Top 12 Best Watercolor Paints For all Budgets Plus Extra Bonus Tips

Things to know about watercolor paint

Before we begin the list of my personal list of best watercolor paints, it may benefit to cover the basics of what watercolor paint is and how it works. This will help better inform your decisions when you go out and purchase your own paints. You’ll be able to make your own judgements. I’ve already tried many different products and am hoping that my experience helps ease the process for all artists looking into watercolor paints. 

At the time of this writing, I receive no financial incentive for my suggestions. If that ever changes, I will make that clear here.

Contents of Watercolor Paint

The most basic way to create watercolors is very simple. Pigment, which is color in powdered form, is mixed with a plant extract called Gum Arabic. Gum Arabic is a non toxic binder that dissolves with water. Modern Watercolor paint manufacturers add additional ingredients such as glycerin or honey to extend the drying time of paints and keep them from cracking on the palette. This applies to artist and student grade watercolor. 

Some manufacturers of cheap or children’s watercolor paints add fillers such as chalk, and replace the pigments with more cost effective ingredients which tends to mess things up when painting and will negatively impact the final result. 

Pans, Tubes, and Liquid

Watercolor paint comes in 3 common forms – pans, tubes, and liquid. Pans are little prefilled cubes of paint that are easy to transport because the paint is already dried. Tubes are tubes of fresh paint, ready to squeeze out and use. The advantage of tube paint is that being so fresh, it tends to be easier to get a bold and rich color in one pass. Liquid watercolors are a bit newer and resemble ink bottles. They typically come with a convenient dropper and are usually quite vibrant.

There are other forms of watercolor paint too but what’s the best one? There’s no such thing as the best form of watercolor paint as it really depends on each individual and their preferences. However, there are many paints and brands to choose from and it’s fun to experiment and see what fits you the best. 

Properties of Watercolor Paint

Pigment 

Most artist and student grade paints are labeled with a pigment on the back of the tube. The pigment is shortened to an acronym. Ultramarine Blue is typically PB29 where P stands for pigment, B29 stands for blue 29. The reason for this is that if you purchase Ultramarine Blue from different manufacturers, you can be confident that the color is derived from the same pigment and therefore looks the same. Despite this, different manufacturers have different methods and therefore their paint can look slightly different.

Some colors are mixtures of two or more pigments. For example, Sap Green, a commonly used color, is made up of PO48(orange48), PY150(yellow150), and PG7(Green7). These multi pigment colors are great when used on their own, but when mixing with other colors, the sheer number of pigments involved will sometimes result in a muddier mixture. it’s A good rule of thumb to stick to single pigment colors, at least in the beginning, but it’s not absolutely required.

Transparency

Different colors have different levels of transparency which is also usually labeled on the tube. This is important information because the transparency of the colors dictates how they’re used in the painting process. Transparent pigments are effective at Glazing and maintaining a translucent effect, which is why many watercolor artists tend to avoid opaque colors. Though they do also have their place in watercolor and can always be made more transparent by diluting them with water.

Lightfastness

this is an important one. Lightfastness refers to the colors resistance to fading from exposure to UV light (sunlight). A color that fades from contact with sunlight is called “fugitive”. try to stick with colors that have the best lightfastness rating to ensure that your paintings are preserved better over time.

Staining

Staining refers to a color’s tendency to resist being wiped off. Some colors are very staining, and others are easily lifted up off the page by adding water and scrubbing it out (gently with a watercolor brush).

Granulation

The transparency of watercolor paints causes some interesting effects when applied. Some pigments are granular. When the paint is applied to the paper, it sometimes has a bit of a texture to it, while non-granular pigments have a very smooth look to them. 

Organic vs Synthetic Pigments

Some pigments are organic, meaning they came from the earth. Some are synthetic l, which means they were derived from a lab. Synthetic pigments tend to be very strong when compared to organic pigments, sometimes overpowering them in mixes. They also tend to be non-granular and more staining. These are all good things to keep In mind when choosing colors.

List of Best Watercolor Paints

Best Student Grade Paints

You don’t need to break the bank to have a decent set of paints. Here is a list of 5 great student grade brands that will help take you to the next level. You can always paint with these and be confident in the quality of your materials until you feel invested enough to get the pro paints. 

Winsor & Newton Cotman
Founded in 1832, this company has upheld a reputation for quality, as well as being on the cutting edge of art materials for centuries. Cotman is their student brand and is available in both pans and tubes. The pan version comes in a plastic palette. Both are the same great high quality student paints.

Sakura Koi
Sakura has been around for a while providing quality products and great values. Their watercolor field set comes with a palette, a water brush, and lots of classic colors any watercolor artist would recognize. The plastic palette offers a decent amount of space for mixing your colors and their water brushes are some of my favorite.

White Nights
A great brand from St Petersburg, Russia. Their paint is incredibly vibrant and juicy, and there are many different sets to choose from. These are some of my favorite watercolors.

Van Gogh
Van Gogh watercolors are a student and artist level range of paints featuring brilliant, transparent, and intense colors with high tinting strength. The pocketbox set is affordable and comes with a brush and palette.

Mission Gold
Mission Gold by Mijello offers high colour intensity, quality and lightfastness. Their paints are bright with many single pigment colors. Mission Gold is only available in tube form, which isn’t bad as the paint will be extra fresh and vibrant when you use it.

Best Artists Grade Paints

Eventually, every artist who wants to maximize the beauty and durability of their artwork will invest in an assortment of professional paints. If you can do it right from the start, even better. Here’s a list of ?? brands of pro paint that each have their own unique and powerful qualities. One of your soon to be favorites may be on this list. 

Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith watercolors are celebrated for their exceptional quality and extensive range of unique colors. What sets them apart is the brand’s commitment to producing vibrant, high-performing paints with excellent lightfastness. Daniel Smith offers an impressive selection of single-pigment colors, providing artists with great control over color mixing and the purity of hues. Their watercolors are favored by professionals for their consistency and the ability to capture the nuances of nature’s palette.

M. Graham
M. Graham watercolors are known for their intense vibrancy and fluidity, thanks to their unique formulation that includes honey. The honey not only prevents the paint from drying out in the tube but also lends a smooth, easy-to-control flow on paper, making them a joy to work with. This brand is a favorite among artists who appreciate the blend of traditional craftsmanship and innovative ingredients, resulting in long-lasting colors that maintain their brilliance over time.

Winsor & Newton
A brand with a rich heritage in producing some of the finest watercolors available. Their Professional Watercolour range is highly regarded for its purity, quality, and reliability, offering artists a wide palette of colors made from the finest pigments. Winsor & Newton watercolors are celebrated for their excellent tinting strength and transparency, allowing artists to achieve delicate washes and a variety of effects with ease.

Holbein
Holbein watercolors, originating from Japan, are renowned for their exceptional quality and creamy consistency. They are made without ox-gall, animal by-products that enhance flow, resulting in a paint that offers precise control over spreading and bleeding. This makes Holbein watercolors ideal for artists who prioritize detail and precision in their work. The brand’s commitment to producing vivid, lightfast colors ensures that artwork remains vibrant for years to come.

Qor
Qor watercolors by Golden Artist Colors bring a modern twist to traditional watercolor with their unique binder, Aquazol, which promises richer, more intense colors. The brand stands out for its ability to offer the luminosity and flow of traditional watercolors, while providing colors that are more saturated and maintain their brilliance even when diluted. Qor watercolors are a great choice for artists looking to experiment with high-intensity colors and dynamic mixing capabilities.

Schmincke Horadam
Revered for their superior quality and adherence to traditional standards of watercolor production. With a palette of carefully selected pigments, these watercolors offer unmatched purity, luminosity, and longevity. The brand’s commitment to excellence is evident in their meticulous formulation process, ensuring that each color possesses excellent lightfastness and performance. Schmincke Horadam is favored by professional artists for its reliability and the depth of its color range.

Dr PH Martin Liquid Watercolors
Distinguished by their brilliant, highly concentrated colors that come in a liquid form, offering unparalleled vibrancy and ease of use. These watercolors are perfect for artists who enjoy working with intense hues and achieving a range of effects, from transparent washes to bold, opaque layers. The versatility and strength of Dr. PH Martin’s colors make them suitable for various applications, including illustration, calligraphy, and mixed-media projects.

Bonus: Throwing Gouache into the Mix

What is gouache? To put it simply, it’s a thicker, more opaque watercolor. In professional paints, this is typically due to a higher pigment load and the pigment being ground up less finely than watercolors. Gouache is mixable with watercolors because they mostly contain the same ingredients. 

The practical difference is that the thicker and more opaque properties of gouache allow the artist to do more with their painting. While watercolor can only be painted in one direction (from light to dark), gouache is better suited for painting light over dark. Gouache can also be used like watercolor by thinning with water, but the effect is slightly different.

I begin by first finishing all the watercolor layers. Then add layers of gouache on top to make things pop or even fix or tidy up some areas I wouldn’t have been able to with watercolor alone. While some watercolor purists would claim that using gouache is like “cheating”, I find that it helps alleviate a lot of the frustration associated with watercolors. Just if you use too much, your painting will look more like a gouache painting than a watercolor.

Best Gouache Paints

Winsor & Newton Designer Gouache
Offers artists a range of high-quality, opaque watercolors known for their exceptional pigment concentration and matte finish. This gouache is renowned for its smooth, flat finishes and vibrant colors, making it a favorite among illustrators, designers, and fine artists alike. The formulation ensures that colors remain bright and do not shift in tone when dry, providing reliable and consistent results. Winsor & Newton’s commitment to quality is evident in the blendability and coverage of their gouache, making it an excellent choice for artists seeking precision and professional-grade materials.

Holbein Artist’s Gouache
Holbein Artist’s Gouache stands out for its brilliant, highly pigmented, and velvety matte finish, offering artists a luxurious painting experience. Made without opaquing agents to prevent whitening or dulling of colors, Holbein gouache delivers pure chroma and exceptional opacity with each stroke. Its fine consistency allows for smooth application and easy mixing, making it ideal for artists who demand the highest quality for detailed work and vibrant compositions. Holbein’s dedication to color integrity and ease of use makes their gouache a go-to for professionals seeking to create vivid, impactful artworks.

M. Graham Artists Gouache
M. Graham Artists Gouache is celebrated for its rich, luminous colors and unique formulation that includes honey. The addition of honey enhances the paint’s responsiveness and prevents it from drying out too quickly, offering an extended working time. This gouache provides exceptional coverage and intensity, with a creamy consistency that allows for smooth, flowing applications. M. Graham’s commitment to using pure, high-quality pigments ensures that each color maintains its brilliance and permanence, making this gouache a preferred choice for artists who value depth and durability in their work.


Schmincke Horadam Artist Gouache
finely milled, high-concentration pigments that ensure opaque, vivid, and consistent colors. Crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence as their watercolors, Schmincke’s gouache paints provide artists with unparalleled purity, luminosity, and opacity. The smooth, velvety texture and easy re-wettable properties make them a pleasure to work with, whether for mixed media, fine art, or illustration purposes. Schmincke Horadam’s palette is carefully curated to include both traditional and unique shades, catering to the discerning artist who demands the best in gouache paint.

Conclusion

Choosing the best watercolor paints ultimately depends on the individual artist’s preferences, style, and the specific demands of their work. The best watercolor paints combine high-quality pigments, excellent lightfastness, and the right balance of transparency and intensity, empowering artists to bring their visions to life with precision and depth. As we’ve explored some of the top choices in the world of watercolor, remember that experimenting with different brands and formulations can unlock new possibilities in your art, helping you discover the perfect palette to express your creativity.

If you’re still shopping for watercolor supplies and would like to see my top picks for watercolor paper, brushes and more, check out the additional posts below.

Best Watercolor Paper for Artists of all budgets

Best Watercolor Brushes for Artists of all budgets