The Holbeins and the Kuretake Gansai Tambis are in my wishlist. I'm still practicing with my Prang wc set but once I get better at this, I'll definitely invest in artist quality paints. Love seeing the comparison with other wcs. Thank you for this ^0^
+dream_keeper88 Thank you for watching, I'm glad it was helpful. The Prang are a good way to start out and just practice with. You're on the right track. - Marty
"When life gives you lemons, you draw a picture" best quote ever :P This paint it's pretty interesting. I'd love to try them out. Thanks for the review and lovely sketches :)
Hi Marty. I know you did this review of the Holbein watercolours years ago but I’m just catching up. I saw them online in a set of 30 for $94 Canadian. Thought that was a pretty good price. But I’m on a budget and a beginner so I hesitated. Thought I’d better see if Marty had done a review. I went ahead and bought them after seeing your review and I couldn’t be happier with them. Beautiful colours and I’ll be using them for years, I’m sure. Thanks for your helpful reviews. Hope you’re doing well and keeping happy.
I’m with you the Sennelier is probably my favorite for mixing colors and layering. However, if I need a paint that behaves the way I need it to. Example, I was painting a monarch butterfly and started with watercolor pencils but it wasn’t popping like I wanted. So I put Holbein layering it on top and Wow! The lines were crisp and the colors were so vibrant it was like the butterfly was going to fly off the page. Sennelier and Holbein are definitely my favorite so far.
I just ordered my first set of these paints, CDN they are $59 for a set of 12! But yes, I've heard they are remarkable and worth every penny (from you and from others I have spoken to)
Appreciate the consistency of your reviews. Really easy to watch several videos and get true sense of how each product performs in comparison to another. Thank you for the time you put into your videos, really helpful to non-professionals.
Hi Marty. I recently tuned into your channel due to Lindsay and I am very grateful to you both as i am sure many people are. You're very approachable, knowledgeable and kind. Thank you so much for everything that you do, you're awesome!
I bought all the colors for Tom Lynch's books before I found RUclips. Am I a little behind?? Lol...I'll excuse myself...lol (l was teaching and caring for mother. Ivery had 3 back surgeries, fibro, autoimmune. Fatigue and pain pretty high at end of day) YAHOO! I'm so excited now and will have so much to look forward too...thanks for sharing
These watercolors look lovely. I loved the comparisons between different brands, that was very helpful. The Daniel Smith look amazing! I might refill my pans with them. Happy Easter Marty!
I find your reviews so helpful and have even found myself going back and watching again before choosing. Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing with us. Love your channel and it is on my favorites list!
+Anita Holmes Hi Anita - Thanks of the note and for watching my channel. I really appreciate that and never take it for granted. Have a GREAT Week! - Marty
Thank you for answering me but I went a totally different route went with M Graham thanks to "The Mind of Watercolor". I have Daniel Smith I love some of their colors but not my to die for watercolor.
Thanks for a great review. Marty. I bought Holbein paints initially because I am vegan. According to their website, their artist watercolors are all animal friendly except for the Ivory Black. Many leading name paints are not suitable. In use, I was delighted to find the same qualities that you described so well. Highly recommended.
+martynsnan - Yes they don't use any Ox gall in their paints, which is quite unique I think. They are excellent and they aren't too expensive at all. - Marty
The Holbeins are vegan except for the Ivory Black which has animal bone. I just got an answer from them today. For those of us who do not like animal cruelty in our art supplies. Thanks again for the wonderful review Marty!
Just over a year now of watercoloring, even though i didnt paint for over half of it... but still, Still running some of Holbein's colors, and still dirt cheap!
I have a 24 set of Holbein paints that I did a palette setup of on my channel and I’ve got to say...I agree with your points about them. Despite pretty much everything about them being good, there’s something about my Holbein paints that hasn’t really made me fall head over heels for them. I for sure like them, it’s just....maybe it’s because they’re so good and even and predictable? Maybe they’re missing a bit of soul? I’m trying to figure out what about these honestly really good watercolors has failed to enthrall me.
Some people have that reaction to them. They do take some getting used to because of the opaque nature of them, but eventually you find the right blend of water and paint and they work pretty good. They are among the better watercolors made. Happy New Year!!!
I'm glad you said that, as I've hated the lack of predictability of many high end watercolor, as I'm doing comic illustrations not high art. Plus I don't care about opacity.
I started making art a few years ago when I moved to Japan. My first watercolours were Holbein. At least over here they have much larger sets. The set I first started with had around 60 different colours of those 5 mL for about 100 dollars. There are some amazing colours, like the opera, gold, silver, and peacock blue. I'm glad you found them to be good quality, I've been thinking of buying another type now that I've been painting for a few years, but since I still have so much left and you rated them well, I think I'll just stick with my lovely Holbeins (and my cheaper travel sets).
Living in Tokyo for 5 years now, and currently enjoying the cherry blossom season. For urban travel painting, I have the Windsor and Newton compact travel set; the one with the water container and a brush. I love the box but dislike the cotman paints. I also often use the Sakura petite travel set (In the USA it is called the Sakura koi field sketch box travel kit) but it is a bit bulky. Just today I decided to break the piggy bank and bought some Schminke half pans. They are amazing! Thanks for your great review on them Marty!
onyana Brilliant. I admire the Japanese craftsmanship. I plan to buy the sakura koi field box very soon. I hope you enjoy the Schmincke's and get many great sketches and paintings from your set. :-) ~ Marty
Thank you for the nice review. Will definitely like to try them after seeing this. Although all the different brands out there make choosing very difficult especially when none of them are available to try in my country. I have seen online artist are really into schmincke as compared to other brands but they are expensive,plus i wish they came in wider range tube sets like holbeins.
I have to admit if I ever became rich the first thing In would but myself would be these. I have a special needs son so I use nice but practical like koi or WN cotman as such but if I have any style it would be holbein.
Well - they look good that's for sure! I don't know how you decide - when you get up in the mornings - 'which paints shall I use today' I only have a fraction of yours but still it's a toss up which to go for! Like you I do really like the DR paints - was really surprised when I tested them, they stand up well to some of the expensive ones. I wish you a very long life as you will need it in order to use up your ever growing stash!
Ha! I do have a large stash of paints, but I also use them frequently, and when new things come out, I like to try them. This makes my art studio fill up. I also donate any supplies I don't use to local homeless shelter and schools.
I have the gouache set from Holbein and it is amazing! I've been meaning to get the watercolor set since I'm more comfortable with working with transparency. I'm definitely getting the watercolor set now, thanks for the review!
Hi, sorry for the really late response! I mainly do portraits with gouache or use them for detail in landscape paintings (which i use watercolor to paint)
+Owings Art my website is: francisroring.com | I havent put much work on it as im still working on the website! I plan to separate my graphic design & illustration work.
so happy i found your channel! been watching your reviews for the past hour :P also on a journey of trying out watercolours and your reviews will def help me ~! thank you!
these look exquisite marty :) you've quickly became one of my favorite youtubers ... thank you for the content and for supporting the art community here and recommending other youtubers... happy easter. -sana'a
Hi. I'm a beginner but I've been saving up for the one nice watercolor set. I'm absolutely confused between Sennelier and Holbein. Would you have a recommendation for the same
Hi Jessica - If you like a softer more transparent watercolor that has a beautiful glow to it, I think you would like Sennelier. If you prefer a watercolor that is more technically accurate and slight more opaque, but still beautiful and transparent, you'd like Holbein. Both are excellent watercolor paints. If you can afford a little more, I recommend Schmincke. Also, please check out my Top 5 Watercolors video. Thanks for the note. ~Marty
Hi Jessica, a lot depends on where you live. Pretty much all artist grade paints are good, and the difference between top brands are not that great. Price differs a lot depending where on the globe you live, so I would recommend the brands that are readily available at a good price in your area. For instance. Marty has stated that the Holbien 12 tube set is available for $25 in the U.S. but here in the U.K. the best I can get them is £40 (close to $50) yet Sennelier which I believe is very expensive in America, is very good value here. I like Sennelier and use it a lot. It is popular with many botanical and portrait painters due to its ability to layer, it is designed this way, for this style of painting so may not suit everyone. If you are looking for bright and bold. Sennelier may not be for you. I don't particularly like some of the earth colours in Sennelier either, so I mix and match a lot of the colours I like with other brands and I would recommend taking this approach with any brand, rather than feeling you have to stick with a single brand as a set. They all work great together.
im looking for a nice upgrade from my koi wc but i cant seem to choose. should i get the 15 colours holbien tubes or 24/36 colours white nights paints. or myb cotman or van gogh?
Avoid the Cotman. VanGogh or Schmincke would be great choices. You could also try Winsor & Newton Artists wc's which are a step up from Cotmans. Also Daler & Rowney make a line called Aquafine which did well in my tests.
Hi, been watching your videos and they’re amazing! I’ve been trying to research on which watercolor paint to use for beginners, couldn’t decide which one but I was leaning towards Daniel smith and Holbein. Which would be best suitable for beginners?
I'd go for a deal. Any you can buy on offer. Would rather be thinking pans or tubes though. Got some videos with color charts, feel free to have a look. W&Ns are nice and easy to use and can be found fairly cheap. At least in the UK.
+Big C Hi Big C - These are pretty sweet wc's and I really enjoy using them. It's been almost 9 years since I started the channel, but the early days were not really Art focused, just posting for fun really and sometimes work. I really appreciate everybody who supports the channel and it really motivates me. Thanks Big C. - Marty
Hi Marty, Thank for all these great reviews. Your channel is an amazing resource. I bought half dozen tubes of Holbein Artists Watercolor a couple of years ago. I think they are a good balance between quality and price since brands like W&N are out of my price range. They do have a slight gouache feel. I tempted to try those Mijello Mission watercolours. They look beautiful.
Hi Eddy - Thank you so much for the kind remarks and encouragement. I think you could take a chance on the Missions and not be disappointed. They are pretty affordable. ~Marty
thank you so much for doing all these reviews! Its so thoughtful of you! I watched your review on the PH martin radiant wc's and decided to order them (should get them by next week! yay!) Greetings from Bhutan xoxo
It's in the Himalayas, sandwiched between Tibet (North) and India (south). Most people don;t know about us yet haha. We are a very small country, not developed either but if you are looking for a quiet getaway into the mountains then Bhutan is the place to visit :)
paw paw It sounds like a place I'd like to visit someday. My art adventures have been mostly to western countries and primary North America. Someday though, someday...
I guarantee you will not regret the trip :D Please do inform us in one of your videos or msg me. It would be an honor to meet you some day! Take Care, Rinchen
I was trying to decide field travel compact pan sets in order of what I think Is best...I live in Canada so that's why it is ridiculous pricing ...so I really need advise starting with #1 the sennelier 12.halves $95 #2 the Holbein 8 full $61 #3 the schminke $12 halves for $150 or #4 Windsor Newton 12 halves for $98....I have never touched watercolour paint.. YET! I love my Color pencils and have the most fun with my INKTENSE ... U think the sennelier are surprisingly cheaper for more colours although I love how cute the 8 pan Holbein is ...
Thank you for reviewing these your review is super helpful to me I've been using a schmincke set and wanted to try other brands to branch out holbien was my first choice for my next purchase as it's less expense here in Asia but still an artist quality and thanks to your detailed review I'm much more secure in my next purchase :) I also did not know the ink watercolors were not lightfast I'm new to watercolor and it's all overwhelming so thank you for making it a bit easier to digest :)
+Pearberrie “Art” Thank you for the note and sharing your thoughts. The Ph Martin Hydrus concentrated wc's (inks) are lightfast, but the Radiant's are NOT. Glad the video helped you and I think you'll very much enjoy the Holbein's. ~Marty
... the comparisons are great, Marty! I love that you raved about the Sennelier paints as i just ordered this super neat Mini Aqua set from Sennelier :-) . If life gives you lemons... well, yes, keep on painting... or as Goethe said: You can create something beautiful even from the stones placed in your way for you to stumble on...
+Anja Meurer Hi Anja - I love that quote you shared. Really inspiring. Yes, you know I love the precision and almost perfect vibrancy of Schmincke and I use them every day in my work, however when it comes to expressions of pure, glowing beauty, it is very difficult to beat the Sennelier's. I don't know what it is for sure, but with Schmincke I feel confident and precise, with Sennelier's I feel free and as if the paint is an extension of my heart. :-) - Marty
which you like best? kuretake gansai tambi or holbein artist watercolor? im torn between the two probably coz kuretake (36 colors) is less expensive than holbein (24 colors)
Hi Marty, I watched your video about the faber castel albret dürer pencils? Would you recoment them to me or are there other pencils (similar) which you would recommend me more? Thanks for your answer!
+Claudia Lombardi Hi Claudia - Here are my recommendations for very excellent watercolor pencils. Number one is Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle. #2 Is Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer. #3 Caran d'Ache Supracolor. #4 Koh-I-Noor Mondeluz. Hope that helps you. - Marty
Hi Marty, I have a set of 24 of these, but for some reason, after some of the paints dry, they become shiny and glossy (blue ones), some even crack on the paper. Did it happen to yours too? Thank you!
Sorry to hear about that. I didn't experience that problem at all. Are you using them thin enough? Sometimes I've had that problem with other watercolors when I applied them too thick or built up my layering too fast. -Marty
Hi. Please review Korean made Shin Han watercolors. I bought 3 tubes and thought they were great and it would nice to see a review of a wider range of colors.
Hi! question for you...are there paints that do not mix well with others? for example: mixing Daniel Smith with M. Graham? or mission gold with winsor newton? Most reviews I've seen seem to stick with 1 brand of paints. Thank you for your excellent reviews!
Hi Miriam - You shouldn't run into too many issues with the paints you mentioned, however the greatest difference you will find is with paints made in Asia and Russia. Those paints tend to be more opaque and might pose a problem. I use a mix of paints in my palette including, Schmincke, Daniel Smith, M Graham and W&N. Hope that helps. ~Marty
Thank you, that helps quite a bit! Every once in a while I come across a color that is nowhere else and from no other maker, but I always worry if it will play well with other brands.
That is a very tough call. In the end I like them both very much, but if I was stranded on a desert island and could only pick one....it would be....Daniel Smith.
hi owing i just purchased those holbein watercolour not arrived.seen a couple of review please tell me their not like gouache as alot them already.thankyou
Will the lines disappear fully if I use it? Would you mind giving me your recommendation on what I should use for this? Thank-you again for advising me, it's so appreciated that I can't express it enough! Take care Marty!
I'm starting to learn botanical painting with sakura koi pans set. But i find it hard to do lifting technique with it and some colors are not so vivid and also granulating. I wanna invest on artist quality water color. So, which brand do you think between holbein, rembrandt, and winsor newton is a good to go for botanical painting?
Owings Art and Alison, thank you for your well-elaborated replies, it helps me a lot to decide my shopping list c: But sadly no local supplier sells Schminke and Sennelier here in Indonesia.
@Owings art ,your review is excellent,Could you please review similarly designed korean shinhan watercolor(almost looks like Holbein palette),i heard some very good reviews ...
I just got into Holbein Artists Gouache, and I am sold on the brand. I just bought 36 White Nights and love them! Can you say honestly if these are a great addition to a watercolor arsenal? I have found those "bits" in Shinhan if they are over-diluted. I am not happy with them for artistic effects-student grade at best. Does the 12 have the split primary? I will have to look, that's all I really need to try them out.
I've always been eyeing holbein tubes and am really glad you finally got to review them! I find your reviews to be incredibly helpful and you're definitely one of my favorite channels. I can't wait to see the mission gold paints next. I'm stuck on which brand to buy haha. have you heard of shinhan watercolors? I don't see many reviews on them but have heard they are pretty good for the price (although dont take my word for it). they're another brand from Korea I believe.
+KageOuji Thank you very much for the kind comments. I have the Shinhan on my list for review and I've seen the Korean brand you mention, but haven't ordered them just yet. I really appreciate you watching the channel and sharing your notes. ~Marty
This review is really helpful, thank you! I'm stuck at choosing between Holbein (12 tubes), Winsor and newton cotman (12 pans) , van gogh (12 tubes) and shinhan professional (18 tubes). I would love to hear your opinion about which one i should buy :D
To be very direct - I think it depends on what you want to do with it, but if I were to pick among the paints you listed, my order would be like this starting with the best paint first: Holbein, Van Gogh, Shinhan and then WN Cotman. Hope that helps.
+James Brady Hi James - No, but there should be. I just started the ratings this year, so there wouldn't be many, but this is a good idea. I'll see what I can put together. Thanks for the question/idea. - Marty
Yo, those Holbein colors look nice and I like the way it lays down. Your fruit picture is on point as well. I want to try the Daniel Smith's because I want to support the few American artist supply companies that are out there.
Hello, Marty. I still use van gogh watercolor. Its perfect for me, for my decorative illustration. They have bright saturated colors and i like it. But i also need different watercolor with more "artistry" grade. Do you think this Holbein is ok? Schmincke too expensive for me :( I've been thinking about buying Holbein 30-set
Schmincke is the right choice, but yes they're very expensive. If you want nice, but very affordable watercolors have you considered American Journey watercolors aka DaVinci. Here is a link to a review I did on them recently: ruclips.net/video/_xSjtFpn6LU/видео.html
+Ruzan Jamaleddin Not this time. I used a Pentel Water brush, but I have used the koi and I reviewed a bunch of them here: ruclips.net/video/BWDO1eurwTA/видео.html
Hi Do they tell you what pigments are in these paints, including colour index numbers? Here in the uk Holbein keep this secret from us and no way am I buying them!
Hi Julie - I don't know about the exact pigments. You can definitely email the people at Holbein on that and they should be able to respond, as I don't think this is an "Industry secret". That said, if you're ultimately trying to figure out lightfastness and whether some colors are fugitive or not, below is a link to their color chart with lightfast ratings. That said, I've used both their watercolor paints and oils for years and years and have had no trouble with the paints. They are vibrant and hold up very well. holbeinamerica.com/artist-watercolor-color-chart/ Hope this helps. Also here is a link to email your questions to: t_seriguchi@holbein.co.jp
Thanks for that. Its not just the light fastness I'm concerned about -I like to know if they are single pigment paint or mixtures, to know which pigments I am putting into my mixtures and whether I am doubling up on a pigment I already have by buying the same thing under a different name. Also I found that paints within a range can often be easily mixed from paints I already have. So I will send them an email and ask them to send me a chart
Yasmine S. Depends on where you're from. Sennelier student grade is the same price as the other student grades like W&N Cotman and Van Gogh. Honey is also a natural preserver and has been used for centuries as such :) I have some Sennelier professional colors and they look muted at first but beautiful when glazed
Yasmine S. Wow! You live in a beautiful and artistic country :) Daniel Smith is even more expensive here in the Philippines :( but I have heard good things about it as well MGraham. I'm saving money for QoR modern watercolors as well
May you please review the Pentel Watercolors? I used to paint with them and just wanted to know if I should just stick with this brand. I'm also interested on using W&N and Gansaiiii Tambi. I've been binge watching your reviews lately, trying to figure out what watercolors I should get. I just wanna know if the Pentel Watercolors for within the satisfactory rating from a good critic like you. thanks!!!
+Nysdik 039 Hi There and thank you for the suggestions. The Gansai Tambi and W&N i have already reviewed, search my videos to find them. Thanks for watching my channel. Much appreciated. - Marty
just a suggestion: use manual white balance. There is no matter to compare color swatches while the white balance of the video changes each 5 seconds when you move your hands: all the colors are just meaningless
Hey Marty, Happy Easter! The first professional watercolor set I picked up a while back was the Holbein 18 Color set. I do think that they are good and very vibrant. They have some strange naming for professional paints such as Viridian Hue for their Phthalo Green, but a lot of companies do that sort of thing. They tend to react more subdued with wet in wet applications, probably due to their lack of ox gall as a dispersant. My concern is that I'm not sure if their lightfast reporting is accurate, In the 18 pc set the 2 cool reds are Crimson Lake (PR23-Naphthol Carmine) and Rose Madder (PR83-Alizarin Crimson), both have sub-par lightfast rating according to pigment standards, yet both are listed as "*** Absolutely Permanent" on their website. I have not done any tests but I'm a little concerned about how their alizarin crimson is "absolutely permanent" while every other manufacturer can't seem to pull that off. Just my 2 cents. Overall their colors are brilliant. Thanks for the review Marty. -Pete
+IllustrationsByPete Hi Pete - Thanks for the note. I always appreciate your attention to detail and your investigative nature. You're right about the Crimson and the Alizarin, that does raise some skepticism. In my tests they were definitely comparable to other paints and a bit better than the majority, that's why I gave them a higher lightfast rating. I didn't have the Alizarin to test though, so I can't say for sure on that one, but I'd be suspicious of the, "absolutely permanent" rating. For one, nothing is absolutely permanent lol.
+Owings Art Fair enough. I still have them in my home palette and they are wonderful for illustrations and sketchbooks because they are so bright. I'm just not sure if I would trust them for things that are displayed unless I did a little more research. I'm sure, like every company, it just depends on choosing the right colors in the line that are more lightfast. Thanks Marty.
Great review! I just ordered my first Schmincke 24 whole pan set and a set of Daniel Smith wc, (on your recommendation btw) so I'm super excited to get my hands on them! Have you by any chance reviewed or have personally used Da Vinci Watercolor Brushes? They are less expensive than the Silver Brush line (don't know if I got the name right) on the Canadian Amazon. Eventually I'd like to get a few good brushes but I actually find it easier to use my Pentel Water Brushes, would you mind telling me what would be your recommendation? I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I'am even using my Watercolor brushes the right way!! Lol! Take care, hope you had a great Easter Weekend!
+Hermione Jarvis Oh boy Hermione - you're in for a wonderful time my friend. So excited for you!!!! Can't wait to hear what you think of the Schmincke and the DS. Yes I've used the Da Vinci brushes both for WC and oil painting. I think they are Okay and just about average. I tend to use Isabey (Mop), Escoda's and a few synthetics. There are methods to using brushes the, "right way", but if you're beginning, before you develop too many bad habits you should search for some videos on that topic, there are lot's of them out there. Hope that helps Hermione. Take care my friend. - Marty
as of now i am using kuretake gansai watercolor,,, and i started collecting one color at a time,,, cause as you say,,, these paints are really expensive... one 5 ml tube cost around 2.5-3 us dollars.. thanks for the review since im also considering schmincke!!! also,, they have some unique colors there that are from japanese colors just like in gansai watercolor.. so i think i did a nice transition from student to artist,,,
i commonly paint mangas and anime for my hobby and i do some architectural painting since i am also an architect... well, i use gansai for practice and HWC for my actual painting,,. both paint are great but i find holbein a lot better,, since its great for blooms, blends and misty effects... and if i am going to make some layering and fine details,, gansai is probably a little better since all of its color can be opaque... but once i used all my gansai color.. i will only use holbein colors.. i just find it better..
Dariel Pabellar Excellent. Sounds like you have it worked out pretty well. Are you a commercial or residential architect? Just curious because I worked as a draftsman for a number of years when I got out of college.
im still new to the industry and im currently working in an architectural firm.. and yeah being able paint and draw really amazes my principal architect... cause im the only one in the company who can do it.. by the way, im currently having problem with fugitive colors, specially opera,, and the nearest alternative "Brigth Rose" is also fugitive, have any experience with this color, even in sennelier it is a fugitive color...
Hi Marty, I'm pretty keen on the Holbeins too. I noticed you rated the Senneliers at 9 in one of the comments. What rating would you give the Schmincke Horadam watercolors? Thanks for the videos. Really enjoy them!!
+Kaz Hobson Hi Kaz - I use the Schmincke's almost every day in my work and I love them. It's hard to rank them because I know them so well. Not a lot of downside to them, they're pretty spectacular. I'd probably rank them at 8.5 or above. Hope that helps! - Marty
Love your vids! I'm starting to get more seriously invested in watercolors after dabbling with my grumbacher pan set for a while, and I want to do commissions, but I can't decide whether I should get the Holbein 12 set or the Daniel Smith intro set of 6. Daniel Smith set is $3 more. (I am getting the dot sampler soon, so in any case I will be able to test their paints and see what tubes I'll buy in the future) but for a beginning professional what would you recommend?
I think you will like either one, but Holbein is going to be more opaque than Daniel Smith, but some Artists like that. Once you get the dot sampler from DS I think you'll probably like them more because they are slightly better quality and more lightfast in my experience. Holbein is very good paint, but DS is very, very good paint. Hope that helps Sherrice. ~Marty
Owings Art Thank you for the response! My current paints are opaque so it would be nice to try something more transparent. Your comment on Holbein's lightfastness echoes a few others I've heard, so I'm sold on the Daniel Smiths now. But in the future I'll definitely experiment with brands like Holbein. :D Keep making great vids!
hi! Great review and love your videos! i have been using holbein and i absolutely love these colours! may I ask if u know anything regarding the Holbein palm set (the one with red cover)?
+Owings Art nope sadly, I have never tried them before. I was considering if it would be good to get it... i was wondering if the setup/design would be handy for travelling
:0 do u not like the winsor and Newton artist colours??? I was expecting u to mention them lol! 💕 I'm just starting out and I'm thinking of just buying cyan magenta and yellow to get mixing what do you think?? :0
Hi - You will need more thank cyan and yellow I think. Try an Ultramarine Blue, Cad Yellow and Alizarin Crimson to start with. You can mix many colors from those three. I do like W&N Artist watercolors, but they aren't on the top of my list. I use their oil paints a lot and like them better. Hope this helps. ~Marty
Sometimes the Holbeins can be difficult to layer. I found that they lift too easily. I like DR artists watercolours but I try anything. Shinhan watercolours seem to be similar to the Holbein range and worth a try.
+Terence Molloy Hi Terence - I will try the Shinhan soon. I haven't had any trouble layering these in the transparent range, I just make sure they're very dry between layers. Although you're right, they do lift a little easy. ~Marty
I know, I was just practicing right now, I had to back off as I was getting frustrated, I had drawn a lovely flower I think it is a Lotus the drawing was good however my painting was a fail. I don't know where I went wrong, maybe I was trying something to advanced for what my skills are. I was using my Moleskine which I love, I tried a wet on wet technique but it didn't look good, perhaps it's the paint as well, I really can't stand my W & N Cotman. Oh well, I did a drawing last night of Irises, but I'm keeping that for when I get my Schmincke and DS. It's strange you know, I had done an illustration of a Rose and a Bunny and it turned out Awesome I was so proud of my accomplishment, it's hit and miss right now, did you experience any of that when you started with watercolors? Take care and Thank-you for the support, it's appreciated!
+Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermoine - Absolutely. I still experience everything you described above. At some point years ago I began to change my attitude about this process and instead of thinking of these as failures I tried to see them as steps on a journey. I almost always learn something, no matter what happens. That small change in my outlook made all the difference. When starting with watercolors, sometimes less is more. I paint very lightly at first and I can add color as I go. Also, just forget about trying to be perfect, watercolor will behave the way it wants to anyway. Lastly, practicing means everything, no matter what medium you're using. ~Marty
Hi from HK. Love your videos, especially the reviews. They are very informative. Have you tried caran d'ache fibralo markers? They seem to be very interesting. Would you mind to do a video on them if you have the products? Zillion thanks!
+Teresa Lee Hi Teresa - I have been meaning to try them for a long time, maybe I'll add them to my list and do a review sometime. Thank you for the suggestion and for watching my videos. - Marty
I was so waiting for this review, thank you sooo much, could you do the holbein gum aranic gouache in the future? I heard lots of good things about it and would like to know how does it compare to the schmincke horadam one you reviewed in the past. Thanks :)
+Paweł Fotek Greetings! - Thank you for the note. I think the Gouache and the Schmincke are very different. The Schmincke's are pure watercolors, the Holbein gouache are opaque and very different. They are on my list of future reviews, but I currently have about 118 review requests ahead of them. :-) - Marty
Hi Marty! The Holbeins is on my wishlist :) Have you tried the sakura koi watercolor brush pens or the winsor and newton cotman watercolor set? Thanks for recommending Old Blind Doug's channel!
+Agneta Brodén Hi Agneta - No I haven't tried the sakura koi, but they're on my list. I have reviewed the W&N Cotman's though. Thanks for the note. - Marty
Thanks, will do! Yes it helps as always, I had never thought of developing bad habits so I'll definitely be looking for videos to make sure that I don't end up with to many! (Thanks for that piece of advice!) I have been eyeing the Escoda brushes for a while, I'll take a closer look at them now on some online stores here, maybe I can get some a bit more inexpensive than on Amazon. I do have a couple more questions I hope you don't mind, what kind of brushes do you think are the most necessary for working with and getting good results in Watercolor? You know like what size Round, Filberts etc? I don't want to waste money. I really only would like to have what I need. I sincerely hope I was able to make the question clear. I will let you know what I think about the Schmincke and DS, and the second question is I can't paint without lines yet, but I don't want my lines to always be there, so I was thinking about getting some water soluble pencil or graphite like Faber-Castells line, will
+Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermione - Thanks for the notes and the questions. I use a round #6 mostly or just the medium Pentel Aqua brush. I use the Isabey mop brush and once in a while I use filberts #4 and #6. The lines won't necessarily "disappear" when you use a graphite wash pencil. Instead use an H4 and draw very, very lightly. Just enough so you can make out the lines, barely. Hope that helps. - Marty
Oh Thank-you! I wasn't sure how big or small to go, but now I have a much clearer picture of what to purchase. I'll for go the water soluble graphite, and find myself an H4 pencil, I do struggle from time to time with learning to be lighter on my paper so I end up erasing too much, I suppose that part will take time and practice! I've already been watching a lot of how-to videos on using brushes and watercoloring in general and I think it's going to go a long way toward me getting better at it, I just completed a drawing of some Irises and I look forward to using my new Schmincke set when it arrives so I'm ready to go! Anyways thanks for the guidance, take care!
you and Lindsay are going to make me go broke Marty. lol
+Elizabeth Kilbride LOL. I am broke. - Marty
The Holbeins and the Kuretake Gansai Tambis are in my wishlist. I'm still practicing with my Prang wc set but once I get better at this, I'll definitely invest in artist quality paints. Love seeing the comparison with other wcs. Thank you for this ^0^
+dream_keeper88 Thank you for watching, I'm glad it was helpful. The Prang are a good way to start out and just practice with. You're on the right track. - Marty
"When life gives you lemons, you draw a picture" best quote ever :P This paint it's pretty interesting. I'd love to try them out. Thanks for the review and lovely sketches :)
LOL, thank you Azzu. Happy you caught that part. ~Marty
Hi Marty. I know you did this review of the Holbein watercolours years ago but I’m just catching up. I saw them online in a set of 30 for $94 Canadian. Thought that was a pretty good price. But I’m on a budget and a beginner so I hesitated. Thought I’d better see if Marty had done a review. I went ahead and bought them after seeing your review and I couldn’t be happier with them. Beautiful colours and I’ll be using them for years, I’m sure. Thanks for your helpful reviews. Hope you’re doing well and keeping happy.
I’m with you the Sennelier is probably my favorite for mixing colors and layering. However, if I need a paint that behaves the way I need it to. Example, I was painting a monarch butterfly and started with watercolor pencils but it wasn’t popping like I wanted. So I put Holbein layering it on top and Wow! The lines were crisp and the colors were so vibrant it was like the butterfly was going to fly off the page. Sennelier and Holbein are definitely my favorite so far.
I think I fell in love at first sight with the Rembrandt one
I just ordered my first set of these paints, CDN they are $59 for a set of 12! But yes, I've heard they are remarkable and worth every penny (from you and from others I have spoken to)
Appreciate the consistency of your reviews. Really easy to watch several videos and get true sense of how each product performs in comparison to another. Thank you for the time you put into your videos, really helpful to non-professionals.
+Di Monty Happy you're watching. Thank you!!! - Marty
I just tried my Holbein set and I love the color saturation I get!
Do you find it too opaque? Or do you like it that way?
@@owingsart I don't mind it at all!
Hi Marty. I recently tuned into your channel due to Lindsay and I am very grateful to you both as i am sure many people are. You're very approachable, knowledgeable and kind. Thank you so much for everything that you do, you're awesome!
+Kashfia Hare Thank you for the kind note Kashfia, I really appreciate the support. ~Marty
I bought all the colors for Tom Lynch's books before I found RUclips. Am I a little behind?? Lol...I'll excuse myself...lol (l was teaching and caring for mother. Ivery had 3 back surgeries, fibro, autoimmune. Fatigue and pain pretty high at end of day) YAHOO! I'm so excited now and will have so much to look forward too...thanks for sharing
These watercolors look lovely. I loved the comparisons between different brands, that was very helpful. The Daniel Smith look amazing! I might refill my pans with them. Happy Easter Marty!
+Funandots Happy Easter! - Marty
I use Holbein as my regular brand and a few D.S. they are my absolute favourite! Great review!
Holbeins and DS in tubes 💪
I find your reviews so helpful and have even found myself going back and watching again before choosing. Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing with us. Love your channel and it is on my favorites list!
+Anita Holmes Hi Anita - Thanks of the note and for watching my channel. I really appreciate that and never take it for granted. Have a GREAT Week! - Marty
Great video, thank you for sharing it sir 🌹
Glad you enjoyed it
these are m favorites. I loveee the transparency
+Rebecca Nelson They really are spectacular aren't they Rebecca? :-) - Marty
Thank you for answering me but I went a totally different route went with M Graham thanks to "The Mind of Watercolor". I have Daniel Smith I love some of their colors but not my to die for watercolor.
Sure thing Crystal.
You did a great thing for old blind Doug! I dabble in watercolor with a visual issue so I know how hard he must work.
+Tammie Roth Thank you Tammie. How do you manage your visual issue when it comes to art?
+Owings Art I really just try to tough it out. Mostly I have trouble seeing the little details of things that might make my paintings more accurate .
Tammie Roth Thanks for answering Tammie. Good to hear you manage it. - Marty
Thanks for a great review. Marty. I bought Holbein paints initially because I am vegan. According to their website, their artist watercolors are all animal friendly except for the Ivory Black. Many leading name paints are not suitable. In use, I was delighted to find the same qualities that you described so well. Highly recommended.
+martynsnan - Yes they don't use any Ox gall in their paints, which is quite unique I think. They are excellent and they aren't too expensive at all. - Marty
Dude id kill to have his art supply stockpile
The Holbeins are vegan except for the Ivory Black which has animal bone. I just got an answer from them today. For those of us who do not like animal cruelty in our art supplies. Thanks again for the wonderful review Marty!
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Just over a year now of watercoloring, even though i didnt paint for over half of it... but still, Still running some of Holbein's colors, and still dirt cheap!
Glad to hear it.
I have a 24 set of Holbein paints that I did a palette setup of on my channel and I’ve got to say...I agree with your points about them. Despite pretty much everything about them being good, there’s something about my Holbein paints that hasn’t really made me fall head over heels for them. I for sure like them, it’s just....maybe it’s because they’re so good and even and predictable? Maybe they’re missing a bit of soul? I’m trying to figure out what about these honestly really good watercolors has failed to enthrall me.
Some people have that reaction to them. They do take some getting used to because of the opaque nature of them, but eventually you find the right blend of water and paint and they work pretty good. They are among the better watercolors made. Happy New Year!!!
I'm glad you said that, as I've hated the lack of predictability of many high end watercolor, as I'm doing comic illustrations not high art. Plus I don't care about opacity.
one of my staple brands! thanks for doing these reviews and showcases Marty!
+Shaades of Shaay :-) for sure and thanks for watching. - Marty
I started making art a few years ago when I moved to Japan. My first watercolours were Holbein. At least over here they have much larger sets. The set I first started with had around 60 different colours of those 5 mL for about 100 dollars. There are some amazing colours, like the opera, gold, silver, and peacock blue. I'm glad you found them to be good quality, I've been thinking of buying another type now that I've been painting for a few years, but since I still have so much left and you rated them well, I think I'll just stick with my lovely Holbeins (and my cheaper travel sets).
+onyana Are you still living in Japan? What travel paints do you use? - Marty
Living in Tokyo for 5 years now, and currently enjoying the cherry blossom season. For urban travel painting, I have the Windsor and Newton compact travel set; the one with the water container and a brush. I love the box but dislike the cotman paints. I also often use the Sakura petite travel set (In the USA it is called the Sakura koi field sketch box travel kit) but it is a bit bulky. Just today I decided to break the piggy bank and bought some Schminke half pans. They are amazing! Thanks for your great review on them Marty!
onyana Brilliant. I admire the Japanese craftsmanship. I plan to buy the sakura koi field box very soon. I hope you enjoy the Schmincke's and get many great sketches and paintings from your set. :-) ~ Marty
Thank you for the nice review. Will definitely like to try them after seeing this. Although all the different brands out there make choosing very difficult especially when none of them are available to try in my country. I have seen online artist are really into schmincke as compared to other brands but they are expensive,plus i wish they came in wider range tube sets like holbeins.
Hi Bushra - I think you will enjoy these paints and they are affordable.
I have to admit if I ever became rich the first thing In would but myself would be these. I have a special needs son so I use nice but practical like koi or WN cotman as such but if I have any style it would be holbein.
:-) They are very nice paints.
I have been eyeing these watercolors! Thanks for the excellent review. You have convinced me.
+Art Class I think you'll enjoy them. :-) Thanks for watching. ~Marty
Well - they look good that's for sure! I don't know how you decide - when you get up in the mornings - 'which paints shall I use today' I only have a fraction of yours but still it's a toss up which to go for! Like you I do really like the DR paints - was really surprised when I tested them, they stand up well to some of the expensive ones. I wish you a very long life as you will need it in order to use up your ever growing stash!
Ha! I do have a large stash of paints, but I also use them frequently, and when new things come out, I like to try them. This makes my art studio fill up. I also donate any supplies I don't use to local homeless shelter and schools.
@@owingsart that is wonderful - after my own heart!
I have the gouache set from Holbein and it is amazing! I've been meaning to get the watercolor set since I'm more comfortable with working with transparency. I'm definitely getting the watercolor set now, thanks for the review!
+francis r Hi Francis - What sort of work do you use the gouache for?
Hi, sorry for the really late response! I mainly do portraits with gouache or use them for detail in landscape paintings (which i use watercolor to paint)
francis r Thank you. Do you have a website?
+Owings Art my website is: francisroring.com | I havent put much work on it as im still working on the website! I plan to separate my graphic design & illustration work.
francis r Thanks Francis - Looks like you've got a good start. I like your logo redesigns and your illustrations, pretty cool. - Marty
so happy i found your channel! been watching your reviews for the past hour :P
also on a journey of trying out watercolours and your reviews will def help me ~! thank you!
+staygrateful Thank you so much for the note. Glad you found the channel. Hope you continue to watch. - Marty
these look exquisite marty :) you've quickly became one of my favorite youtubers ... thank you for the content and for supporting the art community here and recommending other youtubers... happy easter. -sana'a
+BIOnerd93 Hi Sana'a - Thank you for the kind support my friend. You're one great Subscriber. :-) - Marty
Another great video Marty. I enjoyed learning about these colors. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Regards from Michigan.
+Judy Brown Hi Judy - Thanks for the note and comments. AND thank you for watching. ~Marty
Hi. I'm a beginner but I've been saving up for the one nice watercolor set. I'm absolutely confused between Sennelier and Holbein. Would you have a recommendation for the same
Hi Jessica - If you like a softer more transparent watercolor that has a beautiful glow to it, I think you would like Sennelier. If you prefer a watercolor that is more technically accurate and slight more opaque, but still beautiful and transparent, you'd like Holbein. Both are excellent watercolor paints. If you can afford a little more, I recommend Schmincke. Also, please check out my Top 5 Watercolors video. Thanks for the note. ~Marty
@@owingsart this was very helpful. Thank you Marty
Hi Jessica, a lot depends on where you live. Pretty much all artist grade paints are good, and the difference between top brands are not that great. Price differs a lot depending where on the globe you live, so I would recommend the brands that are readily available at a good price in your area. For instance. Marty has stated that the Holbien 12 tube set is available for $25 in the U.S. but here in the U.K. the best I can get them is £40 (close to $50) yet Sennelier which I believe is very expensive in America, is very good value here. I like Sennelier and use it a lot. It is popular with many botanical and portrait painters due to its ability to layer, it is designed this way, for this style of painting so may not suit everyone. If you are looking for bright and bold. Sennelier may not be for you. I don't particularly like some of the earth colours in Sennelier either, so I mix and match a lot of the colours I like with other brands and I would recommend taking this approach with any brand, rather than feeling you have to stick with a single brand as a set. They all work great together.
Great and complete review ^^ Thank you so much!
Thank you for watching.
thanks for the review. what do you think about sennelier la petite compared to holbein? which one is better?
Thanks Marty, I find your reviews very helpful.
+Linda Anne Calderone Thank you Linda. I appreciate the support. - Marty
im looking for a nice upgrade from my koi wc but i cant seem to choose. should i get the 15 colours holbien tubes or 24/36 colours white nights paints. or myb cotman or van gogh?
Avoid the Cotman. VanGogh or Schmincke would be great choices. You could also try Winsor & Newton Artists wc's which are a step up from Cotmans. Also Daler & Rowney make a line called Aquafine which did well in my tests.
Hello, sir, which do you think better, mijello mission gold or this holbein watercolor?
Hi, been watching your videos and they’re amazing! I’ve been trying to research on which watercolor paint to use for beginners, couldn’t decide which one but I was leaning towards Daniel smith and Holbein. Which would be best suitable for beginners?
I'd go for a deal. Any you can buy on offer. Would rather be thinking pans or tubes though. Got some videos with color charts, feel free to have a look. W&Ns are nice and easy to use and can be found fairly cheap. At least in the UK.
Good review I thought these looked excellent against the other swatches. You're getting close to 10,000!
+Big C Hi Big C - These are pretty sweet wc's and I really enjoy using them. It's been almost 9 years since I started the channel, but the early days were not really Art focused, just posting for fun really and sometimes work. I really appreciate everybody who supports the channel and it really motivates me. Thanks Big C. - Marty
Hi Marty, Thank for all these great reviews. Your channel is an amazing resource. I bought half dozen tubes of Holbein Artists Watercolor a couple of years ago. I think they are a good balance between quality and price since brands like W&N are out of my price range. They do have a slight gouache feel. I tempted to try those Mijello Mission watercolours. They look beautiful.
Hi Eddy - Thank you so much for the kind remarks and encouragement. I think you could take a chance on the Missions and not be disappointed. They are pretty affordable. ~Marty
Thanks Marty!
Hi Marty, Happy Easter! Another super review, they look great and I love how you show the comparisons with other brands too :)
+Jane Kirkwood (Artsy Otternut) Hi Jane - Thanks for the note. I hope the comparisons help. - Marty
thank you so much for doing all these reviews! Its so thoughtful of you! I watched your review on the PH martin radiant wc's and decided to order them (should get them by next week! yay!) Greetings from Bhutan xoxo
Greetings and thank you for the note. What is it like in Bhutan?
It's in the Himalayas, sandwiched between Tibet (North) and India (south). Most people don;t know about us yet haha. We are a very small country, not developed either but if you are looking for a quiet getaway into the mountains then Bhutan is the place to visit :)
paw paw It sounds like a place I'd like to visit someday. My art adventures have been mostly to western countries and primary North America. Someday though, someday...
I guarantee you will not regret the trip :D Please do inform us in one of your videos or msg me. It would be an honor to meet you some day!
Take Care,
Rinchen
I was trying to decide field travel compact pan sets in order of what I think Is best...I live in Canada so that's why it is ridiculous pricing ...so I really need advise starting with #1 the sennelier 12.halves $95 #2 the Holbein 8 full $61 #3 the schminke $12 halves for $150 or #4 Windsor Newton 12 halves for $98....I have never touched watercolour paint.. YET! I love my Color pencils and have the most fun with my INKTENSE ... U think the sennelier are surprisingly cheaper for more colours although I love how cute the 8 pan Holbein is ...
Love your videos... your talks!
Thank you!
Thank you for reviewing these your review is super helpful to me I've been using a schmincke set and wanted to try other brands to branch out holbien was my first choice for my next purchase as it's less expense here in Asia but still an artist quality and thanks to your detailed review I'm much more secure in my next purchase :) I also did not know the ink watercolors were not lightfast I'm new to watercolor and it's all overwhelming so thank you for making it a bit easier to digest :)
+Pearberrie “Art” Thank you for the note and sharing your thoughts. The Ph Martin Hydrus concentrated wc's (inks) are lightfast, but the Radiant's are NOT. Glad the video helped you and I think you'll very much enjoy the Holbein's. ~Marty
Oh Marty! I am trying my first hot press paper=Arches! YAY!
Lovely isn't it?
... the comparisons are great, Marty! I love that you raved about the Sennelier paints as i just ordered this super neat Mini Aqua set from Sennelier :-) . If life gives you lemons... well, yes, keep on painting... or as Goethe said: You can create something beautiful even from the stones placed in your way for you to stumble on...
+Anja Meurer Hi Anja - I love that quote you shared. Really inspiring. Yes, you know I love the precision and almost perfect vibrancy of Schmincke and I use them every day in my work, however when it comes to expressions of pure, glowing beauty, it is very difficult to beat the Sennelier's. I don't know what it is for sure, but with Schmincke I feel confident and precise, with Sennelier's I feel free and as if the paint is an extension of my heart. :-) - Marty
+Anja Meurer Also, I'm very interested to hear what you think of them when you get to use them in your work. Please keep me posted.
+Owings Art ..."as if the paint is an extension of my heart'... i like that!
Anja Meurer :-)
which you like best? kuretake gansai tambi or holbein artist watercolor? im torn between the two probably coz kuretake (36 colors) is less expensive than holbein (24 colors)
Holbein. You get what you pay for. I think you'll like the Holbein better Dolly. Hope that helps. ~Marty
thank you!!! i will definitely get the holbein..
Is the Holbein Artists Watercolor set and Holbein Transparency Watercolor the same thing?
Yes, I think that is correct. Check their website though.
Thanks for recommending "Old Blind Doug's" channel. He is awesome! As are you!
Oh for sure and THANK YOU for supporting us both. Have a wonderful day. ~ Marty
I am confused between cotman àn holbein can you give me some advices
Big difference - Cotman are student grade - Holbein are Artist grade.
What is the best watercolor for you ??that u used a lot
Schmicke.
@@owingsart thank u
Hi Marty,
I watched your video about the faber castel albret dürer pencils? Would you recoment them to me or are there other pencils (similar) which you would recommend me more? Thanks for your answer!
+Claudia Lombardi Hi Claudia - Here are my recommendations for very excellent watercolor pencils. Number one is Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle. #2 Is Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer. #3 Caran d'Ache Supracolor. #4 Koh-I-Noor Mondeluz. Hope that helps you. - Marty
Hey Marty! Aren't mop brushes fun!!! I can tell you were having fun when you were making those huge washes. :)
+My Panda Paints Absolutely! I just love my Isabey. Spectacular. - marty
Hi Marty,
I have a set of 24 of these, but for some reason, after some of the paints dry, they become shiny and glossy (blue ones), some even crack on the paper. Did it happen to yours too? Thank you!
Sorry to hear about that. I didn't experience that problem at all. Are you using them thin enough? Sometimes I've had that problem with other watercolors when I applied them too thick or built up my layering too fast. -Marty
Hi. Please review Korean made Shin Han watercolors. I bought 3 tubes and thought they were great and it would nice to see a review of a wider range of colors.
+commenzator Hi and thank you for the note and suggestion. You will be happy to hear that the Shin Han wc's are already on my list. :-) - Marty
Excellent. Thanks Marty :)
Hi! question for you...are there paints that do not mix well with others? for example: mixing Daniel Smith with M. Graham? or mission gold with winsor newton? Most reviews I've seen seem to stick with 1 brand of paints. Thank you for your excellent reviews!
Hi Miriam - You shouldn't run into too many issues with the paints you mentioned, however the greatest difference you will find is with paints made in Asia and Russia. Those paints tend to be more opaque and might pose a problem. I use a mix of paints in my palette including, Schmincke, Daniel Smith, M Graham and W&N. Hope that helps. ~Marty
Thank you, that helps quite a bit! Every once in a while I come across a color that is nowhere else and from no other maker, but I always worry if it will play well with other brands.
Which would your recommend Sennelier or Daniel Smith?
That is a very tough call. In the end I like them both very much, but if I was stranded on a desert island and could only pick one....it would be....Daniel Smith.
hi owing i just purchased those holbein watercolour not arrived.seen a couple of review please tell me their not like gouache as alot them already.thankyou
+Sylvia Costello Hi Sylvia - You just need to add a little more water to get rid of the gouache effect. :-)
thankyou so much
I really like your review! You show other brands too.
Thank you!
Will the lines disappear fully if I use it? Would you mind giving me your recommendation on what I should use for this? Thank-you again for advising me, it's so appreciated that I can't express it enough! Take care Marty!
+Hermione Jarvis :-) See my answer in your first comment. Have a GREAT day! - Marty
So, would you consider them German Paints, or Japanese paints?
Happy Easter Sir. Thanks for the review!
+Annie Sterner Happy Easter Annie. Thank you for watching! - Marty
I'm starting to learn botanical painting with sakura koi pans set. But i find it hard to do lifting technique with it and some colors are not so vivid and also granulating. I wanna invest on artist quality water color. So, which brand do you think between holbein, rembrandt, and winsor newton is a good to go for botanical painting?
Everything Alison said here is exactly what I would have said. I use Schmincke for most of my work.
Owings Art and Alison, thank you for your well-elaborated replies, it helps me a lot to decide my shopping list c: But sadly no local supplier sells Schminke and Sennelier here in Indonesia.
What do you this is the best and versatile primary colors
@Owings art ,your review is excellent,Could you please review similarly designed korean shinhan watercolor(almost looks like Holbein palette),i heard some very good reviews ...
Thank you Satish. They are on my list.
Can you do a review on the Holbein acryla/artists gouache? ^^
I just got into Holbein Artists Gouache, and I am sold on the brand. I just bought 36 White Nights and love them! Can you say honestly if these are a great addition to a watercolor arsenal? I have found those "bits" in Shinhan if they are over-diluted. I am not happy with them for artistic effects-student grade at best. Does the 12 have the split primary? I will have to look, that's all I really need to try them out.
I think the 12 does have the split primary but I'm not sure anymore, it's been a while.
I've always been eyeing holbein tubes and am really glad you finally got to review them! I find your reviews to be incredibly helpful and you're definitely one of my favorite channels. I can't wait to see the mission gold paints next. I'm stuck on which brand to buy haha. have you heard of shinhan watercolors? I don't see many reviews on them but have heard they are pretty good for the price (although dont take my word for it). they're another brand from Korea I believe.
+KageOuji Thank you very much for the kind comments. I have the Shinhan on my list for review and I've seen the Korean brand you mention, but haven't ordered them just yet. I really appreciate you watching the channel and sharing your notes. ~Marty
This review is really helpful, thank you! I'm stuck at choosing between Holbein (12 tubes), Winsor and newton cotman (12 pans) , van gogh (12 tubes) and shinhan professional (18 tubes). I would love to hear your opinion about which one i should buy :D
To be very direct - I think it depends on what you want to do with it, but if I were to pick among the paints you listed, my order would be like this starting with the best paint first:
Holbein, Van Gogh, Shinhan and then WN Cotman.
Hope that helps.
@@owingsart Thank you for the answer!
Hola soy nuevo en esto, ahora práctico con unas W&N cotman...cual me recomiendas las Daniel Smith o Holbein? Saludos y gracias :)
o las W&N para artista...Entre ellas 3 cual sería el orden de recomendación :)
Is there a list of all the rating numbers you've done in one place anywhere?
+James Brady Hi James - No, but there should be. I just started the ratings this year, so there wouldn't be many, but this is a good idea. I'll see what I can put together. Thanks for the question/idea. - Marty
Owings Art :)
Yo, those Holbein colors look nice and I like the way it lays down. Your fruit picture is on point as well.
I want to try the Daniel Smith's because I want to support the few American artist supply companies that are out there.
For sure and Daniel Smiths are awesome anyway so that's good. Hope you're enjoying Springtime my brother. -Marty
Hello, Marty. I still use van gogh watercolor. Its perfect for me, for my decorative illustration. They have bright saturated colors and i like it. But i also need different watercolor with more "artistry" grade. Do you think this Holbein is ok? Schmincke too expensive for me :( I've been thinking about buying Holbein 30-set
Schmincke is the right choice, but yes they're very expensive. If you want nice, but very affordable watercolors have you considered American Journey watercolors aka DaVinci. Here is a link to a review I did on them recently: ruclips.net/video/_xSjtFpn6LU/видео.html
If you don't mind me asking, is the water brush you use from koi Sakura?^^
+Ruzan Jamaleddin Not this time. I used a Pentel Water brush, but I have used the koi and I reviewed a bunch of them here: ruclips.net/video/BWDO1eurwTA/видео.html
Hi Do they tell you what pigments are in these paints, including colour index numbers? Here in the uk Holbein keep this secret from us and no way am I buying them!
Hi Julie - I don't know about the exact pigments. You can definitely email the people at Holbein on that and they should be able to respond, as I don't think this is an "Industry secret". That said, if you're ultimately trying to figure out lightfastness and whether some colors are fugitive or not, below is a link to their color chart with lightfast ratings. That said, I've used both their watercolor paints and oils for years and years and have had no trouble with the paints. They are vibrant and hold up very well. holbeinamerica.com/artist-watercolor-color-chart/
Hope this helps. Also here is a link to email your questions to: t_seriguchi@holbein.co.jp
Thanks for that. Its not just the light fastness I'm concerned about -I like to know if they are single pigment paint or mixtures, to know which pigments I am putting into my mixtures and whether I am doubling up on a pigment I already have by buying the same thing under a different name. Also I found that paints within a range can often be easily mixed from paints I already have. So I will send them an email and ask them to send me a chart
Very big thanks!
+Ivan Malkovich For sure Ivan.
hi marty.. what ro you think about the sennelier's student grade watercolor?
It's not bad. I like it.
Yasmine S. Depends on where you're from. Sennelier student grade is the same price as the other student grades like W&N Cotman and Van Gogh. Honey is also a natural preserver and has been used for centuries as such :) I have some Sennelier professional colors and they look muted at first but beautiful when glazed
Yasmine S. Wow! You live in a beautiful and artistic country :) Daniel Smith is even more expensive here in the Philippines :( but I have heard good things about it as well MGraham. I'm saving money for QoR modern watercolors as well
May you please review the Pentel Watercolors? I used to paint with them and just wanted to know if I should just stick with this brand. I'm also interested on using W&N and Gansaiiii Tambi. I've been binge watching your reviews lately, trying to figure out what watercolors I should get. I just wanna know if the Pentel Watercolors for within the satisfactory rating from a good critic like you. thanks!!!
+Nysdik 039 Hi There and thank you for the suggestions. The Gansai Tambi and W&N i have already reviewed, search my videos to find them. Thanks for watching my channel. Much appreciated. - Marty
just a suggestion: use manual white balance. There is no matter to compare color swatches while the white balance of the video changes each 5 seconds when you move your hands: all the colors are just meaningless
Thanks for the suggestion.
Hey Marty, Happy Easter! The first professional watercolor set I picked up a while back was the Holbein 18 Color set. I do think that they are good and very vibrant. They have some strange naming for professional paints such as Viridian Hue for their Phthalo Green, but a lot of companies do that sort of thing. They tend to react more subdued with wet in wet applications, probably due to their lack of ox gall as a dispersant. My concern is that I'm not sure if their lightfast reporting is accurate, In the 18 pc set the 2 cool reds are Crimson Lake (PR23-Naphthol Carmine) and Rose Madder (PR83-Alizarin Crimson), both have sub-par lightfast rating according to pigment standards, yet both are listed as "*** Absolutely Permanent" on their website. I have not done any tests but I'm a little concerned about how their alizarin crimson is "absolutely permanent" while every other manufacturer can't seem to pull that off. Just my 2 cents. Overall their colors are brilliant. Thanks for the review Marty. -Pete
+IllustrationsByPete Hi Pete - Thanks for the note. I always appreciate your attention to detail and your investigative nature. You're right about the Crimson and the Alizarin, that does raise some skepticism. In my tests they were definitely comparable to other paints and a bit better than the majority, that's why I gave them a higher lightfast rating. I didn't have the Alizarin to test though, so I can't say for sure on that one, but I'd be suspicious of the, "absolutely permanent" rating. For one, nothing is absolutely permanent lol.
+Owings Art Fair enough. I still have them in my home palette and they are wonderful for illustrations and sketchbooks because they are so bright. I'm just not sure if I would trust them for things that are displayed unless I did a little more research. I'm sure, like every company, it just depends on choosing the right colors in the line that are more lightfast. Thanks Marty.
Great review! I just ordered my first Schmincke 24 whole pan set and a set of Daniel Smith wc, (on your recommendation btw) so I'm super excited to get my hands on them! Have you by any chance reviewed or have personally used Da Vinci Watercolor Brushes? They are less expensive than the Silver Brush line (don't know if I got the name right) on the Canadian Amazon. Eventually I'd like to get a few good brushes but I actually find it easier to use my Pentel Water Brushes, would you mind telling me what would be your recommendation? I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I'am even using my Watercolor brushes the right way!! Lol! Take care, hope you had a great Easter Weekend!
+Hermione Jarvis Oh boy Hermione - you're in for a wonderful time my friend. So excited for you!!!! Can't wait to hear what you think of the Schmincke and the DS. Yes I've used the Da Vinci brushes both for WC and oil painting. I think they are Okay and just about average. I tend to use Isabey (Mop), Escoda's and a few synthetics. There are methods to using brushes the, "right way", but if you're beginning, before you develop too many bad habits you should search for some videos on that topic, there are lot's of them out there. Hope that helps Hermione. Take care my friend. - Marty
as of now i am using kuretake gansai watercolor,,, and i started collecting one color at a time,,, cause as you say,,, these paints are really expensive... one 5 ml tube cost around 2.5-3 us dollars.. thanks for the review since im also considering schmincke!!! also,, they have some unique colors there that are from japanese colors just like in gansai watercolor.. so i think i did a nice transition from student to artist,,,
+Dariel Patellar Hi Dariel - What do you use these paints for? How do you use them differently from the gansai, just curious? - Marty
i commonly paint mangas and anime for my hobby and i do some architectural painting since i am also an architect... well, i use gansai for practice and HWC for my actual painting,,. both paint are great but i find holbein a lot better,, since its great for blooms, blends and misty effects... and if i am going to make some layering and fine details,, gansai is probably a little better since all of its color can be opaque... but once i used all my gansai color.. i will only use holbein colors..
i just find it better..
Dariel Pabellar Excellent. Sounds like you have it worked out pretty well. Are you a commercial or residential architect? Just curious because I worked as a draftsman for a number of years when I got out of college.
im still new to the industry and im currently working in an architectural firm.. and yeah being able paint and draw really amazes my principal architect... cause im the only one in the company who can do it.. by the way, im currently having problem with fugitive colors, specially opera,, and the nearest alternative "Brigth Rose" is also fugitive, have any experience with this color, even in sennelier it is a fugitive color...
+Dariel Patellar Hi Dariel - I'm sorry I don't but maybe one of the channel Subscribers can help? - Marty
Hi Marty, I'm pretty keen on the Holbeins too. I noticed you rated the Senneliers at 9 in one of the comments. What rating would you give the Schmincke Horadam watercolors? Thanks for the videos. Really enjoy them!!
+Kaz Hobson Hi Kaz - I use the Schmincke's almost every day in my work and I love them. It's hard to rank them because I know them so well. Not a lot of downside to them, they're pretty spectacular. I'd probably rank them at 8.5 or above. Hope that helps! - Marty
Could you do a review of the koi watercolors? They are pretty popular and they're actually pretty cool
+AquaMarinaArt They're on my list. Thank you for the suggestion. ~ Marty
Love your vids! I'm starting to get more seriously invested in watercolors after dabbling with my grumbacher pan set for a while, and I want to do commissions, but I can't decide whether I should get the Holbein 12 set or the Daniel Smith intro set of 6. Daniel Smith set is $3 more. (I am getting the dot sampler soon, so in any case I will be able to test their paints and see what tubes I'll buy in the future) but for a beginning professional what would you recommend?
I think you will like either one, but Holbein is going to be more opaque than Daniel Smith, but some Artists like that. Once you get the dot sampler from DS I think you'll probably like them more because they are slightly better quality and more lightfast in my experience. Holbein is very good paint, but DS is very, very good paint. Hope that helps Sherrice. ~Marty
Owings Art Thank you for the response! My current paints are opaque so it would be nice to try something more transparent. Your comment on Holbein's lightfastness echoes a few others I've heard, so I'm sold on the Daniel Smiths now. But in the future I'll definitely experiment with brands like Holbein. :D Keep making great vids!
Thank you Sherrice. Keep watching.
Hi Marty! I'm looking to upgrade my watercolor from student to artist grade, how does this compare to M. Graham watercolors?
M Graham are different, more transparent in my experience, but both are excellent and you can't go wrong with either.
Thanks Marty!
hi! Great review and love your videos! i have been using holbein and i absolutely love these colours! may I ask if u know anything regarding the Holbein palm set (the one with red cover)?
+Gekkie Koh I don't know about them. I don't think they sell them locally. Have you tried them? - Marty
+Owings Art nope sadly, I have never tried them before. I was considering if it would be good to get it... i was wondering if the setup/design would be handy for travelling
:0 do u not like the winsor and Newton artist colours??? I was expecting u to mention them lol! 💕 I'm just starting out and I'm thinking of just buying cyan magenta and yellow to get mixing what do you think?? :0
Hi - You will need more thank cyan and yellow I think. Try an Ultramarine Blue, Cad Yellow and Alizarin Crimson to start with. You can mix many colors from those three. I do like W&N Artist watercolors, but they aren't on the top of my list. I use their oil paints a lot and like them better. Hope this helps. ~Marty
Sometimes the Holbeins can be difficult to layer. I found that they lift too easily. I like DR artists watercolours but I try anything. Shinhan watercolours seem to be similar to the Holbein range and worth a try.
+Terence Molloy Hi Terence - I will try the Shinhan soon. I haven't had any trouble layering these in the transparent range, I just make sure they're very dry between layers. Although you're right, they do lift a little easy. ~Marty
I know, I was just practicing right now, I had to back off as I was getting frustrated, I had drawn a lovely flower I think it is a Lotus the drawing was good however my painting was a fail. I don't know where I went wrong, maybe I was trying something to advanced for what my skills are. I was using my Moleskine which I love, I tried a wet on wet technique but it didn't look good, perhaps it's the paint as well, I really can't stand my W & N Cotman. Oh well, I did a drawing last night of Irises, but I'm keeping that for when I get my Schmincke and DS. It's strange you know, I had done an illustration of a Rose and a Bunny and it turned out Awesome I was so proud of my accomplishment, it's hit and miss right now, did you experience any of that when you started with watercolors? Take care and Thank-you for the support, it's appreciated!
+Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermoine - Absolutely. I still experience everything you described above. At some point years ago I began to change my attitude about this process and instead of thinking of these as failures I tried to see them as steps on a journey. I almost always learn something, no matter what happens. That small change in my outlook made all the difference. When starting with watercolors, sometimes less is more. I paint very lightly at first and I can add color as I go. Also, just forget about trying to be perfect, watercolor will behave the way it wants to anyway. Lastly, practicing means everything, no matter what medium you're using. ~Marty
what is your favorite water color
Schmincke. I also did a Top Ten Watercolor video if you want to check it out.
Hi from HK. Love your videos, especially the reviews. They are very informative. Have you tried caran d'ache fibralo markers? They seem to be very interesting. Would you mind to do a video on them if you have the products? Zillion thanks!
+Teresa Lee Hi Teresa - I have been meaning to try them for a long time, maybe I'll add them to my list and do a review sometime. Thank you for the suggestion and for watching my videos. - Marty
Can you review the Shinhan Watercolors they are super cheap but supposed to be artist quality thanks!
+Nichole Bruno Thank you Nichloe - It's on my list.
I was so waiting for this review, thank you sooo much, could you do the holbein gum aranic gouache in the future? I heard lots of good things about it and would like to know how does it compare to the schmincke horadam one you reviewed in the past. Thanks :)
+Paweł Fotek Greetings! - Thank you for the note. I think the Gouache and the Schmincke are very different. The Schmincke's are pure watercolors, the Holbein gouache are opaque and very different. They are on my list of future reviews, but I currently have about 118 review requests ahead of them. :-) - Marty
Hi Marty! The Holbeins is on my wishlist :) Have you tried the sakura koi watercolor brush pens or the winsor and newton cotman watercolor set? Thanks for recommending Old Blind Doug's channel!
+Agneta Brodén Hi Agneta - No I haven't tried the sakura koi, but they're on my list. I have reviewed the W&N Cotman's though. Thanks for the note. - Marty
I love my Schmincke paints and my White Nights Paints, but I really don't like the Sennelier paints.
Thanks, will do! Yes it helps as always, I had never thought of developing bad habits so I'll definitely be looking for videos to make sure that I don't end up with to many! (Thanks for that piece of advice!) I have been eyeing the Escoda brushes for a while, I'll take a closer look at them now on some online stores here, maybe I can get some a bit more inexpensive than on Amazon. I do have a couple more questions I hope you don't mind, what kind of brushes do you think are the most necessary for working with and getting good results in Watercolor? You know like what size Round, Filberts etc? I don't want to waste money. I really only would like to have what I need. I sincerely hope I was able to make the question clear. I will let you know what I think about the Schmincke and DS, and the second question is I can't paint without lines yet, but I don't want my lines to always be there, so I was thinking about getting some water soluble pencil or graphite like Faber-Castells line, will
+Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermione - Thanks for the notes and the questions. I use a round #6 mostly or just the medium Pentel Aqua brush. I use the Isabey mop brush and once in a while I use filberts #4 and #6. The lines won't necessarily "disappear" when you use a graphite wash pencil. Instead use an H4 and draw very, very lightly. Just enough so you can make out the lines, barely. Hope that helps. - Marty
Oh Thank-you! I wasn't sure how big or small to go, but now I have a much clearer picture of what to purchase. I'll for go the water soluble graphite, and find myself an H4 pencil, I do struggle from time to time with learning to be lighter on my paper so I end up erasing too much, I suppose that part will take time and practice! I've already been watching a lot of how-to videos on using brushes and watercoloring in general and I think it's going to go a long way toward me getting better at it, I just completed a drawing of some Irises and I look forward to using my new Schmincke set when it arrives so I'm ready to go! Anyways thanks for the guidance, take care!
Hermione Jarvis Hi Hermoine - Practice, practice, practice as they say. It feels great to practice though because it's so fun. - Marty