2023's Top 5 Watercolor Paints

Watercolor paints are frequently the first paints used by aspiring artists since they are portable, simple to clean up, and may be quite affordable. Of course, experienced artists and experts also like using watercolor to unleash their creative sides.

First off, there's no need to purchase the priciest brands. Try them out, then reward yourself with pricey paints and papers once you feel confident. By doing this, you can save money and wait until you're ready to buy a professional set.

Our preferred choice overall following thorough testing and experimentation was the Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colors Studio Set.

Find out more about it and the other top watercolor paints for painters of all levels of experience. 

Our Favorites

Best Overall:  Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Studio Set, 45 Half Pans

Best Budget:  36 Color Fundamental Watercolor Pan Set with Paint Brush by Artists Loft

Best for Beginners:  MozArt Supplies Watercolor Paint Essential Set - 24 Vibrant Colors

Best Pan:  Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor 36 Colors Set

Best Tubes:  M. Graham & Co. 33-Set 1/2-Ounce Tube Watercolor Paint Basic 5-Color Set





Your best option if you want a top-notch kit that fulfills all the requirements is the Cotman Water Colors Studio Set. You'll receive 45 half-size pans in a variety of hues, including lemon yellow, mauve, indigo, and lamp black. You won't have to spend much time combining colors as there are so many gorgeous tones available.

Both novice and expert painters will love the collection. These long-lasting watercolor paints provide excellent transparency and tinting power, as well as beautiful pigmentation. They are ideal for travel, painting lessons, or at-home creative projects because they have a small case and an integrated mixing tray. Our tester appreciates the diversity of hues that seem to endure for a while in an artist's kit, but she also found that light hues can rapidly lose their brilliance, so be sure to apply numerous layers.


The Watercolor Paint Value Pack from Artist's Loft Necessities is a good choice if you're searching for a reasonably priced set that doesn't sacrifice on colors. It includes 36 highly pigmented pans that are evenly distributed across the color wheel.

The paint itself has a silky texture and provides excellent coverage on a variety of media, including paper, glass, ceramic, and wood. Since the pans are on the smaller side, this pack isn't a good choice if you frequently gravitate toward the same colors or if you have big painting projects planned.

Best for Beginners:  MozArt Supplies Watercolor Paint Essential Set - 24 Vibrant Colors


For individuals who are just starting to learn about watercolor painting, the Mozart Essential Set is the best option. You'll have everything you need to get started with 24 go-to colors, a mixing tray, and a versatile paintbrush—apart from paper, of course.

The vivid colors create a clean, sharp finish on the paper and are simple to blend. If you don't have a particular area of your home for crafting, this set comes in a portable, yet robust metal box, making it simple to store away.


Best Pan:  Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor 36 Colors Set


Kuretake's Gansai Tambi set includes 36 watercolor pans in vibrant, eye-catching colors. The paint itself has an extremely glossy finish, is opaque, not at all granular, and ultra-smooth. The package is attractively green and includes a color chart.

The protective layer keeps the pans in place. If you want to blend new colors, you may also remove each one separately and utilize the tray as a palette. The pans themselves are bigger than typical watercolor pans, so they hold up better over time. Additionally, you can saturate your brush with them much more quickly, making painting with them simpler.

Best Tubes:  M. Graham & Co. 33-Set 1/2-Ounce Tube Watercolor Paint Basic 5-Color Set


The watercolor paints from M. Graham Artists are perfect. The amazingly pigmented tubes come in a variety of hues and can be purchased individually or in packs. To highlight the distinct characteristics of the pigment, each color is separately designed.

The small-batch, extremely rich paints are created with honey to prevent drying out and are easily diluted. They will likely persist for several months, if not years, which is something that hobby painters will value. Because of this, a little goes a long way, and according to our product tester, you only need a tiny quantity with an equal amount of water to make an impact on paper.

Finding the right Watercolor Paint:

You can choose the precise colors you want to use by purchasing some watercolor paints in individual tubes. Others are offered in sets, so you should check the colors included to be sure they suit your requirements. Beyond that, think about the pigment used in different paints, as paints with more pigment will yield colors that are brighter and more intense.

According to watercolor artist Grace Scharr McEnaney, "Different colors have different names between manufacturers, or some will be the same color but have a different name, so it's best to stick to one brand in the beginning." She even proposes starting with the three fundamental colors and combining all the extra colors you require from there. This would be better suited for seasoned painters.

Price
The quality of the paint will generally determine how much it costs. You can figure out how much you need to spend to achieve the desired effect using your knowledge and the intended use of the paint.

Texture
Beyond pigment, the texture of a paint can significantly affect its performance; some are creamier than others and blend better with water. The way the paint applies to the canvas may also depend on its texture (or any other material).

Experience Level Labels for watercolor sets are frequently written in a way that makes it clear who they are intended for. Professional sets will either use that term or "artist's quality" in their packaging. For novices, cheaper alternatives with fewer color selections are preferable. 



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