How to Choose the Right Watercolour Set: A Buyer’s Guide

Watercolour painting captivates with its luminosity and transparency, but choosing your first set of materials can quickly become overwhelming. Faced with marketing promises and a jungle of options, it's easy to make a mistake you'll later regret. As a product expert at Joybuy, I'm here to help you cut through the noise. Together, let's break down the common pitfalls and essential criteria to find the set that will truly match your creative ambitions.

The 2 Pitfalls to Avoid Before Buying Your First Set

Before you dive in, keep these two classic mistakes in mind. They can stifle your artistic momentum and put an unnecessary strain on your wallet.

1. The trap of dull colours: Many entry-level kits lure you in with a large number of colours, but the pigment quality simply isn't up to par. The result: hues that lack vibrancy, fade in the light, or turn muddy when mixed. Quality paint should remain brilliant, even when dry.
2. The wrong format for your practice: Buying a bulky set of tubes when you dream of painting outdoors is as frustrating as ending up with tiny pans for a large studio project. The format isn't a minor detail—it's crucial for your comfort and enjoyment.

Key Criteria for Making the Right Choice

To make an informed decision, two points need to be examined closely. They will determine the quality of your materials and the pleasure you get from using them.

1. Format: Tubes or Pans?

Choosing the format is the first decision to make, as it directly depends on where and how you paint.

• Watercolour in Tubes: These tubes contain a highly concentrated pigment paste. You only need to squeeze a small amount onto a palette before diluting it. This format is ideal for studio work, as it allows you to prepare larger quantities of colour and achieve very intense hues. It's a versatile solution for those who love to have complete control over their mixes.
• Pans (or half-pans): This is solid, dried paint presented in small blocks. You simply run a wet brush over them to pick up the colour. This is the format of choice for a travel watercolour palette. Compact and ready to use, it's perfect for sketching outdoors and is an excellent choice for beginner watercolour supplies thanks to its incredible ease of use.

2. Pigment Quality and Colour Count

The main distinction is between "student" (or fine) grade and "artist" (or extra-fine) grade. For beginners or for regular practice, a student-grade paint like the Talens Art Creation watercolour range offers an excellent balance. It guarantees reliable pigments and good colour permanence without the investment of a professional range, which is often much more expensive.

As for the number of colours, a 24-colour watercolour set may seem tempting, but it's not always necessary. A well-chosen palette of 12 colours (including the primaries) is enough to create an infinite range of hues through mixing. A larger set mainly offers a time-saving advantage, with shades that are ready to use out of the box.

Our Top Picks for Different Artist Profiles

To help you make your final choice, here is our selection of materials designed for different types of artists, keeping in mind the criteria we've just discussed.

IDEAL FOR: THE BEGINNING ARTIST

Talens Art Creation Watercolour Set – 24 × 12 ml

Why we chose it: This set is an excellent foundation for anyone wanting to get serious about watercolour. The watercolour in tubes format encourages learning how to mix on a palette, a fundamental skill. With 24 colours, it offers great freedom for experimentation without feeling limited.

How it avoids the pitfall

It bypasses the trap of low-quality pigments. Talens Art Creation is a renowned "student" grade range, offering reliable, luminous colours that won't disappoint when dry.

Key advantage

An excellent value for a 24-colour watercolour set in tubes, offering great versatility for studio work.

IDEAL FOR: THE NOMADIC CREATIVE

Faber-Castell Watercolours in Pans 24ct Set

Why we chose it: Designed for mobility, this set is the quintessential travel watercolour palette. Its compact and sturdy case contains everything you need to paint anywhere: 24 pans of vibrant colours, a brush, and a lid that doubles as a palette.

How it avoids the pitfall

It solves the problem of a format ill-suited for travel. No tubes to manage, no risk of leaks in your bag. Everything is integrated to let your creativity flow, wherever you are.

Key advantage

An ultra-portable, all-in-one format with well-pigmented colours, ready for sketching and plein air painting.

IDEAL FOR: THE TECHNIQUE EXPLORER

CLAIREFONTAINE Manga Illustration Glue Block A4 250g

Why we chose it: The paint isn't everything. For those who love to combine watercolour with ink, markers, or precision drawing, the surface is crucial. This extra-white, smooth Bristol paper at 250 gsm is a remarkable foundation for mixed media.

How it avoids the pitfall

It prevents the frustration of paper that buckles or tears under moisture (from light washes) or repeated erasing. An unsuitable paper can ruin a piece of art.

Key advantage

Its very smooth surface and heavy weight make it durable and versatile, ensuring crisp lines and true colours for mixed media techniques.

And for those who wish to push their experimentation further by incorporating collage techniques into their work, choosing the right adhesive is just as crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between student-grade and artist-grade watercolour?

The main difference lies in the concentration and purity of the pigments. Artist-grade paint uses purer pigments in higher quantities, resulting in more intense colours and better lightfastness. Student-grade paint is a more budget-friendly option, perfect for beginners, sketching, and regular practice, while still offering excellent colour payoff.

Is special watercolour paper really necessary?

Yes, absolutely. It's the single most important factor for achieving good results. Watercolour paper is designed to absorb water evenly without buckling or falling apart. To be safe, opt for a weight of at least 300 gsm. A cold press (fine grain) paper is the most versatile, while a rough grain paper will add more texture to your creations.

How long does a set of watercolour tubes last?

The longevity of a set depends entirely on how often you use it and the size of your artwork. Tube paint is highly concentrated: a tiny dab of pigment diluted with water can cover a significant area. For regular use, a set of 12 ml tubes can easily last from several months to over a year.