To start, “Spend as little as possible at first, so you feel free to explore and not like you have to ration your paint or your paper,” watercolor artist Wendra Lynne says. “Once you have confidence, treat yourself to expensive paints and papers because there is a huge range to choose from,” she recommends. This way, you save money and only purchase a professional set when you are ready. After extensive experimentation and testing, our top overall pick was the Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours Studio Set. Learn more about it and the other best watercolor paints for artists of every skill level. The set is great for beginners and advanced painters alike. These long-lasting watercolor paints are brilliantly pigmented and have good transparency and tinting strength. With a compact case and a built-in mixing tray, they’re perfect for travel, painting classes, or at-home art. Our tester loves the variety of colors that appeared to last a long time in an artist’s kit but noticed that the light colors can lose their vibrancy quickly, so be sure to add multiple coats. Colors Included: 46 | Form: Pans | Brush Included?: Yes The paint itself has a smooth consistency and offers great coverage on paper, glass, ceramic, wood, and a range of other surfaces. The pans are on the smaller side, so this pack isn’t a great pick if you find yourself favoring the same colors over and over or you plan to do a lot of painting right away. Colors Included: 36 | Form: Pans | Brush Included?: Yes The vibrant colors are easy to blend and offer a clear, crisp finish on the page. This set comes in a lightweight yet sturdy metal box, making it portable and easy to store away if you don’t have a designated corner of your home for crafting. Colors Included: 24 | Form: Pans | Brush Included?: Yes The set also includes a double-sided mixing wheel that helps you figure out what will happen if you mix certain tubes together. This tool can act as a guide for those who are newer to mixing colors to reduce paint waste. Colors Included: 36 | Form: Tubes | Brush Included?: No Information about the pigment, lightfastness and transparency are printed right on the sides of the tubes. All of that information might seem overwhelming for beginners, but it can help more advanced painters choose the right paint. As for the paint itself, you can count on a non-toxic formula that’s easy to blend and suitable for all those just starting out. Colors Included: 60 | Form: Tubes | Brush Included?: No The pans stay in place thanks to a protective sheet. However, you can also take them out individually and use the tray as a mixing palette if you need to create new colors. The pans themselves are larger than standard watercolor pans, which means they last longer. And they’re easier to paint with since you can saturate your brush much more easily. Colors Included: 36 | Form: Pans | Brush Included?: No The super-rich yet easily dilutable paints are produced in small batches and formulated with honey to prevent drying out. You can count on them to last for months—maybe even years—a quality hobby painters will appreciate. Because of this, a little goes a long way, and you only need a little bit with an even amount of water to make an impact on paper, according to our product tester. Colors Included: 33 | Form: Tubes | Brush Included?: No The sturdy metal box is small enough to take on a trip or to a painting class but also big enough that it doubles as a mixing palette. Paired with the waterbrush, this paint set is incredibly portable, so you can take it outside and be inspired by nature while you paint. Colors Included: 36 | Form: Pans | Brush Included?: Yes The color range is limited, but this set will keep any kid who loves to paint or color happy. It even comes with a paintbrush, and the clear lid can be used as a palette if your child wants to experiment with mixing colors. Colors Included: 16 | Form: Pans | Brush Included?: Yes “Different colors have different names between brands, or some will be the same color but have a different name, so it’s best to stick to one brand in the beginning,” says watercolor painter Grace Scharr McEnaney. You could even start with the three primary colors and mix every other color you need from there, she suggests. This may be more suitable for experience painters.
Price
In general, the higher the paint quality, the more expensive it’ll be. Your expertise—as well as how you intend to use the paint—will help you determine how much you need to spend to get the effect you want.
Texture
Beyond pigment, a paint’s texture can make a big difference—some are creamier than others and easier to blend with water. The texture can also affect how the paint goes on the canvas (or any other material).
Experience Level
Watercolor sets are often labeled in a way that makes it easy to know who they are targeted towards. Professional sets will include that word in their packaging or the term “artist’s quality.” Less expensive options with fewer color options are more suited for beginners. And it will be easy to spot a set made specifically for kids. “I feel that even a kid’s set is a great way for adult beginners to feel relaxed to explore, play and not feel intimidated,” says Lynne. She uses kids’ watercolor paints with higher-quality brushes at her painting events. “I think this combination is the best for building confidence. You can get a kid’s set for under $5,” she shares. “Student grade paints don’t perform anywhere near what a professional watercolor paint does,” says McEnaney. “They don’t blend the same way, and the colors aren’t as vibrant.” So if you are serious about your hobby and don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, opt for professional-grade picks. Fellow watercolor painter Janet Meinke-Lau agrees. “If you want a good painting, you need to purchase high-quality, artist-grade, moist paints—even as a beginner painter. Perhaps especially as a beginner. If you purchase student-grade paints which are cakey and dry, you will be frustrated with your artwork and might get easily discouraged and stop painting altogether,” she says.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Lifelong arts and crafts enthusiast Theresa Holland has been contributing to The Spruce brands since 2019. She has an appreciation for watercolors and enjoys painting with her son. You can check out more of her writing on MyDomaine and Byrdie. To make this list, she considered each paint’s color, cost, and texture. Additional reporting was done by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce brands covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays. She’s also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more.
Be sure to always clean your caps and close your tubes tightly. To help your watercolor paints last longer, make sure you seal them in an airtight container and store them in a dry place. While you don’t want them to dry out, too much humidity can soften and ultimately dissolve the water-soluble formula. That said, formulas vary among brands. Check the ingredients list or look for an option specifically labeled as non-toxic. Kids’ watercolor paints are often formulated to be safe on the skin. And even if small amounts are ingested or touch the eyes, they’re usually unharmful. Having said that, you should always call poison control or a medical facility if paint is ever swallowed. You can also apply an acrylic glaze over your watercolor painting. This will dry the paint underneath and seal your masterpiece with a waterproof finish. If using both, a layering technique is often best, says Lynne. “You can easily layer acrylic over watercolors but you can’t layer watercolors as easily over acrylics,” she says. She also shares, “It’s important not to use acrylic paint with your watercolor brushes because the acrylic paint leaves a residue on the bristles that takes away their softness.” McEnaney suggests mixing watercolors with gouache paints for a new texture and style to your artwork. Meinke-Lau prefers tubes when painting professionally. “Tube paints give deep, luscious color,” she shares. “Pan paints are better for starting or building a sketch practice,” says Meinke-Lau. “In the beginning, you start with a few pan paints, and you begin getting to know your paints. Eventually, you may accumulate a collection of tube paints at home and just refill your pans with them, having the option to use paints that are dried in your pan or moist straight from the tube,” she says. McEnaney adds that most watercolor artists like a brush that comes to a really nice point, as well as flat brushes that will come in different sizes. “A good brush holds a lot of water, so you’re not dipping it all the time,” she says. “The most important quality about a brush is its absorbency. A good watercolor brush can hold a lot of water and a lot of paint,” says Meinke-Lau. Expert advice was provided by watercolor artists Wendra Lynne, Grace Scharr McEnaney, and Janet Meinke-Lau.
