Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, 45 Half Pan Studio Set | Introductory Watercolor made with Fine Art Pigments, Perfect for Beginners, Lightfast & Permanent, Good Tinting Strength

Absolutely wonderful watercolor set! The brush is fantastic and colors are gorgeous! I absolutely love the pigment and texture of this set! A must have for watercolor enthusiasts of any level!

Originally I started out with a cheap $5 set prior to upgrading to W&N. I had kept hearing that the cheap watercolors behaved differently compared to 'student' grade watercolors of other brands. So I went ahead and got the W&N Cotman set. They definitely are different. The cat paintings is a side by side of the two. The right is the cheap set and the left is W&N. The cheap set was chalky and didn't play super nice with water, while W&N was 'creamy' and melded with the water. I also noticed it didn't dry quite as rapidly as the cheap set, allowing for more time to play with the colors. The colors themselves are much more vibrant and bold. There are a variety of colors, all so very pretty. The white and the black(s) behave nicely, the lamp black is impressive for watercolor allowing for a rich darkness in paintings. I set aside the extra pans to allow for a sponge. Also the pan has a paint brush spot! The bottom pan is removable, which is handy for cleaning. I really only have two complaints: 1. The pans do not snap into the tray, instead they 'float', so when the whole set is tilted or turned upside down the pans end up hitting the lid. All be it, they should be treated nice and not thrown around, but life accidents do happen. Solved this with a small dab of hot glue, so problem solved. 2. Some of the paint loaves (not sure what they are called) were not staying in their pans. Solved with applying a small amount of water into the pans before replacing the loaves and let them dry before moving. Cons solved! All in all, would I say skip the cheapy $5 set and spend 10x that? Not necessarily. If you have the money sure, or even buy a small W&N set. The cheapy set I had purchased did not blend well, so scared me into thinking watercolors did not blend nicely off paper. W&N sets blend wonderfully! So if you don't want to spend a bunch of money, get the small W&N sets. You can always upgrade later to the bigger set and have extras of the main colors (isn't a bad thing at all). Another side note about replacement half pans for US individuals. W&N does not sell them in the US. They are not at the big craft stores either (looking at you hob lob and michaels). However there are UK stores that do ship them to the US. EBAY has a couple of US sellers as well. I haven't purchased from any of them yet. Also if you end up liking the watercolors a bunch, W&N does ship the professional series half pans to the US, so you can upgrade as you use them, they are more expensive compared to the Cotman series though.

Winsor & Newton's professional watercolor pigments are renowned for their exceptional quality, vibrancy, and consistency, making them a preferred choice for artists worldwide. Here's an overview of what makes their watercolor palette outstanding: 1. Extensive Range of Colors: The palette includes a vast array of strong pigments, offering artists a comprehensive selection of colors. This extensive range allows for limitless creativity and the ability to achieve any desired hue or effect. 2. High Pigment Load: Each color is formulated with a high concentration of pure, high-quality pigments. This results in vibrant, intense colors that maintain their brilliance even when diluted. 3. Superior Permanence: Winsor & Newton's professional watercolors are known for their excellent permanence ratings. This means that the colors are resistant to fading and will retain their vibrancy over time, ensuring the longevity of artworks. 4. Transparency and Clarity: These watercolors are celebrated for their exceptional transparency, which allows for the creation of luminous washes and delicate glazing techniques. The clarity of the pigments ensures that colors mix cleanly without becoming muddy. 5. Consistent Texture: The uniform texture and consistency of the pigments ensure smooth application and control, whether used in washes or fine details. This consistency helps artists achieve desired effects with ease. 6. Versatility: The palette supports a wide range of techniques, from wet-on-wet and dry brush to glazing and lifting. This versatility makes it suitable for both traditional watercolor techniques and experimental approaches. 7. Single Pigment Formulations: Many of the colors are single pigment formulations, which enhance the purity and vibrancy of the hues. Single pigment colors are also easier to mix, allowing for the creation of clean and predictable color blends. 8. Reputation and Legacy: Winsor & Newton has a long-standing reputation for quality and innovation in the art world. Their professional watercolors are the result of over 180 years of expertise and commitment to excellence. Conclusion: The professional watercolor pigments of Winsor & Newton stand out due to their excellent range of strong pigments, high pigment load, superior permanence, transparency, and versatility. These characteristics make their palette an ideal choice for artists seeking to create vibrant, lasting, and dynamic watercolor artworks.

I recently purchased the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with it! This studio set comes with 45 half pans, which provides an impressive range of colors to choose from. The pigments are vibrant and mix beautifully, allowing for endless possibilities in my artwork. I love the convenience of the half pans; they are easy to transport and use, making this set perfect for both studio work and on-the-go painting. The included brush is a nice touch, providing a good quality option to get started right away. The overall quality of the Cotman line is exceptional. The paints re-wet easily and deliver smooth application, whether I'm creating delicate washes or bold, saturated layers. I appreciate that these watercolors are student-grade, striking a balance between affordability and professional quality. This set has truly enhanced my painting experience, and I feel inspired to experiment with color mixing and new techniques. Overall, I highly recommend the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set for anyone looking to explore watercolor painting, from beginners to more experienced artists. It’s a fantastic investment that delivers both quality and versatility!

I am not a professional or that knowledgeable LOL, and I haven’t used the paints in a full piece yet, but here are my first impressions. Some of the pans arrived rough or cracked, and a few colors looked a little odd (like streaks or weird markings in the yellow and green). I am not sure if this means something is wrong. After swatching one of the pans though, the paint reactivated smoothly, so I don’t think the texture affects performance. Some still have visible cracks, so it might just be a cosmetic issue? The pigment quality seems really nice so far, and the color variety is the main reason I chose this set! I’m not a professional, so I’ll need more time to test everything, but I’m excited to keep trying them out. The pans are smaller than I expected, but watercolor seems to last a long time since you only have to use a tiny amount. I also purchased some extra tubes, so it won’t be a problem for me personally, just something to note for others. Overall, I’m still looking forward to seeing how they perform in an actual painting. I’ll update my review once I actually get to use them 🎨💖 Also, ignore the mess on my fingers and my handwriting lol. Edit: If you’re clumsy, do not buy.😭

I agonized for months over which watercolor paints to buy. There is so much conflicting advice to sort through. Many artists and instructors recommend artist quality paints I can't afford and don't need as a beginner. In the end I chose Winsor Newton for their long history of making high quality, consistent, affordable, student grade paints. The Cotman range has extremely permanent (AA) to permanent (A) lightfast ratings, is highly pigmented and available in 40 colors; all of which were in the studio set I purchased. Some people have said that the pan paints are difficult to re-wet, but if you lightly spritz the pans with water 5 minutes or so before you begin painting, the pigments lift off very easily. The colors are transparent, bright and easy to mix. The palette is plastic, but it's a good quality; it's sturdy and has lots of mixing space both on the mixing tray and the lid. This is a studio set, so it's not meant for travel and this is why the pans aren't fastened down into the palette. You could easily put a bit of sticky tack or double sided tape on the underside of each pan to keep them stuck down if you wanted to carry it around with you. The high quality of the paints means I can try out many different techniques and get excellent results. I've had the paints a couple of months now, and I can see that they'll last me quite a while, even with daily use, as a little paint goes a long way. As I advance in skill, I'm going to buy some of the artist quality pans to replace those I use up in this set, that way I can build a palette of professional grade paints a little at a time, keeping my eye out for sale prices. All in all, I'm very happy with my purchase.

When you buy this around $50 (when on sale) it’s just over $1 per half pan for the entire Cotman regular collection (40 colors) and five double colors (Chinese White, Ultramarine, Lemon Yellow Hue, Payne’s Gray, Alizarin Crimson Hue). Great value. The construction and materials for the mixing areas and the palette over all are of the same quality as the W&N pocket palettes, which are known to stand rugged use. Another plus of this palette is that it actually accommodates all 48 Cotman colors listed on the W&N website: 40 normal colors (included), 8 metallic colors. You’re only missing the eight metallic colors for the complete 48 color Cotman collection. But you can buy the metallic pocket set for under $20 for all eight half pans. As long as the half pans are that special Winsor & Newton half pan size, which is a tad smaller than most standard half pans, you can fit the full collection. If you do it right, and wait for sales on Amazon, you can get a complete set for under $65-70 before tax.

Great quality! Yes it had 5 duplicates but that’s in the description. The size allows for 48 half pans so took the 5 duplicates out and added the 8 metallic pans in so I had the complete Cotman collection all in one stop palette. The palette is tricky to open if fully closed. But since this isn’t going to be a travel palette for me I just won’t close it completely so it’s no worry. I’m sure it can be rigged to where it won’t be an issue but it’s fine for me. The paints themselves wet so easily and are very well pigmented for a “student grade”. Overall so glad I pulled the trigger and got these sets!

グラデーションが美しく表現されます。 パレットを見てるだけでもテンション上がります。素敵です！

Very pigmented. Way better than my cheaper set

Trae un pincel número 3 de regalo! Las acuarelas pigmentan bien y creo que funcionan para empezar en ese mundo de la acuarela. He pintado cosas muy lindas con ellas. Ya tengo varios meses con ellas, adjunto foto actual y de dos cuadritos que hice con ellas.

Pintura aquarela profissional

Bought these for a student and they are very good quality as expected from W&N. Good pigment load.