these..( and everything to do with watercolor). what's your favorite paper to use. Thank you!
+Ann F So many great papers Ann, but I guess I like different papers for different reasons. I like the Stillman and Birn Zeta Series Sketchbooks for mixed media. I love Fabriano and Arches for watercolor and Strathmore Bristol for ink and general drawing. Have a great day Ann. - Marty
Excellent informative review Marty! I was wondering about the book you recommend in this product review, ie "Sketch". What are your thoughts on someone who does not freehand images to be painted? Do you feel that one can learn to draw or that it is a talent one is born with? Do you recommend any books for the beginner and do you feel that this book is a good start or would it be better to purchase a different book focussed more on "the first steps to drawing"? I am obsessed with watching painting tutorials and this obsession started about 2 yrs ago. Since then, whenever I look at anything I am now thinking about shading, angles, etc. and try to imagine how to take a 3D image and turn it into a painting. I have even found out that "squinting my eyes" helps me to visualize this. Am I crazy LOL! Thanks Marty for sharing your talent with us and please know that I always respect your opinions and advice!
Hi Nancy - Thank you for the comments and questions. Absolutely people can learn to draw. Talent may help someone pick things up, but ANYONE can learn to draw and paint. I know this because I learned to draw and paint and every Artist I know had to learn to draw and paint. The best way to get better is to practice every day or as much as you can. You can follow some basic principles. You are already adopting the techniques many Artists employ, such as squinting, seeing things as they correlate to 2D, shading, angles. When I'm not drawing or painting (or working or being with my family) I am almost always thinking about art. There are so many great resources out there. Here are a few that might help you: This is an older book, but I found this very helpful: amzn.to/2etekkt How to Draw What You See: amzn.to/2dKz31Q This one is a bit wordy, but a very solid guide: amzn.to/2etipoM Hope this helps you. All the best, Marty
Awe Marty, thanks so much for the info! I am going to get started with the books you recommend. I'm so excited, just like a kid in a candy store! Much appreciated Marty!
Hey...... I bought a ph Martin set which says Bombay dying ink.....how is it different from ph Martin watercolours? I ordered these set by mistake....wanted to order watercolours
+Rose Ann Vita Hi Rose Ann - The answer is a little fuzzy. Yes they definitely do absorb into and color the paper and thus "staining" the paper, so in that respect they're permanent. They even call them "permanent" on some of the colors. Yes, when I add water they do reactivate. As far as permanence though, you can impact this effect by using different types of paper, but they will definitely absorb into the paper and no matter how much you try, you won't be able to remove the color and turn the paper white again. Some remanent of color will remain.
As with normal watercolors, can you leave the drop there, and wet it later on again, when dry? Do you also know the Rohrer Klingner ink/watercolor - is it similar to Dr Ph. Martin?
Hi Ellie - It will work okay if you rewet, but make sure you buy the glass bottles and not the plastic ones. I don't know anything about the Rohrer Klingner, so I can't answer that one. ~Marty
+Owings Art oh okay. Your videos are really helping me. I have the Sennelier paints and i plan to buy a new set. I cannot decide which lol so hard to decide :(
Hi Best Wishes for the New Year, What brushes would you recommend for use with india inks. I believe that these inks damage traditional natural hair fibers because of the shellac content in them. Will this ink work with a Princeton Neptune Quill which is a synthetic squirrel, da Vinci Watercolor Series 5898 Casaneo Paint Brush a "wavy" synthetic fiber developed by da Vinci",Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Brushes an advanced synthetic brush and Princeton Series 4050 Synthetic Sable Watercolor brush. Can these brushes be cross used with india inks and standard watercolor? Also can India inks be layered? and do you find that the under layer shifts once dry?
Hi Rhom - I use a Pentel Water Brush and synthetic brushes for the most part and never a natural hair brush unless I know the ink is NOT shellac based. They rinse pretty easy. You mention the Princeton Series 4050 and I've seen others using that. I mix watercolor and inks all the time and have had little trouble doing so. India inks are not all that easy to layer in my experience, unless they are waterproof and made to dry between layers. They will shift a little if they are not completely dry.
Thanks and great info . BTW Marty had a look at your website for the first time great art. I was trying to find more of your artwork and it was a little difficult to navigate.As a thank you and a late Christmas present for your help over the past year I can e mail over to you a standard web template I have developed and you can use.Regards
+Lisa Janine Hi Lisa - That's a really great question. Here's the answer as far as I know and you nailed it. The layers underneath will dry and stay firm as you paint over them. It's a wonderful thing when you start to layer a lot or use other wet media like ink or marker over the watercolor base. Hope that helps! - Marty
Hello V - I remember reading somewhere that if you let them dry, they can cause clogging or even make the bristles of the brush very stiff, as if they'd been glued together. However I haven't tried it myself, so if you have an old water brush you could give it a shot.
Owings Art, so update on that. So far I got some good old waterbrushes and put some basic colors in to test. I put just enough color in the waterbrush to be opaque but still watery. They seem fine. I may add more colors to carry around later. I’ll update you again soon. :)
@@Sevvin89 any update on the waterbrush? Im thinking of trying it out but am unsure as there is a lot of conflicting info on whether or not it will clog, etc.
idk i think these are too contrasty for me, and, they aren't opaque enough... i like my watercolors to remind me of gouache straight from the tube, and i want them to have the ability to act as a fine watercolor when water is added.. where-as with these, i feel as if they are just way too thinned out to be opaque and they are way too vibrant to create realistic paintings. i mean ive seen artists do realism with these, but it always seems just a bit too contrast driven for my tastes. for a long time i thought these would be perfect for illustration/manga/anime/etc but idk... i prefer regular watercolor paint i think.
Also, you called these expensive a few times throughout this video. I don't think they are, compared to other artist-grade watercolors. You cannot buy an artist watercolor tube for less than $8.99 most places, where-as you can purchase a bottle of these for 6.50 to 6.99! You can't find a 5 color set of artist-grade paints for less than 50-60 dollars. Where-as you're getting 12 colors in this set, and this set usually retails for around 75 dollars. That means your getting 12 colors, in a set of these paints, for 10-20 dollars more than most artist-grade 5 color sets. thats 7 colors for 10-20 bucks! so idk how ya think these are expensive... especially when you then factor in how long a drop of these will last!!! these come in 1oz glass dripper bottles (the size that i've been referencing throughout this post) 1oz = 30ml which is 15ml MORE than most 14ml artist watercolor tubes... so you're getting 2x the color on top of paying over 2 times less than the cheapest artist watercolor paint sets and 2 dollars less per bottle than the cheapest 8.99 artist-grade paint tubes, which are few & far between!! :P these are CHEAP! lol
+DontLeaveMeLucile You make a long and somewhat compelling case, but I'm still not convinced that to the average art supply consumer, these are, "inexpensive". You can buy a cheap set of student grade watercolors for $1.99, in the tubes. You right that the paint goes a long way depending on how you use it, but it's $60 to $80 depending on where you get it and if it's on sale. I can get 12 tubes of inexpensive Chinese watercolors for $10. Or Reeves, Yarka, Cotman's or even a pocket box of Utrecht, Rembrandt's and even twelve tubes of QoR for around $35. And it all depends on the reality of your budget. Many people aren't ready to drop $75 on a set of 12 paints. Additionally it looks like you're referencing Artist's watercolors when you quote the per tube pricing. As you point out in your other comments, these don't fit for you because of the high contrast and in general don't suit you, that would make them extra-expensive in my book. :-) ~Marty
They're not "concentrated". That's the wrong word, because basically all artist grade paints are already as concentrated as possible. What they are is strong, intense. That property is achieved partly by selecting strong, intense pigments. Since these seems to technically be naturally suspended, the pigments are also very finely milled and dispersed. This also increases tinting strength. Making strong colors is actually not particularly hard. And not an objective measure of quality. Making them lightfast is another matter. And these are not lightfast. Not absolutely. Lightfastness is mostly a matter of degree. Since they are mostly composed from synthetic organic pigments, they will fade eventually. Milling them so finely will definitely hurt the inherent lightfastness of the pigments in comparison to normal watercolors. But the chosen pigments have originally very good permanence. How lightfast these paints really are remains to be discovered. Lightfast "enough"? is really always the question, regardless what paints are being considered, since very, very few paints are really completely lightfast. Testing just for hours is IMO not a revealing test. Use the whole summer.
Once again your passion is very much appreciated. I did test these and they are quite lightfast. I've been testing them for more than 10 months now and they're holding up well. Right again, very very few paints are completely lightfast...as a matter of fact I don't think any of the paints I've ever tested are, "completely" lightfast. At least a few of the colors in every line I've tested (and I've tested more than 35 manufactures paints) are going to fade over time. Most companies rate lightfastness in "museum conditions", under glass, in non UV light. That said, I've seen unrestored oil paintings that are 400 years old and they didn't look too bad. Thanks again for watching and sharing your knowledge and opinions. ~Marty
Vermiliontea Those were just the initial tests under direct sunlight and believe it or not, I've tested paints that actually begin to fade in just a few hours. :-) thanks again. ~Marty
Just bought set 1 and fell in love with them immediately. So much that I ordered sets 2 and 3. You are so right about these as they are AMAZING!
Pretty cool aren't they Pam. :-)
I watched your tutorial and was amazed at the colors - so vibrant! Loved your entire video and your painting. I'm going to order her 1st book and get back to learning!! You're so inspiring and talented. I thank you so much.
i have all 3 sets and love them worth every penny
+shawn farnsworth They're pretty sweet. - Marty
Whatever you do do not add water to the white ink. I made the mistake of adding a few drops of distilled water to mine because it had thickened up to the point where it was slightly difficult to use. It coagulated the ink and I ended up with a lovely bottle of cottage cheese.
+GummyTumor Hi Gummy - I had no problem adding water on the palette, but I'll take your word for it and not add it in the bottle. Thanks for the tip. - Marty
GummyTumor q
Just got the hydros set #2 can’t wait to try..thank you for the inspiration
For sure and good luck.
Loving the new intro! I'm sold on these hydrus watercolors! I've been wanting these for so long and I'm so glad to see you are impressed with them!
+halowolf Thanks for the note. These are quite wonderful. - Marty
Definetly one of the best teachers here on RUclips! Love how humble you are despite great talent and looking forward for more videos/recommendations!
Thank you so much for the kind words. :-) ~Marty
Ive been tattooing and using acrylics layered with colored pencil for years but I lost my eyesight regained it thru surgery and had other life changing events happen so I thought Id try a different medium. I start out thinking I wanted radiants. Ive never used watercolors and Im after bright colors. Well Ive spent the lastmonth looking into pan and tube watercolors ect. Just this past weekend I spent 2 12hr days watching swatch videos. yes!!!! i did. now Ive seen this and Im all the way back around to dr ph. just the hydrus instead. Boy what a long journey to get there. lol thank you. best review on it ive seen. i prefer all of your reviews really.
Your channel is full of new and useful supplies, advices and tips. Oh my God! It seems I'm gonna spend the whole day on your videos. Thanks a lot.
+Don't Be Sad (drawing channel ) sketching and watercolor Wow! Thank you very much. - Marty
Once you start using these it's hard to go back to the pan type of watercolors. Love these.
Ha! Facts.
Now I am tempted to get these and try them out. Thanks for yet another amazing review!
+ohm Happy you liked it. - Marty
When I first watched this video several months ago, I was already playing around with the idea of buying these. This video made me realize these paints were the number one thing I wanted for Christmas. They are already under my tree, and I am anxiously waiting for Christmas to play! Thank you Marty for your super informative reviews. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!
Hi Effie - Thank you very much for the kind note. I love these as well. You're in for a very fun time. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ~Marty
Daisies are my favorite flower and you did an amazing job at painting one! I LOVE it !
+Art Class Thank you very much, I appreciate the compliment. - Marty
Very nice show and tell! Thanks for sharing!
+Danielle Mack Hi Danielle - Thanks for taking the time to leave the comment, much appreciated. Have you used these yet? - Marty
Owings Art I have not but I would like to upgrade from the cheap set I have.
Danielle Mack I found them on sale here: amzn.to/1NyCtez
Owings Art Cool, I'll check it out!
Glad I found you! I was on Amazon...saw the paints..looked you up on RUclips....thanks again Marty!
Thanks for finding me and I really appreciate the note. I hope you'll keep watching the channel. ~Marty
I watched this video and a few others because I wasn't sure if I wanted these or the Radiants. It just made more since to get these because I might want to display a painting or give one as a gift. I was so fortunate to find an incredible deal. I bought the Hydraus 1oz set for about $55 Thanks for your videos, they are extremely helpful.
Hi Dionne - I think you'll be happy with both, but let me know what you think after suing them for a while.
Thank you again .... loving the 'happy daisy' .... I am getting these for my birthday ... squeal
Hi Jacqueline - I think you're going to love these paints!!
Thanks for reviewing these Marty, I've been so curious about them. ;)
+Judy Mason Absolutely Judy. Thank you for watching! - Marty
Marty. Great reviews. Love the video in a video
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for showing how these work. They are really pretty colors:-)
+Joyce Gandy - Happy to do it Joyce. Thanks for the comment. - Marty
hi got my holbeins at long last .love them.thanks to your channel i found the watercolour that suits me.still be watching you and every video you make.would like to see more of your painting pictures.thankyou
+Sylvia Costello Hi Sylvia - Thank you very much for the note and the follow up. I will try to do more painting on camera. :-) You're very kind. ~Marty
I've been watching your channel since it started and I'm glad to see how is growing into a great review site. I buy my supplies online most of the time and having the chance of seeing them in action is really helpful. I hope you even get free samples!
+Nrai Thank you so much Nrai. I really appreciate you watching. I buy 99% of the supplies I review, that way my only responsibility is to the viewer. If I ever do receive art supplies, I'm clear that my only responsibility is to the viewer and Artists who watch the channel. - Marty
Thanks Marty. I've wondered about these for a while and it was great to get your take on them. I am considering treating myself to these to play with for my birthday. Your info was really helpful as always....appreciate it.
+Denise Chapel Thanks Denise. I'm glad it helped. - Marty
+Owings Art
Yep, I need to visit an art shop in one of the big cities because they have the range. Had to giggle when you said the paints were $60 a set.
I'm from Australia and that set is over $100. So when I decide to experiment, I watch several youtube videos. Your info was excellent, and Im leaning towards this set for my Christmas Stocking.
lorrane I think you'll like them. :-)
I had watched this video when you first published it but that was before I had decided to purchase my Dr. Ph. Martin's watercolors. They arrived this morning and I'm wanting to refresh my memory before I open them up and start my first project with them. I always enjoy watching your videos and truly you are inspiring. Thanks again Marty!
Thank you so much Susie. Let me know what you think of them! ~Marty
I really like them so far, I've only just began to paint with them it's sort of a learning curve compared to what I'm used to but I like them a lot. The colors are so vibrant and strong and I love that.
Susie LaLonde Hi Susie - That's cool. They are vibrant and very strong, but that's their niche I think. ~Marty
By the way, great product review.Very worthwhile.
+Chrissy Murray Thank you Chrissy! Much appreciated. G'day! - Marty
I was already sold on these thanks to your review, but when you said, "I like a happy flower," I was even more sold. The book sounds terrific too. I may just have to treat myself. :)
lol. Thanks Jodi. I think you'll enjoy both. :-) ~Marty
You sparked my interest.......must try!
+Val J I think you'll like them Val. - Marty
I love how you put the colors on to paper as opposed to just talking about it. I just bought this watercolor set the other day. I like that you demonstrated the watercolors in a painting, not only that but I'm going to get that book. I would love to learn how to learn how to draw items realistically.
Thank you Bethany. I appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you liked the video. :-) ~Marty
Gosh, I'm trying to resist buying these things and it's only getting tougher! I have a few bottles of the Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay India inks and they are very beautiful.
+Lori Jones These are pretty spectacular Lori. - Marty
Thanks Marty going to get some of these! Thanks for the sketch book idea as well!
Hi Gillian - Thanks for the note. Let me know what you think of them. ~Marty
I have set 1 as well and I love the colors they're so vibrant. They're gorgeous I really love to use these to do mixed media for really bright backgrounds. Great review Marty, I love your painting!
+Shannon Sand Hi Shannon - Have you done a review on these yet? I see you have some in your Art hauls. I have to use these more in my sketches. I love to work with these because they're so bright and vibrant. Thanks for your comment on the painting, glad you liked you. Have a GREAT day! - Marty
No I haven't reviewed these yet, but I have played with them quite a bit. I did review the India inks and I really really like them. 😊
Shannon Sand Hi Shannon - I'll check out your review of the India inks. :-) Marty
😊
The full line of Hydrus has always been on my wish list for art supplies I'd like to be able to add to my collection. Personally, I definitely put these under (concentrated liquid) watercolors as marketed because they are (mostly) archival due to them being made with pigments and not dyes. I consider the Radiant line to be more of a water-soluble ink since they are dye-based. I like the Hydrus as it is marketed more towards fine artists vs Radiant or their other lines which are marketed more towards commercial artists who's work will probably be turned into a digital form at some stage. Was fun seeing you enjoy these concentrated paints and glad you stressed the "little goes a long way." I've seen too many people pick these up and use up an entire dropper for half of painting!
You will probably be interested in their Bombay line (colored inks) as I believe it's also lightfast but permanent when dry and half the price. I love the Hydrus though for their color load and transparency.
+My Panda Paints That's great info. It's funny they don't label these inks really on their website. These Hydrus are really spectacular in lot's of great ways. I'll have to try the Bombay line as well. Looks like they're great as well and less expensive. Thanks for the comments and for watching as always! - Marty
+Owings Art I would love to know the difference between hydrus and Bombay inks too!
+halowolf Hydrus is concentrated liquid watercolors. They act like watercolors and are pigment-based just like watercolors. The only difference is that they are highly concentrated as the name suggests and in liquid form. As Marty demonstrated, you only need a drop or two to paint a painting. Bombay are liquid Bombay inks that are waterproof when dry. They act similar to using an ink from an ink well. When they dry, since they are a Bombay India inks, there is a slight sheen due to the shellac in the ink. If you don't clean out your brushes or pen nibs, they will dry permanent and make them useless while Hydrus re-activates with water.
My Panda Paints For sure. Looking forward to trying them. :-)
+My Panda Paints Great info Panda!
I was looking for a review about this and decided to search your channel first and here I am! You have everythig man! :D LOL Great review Marty! Thanks a lot!
Hi Patricia - Thank you so much for the kind remarks and I'm glad you found the channel. Hope you'll keep watching and stay in touch. ~Marty
For sure I wll Marty! I found you last year when looking for a review about the Inktense pencils, and I have to say that I loved them. My husband travels to Canada for work every year, so I take the chance and ask him to buy some things that are extremelly overpriced in my country, (some you can't find at all in Argentina). I also watch your channel when I have a rough day while having my coffee. So if you read some odd english here, it's because I'm still learning :D Regards!
back to back product reviews from the same company! lol I love your channel Marty!
+SuperFlawless9 Ahhhh, thanks Patrick. You're one of the originals my friend. The channel and my reviews wouldn't be the same without my friend. - Marty
I thank Cinnamon Cooney for letting us know about you and your channel. Will be going all the way to the beginning to watch. Thanks!
+Janis Vogt Hi Janis - Thank you so much for checking it out. I hope you enjoy it and feel welcome! - Marty
When you posted the other last night I was looking forward to this one because you said you were reviewing the lightfast ones as well. These do look super saturated. Even more than like a Daniel Smith or WN. I don't know though, there is just a joy in the ritual for me, grinding the brush in the paint blob on the palette and the whole mixing process. I may get a couple of these just to try though. There are several here on YT that loves these paints. I would like to see trying something like a flat wash. Good review Marty!
+Adam Wallen Hi Adam - Thanks for the note and your comments on these. They really are super saturated and just pop off the paper. I know what you mean about the joy in the ritual and these take a little getting used to, but I like pushing my comfort zone once in a while, it can be fun. - Marty
My paintings always seem so pale because I am so hesitant, so these hydrus paints are going to be great because I'll have to go out of my way to make my work look washed out!Thanks for the review, kind sir.
I subscribed some time ago, but was looking for RUclipsS about craft mediums like Ken Oliver's ColorBurst. When I started watching, I was mesmerized and couldn't stop. I am not an artist in the terms most people think of art, but I do enjoy using alcohol inks and other forms of color that move and make my heart happy.
You are an artist when you experiment and try out new ideas for fun and relaxation !
+lorrane
Ohhhhh and also when you visit the art store BEFORE you do your grocery shopping, and find yourself re-arranging your menu for the week.
I'm the same with books. The other day I was feeling low and visited the art store ( mostly children art/craft.....I did pick and choose, but came out $184 lighter. I bought my cat some meat and decided I could live out of my pantry cupboard.
Thanks for the great review. ??time. Do these dry in a palette or do they remain wet?? Thanks.
+dedesu3 I think they would eventually dry out on the palette. - Marty
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
the paint almost looks like acrylic, it has such beautiful pigment.
I live in Australia, does your friendly art store package and post o/s without mentioning "dangerous goods" on the package ?
I think they do lorrane. You could email them and see. :-) Thanks for watching!
I have this set of hydrus watercolours & I really like the vibrancy. The only disadvantage I have found is they do not rehydrate well once they have dried on the paper, unlike other watercolour paints.
Yes you are right Jacqueline. I simply love the Hydrus though because they tend to be more lightfast and they are absolutely vivid. :-) ~Marty
Thanks for this!
Very nice review! I got Set #3 for Christmas and I adore these paints. I was wondering if you'd do a review on Holbein watercolors? Also if you'd try gouache could you do a review on their primary mixing set?
+pastelparker Thanks for the suggestions and the note. Holbein are definitely on my list. - Marty
I have an old set of Luma concentrated watercolors I bought in art school in the mid-80s. These look like a good replacement for those. It's too bad Luma is no longer made. Luma made outstanding liquid watercolors.
Thanks for watching. I have never heard of Luma and wish I had.
Thank you Marty for this and all your excellent reviews! Beautiful daisy:) I received Set A in the post yesterday and had fun making a colour chart and mixing colours today. I can't wait to use them for a painting. They are such beautiful colours. I'm so glad I got them.
+Carla A. Hi Carla - Happy to do it. These paints are a blast and I'm glad to hear you are enjoying them. They really are beautiful. Thanks for the note and have an AWESOME day! - Marty
My pleasure Marty:)
Very informative demo.. Thx.. Do they lift well too?
It's been years and I don't remember. Maybe another Sub can assist?
I have these and love how vibrant the color is. the problem I run into all the time is, you can't rewet them. also, I find that there is a ton of settlement. sometimes I have to shake them up so much, and I still get bits of grainy color.
+nita vandermeer That's strange, how old are your paints rita? - Marty
+Owings Art couple years. yours don't settle?
nita vandermeer No they haven't yet, but they're still pretty new. I haven't noticed any of these issues yet.
Thank-you so much for this review Marty! Excellent as always! I've been eyeing these for a while but in my country (Canada) they are a bit more expensive, and I wasn't sure if I'd like them, so I went with the Bombay India Ink set that they have. I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet as I have not been well, but when I do use them I'll let you know how they are if you'd like my 2 cents. Now that I've seen a well rounded review about these, I will save up for them and will totally be buying these in the near future. I'm currently enjoying my new (first) watercolor set, a W & N Cotman Deluxe Studio Set, I'm going to save up for some M. Graham watercolors or another better artist quality watercolor paints as I do plan on selling my art when I feel confidant enough in my evermore developing abilities. Thanks again, as always
I come back to you because I trust your word and appreciate your ethics and all you do. Take care.
+Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermione - Good to hear from you! I'd love to hear what you think of the Bombay. I plan to review them sometime, but just haven't gotten to it yet. Good news is there are lot's of great choices for you when you decide to upgrade your watercolors, maybe Daniel Smith. Have a fantastic day! - Marty
Lightfast? Well the facts are getting Martin's to release pigment information is like pulling hens teeth. Some colors they refuse to submit information stating their proprietary secret blend. We have been discussing the Hydros line for years on WetCanvas and other forums.
Your modest. You know plenty on color theory! Your videos are extremely important to the community. I have relied on several of your videos in order to make more informed purchasing decisions. You have saved me money and headaches and I thank you.
Thank you so much Don. Sorry for the delay in my response. Yes, I noticed that about them as well. I wrote to them once (email) and didn't receive a response. That said, I enjoy their products and my tests so far find these are fairly lightfast. :-) ~Marty
Thanks....l would like to try it...can you pls recommend theor cool RGB?
Just received these for my birthday and can't wait to use them. Your tutorial was most helpful, and the daisy is beautiful! Just curious, what paper did you use for the daisy?
Thank you so much for these reviews! liked and subscrubed!
I've been meaning to buy Dr.Ph Martin's water colour inks but dont know which to get (the radiant or Hydrus) your two review videos really helped me to gain more insight. I'm still on the fence though
Hi Paw Paw - You should buy the Hydrus because they are more lightfast than the radiant. Hope that helps! ~marty
Will do :)
Thank you~ Rin
Can these be left to dry on a palette and rewetted to use just like tube watercolors?
They are so vibrant. Wow!
No I don't think so, but I haven't tried that.
Beautiful flower Marty. Thanks for this review. What kind of paintbrush are you using?
Hi Mary - Thank you for the kind remark. I think that's a Winsor & Newton brush I had laying around. Normally I use Isabey brushes. They make some beautiful synthetics and natural hair brushes. Happy New Year! Marty
Marty been a while since we've spoken but found this video while searching for a tutorial on how to use these amazing new toys I just got for Christmas. Thankfully it was you who I found because you know I trust your tutorials 110% over many others. Now my question is is this: If I start a palette for these vibrant colors will I be able to reactivate them with water once they dry on the palette? Please let me know because I don't want to waste any product if at all possible. Happy new Year my friend. I've missed watching your videos.
Hi Elizabeth - Thanks for the note and the question. It's been a while since I used them, but I do think they reactivate nicely. Give it a try, if I'm wrong, apologies in advance. Hope you are doing great! Happy New Year!! ~Marty
I have some Koh-l-Noor Rapidograph pens...I was wondering if this product would work in them. Mixing watercolor and filling the pens is a chore...this looks quick and simple. Then would the Bombay inks be a better choice than the watercolor for the pens. I don't like cleaning up some of them...but when you want a metallic gold...it works.
I honestly don't know, but maybe worth a try
Hi Marty, I learned about you on the "Ask the Artist" Q&A just the other night, with Lindsay, Steve, Cinnamon, and Lisa. So I've just subbed to your channel. I'm very happy to see your artwork, and views on different materials. This set seems like a dream come true! I was wondering, if you have paint left over, can it still be reactivated? Say like on your palette, like regular watercolors. I usually use the pan sets of watercolor, so wondering if I had these and they were dried, how they would respond. I just ordered a set of Inktense Blocks, so it'll be awhile before I will be able to splurge on anything else for a while. :) TFS Alice
+Alice Clark Howdy Alice - These are a little tricky. I don't recommend leaving them on the palette. The good news is if you use the dropper to just put a little bit on you palette, it goes a long, long way. I like this paint very much and like I mentioned, a little goes a long way. I can reactivate it on paper though. :-) - Marty
+Alice Clark They can be reactivated. I made a little travel kit with a waterbrush and a cheap plastic 10-well palette with dried paint in it.
amazing colours so beautiful, sorry for bombarding you with questions but as I mentioned before I'm loving your channel and reviews and unlike some other great you tubers you actually get the time to answer people's questions. I noticed that you said you picked these up online and I'm wondering if you know of any sites that ship to Canada at a resonable cost. I have only purchased from Joanne's and amazon amazon is awesome because they ship to Canada free for orders over a certain amount and Joanne's shipping is high but they include taxes and duty into there shipping but I have been doing a lot of window shopping at Jerry's Artarama there shipping is a bit iffy as they have a flat rate to canada of about $38 US even if it was only one sheet of paper but once you start ordering really a thing your hit with the $38 flat rate and goes up quiet high based on weight but there prices are so low that it just about equals out compared to what we pay I canada for these items that about 98% of them we can't buy here anyway but the main problem is that there are no taxes and no duty added on like at Joanne's that means they may come over the boarded for nothing or a massive bill that you can not find out until your order is waiting to be picked up at the post office and it will sit there until you pay what ever amount they come up with. So do you have any suggestions or know of any online sites like jerrys with a good selection of painting supply's with resonable Canadian shipping and with out the worry of a possible huge bill for tax and duty after I paid jerrys so much to ship it in the first place. I can do all the shipping research but I'm hearing of so many sites from you tubers places I have never heard of I canada and just happen to hear like in this video about wet paint. com. There are so many US sites and I only find out about them if the person happens to mention where they found the item there demoing and a lot just don't think to mention it I assume because you lucky America's just don't think to mention the site because you have so many any suggestions would be super helpful thanks again for everything.
+The Chatty crafter No worries lol. I have Canadian friends and they have similar stories. I used to live in Montreal, but luckily there were great Art Stores there. I live close to wetpaintart.com and strongly recommend them. I don't know about the shipping, but they are the most knowledgeable and helpful art supply people I know. You can also just call them. Ask for Darrin and tell him I sent you.
The other places I shop online are:
Dick Blick
dickblick.com
Jerry's (which you already use)
jerrysartarama.com/
Cheap Joe's
cheapjoes.com
Jackson's Art Supplies (UK, but I use them fro things I can't find in the States)
www.jacksonsart.com
Ken Bromley Art Supplies (UK)
www.artsupplies.co.uk
Art Supply Warehouse
www.artsupplywarehouse.com
Hobby Lobby
www.hobbylobby.com
Good luck and I hope this helps you!
Marty
I am new to art and watercolor. Are these beginner friendly?
I'd say they are okay for beginners, but might start with some pan watercolors instead. Depending on budget, you might want to try Daniel Smith, Schmincke or a less expensive brand. I just happen to love Schmincke even though they are quite expensive.
I am so happy to see this demo. I was given these Hydrus as a gift sometime ago and hesitated to try them. Was your W/C paper wet at the time you painted? Thanks for the demo. Pat
+pat smith Hi Pat - Nope it was dry. I think you'll love these paints. ~Marty
They look wonderful, do they offer any smaller sizes like a sample size? I'd love to get those once I get better 😊 thank you for the review marty.
+BIOnerd93 I think you can buy individual bottles. You can check with Wet Paint and they can tell you for sure. You can call them and ask for Darrin at 651.698.6431. Tell him Marty sent you. :-)
+Owings Art thx for the number. .. I saw that they offer international shipping so I might send an email and see when I can buy them. they look so vibrant and nice but I'm still getting to know watercolour. -Sana'a
BIOnerd93 Good luck!
+Owings Art thank you 😊
G'day Marty, thought about these in the past. Love the vibrant colours. Since viewing your review, I'm going to buy these. Unfortunately, can't find them in Australia, so will have to source these inks in the US. Do you know anything about the Dr PH Martin's Bombay Inks?
+Chrissy Murray Hi Chrissy - The Bombay's are on my list, but I haven't had a chance to test them just yet. I've got a long, long backlog :-) Have you tried the Bombay inks? And can you get stuff from Amazon? - Marty
+Owings Art Marty, haven't tried any of the Dr Ph Martin's inks. I think I can get them from Amazon in the US. They do say they ship to Australia.Let's see how that goes. Look forward to your Bombay Ink review.
Chrissy Murray Let me know what you think when you get them.
- Marty
Great review, Marty! Is there any reason you would want to get both the Radiant and the Hydrous sets? I would think you would always want the lighfast. Also, can you set up a little palette of these and allow to dry and rewet them for a travel kit? I see some people have used ice cube trays with sealing lids for storage - Komax on Amazon. Love the daisy you painted! Thanks, Paula in Florida
+paulage1art Hi Paula - Thanks for the great questions. The main reason to have both the Radiant and Hydrus would be if your were going to do mock ups with the Radiant's in order to save your Hydrus for you finished work, otherwise you're right, there's no compelling reason to own both. I'm not sure about setting up a palette, although I was able to re-wet these and use them. I suppose it could be done if you could keep them air tight. Thanks for the note about the daisy, it was fun to paint. Have a great weekend! - Marty
+Owings Hi Marty - just received my order for sets 1 and 2 of Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Watercolors and I love them! I used the Tim Holtz Ink Palette with 36 wells (about $7 at craft stores and can use a coupon - very affordable, and the wells are about one inch round and allow for quick drying with the large surface area) and put in a dropperful of each color, let it dry overnight and repeated twice. The remaining 12 wells I used for mixtures of my favorite colors. Very portable and they do rehydrate beautifully!I Thanks for the review and inspiring me to get yet another fun and beautiful art supply!
Paula in Florida
paulage1art Hi Paula - It sounds like you're having great fun with the Hydrus. They really go a long way don't they? I was impressed as well with the way they rehydrated. Thanks for the follow up Paula, it's great to hear how things work for you. Have a FANTASTIC weekend! - Marty
These do look fantastic, but can you lift the color once it is dry? I find lifting absolutely necessary to render 3d forms, and this looks like it would stain the paper and not be "liftable". Can you use masking fluid with it?
+Claire Bureau Hi Claire - I didn't try masking fluid, but you could give it a try. Yes you can lift these, sort of. By that I mean it depends on the paper and how you're trying to lift them. They will leave some stain on almost all kinds of papers so in that regard these may not be a fit for you. I was able to reactivate and slightly lift the colors. That's it really. Hope it helps! - Marty
What about spraying the Radiant line of colors with fixative to make them light fast? Would this solve the problem?
How well do these blend together
Hmmmm, it's been a long time, but I want say they didn't blend super well.
As always, fantastic review. I have the Ph. Martin Bombay inks , so nice. Now you are going to make me get these too?! I just splurged on the Van Gogh water colors! I curse you!! :p
+Annie Sterner Hi Annie - LOL. Yes, I get that a lot actually. I'm broke if that's any consolation. :-) - Marty
Hello you really answered my questions in this video I want to try these..( and everything to do with watercolor). what's your favorite paper to use. Thank you!
+Ann F So many great papers Ann, but I guess I like different papers for different reasons. I like the Stillman and Birn Zeta Series Sketchbooks for mixed media. I love Fabriano and Arches for watercolor and Strathmore Bristol for ink and general drawing. Have a great day Ann. - Marty
Excellent informative review Marty! I was wondering about the book you recommend in this product review, ie "Sketch". What are your thoughts on someone who does not freehand images to be painted? Do you feel that one can learn to draw or that it is a talent one is born with? Do you recommend any books for the beginner and do you feel that this book is a good start or would it be better to purchase a different book focussed more on "the first steps to drawing"? I am obsessed with watching painting tutorials and this obsession started about 2 yrs ago. Since then, whenever I look at anything I am now thinking about shading, angles, etc. and try to imagine how to take a 3D image and turn it into a painting. I have even found out that "squinting my eyes" helps me to visualize this. Am I crazy LOL! Thanks Marty for sharing your talent with us and please know that I always respect your opinions and advice!
Hi Nancy - Thank you for the comments and questions. Absolutely people can learn to draw. Talent may help someone pick things up, but ANYONE can learn to draw and paint. I know this because I learned to draw and paint and every Artist I know had to learn to draw and paint. The best way to get better is to practice every day or as much as you can. You can follow some basic principles. You are already adopting the techniques many Artists employ, such as squinting, seeing things as they correlate to 2D, shading, angles. When I'm not drawing or painting (or working or being with my family) I am almost always thinking about art. There are so many great resources out there. Here are a few that might help you:
This is an older book, but I found this very helpful: amzn.to/2etekkt
How to Draw What You See: amzn.to/2dKz31Q
This one is a bit wordy, but a very solid guide: amzn.to/2etipoM
Hope this helps you.
All the best,
Marty
Awe Marty, thanks so much for the info! I am going to get started with the books you recommend. I'm so excited, just like a kid in a candy store! Much appreciated Marty!
Nancy Lynn So glad to hear it. You're enthusiasm will go a very long way in helping you be a better Artist. :-)
I like those ☺☺☺
Do these reactivate if you add water after they've dried, as traditional watercolors do?
Yes they can be. :-)
Hey...... I bought a ph Martin set which says Bombay dying ink.....how is it different from ph Martin watercolours? I ordered these set by mistake....wanted to order watercolours
It's quite a bit different I think. Maybe you can send it back for an exchange Alfia?
the Bombay is India ink. I got some but want to use with alcohol but not sure how.
Marty, are the hydrus colours permanent when dry on the paper? Do they re activate when re wetted? Thanks! Rose Ann
+Rose Ann Vita Hi Rose Ann - The answer is a little fuzzy. Yes they definitely do absorb into and color the paper and thus "staining" the paper, so in that respect they're permanent. They even call them "permanent" on some of the colors. Yes, when I add water they do reactivate.
As far as permanence though, you can impact this effect by using different types of paper, but they will definitely absorb into the paper and no matter how much you try, you won't be able to remove the color and turn the paper white again. Some remanent of color will remain.
I liked your tutorial on alcohol inks. But I could not see a thing you wanted us to see. I hope this is helpful.
As with normal watercolors, can you leave the drop there, and wet it later on again, when dry? Do you also know the Rohrer Klingner ink/watercolor - is it similar to Dr Ph. Martin?
Hi Ellie - It will work okay if you rewet, but make sure you buy the glass bottles and not the plastic ones. I don't know anything about the Rohrer Klingner, so I can't answer that one. ~Marty
Hi Marty,
Could you do a review about Sakura poster paint
:-) Maybe in the future.
SPS. Forgot to say it was the things in the book that were not visible. Hope this is helpful as .i found you video.
Hi Sarah - Thanks for the note. Do you mean I didn't show something in the book that you wanted to see???
Are they liftable? Do they activate after they have dried? On paper and on the palette)
They do reactivate somewhat, but the do stain the paper so you'll not be able to lift them completely.
+Owings Art oh okay. Your videos are really helping me. I have the Sennelier paints and i plan to buy a new set. I cannot decide which lol so hard to decide :(
22colors The Sennelier's are OUTSTANDING. They have a luminance that is brilliant. They are made with honey and I love painting with them. - Marty
Hi Best Wishes for the New Year, What brushes would you recommend for use with india inks. I believe that these inks damage traditional natural hair fibers because of the shellac content in them. Will this ink work with a Princeton Neptune Quill which is a synthetic squirrel, da Vinci Watercolor Series 5898 Casaneo Paint Brush a "wavy" synthetic fiber developed by da Vinci",Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Brushes an advanced synthetic brush and Princeton Series 4050 Synthetic Sable Watercolor brush. Can these brushes be cross used with india inks and standard watercolor? Also can India inks be layered? and do you find that the under layer shifts once dry?
Hi Rhom - I use a Pentel Water Brush and synthetic brushes for the most part and never a natural hair brush unless I know the ink is NOT shellac based. They rinse pretty easy. You mention the Princeton Series 4050 and I've seen others using that. I mix watercolor and inks all the time and have had little trouble doing so. India inks are not all that easy to layer in my experience, unless they are waterproof and made to dry between layers. They will shift a little if they are not completely dry.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and the information
Thanks and great info . BTW Marty had a look at your website for the first time great art. I was trying to find more of your artwork and it was a little difficult to navigate.As a thank you and a late Christmas present for your help over the past year I can e mail over to you a standard web template I have developed and you can use.Regards
thank you, wonderful...xoxoxoxoshray
Thank you for watching.
Does the left-over paint rehydrate easily?
+Sharon Noli Yes, you can reactivate them.
thanks for this!
Thank you for watching.
My set had "waterproof" on the description... Why would watercolor be waterproof? Does that mean layers won't re-wet?
+Lisa Janine Hi Lisa - That's a really great question. Here's the answer as far as I know and you nailed it. The layers underneath will dry and stay firm as you paint over them. It's a wonderful thing when you start to layer a lot or use other wet media like ink or marker over the watercolor base. Hope that helps! - Marty
Can these be reactivated to lift or move once dried?
Yes, somewhat. Read the comments below for more details. :-)
Thank you for all of the information! Where can I find the boo you referred to by Francie Van Stone?
amzn.to/380Lhwj
I’m wondering couldn’t you put these in a water brush?
Hello V - I remember reading somewhere that if you let them dry, they can cause clogging or even make the bristles of the brush very stiff, as if they'd been glued together. However I haven't tried it myself, so if you have an old water brush you could give it a shot.
Owings Art, so update on that. So far I got some good old waterbrushes and put some basic colors in to test. I put just enough color in the waterbrush to be opaque but still watery. They seem fine. I may add more colors to carry around later. I’ll update you again soon. :)
@@Sevvin89 any update on the waterbrush? Im thinking of trying it out but am unsure as there is a lot of conflicting info on whether or not it will clog, etc.
idk i think these are too contrasty for me, and, they aren't opaque enough... i like my watercolors to remind me of gouache straight from the tube, and i want them to have the ability to act as a fine watercolor when water is added.. where-as with these, i feel as if they are just way too thinned out to be opaque and they are way too vibrant to create realistic paintings. i mean ive seen artists do realism with these, but it always seems just a bit too contrast driven for my tastes. for a long time i thought these would be perfect for illustration/manga/anime/etc but idk... i prefer regular watercolor paint i think.
+DontLeaveMeLucile Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these. They are very vibrant. ~Marty
Are these vagen?
Not sure. You could check with the manufacturer, or maybe their website would say either way. If it doesn't say they are, I'm betting they aren't.
Do you prefer these watercolors over the Dr. Ph. Martin's India Ink?
Do you mean the Radiants or the Bombay's? I think what I like best about these besides their incredible vibrancy is their lightfastness.
mmmmm yummy i want please :} Shannon
+Art Junkie I know right Shannon. They are SPECTACULAR! - Marty
Also, you called these expensive a few times throughout this video. I don't think they are, compared to other artist-grade watercolors. You cannot buy an artist watercolor tube for less than $8.99 most places, where-as you can purchase a bottle of these for 6.50 to 6.99! You can't find a 5 color set of artist-grade paints for less than 50-60 dollars. Where-as you're getting 12 colors in this set, and this set usually retails for around 75 dollars. That means your getting 12 colors, in a set of these paints, for 10-20 dollars more than most artist-grade 5 color sets. thats 7 colors for 10-20 bucks! so idk how ya think these are expensive... especially when you then factor in how long a drop of these will last!!! these come in 1oz glass dripper bottles (the size that i've been referencing throughout this post) 1oz = 30ml which is 15ml MORE than most 14ml artist watercolor tubes... so you're getting 2x the color on top of paying over 2 times less than the cheapest artist watercolor paint sets and 2 dollars less per bottle than the cheapest 8.99 artist-grade paint tubes, which are few & far between!! :P these are CHEAP! lol
+DontLeaveMeLucile You make a long and somewhat compelling case, but I'm still not convinced that to the average art supply consumer, these are, "inexpensive". You can buy a cheap set of student grade watercolors for $1.99, in the tubes. You right that the paint goes a long way depending on how you use it, but it's $60 to $80 depending on where you get it and if it's on sale. I can get 12 tubes of inexpensive Chinese watercolors for $10. Or Reeves, Yarka, Cotman's or even a pocket box of Utrecht, Rembrandt's and even twelve tubes of QoR for around $35. And it all depends on the reality of your budget. Many people aren't ready to drop $75 on a set of 12 paints. Additionally it looks like you're referencing Artist's watercolors when you quote the per tube pricing. As you point out in your other comments, these don't fit for you because of the high contrast and in general don't suit you, that would make them extra-expensive in my book. :-) ~Marty
They're not "concentrated". That's the wrong word, because basically all artist grade paints are already as concentrated as possible. What they are is strong, intense. That property is achieved partly by selecting strong, intense pigments. Since these seems to technically be naturally suspended, the pigments are also very finely milled and dispersed. This also increases tinting strength. Making strong colors is actually not particularly hard. And not an objective measure of quality. Making them lightfast is another matter. And these are not lightfast. Not absolutely. Lightfastness is mostly a matter of degree. Since they are mostly composed from synthetic organic pigments, they will fade eventually. Milling them so finely will definitely hurt the inherent lightfastness of the pigments in comparison to normal watercolors. But the chosen pigments have originally very good permanence. How lightfast these paints really are remains to be discovered. Lightfast "enough"? is really always the question, regardless what paints are being considered, since very, very few paints are really completely lightfast. Testing just for hours is IMO not a revealing test. Use the whole summer.
Once again your passion is very much appreciated. I did test these and they are quite lightfast. I've been testing them for more than 10 months now and they're holding up well. Right again, very very few paints are completely lightfast...as a matter of fact I don't think any of the paints I've ever tested are, "completely" lightfast. At least a few of the colors in every line I've tested (and I've tested more than 35 manufactures paints) are going to fade over time. Most companies rate lightfastness in "museum conditions", under glass, in non UV light. That said, I've seen unrestored oil paintings that are 400 years old and they didn't look too bad. Thanks again for watching and sharing your knowledge and opinions. ~Marty
Yes, it's good to know. You did mention in some of your videos lightfastness tests of mere hours, so I was concerned about what you were doing... nvm.
Vermiliontea Those were just the initial tests under direct sunlight and believe it or not, I've tested paints that actually begin to fade in just a few hours. :-) thanks again. ~Marty
They Hydrus Fine Art watercolors are lightfast.