Water color paintings are one of the oldest forms of artwork in the world. It is the method of painting in which the paints are obtained from pigments suspended in a water based solution.
It is one of the most common and traditional forms of art. It gives your piece of art a splash of fresh colored water, and makes it look livelier.
Watercolor paints mainly comprise of a pigment, a gum Arabic , additives, and preservatives.
To get the best quality paint, that is bright and highly water soluble can be a tough job for artists. We reviewed the 7 best watercolor paints of 2020, and we hope these reviews make it easier for you to select the paint you and your artwork needs!
OPHIR Acrylic Airbrush Paint
This set of amazing acrylic colors gives your artwork a bright finish. It dries off quickly and also easily be cleaned.
The set includes 24 shades of colors and these pigments are non-toxic and high quality. It can be used on many surfaces and gives excellent results on all of these surfaces. It can be used on leather, shoes, or for model painting.
Each bottle of paint is of 30 ml and can easily be diluted with water. It gives permanent results and does not wear off of surfaces after a certain period of time.
Features
- 24 shades.
- Dries quickly.
- Can be used on multiple surfaces.
- Doesn’t fade away with time.
- Non-toxic pigments.
- Can easily be cleaned.
Pros
- Variety of shades.
- Dries off quickly.
- Easily cleanable.
Cons
- No cons yet! It is one the highest rated watercolor paints on Amazon.
Overall Ratings– 5.0/5 stars.
MEEDEN Acrylic Paint Set of 24 Colors/Pouches
MEEDEN Acrylic Paint Set of 24 Colors/Pouches
This set of vibrant water colors come in 24 different shades. The quality of these paints are excellent, and they have a high pigment concentration. This gives a strong and bright color.
The high pigment quality also has a high covering phenomena, which makes your art look more full and covered.
It is suitable for a number of surfaces and does not wear off with time. Its amazing range of shades enhances an artist’s imagination and allows them to play with and experiment with colors as much as they want.
Features
- 24 shades of colors.
- Supreme pigment quality.
- Eco-friendly.
- Can be used on a number of surfaces.
- Reasonable price.
- Individually packed pouches of colors.
- Waterproof.
Pros
- Variety of colors.
- Waterproof.
- Hassle-free.
Cons
- Does not dry quickly.
Overall Ratings– 4.3/5 stars.
Kaleidoscope Acrylic Paint Set
Kaleidoscope Acrylic Paint Set – Complete Professional Artist Kit of 30 Liquid Color Tubes
This set of watercolor paints makes you pass with flying colors! It has 30 tubes with amazing pre-mixed colors, which is a blessing for all artists.
It is versatile and can be used on almost all surfaces, be it wood, rocks, paper, you name it! They are non-toxic and are safe for both adults, and children.
The pigments are rich and thick, and do not fade out with time. It is easy to clean. You can simply clean your brushes and painting area with water. The colors can also be varnished with gloss or matte mediums. This gives your artwork a sheet of protection.
Features
- 30 tubes of colors.
- Pre-mixed colors.
- Versatile and can be used on multiple surfaces.
- Non-toxic.
- Rich pigments which give a clear and bright outcome.
- Can be varnished.
- Permanent results.
Pros
- Permanent.
- Can easily be cleaned.
- Pre-mixed colors are very innovative.
Cons
- According to a review, the colors are not as vivid as they are claimed to be.
Overall Ratings– 5.0/5 stars.
ARTEZA Acrylic Pouring Paint
These are a set of 32 pre-mixed ready to use paints, that are reviewed to be one of the best watercolor paints of 2020. They have a huge range of shades, starting from neons to primaries, so that you can create unique pieces of art while exploring your imagination.
It includes while and black flow acrylics, which are the two main colors required for mixing and creating new shades. These paints are non-toxic and are safe for children and adults.
It has the right consistency and spreads evenly through the surface. The artist does not need to spend time on mixing colors now, since these are already mixed, pourable colors.
Features
- Pre-mixed.
- Pourable colors.
- 32 shades included.
- Contains white and black acrylics, 4 and 2 of each, respectively.
- Spreads evenly.
- Non-toxic.
Pros
- Correct consistency.
- No mixing required.
- Huge variety of shades.
Cons
- The whites tend to dry faster.
Overall Ratings– 4.6/5 stars.
Lightwish MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set
This small sized pocket box of 36 colors is what every artist needs on the go. It has 36 vivid colors, that include all basic colors that any artist would need.
The colors are high pigmented and are as good as any other tube water colors. It does not give a chalky result like most block paints do.
The metal box that these colors come in easy to operate, with a swift lid, which can be used as a palette. There is a metal ring under the case, which makes it easy for the artist to hold on to it while working.
Features
- High intensity of colors.
- Easily soluble.
- Easy to handle and use.
- Comes with a paintbrush and a palette.
- Covers all range of shades.
- Does not feel grainy after drying.
- Non-toxic.
Pros
- Vivid results.
- The palette on the lid is very helpful.
- Feels like any other tube of water color paint.
Cons
- The paintbrush is basically for kids.
Overall Ratings- 4.7/5 stars.
Artist’s Loft 36 Color Fundamental Watercolor Pan Set
This vibrant set of paints contains 36 amazing shades, that are vibrant and can be used by beginners, as well as professionals.
The colors in this set blend easily and give a perfect finish. It is an acid-free product, that is washable and is certified to be non-toxic. It comes with a paintbrush that is natural, and works great on all sorts of surfaces.
Altogether, it is an amazing set of paints that can be used for experimentation as well as some serious artwork.
Features
- 36 shades.
- Blends easily.
- Non-toxic.
- Easy to use.
- Can be used by beginners and professionals.
- Easy to carry.
- Paintbrush included.
- Works on multiple surfaces.
Pros
- Easy to carry.
- Can be easily blended with other colors.
- Contains all necessary and common colors.
Cons
- Few customers have complained about receiving totally different product than the one mentioned.
Overall Ratings– 4.4/5 stars.
SHINHAN Professional Watercolor Paint
A set of 30 vibrant and beautiful paint tubes, that give your painting a lively touch. It has a huge range of shades, that can be blended easily and effortlessly, and give a crisp and glossy effect.
The paints have a high-adhesive nature, and dry quickly after applying. These are portable and can be used anywhere and at any time, whenever inspiration strikes you!
It has high grade gum Arabic, which ensures high quality of the product, which in turn ensures customer satisfaction.
Features
- 30 shades of color.
- Blends easily.
- Portable.
- Dries quickly.
- Highly adhesive.
- Supreme quality.
- Non-toxic.
Pros
- Portable and can be carried anywhere easily.
- Quality of products is commendable.
- Reasonable price.
Cons
- Shades of colors are quite similar and do not differ much from each other.
Overall Ratings– 4.7/5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to paint over water color?
While painting over water color, simply putting a layer of the new pigment you wish to paint won’t work. What you need to do to get the desired results is to paint a layer of acrylic white on the target area. The layer should be thin. Then, you can simply add the shade of color you want to.
How to protect watercolor paintings?
If you wish to protect the gloss and shine of your watercolor painting, spray a layer of UV protective artist fixative on your painting first, and then add a varnish on it. This will make your painting look as good as new, for a long time.
While painting a watercolor, should the background be pasted first?
This depends on the kind of painting you are planning to make. If you want the background of the painting to be a part of the subject, then paint it first. But, if you are aiming to keep your subject and the background distinct, then paint the subject first while masking the background.
Check out a step by step process of water color painting.
Will water color paintings fade over time?
Watercolor paintings do tend to get a bit pale and faded over time. One should avoid keeping the painting in any contact of sunlight, or any other reflected light. This could cause fading of the pigments and yellowing of the paper.
Should water colors be framed under glass?
Ideally, a water color painting should be framed under glass. This is so because these paintings are extremely vulnerable to the atmosphere, and a glass front protects it from any kind of damage.
How long do water colors last?
If kept properly, water colors do last for about 2-3 years. Always keep your paint tubes or boxes airtight, dry and away from any kind of moisture contact, so as to increase the shelf life of the paint.
Buyer’s Guide
While buying a set of watercolor paints, there are a few things to consider before buying one straight away. For instance, always check the variety of colors included in the set. Even though you can basically obtain every color by mixing the primary colors, the ones that come pre-mixed are livelier and brighter than the ones that can be made by us.
So, always select a set of colors that have a few pre-mixed colors. This reduces your efforts, and also makes your painting much brighter.
Also check the permanence of the paints before buying them. Who wouldn’t like to keep their paintings safe and make them last? In order to do so, always check the pack for its lightfastness rating.
While buying paints, you can also test the colors for stains. Just apply a coat of paint on a piece of paper and scrape it off and check how much pigment remains. This can help you select the product you actually need.
Next, check the advantages and disadvantages of buying pans or tubes of paints, so that you can select one according to your convenience and need.
Pans are usually sold in sets, but some manufacturers may also sell them individually. The benefit of using these pans of watercolor is that they are extremely portable and can be carried around anywhere. So, whenever any sort of idea or inspiration strikes you, you can easily make a painting on the spot.
One disadvantage of these pans is that color mixing is not so suitable for these.
Tubes, on the other hand, have paint in the form of pastes, that can also be bought in a set, or individually. With these, mixing becomes easy and a huge variety of colors can be experimented and obtained by the artist.
There is one disadvantage of tube paints, which is, people often tend to pour out much more paint than they actually require. The extra paint remains on the palette and is not so suitable for re-wetting. Eventually, the paint is wasted and hence it is not economical.
At the end, the choice between pans and tubes completely depends upon the user’s habits and conveniences.
One should also not forget to check the brand of the paint that they are buying. Always go for known and big brands. These might be costlier than others, but are rich in quality and have their own set of benefits with them along with their high price.
An artist should also check the transparency of the paints that he is aiming to buy, i.e, the paint should have the ability to allow light to pass through it and reflect back, to create a nice luminescent effect.
Understand the difference between opaque and transparent water colors.
Summary
After buying the best suited set of watercolor paint, all you need is that inspiration and creativity to instigate the artist within you! Just take a white piece of paper, and get to work. Splash some color onto your every days dull and boring paintings and give them a life!
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