Hello again, friends!
It has been too long since my last post, but I am back with the intention of posting more frequently!
I have been conducting a lot of research and exercises in watercolor painting, but I really want to get better, so I will be sharing photos as I create and learn. Your comments and constructive criticisms are welcome, I only ask that you keep in mind that I am a beginner watercolorist. (:
I briefly dabbled in student-grade paints. My first watercolor set was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004THXI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00004THXI&linkCode=as2&tag=mizapizza-20&linkId=4751e4c351fd8e074c82028e692d94f3">Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Sketchers Pocket Box</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mizapizza-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00004THXI" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. I chose this beginner set because it is so affordable - the set includes the travel palette/box (which I still love and use), 12 pans of Cotman paints, and a small travel brush. I found that some colors were lovely and fun to play with, but felt disappointed by the muted quality of other colors - perhaps most notably their Alizarin Crimson Hue.
After some consultation with the ever-helpful internets, I quickly learned that the muted quality I disliked in my paints was likely due to the ratio of pigment to binder and/or filler in the product I purchased. Student-grade watercolors are intended to be more affordable versions of their professional-grade counterparts. By lowering the ratio of pure pigment to binder ( some popular binders include gum arabic, ox gall, and honey), or using a less expensive pigment or combination of pigments, paint manufacturers can also lower the price of their paints, making them more accessible to beginning artists or hobbyists. This topic (and many others!) is thoroughly explained at http://handprint.com/HP/WCL/pigmt2.html - This site is an excellent resource for artists, and I highly recommend checking it out if you have the time.
At this point, it is worth noting that professional paint can be expensive, and that there is nothing wrong with starting out with student-grade paints. I was able to quickly shift from student-grade to professional-grade paints, but I know that this is unfortunately not an option for everyone. No matter your materials or starting point, I only hope to inspire you to create more along with me. <3
Since learning more about pigments and binders I have been building my collection of watercolor paints. Recently, I have been playing with my new [Da Vinci Paint Watercolor Mixing Set](https://www.davincipaints.com/product-p/set-wc-6f.htm) and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BRYGEK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008BRYGEK&linkCode=as2&tag=mizapizza-20&linkId=9968add0d0fe2b36ea03b5ddcdb893e4">Silver Brush Basic Watercolor Set of 3</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mizapizza-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B008BRYGEK" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important fit; margin:0px !important;" />
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQmNjFkBRqTDuWWJDGF4Rq3NCfBew79aWKBJZWvuzR5ocqh/IMG_20180416_182409_946.jpg"></div>
This mixing set gives you the opportunity to play with a split-primary palette.
<br>The paints included in this set are:
<br>
- Arylide Yellow (PY 97)
- Hansa Yellow Light (PY 3)
- Red Rose Deep (PV 19)
- Vermilion (PR 188, PO 62)
- Ultramarine Blue(PB 29)
- Phthalo Blue (PB 15)
These paints have been a joy to swatch and practice color mixing with. The two color wheels I have included here are separated by relative temperatures. The first is comprised of hansa yellow light, red rose deep, and phthalo blue paints.
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The second, arylide yellow, vermilion, and ultramarine blue. I am working on getting smoother gradients, but these paints make me excited to get out my supplies and paint. (:
I would also note that I will try to represent my colors on screen as I see them in life, but no matter how I take or treat my images, *some colors may not be accurately depicted.*
The set seems like a killer deal - individually buying each tube of watercolor directly from Da Vinci is currently around $63 USD, versus $39.98 for the Mixing Set. I also enjoy the fact that these tubes are 15mL each. Since a little paint goes a long way in watercolor, these should last quite a while.
I will be performing my own lightfastness testing with these paints, and I would be more than happy to share my results in the coming months. (:
Thank you for stopping by!
What are some of your favorite topics or subjects to see in watercolor?
*Note: Some links included in my blog may be affiliate links. This means I may make a small commission if you use my link to purchase the given product - at absolutely no added cost to you. I will only use affiliate links to available products that I love and would recommend. Other links have no affiliations, and I do not gain anything from posting them. My intent with any link is first and foremost to make it easier for you to get more information, should you feel the desire. (:*