Yellow Ochre: PY43 (Transparent & single pigment). This yellow earth pigment is a very useful addition to even a limited palette. I use it all the time. The color remains well saturated even after drying. Many artists love WN’s light value because the paints work so well in glazes, yet this characteristic can cause them to go washy in mixes, and their transparency often doesn't play well when mixed with highly granulating pigments. So to reduce the price, paint manufacturers use less pigment or cheaper versions which simulate true pigments but have lower manufacturing costs. Yep… It’s the pigments that cost money. Single Pigments – All colors in this selection are single-pigment colors with the exception of Neutral Tint. This helps keep mixes clean and predictable. I have to admit…when I first started watercolors I agonized over my choice of paints. It can be pretty confusing trying to compare different brands, colors, and all the various characteristics of this beautiful art medium.

Marinscape set of 5 contains: Ultramarine Blue, Azo Orange, Prussian Blue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson and Raw Sienna. Ok… Now imagine you’re looking at a manufacturer’s paint chart. What exactly should you be looking for ? Payne’s Gray: PB29/PBK9 (Semi-transparent – multiple pigments). This hue sits chromatically between prussian blue and ultramarine. Excellent for mixing shades and shadows. Still don’t know what Colors to Choose? Common sense and care must be used with any solution you decide to adopt. Do not, for instance, lay rags down on other cellulose materials or place them on an object in direct sunlight during the summer months. Do not place rags near a source of ignition such as a stove or fireplace, etc. MG paints are also very vibrant, particularly when wet, but vibrancy appears similar to other brands once dry. Some artists don’t like MG’s strength, especially when working in glazes, and I do think their pigments stain more easily. However, the paints are easily thinned and the power of these paints makes one tube go a long way. Since MG is already the most affordable of the three brands, this makes these pigments highly economical for artist-grade paints.

When asked by M. Graham how I use their paints, I realized that I have never really given much thought to how I use them. I just put them to work upon many hundreds of my watercolor paintings. My mind hardly pays attention to how I use them as much as I pay attention to what they are doing in the act of painting. The best answer is the honest one: I keep M. Graham paints in my watercolor palette and use them every time I paint, which is almost daily. Winsor & Newtonwatercolors (or watercoloursfor the diehard WN fan)have been in production since 1835 and currently offer 96 colors. Through the years, WN has consistently produced an excellent product which has resulted in the brand often being described by artists as "The Standard." i bought this set last year, i love the creaminess of m. graham paints and am enjoying the color selection. i will say using phthalo green instead of phthalo blue surprised me, but it does work. i don't use neutral tint, but otherwise its a very useful collection

Later, as you progress you should move towards professional watercolors. Tubes or Pans – Which is Best? Whether I glaze or just make spontaneous spots of color, these paints perform better than ALL other manufacturer’s paints, and I have used them all! Wet into wet, dry brush, glazing, mixing on the paper, or any other method I use to deliver the paint to a painting, the results always serve to excite my painting clients (and me!).Lay out rags on a completely flat, non-flammable surface (i.e., concrete flooring, tile) to allow the heat to dissipate.