Features14 min
10 Watercolor Birthday Card Ideas From 3 Tubes of Paint
Watercolor birthday card ideas, 10 cards from a rose, a yellow and a blue. Pigment codes, paper, time and three steps for each, sorted by who gets it.
Loading
Pigments & Color Editor
Elena Vance
Elena Vance covers pigments, color mixing and paper selection. Her articles work from manufacturer color charts, Colour Index codes and ASTM lightfastness ratings, and say so when a manufacturer does not publish a detail.
- Covers
- Pigment Chemistry, Color Mixing, Lightfastness, Paper Selection
- Articles
- 10, in 3 categories
- Latest
- November 7, 2026
Writing
Articles by Elena Vance
Features12 min
Granulating Watercolors Explained: 7 Pigments That Settle
Granulating watercolors are paints whose heavy mineral pigment settles into the paper's texture as it dries. Seven that do it, and how to control it.
Features14 min
12 Easy Watercolor Ideas for Beginners From 3 Tubes
Easy watercolor ideas for beginners, 12 small paintings from one blue, one yellow and one rose. Each lists its pigment codes, paper, time and three steps.
Features15 min
12 Easy Watercolor Christmas Card Ideas for Beginners
Watercolor christmas card ideas for beginners, 12 cards painted from one 5-tube palette. Each idea lists its paints, pigment codes, paper and steps.
Guides12 min
Rough Watercolor Paper: Granulation, Dry Brush and 6 Steps
Rough watercolor paper is the most textured surface, made for granulation and dry brush. Which weights you can buy, which paints to use, and a 6-step sky.
Features11 min
Hot Press vs Cold Press Watercolor Paper: 3 Surface Types
Hot press vs cold press watercolor paper differs in surface, not in how much water it takes. How mills make each finish, and which one suits your painting.
Guides9 min
Split-Primary Palette Guide: Mix Any Color with 6 Tubes
Split-primary palette uses six tubes, a warm and a cool of each primary. The paints to buy, why they stop muddy mixes, and the formulas for clean colors.
Reviews8 min
Daniel Smith vs Winsor & Newton: Pro Watercolor Review
Daniel Smith vs Winsor & Newton compared on strength, granulation, transparency and value, using each brand's published color charts and pigment codes.
Guides9 min
Best Watercolor Paper for Beginners: Why 100% Cotton Matters
Best watercolor paper for beginners is 100% cotton, 300 gsm, cold press. Why cotton matters, what sizing does, and which five papers to compare first.
Guides9 min
Watercolor for Beginners: Essential Supplies & Buying Guide
Watercolor for beginners starts with 300 gsm cotton paper, one round brush and six tubes of paint. What to buy first, what to skip, and how to set up.