I have been interested in trying out Schmincke watercolors for some time now and thought I scored when I picked up a 12 half pan travel set of Schmincke watercolors on eBay. Unfortunately, when I was preparing to write this blog post on my new artist quality Schmincke watercolors, I realized that I didn't purchase the artist quality Hordam paints, but instead got the student quality Akademie watercolors. This is not the first time I made an ill conceived purchase on eBay - but it will be my last!!
The good news is that I have always loved the Sennelie metal travel box that I have recently started using for my gouache paints - and the Schmincke metal box is even better! It is the same size, relatively light when the metal tray holding the half pans is removed, and has 3 large mixing sections in the lid instead of the two that the Sennelier box has.
I have been very happy with the Daniel Smith watercolors I have been using and love the colors. I had been using a large metal watercolor box filled with 46 colors in half and full pans.
My Daniel Smith watercolors in a 8.5" x 4.5" metal palette that folds out to about 13"
While I love how this large palette allows me to use as many colors as I would like - and has let me explore the use of so many lovely Daniel Smith pigments, I have started to worry that I had been using too many colors straight out of the tube and my color mixing skills were being degraded. So, I decided to use one of my smaller metal palettes with a select number of pigments ideally chosen for their mixing capabilities - for which, I have relied heavily on Jane Blundell's excellent watercolor blog - and adding some colors that I just love using. So, I chose to fill this tiny box with Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Gold, Yellow Ochre, Perylene Maroon, Pyrrol Crimson, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Rich Green Gold, Phthalo. Green (BS), Undersea Green, Cascade Green, Phthalo Blue (RS), Burnt Sienna, and Raw Umber.
My 3.25" x 2.5" tiny metal palette filled with Daniel Smith watercolors
I have really enjoyed using this palette, but the metal stays that hold in the half pans are not removable and the palette itself becomes a bit heavy as a result. Also, the two mixing wells are just not enough for me. So, despite not getting to try out the artist quality Schmincke watercolors, I am happy to have another perfectly sized metal travel palette, which I am able to fill with slightly more Daniel Smith watercolors.
My new Schmincke palette with Daniel Smith watercolors
Here are colors I've chosen: M. Graham Titanium White gouache; Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Gold, Yellow Ochre, Perylene Maroon, Pyrrol Crimson, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Buff Titanium, Rich Green Gold, Phthalo Green (BS), Undersea Green, Cascade Green, Cobalt Teal Blue, Phthalo Blue (RS), Cerulean Blue Chrom., Indian Red, Sodalite Genuine, Moonglow, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, and Cobalt Blue. I may change up this palette as I use it and see what I feel is missing. I will let you know!
What do you have in your palette? What do you find as the "right" number of pigments to have on hand?