Kirsty Partridge Art, Your artwork is truly amazing.❤️❤️. I recently created an image of a red panda inspired by your video and I would really like it if you could create a tutorial that is more in depth about how you create your watercolour pieces, I think it would really help me Improve my watercolour skills as I am new to them. You are such an inspiration, thank you Kirsty 😊
Professional watercolors have more pigment and usally a lot of colors are made from single pigment (they're better for mixing). The professional lines have a wider range of colors available and they tend to have better lightfastness). That said, student/academic grade are a great way to start or to do sketches or study pieces.
yes I've got them and if I'm honest I adore them far cheaper and just as good quality. all I would say is the Chinese white isn't as pigmented as I would expect but the little half pans are so cheap making watercolour really affordable medium
A comment about Kirsty's Patreon: she gives fabulous, real-time lessons every month (hours of videos, one project broken down into 4-7 videos). She has no idea I am leaving this comment; I just wanted to share that she provides tremendous value for her Patreons.
I love the transparency of Cotman. I feel like some professional watercolor paints are too opaque and pigmented and with Cotman I don't have to worry about that. I do have DS and Schmincke and have to water it done a lot to get the look in want. The good thing is most Cotman paints have good lightfast ratings
Exactly my experience, van gogh has some great watercolors too though maybe more opaque and less runny. I only buy professional grade when i want a Cobalt pigment for example or Perylene pigments, primateks or whatever pigment that is just not available in the cotman or van gogh lines and that i want. I do feel like Holbein watercolors are something else and worth to have if the price is good because how they run, an how to smooth and high quality they are.
I love my cotman set, and I have plenty of tubes as well. I'm not as good with them as I'd like, but for the price and quality in comparison to others, I felt that they are worth it for me. They are not chalky and layer well in my opinion, mine also activate quickly, and can be reactivated with ease. Even though they are student quality, I really love them.
The best option is to start with the primary colours (magenta, blue, yellow) and mix your Browns, blacks, purples orange etc from the primary colours. I find that having too many colours in the beginning stints the artists ability to practice colour theory and understanding colour harmony. That said, I think we all have different intentions with our art. And that’s just what I’ve found works in my art practice. The professional winsor Newton range has some vibrant single pigments too.
I’ve had the same Cotman set for a little while, and it’s my first non-$2-shop paints and I love them! I had no idea that the case parts came apart! What a nice surprise, thanks Kirsty 😁 Thanks for the great video, I really enjoy watching you create such beautiful art, and appreciate that you share so many helpful discussions.
Very lovely painting Kirsty and some down to earth advice for beginners. Personally I think there is some kind of snobbery regarding which products to use and then beginners can feel pressured into spending more than they want, so to see you work with Cotman and make such a good painting with them is encouraging. I like the Schmincke Akademie which, like Cotman, are the student range, I have also recently, come across Sennelier's student range and enjoy those as well - so, like yourself, I would say to any beginner don't feel you have to spend a fortune to get going! There may come a day when you want to move on - perhaps to get more lightfastness - but by then you can have saved up for extra supplies! Take care and keep well.
I often use Cotman watercolours, but I've gotten in to using Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese watercolours, mostly because they're incredibly vibrant and smooth, but they're a little difficult to use too. Pretty cheap for the 36 set on Amazon, though! Probably because they have no palette attached to them.
Hi Kirsty, I'm a subscriber who follows your colour pencil tutorials and just stumbled on this video. I just love this hedgehog so much and am now inspired to try watercolours and look forward to more of this with your fab commentary as you paint. Love your channel
I haven't done watercolors for quite a while, and now have more time to get back into my artwork...particularly in watercolors and colored pencils... SO ALL of your videos in those areas are Very helpful to me as I get back into my artwork! I will look for this brand of colors right away, and begin 'playing around' with them. I have a very particular project I want to do, at a Very High level, for mid-July...so you might say I am "In Training for a Come-Back Performance"..!! (smile)
I once bought it to paint something on the way. But I do not find the colors really intense, so I took the colors out and swapped them with other paints. The Van Gogh watercolor are much better.
Thankyou! This is what I’ve been needing to see. Ive been agonising over which one to get. Good to save some $$, now i can get a set of gouche too with the same $$👍
Hi Kirsty I have lectured at art college and taught art all over the world and I am still teaching, Cotman watercolour paints are student grade they do not contain as much pigment as artist grade (hence they are cheap) also they are not archival, but would agree they are good for beginners, plastic pallets are not the best things to use as the paint will stain the plastic (absorbing the pigment from the paint) a china plate or pallet is much better, no need to keep cleaning your pallet water colour can be rejuvenated with clean water, kind regards Lynne
lol theres something called lightfastness u know? you dont need to be picasso to know some basic knowledge about paints - which you should probably try to learn about too.
How rude! You are asking an art tutor if she knows what archival means! Cotman are not as good as the W&N artist grade for various reasons. If you know artists who sell their Cotman paintings without turning them into prints first, then they are in the wrong because those paintings will fade. And finally, you are still wrong about the pigment load. Do a comparison. Cotman are weaker and duller, the same brand artist grade are brighter and stronger. Stop being a reverse art snob!
@@suewilkinson910 Please, have you ever heard of lightfast? Read your information on the watercolours on their site, it will tell you. Being an artist doesn't mean you must have high-grade tools.
@Crucibelle i am afraid in this case, cheaper do equals lower quality. Cotman is a good student grade paints, but it doesnt compare with the professionals one. I love cotman and im using it together with van gogh watercolor. Both are great and affordable.
The black velvet brushes are my all time favorites!!!! I'm not a fan of W&N I think mission gold is a much better buy. They are excellent professional paints and very affordable.
Love the hedgehog so much! Loved this video because I have some of those watercolours. I would love to see a video on perhaps “mudder” brushes. I also have these but not sure if they are good are bad because don’t have anything to compare them to. I think they are beginner level x
What about the longevity of the paints? By which I mean both the 'light fastness' (degradation by UV Light over time) and the longevity of the paints themselves. I have an old set of professional half pans that must be thirty years old. They're still moist and I can still 'activate' them with a splash of water. I'm wondering if the Cotman range would last as long...
There are too many watercolour paint snobs out there, Cotman are great. I have a full pan set that I love using because as a beginner I hate to waste expensive paint for practicing.
I can't tell the difference between the Cotman and the Professional range either. I think the Cotman are excellent watercolours, good transparency and good lightfastness.
I was wondering if you could make a Video explaining and demonstrating how to draw a person from 3/4 view because it's something I struggle with and I think you would explain it nicely in a way I could understand 😊
I recently bought a Cotman 24 full pan set from WHSmith, (£29.99) I've heard mixed things about them and still haven't tried them yet, I'm on an inktober struggle right now. I can't paint anything near as well as you but I appreciate the video and the colours look great, so thank you for sharing your opinion ☺️
I’ve got the Koh-I-nor set and I’m getting this one today. A lot of people online have said their the same but they seem so much more vibrant. If anyone has transitioned to Koh-i-nor to Winsor newton please tell me your opinion?
I owned both. I think they are both equally good. Only downside with Koh-i-noor is they only come in sets, not sold individually. So if you ran out of one of your colors, you will have to get a new set/find alternatives to fill up the empty pan. For W&N, you can buy replacement easily.
My favourite brushes are Rosemary brushes. They come in all sorts of types from student synthetics right up to sable costing mega bucks and they're handmade. Not associated with with the company, just a big, big fan.
Thus was great! Thanks!! If you want to buy Silver Brush Black Velvet brushes at a discount in the US, try "The Brush Guys" and tell them Tressa Clardy referred them! Hugz, Tree
I bought the Cotman 12-pan travel kit, and dislike it. It had two reds, two yellows, two greens, three earth tones and Chinese white. With the primaries and greens, I can make all kinds of earth tones, but the set lacked a black, gray, sepia, or other neutral tint, which limits its usefulness in the field. Also, the reds and blues do not produce a nice variety of purples.
Kimberly Colley but then that’s what your getting when you get a small set, plus personally I think you get what you pay for. If you wanted better colours either buy a larger set or buy a customisable palette. I’m pretty sure Winsor and Newtown sell their cotman range individually so if you want more specific colours then do it that way.
I have the same set and was so excited to finally be able to get them. Then a professional said to me how they're only student grade not really that archival and should think about replacing them with the professional artist grade. I had more to explain what happened in this situation and really really low it made me feel to the point of almost giving up on art altogether. However as I had placed my second comment in the wrong part of the thread I have actually deleted and unscribing from this channel. Perhaps art is not for me after all. Apologies to Kirsty and the other people involved
Jenny Ann Art I would suggest not worrying too much about that and just paint and practice with them. When a color runs out, just replace it with professional grade paint :)
I would only sell prints that were painted in these paints. I think that what upset me more than anything is one I'm only on very limited income and still want to learn how to paint. Despite the financial limitations I wanted to be able to purchase a good brand of watercolour that was within my budget ecen if it meant I still had to save up for them. Secondly I'm a beginner at drawing and painting and I believe that any beginner should try to use a good quality medium no matter what it is, where paint is concerned it should be at the very least a high quality student grade because poor mediums just don't give a beginner a decent headstart. I felt that being told something I already knew and in the tone it came across to me was that my purchase wasn't good enough and that I was judged to be as a hobbyist when in actual fact I've made a very conscious effort to put other things on hold to learn how to paint and spend several hours a day doing drawing/or painting and so while I'm not yet at a level to be called a professional artist I certainly do not regard myself as a hobbyist. Yes to some I may seem like I've taken this to heart but when one comes from the background like mine it did feel like that's not good enough, I'm not good enough and if I continue using student grade albeit a good brand then I'll never be good enough. I know of many artists who use them not just for studies but also for saleable prints to. It's just some people need to think about what/how they voice their opinion right or wrong. I also believe that if one wants to create art they should just do it with whatever they can source than not at all. I'm truly over the underlying negativity around the archival levels of art mediums.
Mary I wasn't having a go at you personally in fact it was to anyone who read this thread I guess I shouldn't have tagged you my apologies. I was trying to explain how the particular incident made me feel and my opinion in relation to new artists and student grade mediums. I will cut and paste my comment and add it to the my original comment or delete it altogether.
Don't let criticism turn you away from your dreams. There will always have people with different point of view than yours. I have seen many artists using the Cotman Watercolors and selling their originals. They just use a really good UV varnish (archival grade) to protect their paintings. That being said, I would suggest you keep your originals and sell prints. Usually, people don't have that much money and can't afford the price of an original. But prints are cheaper and you definitely don't need to worry about the quality of your paint. Begin with the student grade watercolors, see how you can grow with it and when the time (and money) is right, change to professional grades watercolors. But don't put that much pressure on you, we all begin somewhere :)
I recently got a Cotman travel set and compared to my Schmincke Horadam artist grade watercolors the Cotmans are complete rubbish. Way too chalky looking and not half as vivid and transparent. I will give the set away to my current painting student next week. Glad they were really cheap :)
When you watch the video you get the impression that Cotman watercolors don't differ very much from the Winsor & Newton artist grade line and I just wanted to point out that there definitely *is* a lot of difference regarding pigmentation and vibrancy between Cotmans and artist grade watercolors (no matter from which brand basically). It's clear that there is a huge price difference and you actually can't compare those but when you watch the video people might get the impression you don't see any difference here. I just wanted to point out my point of view here...
Marcotronic thanks, i do get the impression that cotman and winsor and newton's artist grade doesn't differ much, but i just thought that maybe the wn artist grade is "bad" for an artist grade, because i've watched and read reviews on schmincke and all said it was great, i haven't seen a lot of wn professional reviews though. I only have experiences with cotman and it works well for my uses, (and such an upgrade from my reeve's), here in my country cotman is the highest quality i can find in stores, but well it's enough for my purpose.
By the way: The best "non-artist-grade" watercolors I have tried are "Sonnet" by Nevskaya Palitra (Russian) - supercheap here in Germany and I'm totally amazed by the quality. Super high pigmented and vivid as hell! Absolute recommendation! Here I really don't notice any difference between those and the expensive horadam watercolors by Schmincke.
Are you serious??? There is indeed a LOT difference between the student and the artist grade watercolors by Windsor & Newton. If you aren't able to see the difference you should question your own "state" as an artist. You are really honestly believing you can judge my success as an artist based on my ability to differentiate between student and artist grade watercolors? Seriously? I've been drawing and painting for about 42 years now and I'm working as a professional designer. But I'm sure you are a very very successful artist yourself when I read you comment. **lol** You really made my day :)
Have any of you guys tried out the Cotman watercolours before? What do you think of them?
These were my first watercolors before I graduated to tubes. It is a nice travel palette.
Kirsty Partridge Art, Your artwork is truly amazing.❤️❤️. I recently created an image of a red panda inspired by your video and I would really like it if you could create a tutorial that is more in depth about how you create your watercolour pieces, I think it would really help me Improve my watercolour skills as I am new to them. You are such an inspiration, thank you Kirsty 😊
I have a couple sets but find they are harder to re-wet and I have to use more glazes to build color. They are a very good beginner enthusiast set.
Professional watercolors have more pigment and usally a lot of colors are made from single pigment (they're better for mixing). The professional lines have a wider range of colors available and they tend to have better lightfastness). That said, student/academic grade are a great way to start or to do sketches or study pieces.
yes I've got them and if I'm honest I adore them far cheaper and just as good quality. all I would say is the Chinese white isn't as pigmented as I would expect but the little half pans are so cheap making watercolour really affordable medium
A comment about Kirsty's Patreon: she gives fabulous, real-time lessons every month (hours of videos, one project broken down into 4-7 videos). She has no idea I am leaving this comment; I just wanted to share that she provides tremendous value for her Patreons.
I love the transparency of Cotman. I feel like some professional watercolor paints are too opaque and pigmented and with Cotman I don't have to worry about that. I do have DS and Schmincke and have to water it done a lot to get the look in want. The good thing is most Cotman paints have good lightfast ratings
Exactly my experience, van gogh has some great watercolors too though maybe more opaque and less runny. I only buy professional grade when i want a Cobalt pigment for example or Perylene pigments, primateks or whatever pigment that is just not available in the cotman or van gogh lines and that i want. I do feel like Holbein watercolors are something else and worth to have if the price is good because how they run, an how to smooth and high quality they are.
I love my cotman set, and I have plenty of tubes as well. I'm not as good with them as I'd like, but for the price and quality in comparison to others, I felt that they are worth it for me. They are not chalky and layer well in my opinion, mine also activate quickly, and can be reactivated with ease. Even though they are student quality, I really love them.
I love my Cotman set, I only have the travel set but I also have some Cotman tubes
I thought the exact same thing. Ive been told that the cotman series is bad and you should not buy them, but i couldn’t find anything bad about them.
*Girl, you could paint with food coloring and have it come out amazing looking!* 😝 👍😊
Um new video idea???? 💪👽💪
Zimrian is present yup
Yup
YUP
YYYYYYUUUUUUUPPPPPP!!!!!!
I've seen some nice work with coffee.
You have a great talent with combining the colours beautiful!
The best option is to start with the primary colours (magenta, blue, yellow) and mix your Browns, blacks, purples orange etc from the primary colours. I find that having too many colours in the beginning stints the artists ability to practice colour theory and understanding colour harmony. That said, I think we all have different intentions with our art. And that’s just what I’ve found works in my art practice.
The professional winsor Newton range has some vibrant single pigments too.
I’ve had the same Cotman set for a little while, and it’s my first non-$2-shop paints and I love them! I had no idea that the case parts came apart! What a nice surprise, thanks Kirsty 😁 Thanks for the great video, I really enjoy watching you create such beautiful art, and appreciate that you share so many helpful discussions.
thanks for these tips, i'm still a beginner so this will be a great set to play around and learn.
I bought a prismacolor sharpener based on your recommendation. It works like magic. Thanks.
Very lovely painting Kirsty and some down to earth advice for beginners. Personally I think there is some kind of snobbery regarding which products to use and then beginners can feel pressured into spending more than they want, so to see you work with Cotman and make such a good painting with them is encouraging. I like the Schmincke Akademie which, like Cotman, are the student range, I have also recently, come across Sennelier's student range and enjoy those as well - so, like yourself, I would say to any beginner don't feel you have to spend a fortune to get going! There may come a day when you want to move on - perhaps to get more lightfastness - but by then you can have saved up for extra supplies! Take care and keep well.
I often use Cotman watercolours, but I've gotten in to using Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese watercolours, mostly because they're incredibly vibrant and smooth, but they're a little difficult to use too. Pretty cheap for the 36 set on Amazon, though! Probably because they have no palette attached to them.
Just bought these today, this helped a lot. Thanks!
Hi Kirsty, I'm a subscriber who follows your colour pencil tutorials and just stumbled on this video. I just love this hedgehog so much and am now inspired to try watercolours and look forward to more of this with your fab commentary as you paint. Love your channel
I have this set too and I love it! ♡ I already hit pan on my whites sap green and lemon yellow :) I love them so much
Very helpful and so CUTE!!
I haven't done watercolors for quite a while, and now have more time to get back into my artwork...particularly in watercolors and colored pencils...
SO ALL of your videos in those areas are Very helpful to me as I get back into my artwork!
I will look for this brand of colors right away, and begin 'playing around' with them. I have a very particular project I want to do, at a Very High level, for mid-July...so you might say I am "In Training for a Come-Back Performance"..!! (smile)
Great review! I love your beautiful background! 🎨
Thanks so much Kirsty! Lately I've been trying mediums out of my comfort zone, and watercolor was on my list. I LOVE the hedgehog!
Same! Oil pastels is now, but at the beginning of this year it was acrylic!
Would love to see more watercolor tutorials!
I once bought it to paint something on the way.
But I do not find the colors really intense, so I took the colors out and swapped them with other paints.
The Van Gogh watercolor are much better.
thanks for this tutorial Kirsty, love the hedgehog, it's so cute 😍
Thankyou! This is what I’ve been needing to see. Ive been agonising over which one to get. Good to save some $$, now i can get a set of gouche too with the same $$👍
Nice! I just ordered the smaller size of this watercolor to test. Thank you!!
Sooo sweet!☺️💞 You make watercolour look ‘more’ than what I ever expected,.. thank you!👍😊
I really love this channel, because not only is she a great artist, but also has a great personality and fun to listen to.
Thank you for the video. I've just bought my set for £29 , cant wait to use them. X
Hi Kirsty I have lectured at art college and taught art all over the world and I am still teaching, Cotman watercolour paints are student grade they do not contain as much pigment as artist grade (hence they are cheap) also they are not archival, but would agree they are good for beginners, plastic pallets are not the best things to use as the paint will stain the plastic (absorbing the pigment from the paint) a china plate or pallet is much better, no need to keep cleaning your pallet water colour can be rejuvenated with clean water, kind regards Lynne
lol theres something called lightfastness u know? you dont need to be picasso to know some basic knowledge about paints - which you should probably try to learn about too.
How rude! You are asking an art tutor if she knows what archival means!
Cotman are not as good as the W&N artist grade for various reasons. If you know artists who sell their Cotman paintings without turning them into prints first, then they are in the wrong because those paintings will fade. And finally, you are still wrong about the pigment load. Do a comparison. Cotman are weaker and duller, the same brand artist grade are brighter and stronger.
Stop being a reverse art snob!
@@suewilkinson910 Please, have you ever heard of lightfast? Read your information on the watercolours on their site, it will tell you. Being an artist doesn't mean you must have high-grade tools.
@@suewilkinson910 Not all art teachers are good. :/
@Crucibelle i am afraid in this case, cheaper do equals lower quality. Cotman is a good student grade paints, but it doesnt compare with the professionals one. I love cotman and im using it together with van gogh watercolor. Both are great and affordable.
Mission gold is an affordable excellent professional pallet. The silver black velvet brushes are my all time favorite.
Beautiful 🤩 ❤️
The black velvet brushes are my all time favorites!!!! I'm not a fan of W&N I think mission gold is a much better buy. They are excellent professional paints and very affordable.
Wow Kirsty, we are on the same wavelength! I literally just this morning posted a video comparing Cotman vs. Daniel Smith
Love the hedgehog so much! Loved this video because I have some of those watercolours. I would love to see a video on perhaps “mudder” brushes. I also have these but not sure if they are good are bad because don’t have anything to compare them to. I think they are beginner level x
Do you know the lightfastness of Cotmans? Love the hog!
You really Inspire me to draw ;)
Super helpful video!Thank youuuuu!!!
your very good i hope i can be as good as you one day
What about the longevity of the paints?
By which I mean both the 'light fastness' (degradation by UV Light over time) and the longevity of the paints themselves.
I have an old set of professional half pans that must be thirty years old. They're still moist and I can still 'activate' them with a splash of water.
I'm wondering if the Cotman range would last as long...
There are too many watercolour paint snobs out there, Cotman are great. I have a full pan set that I love using because as a beginner I hate to waste expensive paint for practicing.
Your voice is so satisfying
What masking fluid are you using? The applicator looks like it makes it much easier to use than mine
£47 for the professional set? Can you tell me where you got them from please? I can only find them for about 60.
The Duke of Kidderminster I could only find them for 89.99 but it was on sale for 35.99? 🤷🏻♀️
The Duke of Kidderminster try amazon
I can't tell the difference between the Cotman and the Professional range either. I think the Cotman are excellent watercolours, good transparency and good lightfastness.
I was wondering if you could make a Video explaining and demonstrating how to draw a person from 3/4 view because it's something I struggle with and I think you would explain it nicely in a way I could understand 😊
nice i am taking art gcse and you are really helpfull
I Love watercolors ......♥️
Its so sad cause all these items are not available in my country
Dania fcb11 same here!
That Etsy link doesn’t work.
I recently bought a Cotman 24 full pan set from WHSmith, (£29.99) I've heard mixed things about them and still haven't tried them yet, I'm on an inktober struggle right now. I can't paint anything near as well as you but I appreciate the video and the colours look great, so thank you for sharing your opinion ☺️
Want to get my hands on water colours and test them out!
what colour are you mixing in the start of the video??:DDD
thank you so much for your in depth review :) may i ask... the intense blue (phthalo blue PB15), do you think it's red shade or green shade?
It is green shade from my knowledge
@@gnathp4497 thanks! i appreciate it :)
What camera did you use to film? I'm blown away at how well it got the details ♥
Amazing vid
could you do a desk tour/workspace tour please
Very Very Nice Draw ,Your Are Eye Very Nice
I got these watercolors because it's literally the only brand here.
I have pastel's and actually
i love to drow flowers.
Could you please help
me 🤔🌹🦋🌹
good video kirsty loved your video you are so pretty and cute
The link to your Etsy shop isn’t right. Unhappy me.
Is it JUST me, or does Kirsty resemble AnnaSophia Robb a little?
yes she does look a lot like her
Leslie Burke?
How about Keira Knightley?
Ammazing❤❤😍😍 your voice is beautiful and relaxing btw
I’ve got the Koh-I-nor set and I’m getting this one today. A lot of people online have said their the same but they seem so much more vibrant. If anyone has transitioned to Koh-i-nor to Winsor newton please tell me your opinion?
I owned both. I think they are both equally good. Only downside with Koh-i-noor is they only come in sets, not sold individually. So if you ran out of one of your colors, you will have to get a new set/find alternatives to fill up the empty pan. For W&N, you can buy replacement easily.
Memmi K I ended up buying the set and I’m in love with it. Thank you for your opinion :D
I use cotmans. I bought my first set at a local art shop for $75 (12 pan). Then I later got a new Colman 12 pan for $12 online ugh
Wauw 32 pounds thats really cheap. Here in holland that same set costs 93 euro's :-(
they are winsor and newton you have written by mistake windsor and newton
I live in AU and it costs $89. 😓
Sadly, every brand sold in AU (even the local AS brand) cost heaps!! :(
@@memmik1448 Yeah ;w;
@@memmik1448 I cri
My favourite brushes are Rosemary brushes. They come in all sorts of types from student synthetics right up to sable costing mega bucks and they're handmade. Not associated with with the company, just a big, big fan.
Super kawaiiii😍❤😍❤😍❤😍❤
Thus was great! Thanks!! If you want to buy Silver Brush Black Velvet brushes at a discount in the US, try "The Brush Guys" and tell them Tressa Clardy referred them! Hugz, Tree
I bought the Cotman 12-pan travel kit, and dislike it. It had two reds, two yellows, two greens, three earth tones and Chinese white. With the primaries and greens, I can make all kinds of earth tones, but the set lacked a black, gray, sepia, or other neutral tint, which limits its usefulness in the field. Also, the reds and blues do not produce a nice variety of purples.
Kimberly Colley but then that’s what your getting when you get a small set, plus personally I think you get what you pay for. If you wanted better colours either buy a larger set or buy a customisable palette. I’m pretty sure Winsor and Newtown sell their cotman range individually so if you want more specific colours then do it that way.
Menna's Corner Agreed. The problem is those Cotman half-pan sets are marketed for beginners.
40 colours in my set not 45, the rest are doubles
I have the same set and was so excited to finally be able to get them. Then a professional said to me how they're only student grade not really that archival and should think about replacing them with the professional artist grade. I had more to explain what happened in this situation and really really low it made me feel to the point of almost giving up on art altogether. However as I had placed my second comment in the wrong part of the thread I have actually deleted and unscribing from this channel. Perhaps art is not for me after all. Apologies to Kirsty and the other people involved
Jenny Ann Art I would suggest not worrying too much about that and just paint and practice with them. When a color runs out, just replace it with professional grade paint :)
For practice, yes. For selling art, no.
I would only sell prints that were painted in these paints. I think that what upset me more than anything is one I'm only on very limited income and still want to learn how to paint. Despite the financial limitations I wanted to be able to purchase a good brand of watercolour that was within my budget ecen if it meant I still had to save up for them. Secondly I'm a beginner at drawing and painting and I believe that any beginner should try to use a good quality medium no matter what it is, where paint is concerned it should be at the very least a high quality student grade because poor mediums just don't give a beginner a decent headstart. I felt that being told something I already knew and in the tone it came across to me was that my purchase wasn't good enough and that I was judged to be as a hobbyist when in actual fact I've made a very conscious effort to put other things on hold to learn how to paint and spend several hours a day doing drawing/or painting and so while I'm not yet at a level to be called a professional artist I certainly do not regard myself as a hobbyist. Yes to some I may seem like I've taken this to heart but when one comes from the background like mine it did feel like that's not good enough, I'm not good enough and if I continue using student grade albeit a good brand then I'll never be good enough. I know of many artists who use them not just for studies but also for saleable prints to. It's just some people need to think about what/how they voice their opinion right or wrong. I also believe that if one wants to create art they should just do it with whatever they can source than not at all. I'm truly over the underlying negativity around the archival levels of art mediums.
Mary I wasn't having a go at you personally in fact it was to anyone who read this thread I guess I shouldn't have tagged you my apologies. I was trying to explain how the particular incident made me feel and my opinion in relation to new artists and student grade mediums. I will cut and paste my comment and add it to the my original comment or delete it altogether.
Don't let criticism turn you away from your dreams. There will always have people with different point of view than yours. I have seen many artists using the Cotman Watercolors and selling their originals. They just use a really good UV varnish (archival grade) to protect their paintings. That being said, I would suggest you keep your originals and sell prints. Usually, people don't have that much money and can't afford the price of an original. But prints are cheaper and you definitely don't need to worry about the quality of your paint. Begin with the student grade watercolors, see how you can grow with it and when the time (and money) is right, change to professional grades watercolors. But don't put that much pressure on you, we all begin somewhere :)
8th
Oh.my.goodness... You're beautiful. Great video too!!
I recently got a Cotman travel set and compared to my Schmincke Horadam artist grade watercolors the Cotmans are complete rubbish. Way too chalky looking and not half as vivid and transparent. I will give the set away to my current painting student next week. Glad they were really cheap :)
Marcotronic aren't that a very not fair comparison?
When you watch the video you get the impression that Cotman watercolors don't differ very much from the Winsor & Newton artist grade line and I just wanted to point out that there definitely *is* a lot of difference regarding pigmentation and vibrancy between Cotmans and artist grade watercolors (no matter from which brand basically). It's clear that there is a huge price difference and you actually can't compare those but when you watch the video people might get the impression you don't see any difference here. I just wanted to point out my point of view here...
Marcotronic thanks, i do get the impression that cotman and winsor and newton's artist grade doesn't differ much, but i just thought that maybe the wn artist grade is "bad" for an artist grade, because i've watched and read reviews on schmincke and all said it was great, i haven't seen a lot of wn professional reviews though. I only have experiences with cotman and it works well for my uses, (and such an upgrade from my reeve's), here in my country cotman is the highest quality i can find in stores, but well it's enough for my purpose.
By the way: The best "non-artist-grade" watercolors I have tried are "Sonnet" by Nevskaya Palitra (Russian) - supercheap here in Germany and I'm totally amazed by the quality. Super high pigmented and vivid as hell! Absolute recommendation! Here I really don't notice any difference between those and the expensive horadam watercolors by Schmincke.
Are you serious??? There is indeed a LOT difference between the student and the artist grade watercolors by Windsor & Newton. If you aren't able to see the difference you should question your own "state" as an artist. You are really honestly believing you can judge my success as an artist based on my ability to differentiate between student and artist grade watercolors? Seriously? I've been drawing and painting for about 42 years now and I'm working as a professional designer. But I'm sure you are a very very successful artist yourself when I read you comment. **lol** You really made my day :)
First