10 best watercolor paint sets

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The variety of watercolors is so great that often buyers are confused when choosing a set for painting. Before buying, you should get acquainted with the rating, which we have compiled based on important characteristics and reviews.

How to choose a set of watercolor paints

In order for the work to please with excellent results and good mood, one must pay attention to important characteristics. Any high-quality watercolor should have them:

1. Release form. Watercolors are produced in cuvettes and tubes. The former are convenient for the plein air, and the latter in that they do not need to be moistened before drawing.
2. The quality of the binders. The watercolor should be finely ground. The best ingredient is gum arabic.
3. Number of colors. For beginners, a set of 12 colors is suitable.
4. Packaging. The cardboard option is not a good choice. Packaging should be comfortable and spacious. It is better if the cuvettes are tightly fixed in a plastic or metal box. It is good if there is an opportunity to buy additional colors.
5. Particular attention is removed to lightfastness, transparency and saturation of hues. The price of a set largely depends on the number of flowers, the quality of the composition and the brand's reputation. All these characteristics are reflected in the ranking of the best watercolors.

Rating of watercolor paint sets

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of watercolor paint sets	1	Royal Talens Van Gogh 12 colors	RUB 3,379
	2	White Night 36 colors	RUB 2 959
	3	Mijello Mission Silver Pen 20 colors MPW-5020	RUB 3,999
	4	Nevskaya palette White nights 24 colors	RUB 1,869
	5	Lefranc & Bourgeois “Louvre”, 10 ml, 24 pcs	RUB 1,859
	6	Nevskaya palitra St. Petersburg 24 colors	RUB 1,469
	7	Pentel “Water Colors”, 24 colors	1 337 rub.
	8	Faber-Castell “Connector”, 24 pcs	RUB 1,199
	10	Sonnet 24 colors	639 RUB

Royal Talens Van Gogh 12 colors

Rating: 4.9

In the first place of the rating is the Van Gogh set from Royal Talens, which is presented in bright colors with high transparency. The paints are made from natural pigments with the addition of pure acacia sap resin. Thanks to this composition, they remain lightfast even with a large amount of water and do not fade after many years. Watercolor dries pretty quickly and does not bleed on the paper.

Drawings look crisp, transitions from saturated to translucent colors look flawless. The set includes a round synthetic brush. Convenient compartment for mixing paints on the inside of the lid. Price – 1270 rubles. Buyers think these watercolors are worth the money.

Advantages

• brightness and saturation;
• excellent light fastness;
• lack of 'dirty' shades;
• perfectly typed on a brush;
• without sediment;
• great mixing.

disadvantages

• not.

White Night 36 colors

Rating: 4.8

White Nights watercolors are renowned for their high quality. It is made from the finest pigments with gum arabic. Having tried these paints once, it will be difficult to agree to others. Conveniently enough, there is a sheet with cuvettes inside where you can taste each color, otherwise you can 'get lost' in dark shades.

Customers are delighted with the wide range of colors that mix well with each other and wash well with water. Watercolors are highly lightfast. If desired, you can replace the empty paints from the set. When open, they take up a lot of space, given that other accessories will be located nearby – a container with water, brushes. Therefore, it is worth taking care of a special table near the easel. Some art schools exclusively use this set, while others are not allowed. It costs more than 2,500 rubles. For 36 colors it is not that much.

Advantages

• wide range of colors;
• acceptable quality;
• good light fastness;
• optimal price tag;
• the ability to purchase a specific color.

disadvantages

• take up a lot of space.

Mijello Mission Silver Pen 20 colors MPW-5020

Rating: 4.8

Next in our ranking is the Korean brand, which dates back to the mid-19th century. It's about the Mission Silver studio paint series. The collection was produced under the supervision of experts in the field of watercolor painting. These are quite popular paints among beginners and professional artists who choose them for their high quality components, optimal choice of colors, and ease of use.

Use the palette on wet and dry surfaces. Watercolors come in cuvettes and blend wonderfully on paper. After drying, the shades do not fade. It is convenient to use a brush to draw the required amount of composition in one touch. The price is from 4 thousand rubles.

Advantages

• high properties of pigments;
• careful manufacturing control;
• suitable for beginners and professionals;
• do not fade after drying;
• good mixing.

disadvantages

• relatively high price.

Nevskaya palette White nights 24 colors

Rating: 4.7

The plant of artistic paints is familiar to many since childhood. In the box, the pieces are held by their packaging. If you open them, they can spill out when you fall. This is perhaps the biggest drawback of the product. The watercolor paints themselves have a decent composition and contain a vegetable glue – gum arabic. They dissolve perfectly in water and are evenly applied to the paper.

Judging by the reviews, with this set you can master various techniques – raw, glazing, pure local colors. Everything turns out well. Therefore, there are no complaints about the quality of the watercolor. For a set of 24 colors, you will have to pay about 2 thousand rubles.

Advantages

• many shades;
• excellent resistance to light;
• individual cuvettes;
• brightness;
• the ability to replace shades;
• excellent composition.

disadvantages

• not suitable for children;
• paints do not adhere well to the cuvette.

Lefranc & Bourgeois “Louvre”, 10 ml, 24 pcs

Rating: 4.7

Next in the ranking is a set of 24 tubes. It is distinguished not only by the form of release, but also by an attractive price, bright colors that are amazingly washed out. This is a great option for the semi-professional class and fans of tube paints.

In the reviews you can find information about high lightfastness and purity of colors. This is not surprising, because the French manufacturer took care of the quality of the product and used fine grinding of the pigment with the addition of gum arabic in the manufacture. 24 metal tubes of 10 ml are packed in a sturdy cardboard box. Each of them contains the name of the shade. Price – 1860 rubles.

Advantages

• bright colours;
• high resistance to light;
• attractive price;
• reliable packaging.

disadvantages

• not for professionals.

Nevskaya palitra St. Petersburg 24 colors

Rating: 4.7

And again in the ranking 'Nevskaya Palitra', but with a set of 'St. Petersburg' of 24 colors. It is made in the form of individual cuvettes. Convenience of working with watercolors is due to the presence of high quality pigments in their composition, ground to the smallest particles.

Consumers are delighted with the paper bond strength and the high sunlight resistance. Over time, watercolor almost does not lose its original appearance. Convenient packaging can be easily taken with you to the open air. Inside it there are empty compartments for additional blocks, pencil brushes and an eraser will fit. The only drawback is the instability of the cuvettes. They roll in different directions when tilted. Price – 1500 rubles.

Advantages

• saturated colors;
• fit perfectly on paper;
• good quality;
• convenient packaging-pencil case due to the size;
• large range of colors;
• color fastness.

disadvantages

• instability of the cuvettes.

Pentel “Water Colors”, 24 colors

Rating: 4.6

Pentel Watercolors are a chic set of 24 colors, featuring both bright and discreet shades. The watercolor was developed using modern design and innovative technologies. The paints are easy to use and are simply squeezed out of the tube to the final drop.

Buyers note the efficiency of the kit, easy dilution of pigments with water, uniform drying. Drawings do not fade under sunlight for a long time. The paints do not crack or peel off. The works are persistent and expressive. The set can be combined with crayons and oil pastels. Watercolor is suitable for use in art school or at home. It will suit both amateurs and professionals. Price – 1200 rubles.

Advantages

• brightness and saturation of colors;
• good mixing of shades;
• adequate cost;
• excellent transparency.

disadvantages

• specific colors;
• impossibility to buy tubes.

Faber-Castell “Connector”, 24 pcs

Rating: 4.6

The next participant in the rating is equally suitable for both fine works and children's creativity. Paints are excellently washed off and create a perfect transparent layer. They mix well with each other, do not smudge or crack. Watercolor dries very quickly. In a set of 24 bright and saturated shades, a brush and a container with white paint. All colors are in separate cells that can be mixed. The box has two pallets with a brush compartment.

Buyers say paints are very economical. They are durable and tightly compressed. Therefore, the quality of the goods is high. For artists who are fond of serious drawing, such a set will not work. Price – 1200 rubles.

Advantages

• presentable box made of durable plastic;
• the convenience of use;
• brightness and saturation;
• high quality.

disadvantages

• not for professionals;
• relatively high price for home painting.

Pebeo Studio Aquarelle 12 colors 668400 12 ml

Rating: 4.5

The Pebeo set is renowned for maintaining depth of tone and transparency that remains even after drying. The paints are well eroded and meet all the requirements of the artists. They freeze in a few minutes, depending on the type of surface and the amount of water.

Watercolors are great for painting on cardboard and paper. The set includes such colors as yellow ocher, black ivory, cadmium red, Prussian blue. The set is suitable for both amateurs and professionals. There are enough paints for a fairly long period. Price – 1500 rubles.

Advantages

• economical consumption;
• balanced palette;
• easily diluted and mixed;
• high quality level;
• pure and delicate colors.

disadvantages

• bad brush in the set.

Sonnet 24 colors

Rating: 4.4

The final participant in the rating pleases buyers with rich colors, high quality pigments, and purity of shades. They mix well and spread perfectly, they are conveniently taken on the brush.

Buyers claim that certain shades look unnatural, such as grassy or purple. Mixing some of these gives a slightly 'messy' color. This set is suitable for beginner artists who want to master watercolor painting. It is permissible to change the order of the cuvettes. Attracted by the cost of the product. Paints cost about 650 rubles.

Advantages

• even beautiful shades;
• acceptable cost;
• the ability to change cuvettes;
• excellent mixing.

disadvantages

• some shades are dirty;
• not for professionals;
• fragile box.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.