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Student vs Artist Grade Watercolor: 6 Pigments Compared
Student vs artist grade watercolor differs most in pigment load and in which pigments each line uses. Six Cotman and Professional colors compared by code.
10 min
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Blog
Every guide, review and reference
Technique guides, pigment and lightfastness explainers, and paper, paint and brush comparisons for watercolor painters.
Guides16 min
Best Watercolor Brushes for Beginners: 3 Shapes to Buy
Best watercolor brushes for beginners are a synthetic round, a flat and a soft mop. Why a size 8 differs by brand and how to test a brush before you buy.
Guides12 min
Watercolor Pans vs Tubes: What to Buy First, Priced per ml
Watercolor pans vs tubes is mainly a format choice, and the paint is often the same. Price per ml, when each format wins, and how to fill pans from tubes.
Guides9 min
Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Technique: Complete Beginner Guide
Wet-on-wet watercolor technique depends on how wet the paper is, not on brush skill. The four wetness stages, timing cues, and fixes for blooms and mud.
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.