Great for beginners, this student grade opaque watercolor paint set (gouache) comes with a set of 36 watercolors, a set of 36 pearlescent watercolors, plus 6 round and 6 flat golden hair synthetic brushes in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 ,10, and 12. They are safe, non-toxic, odorless, and conform to ASTM D-4236. Each 36 color pan set includes a natural hair basic brush and a dimpled lid that can serve as a palette. Additional plastic inserts are included in each pan set set to hold the cakes in place, which can also be used as palettes. The large plastic insert inside the box can be used to help keep a work area clean.
After your purchase, look for our follow up email containing tips for working with watercolor pans. Here's a few excerpts:
Dry watercolors in pans can be hard to get started, but after you soften them up, it becomes easier to grab the color with your brushes. Before you start painting, soften up the watercolor cakes by putting a few drops of water on them and letting them sit while you set up the rest of your workstation.
Tap water is normally fine, but be aware that overly hard water can decrease paint solubility and flow.
Before beginning, wet your brushes, blot them, then rest them on your work surface with the tip down to allow them time to absorb water.
We suggest using at least 140 lb. watercolor paper, as it will be less likely to warp from moisture.
New brushes often ship with a water soluble glue that holds the bristles together. The brushes will feel hard/crusty and may be stuck completely together. Before using them, rinse under warm running water and use your fingers to soften and work the glue out of the bristles. It may take up to a minute per brush to get it all out.
While painting, do not leave your brushes resting in the rinse water.
While it may look pretty, do not put them tip up in a cup or jar before they are completely dry, or the moisture can eventually crack or warp the wood or cause the ferrule to come loose.
- Great Economical Beginner Set - 72 vibrant, opaque colors to start with, half have a pearlescent / metallic sheen. Bet you can't name them all!
- READ THIS! --> The pearlescents aren't as full as the other paint because during manufacturing, the pearlescent ingredient is in liquid form; it is mixed with the pigments, and then dried down into the paint cakes. It isn't possible to fill up the pans more than they are. The pearlescents are intended to be used as highlights anyway, you shouldn't need as much of it.
- Variety of Brushes - 6 flat and 6 round synthetic hair brushes, plus two basic natural hair brushes, sized for fine to broad strokes. Is 14 brushes a bit much for beginners? Maybe, but at least you have options!
- Extra Palettes - The lids of each pan set, as well as the plastic inserts, can be used as palettes to mix colors or create varying shades of a color.
- Purposefully Packaged - The packaging for this set was designed to help reduce damage to the watercolor cakes, paint brushes, and the plastic palettes during shipping. If anything inside appears broken on arrival, let us know and we will refund you!
- Great Economical Beginner Set - 72 vibrant, opaque colors to start with, half have a pearlescent / metallic sheen. Bet you can't name them all!
- READ THIS! --> The pearlescents aren't as full as the other paint because during manufacturing, the pearlescent ingredient is in liquid form; it is mixed with the pigments, and then dried down into the paint cakes. It isn't possible to fill up the pans more than they are. The pearlescents are intended to be used as highlights anyway, you shouldn't need as much of it.
- Variety of Brushes - 6 flat and 6 round synthetic hair brushes, plus two basic natural hair brushes, sized for fine to broad strokes. Is 14 brushes a bit much for beginners? Maybe, but at least you have options!
- Extra Palettes - The lids of each pan set, as well as the plastic inserts, can be used as palettes to mix colors or create varying shades of a color.
- Purposefully Packaged - The packaging for this set was designed to help reduce damage to the watercolor cakes, paint brushes, and the plastic palettes during shipping. If anything inside appears broken on arrival, let us know and we will refund you!
