Favourite Watercolour Paints: Blues & Greens Edition

What’s on your palette? What blue is that? What brands do you use? These are the questions I get most frequently on social media and in my classes. Let’s dive in!

While my palette is always expanding, and goes through seasonal (literal and metaphorical) changes, I’ll share some of my favourites below. My preferred brand is Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors (DS for short) but I also use Winsor & Newton (W&N) and Opus Art Supplies Essentials (OAS). I love the quality of pigment and the colours of Daniel Smith. Opus Art Supplies offers a more affordable alternative but also great quality.

Blues

  • Ultramarine Blue, DS

  • Cerulean Blue, Chromium, DS

  • Indigo, DS

  • Indanthrone Blue, DS

  • Verditer Blue, DS

  • Blue Apatite Genuine, DS (used very infrequently)

  • Jane’s Grey

  • Phthalo Blue, OAS

  • Cobalt Turquoise, OAS

  • Payne’s Grey, W&N

Greens

  • Sap Green, DS

  • Cascade Green, DS

  • Amazonite Genuine, DS (this is one I’m most frequently asked about when people see it on Instagram)

  • Spring Green, DS

  • Phthalo Green, OAS

  • Winsor Green, W&N (from a vintage tube)

I love to mix oranges and browns into my blues and greens. Favourites include Burnt Sienna or Quinacridone Sienna by DS.

TIPS for choosing paints:

  • go with the best quality you can afford

  • beginners can start with a warm and cool version of each primary (red, yellow, blue) - anyone at a great art supply store can walk you through some choices

  • as you build your palette, choose some fun colours that speak to you…granulating colours, iridescent, or bright ones like Opera Pink!

Palettes

I used a Mijello 18-well palette but I’m fast outgrowing it! I also use a metal butcher's palette for mixing. For travel painting I have a very old Winsor & Newton folding set in Landscape colours. I’m currently building a new travel set that will have interchangeable 1/2 pans so I can swap out colours for different locations, favouring ocean colours or garden colours etc.

Watercolour Painting, My StudioNicole Warrington