8 Top Picks for Watercolor Paint: Pan, Tube, and Set

Nowadays, many international watercolor paints are more accessible than before.

A few years ago, while in Spain, I started seeing more Japanese and Korean watercolor brands I was familiar with.

I’ve also noticed many people collecting handmade Italian or other European watercolors in Taiwan. I’m really happy that there are so many choices available now!

In this post, I’ll share some watercolor paints, including both tube and pan formats, to give you some ideas.

You can also check out these articles to better understand your watercolor preferences:
How To Read Watercolor Labels
Watercolor Pans or Tubes-Which One is Right for You?

Let’s explore these options to find the perfect fit for your artistic journey!

Table of Contents

Shinhan PWC Extra Fine Watercolor

When searching for ShinHan Watercolors, you’ll come across ShinHan Professional Watercolor (This was my very first watercolor set when I started painting 20 years ago 😛 )and ShinHan PWC.

ShinHan Professional Watercolor is more affordable but contains more fillers and synthetic binders, making it less vibrant and transparent than PWC.

If you’re looking for the highest quality, PWC is the artist-grade choice.

You can purchase individual tubes or choose from tube sets available in 6, 24, or 32 colors.

Amazon: PWC ShinHan Extra Fine Watercolor 15ml Tubes 24 Color Set
Jacksonart: PWC ShinHan Extra Fine Watercolor Tubes

Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor

Mission watercolors are known for their rich, pure colors that produce bright, vibrant effects, maintaining their brilliance even after drying.

You’ll notice two sets: Mission Gold Class Watercolor Set and Mission Gold Class Pure Pigment Watercolor Set. The latter consists of colors made from a single pigment.

Mission offers 7 mL and 15 mL tubes, giving artists flexibility in choosing the right size for their needs. If you love bold, striking colors, these watercolors are worth trying.

Amazon: Mijello Mission Gold Class Pure Pigment Watercolor 15ml 17 Colors
Mijello Mission Gold Water Color 15ml 34 Colors
Jacksonart: Mijello Mission Gold Water Color 7ml 24 Colors

Holbein Artist’s Watercolor

Holbein watercolor is one of my favorites.

They are finely ground and free from synthetic binders or ox gall, making them smooth and easy to use.

It is available in tubes (5ml, 15ml, and even 60ml in Japan) and pans, making it suitable for different painting styles.

They offer vibrant colors and a consistent quality, making them a great choice for artists of all levels

Amazon: Holbein Artist’s Watercolors Set
Jacksonart: Holbein Artist’s Watercolors Set

Rosa Gallery Watercolor

Rosa Gallery professional watercolors offer a budget-friendly yet high-quality option for artists. Made in Ukraine in collaboration with professional artists, these paints use premium organic gum arabic and inorganic pigments to ensure excellent performance.

With rich pigmentation, they deliver vibrant, long-lasting colors with great lightfastness.

Whether you prefer individual tubes and pans or convenient portable sets, Rosa provides a range of options to suit different painting needs.

Amazon: ROSA Gallery Professional Watercolor 28 Water Colors
Jacksonart: ROSA Gallery full pans and 10ml tubes

Roman Szmal Watercolor

For me, Roman Szmal watercolors are another fascinating choice, offering over 200 colors—it’s so hard to choose!

So far, I haven’t seen any tube options, but they do come in full pans and more than 10 different sets.

The paint feels incredibly rich when I pick it up with my brush. I honestly wish I could own every shade of blue and brown! Haha.

Jacksonart: Roman Szmal watercolor( full pan)
Roman Szmal watercolor( set)

Windsor & Newton Artist Watercolor

Needless to say, the high-quality, richly pigmented colors of Winsor & Newton are well known. A few years ago, while traveling in South America, my boyfriend gave me a travel watercolor set, allowing me to document what I saw along the journey.

That was my first Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor set, and it left me with many wonderful memories.

Winsor & Newton Cotman is typically categorized as a student-grade watercolor, offering 48 colors to choose from at a more affordable price, making it ideal for beginners.

Later on, I also tried the Professional Watercolor, which features over 100 vibrant colors with rich pigmentation and high longevity.

It is definitely worth investing in a set for your creative work. The range is available in various formats:

–Half Pans / Full Pans
–Sets
–Tube paints (5ml, 14ml, 37ml)

Amazon: Windsor & Newton Artist Watercolor 5ml 24 Color Set
Jacksonart: Windsor & Newton Artist Watercolor (tube)

Schmincke Horadam Watercolor

A few months ago, I started using Schmincke Horadam Watercolor and was amazed by its rich pigmentation. Recently, all my step-by-step watercolor tutorials for beginners have been created using this brand.

Schmincke offers two watercolor series: Akademie Aquarell (Student-Grade Watercolor) and Horadam Aquarell (Professional Watercolor).

– Akademie Aquarell is more budget-friendly than the professional line, making it ideal for beginners and artists with limited budgets. It includes 24 colors.

– Horadam Aquarell is designed for professional artists and advanced watercolor users, offering 140 colors, including 92 single-pigment colors. The colors are bright, vibrant, and highly transparent—definitely worth investing in!

Schmincke also has a granulating color series, which has gained significant popularity. Creators who love layered color effects and granulation textures shouldn’t miss it!

Available Formats:
-Watercolor Sets
-Tubes (5ml, 12ml)
-Half Pans

Amazon: Schmincke Horadam Watercolor 24 Half Pans
Jacksonart: Schmincke Horadam Watercolor 24 Half Pans

A. Gallo Watercolor

A. Gallo is a stunning handmade watercolor brand that has gained attention in recent years. With its beautiful packaging and paints, it makes you want to fly to Italy right away!

By the way, they have a gorgeous and exquisite showroom in Assisi, Italy.

Their handmade watercolors are crafted using pure pigments, gum arabic, locally sourced honey, and rosemary essential oil, all meticulously ground by hand on a glass slab. You can even witness their paint-making process here.

In addition to half/full pans, they also offer tube options (10ml).

Jacksonart:
A. Gallo : Handmade Watercolour Paint 6 Half Pans
A. Gallo : Handmade Watercolor Paint 12 Full Pans with Brush
A. Gallo : Handmade Watercolor Paint 10ml Tube Set

These beautiful watercolors are truly irresistible! However, before choosing your paints, it’s best to consider your painting habits, needs, and budget.

For example:

If you frequently create larger artworks, tubes might be a better option since they allow you to mix larger amounts of paint more efficiently, rather than relying on half pans.
If you often paint outdoors, a lightweight pan set would be more convenient to carry around.

I hope you find the paints shared in this article inspiring and that you’ll start enjoying your creative journey!