Derwent Inktense Blocks 

water-soluble ink blocks. Permanent when dry, extremely transparent. I love using these ink blocks with watercolors. They mix beautifully and are no longer permanent when mixed with the watercolors. They come in 100 colors and are about $3 per block if bought individually and about $2 when purchased in a set. Very affordable. These can be used on silk as well. 

Van Gogh 

I included this brand because they have the best fire engine red in the business. Which is surprising. Rose Madder Deep. 

Daniel Smith 

Far and away my favorite brand (with the exception of QOR). I believe that the colors the teacher has are highly granulated and that is why she doesn’t like them. Lots of the earth tones are granular. Some artists love it. But if you want a seamless wash you probably don’t want granulating watercolors. I love Daniel Smith. More than Sennelier, Schmeckie, W&N, and especially Holbein. They are smooth and do wonderful things in water. I had given up watercoloring until I happened to get one tube of Permanent Alizarin Crimson. A whole new world opened up for me. I will send the teacher a tube of this color and I know that she will change her mind about DS. Either that or there is some other reason that she does not like it …. Like because it’s the most popular. 

Art For Joys Sake by Kristy Rice

i got this 12 half pan set for my birthday. It was a lovely gift but after I started using DS watercolors it made me question whether these paints are artist quality. At the price of $44 on Amazon they certainly should be. They were fine but don’t compare with the brands mentioned above although priced as though they are as good. Give these a miss. 

I wanted to get this posted so I could finish the class. I need to redo it because it looks quite sloppy. When I do I will add my other favorites QOR, MaimeriBlu and also Holbein. As they are part of my pallet as well.