Written by Happy Hanukkah, Happy Christmas to you, if those are holidays that you celebrate. Wishing everyone well all around! I hope that by the time you are reading this- I’m wearing those Christmas socks that I was knitting, and that my niece is loving her big chunky knit cowl.
I figured a nice review to send off 2016 and welcome 2017 would be with this luminous and sparkly media post. Three products mentioned here, the feature- FineTec, Kuretake Gold Sumi ink, and a little something about the more unusual uses of Gelly Roll pens.
This is the third time I’ve included FineTec Watercolors in a post, this time they get their own feature. Again you might say!? Yes! I love these paints. What’s not to love! They are highly mica pigmented and super luminous. I’ve tried a few brands, none are this beautiful, easy to use, and have this satisfying luminosity. And they don’t cost the price of an entire tube for $12 and up for one color. There is also a lot of paint in the pans.
These are photos of the gold set of paints from a previous review. Okay, one is silver, but I still call it the gold set.
There are some new colors that were released from Coliro Colors, based in Germany. I saw the pink and the two black colors, and it was all over. Ordered directly from them, because I couldn’t find the new colors available in the states. Shipping was quick and reasonable, about $7 US dollars.
These are usually marketed to calligraphers, but they are a fine mica watercolor. They come in various different sets and also singly. In the US, the best place that I’ve found to buy FineTec is The Merri Artist– a brick and mortar, as well as online retailer, located in the great state of Oregon. They ship super quick. Many other retailers sell this brand of paints…Dick Blick, Amazon, John Neal Bookseller. As of the writing of this post, none of these retailers sell the colors I’m reviewing below.
Update January 2017- John Neal Bookseller in the US is now carrying some palette sets and the new colors.
I ordered the Rainbow Set of six from Coliro, which comes with Gold Pearl, Rose, Red Violet, Deep Purple, Midnight Blue, Moss Green- €26,90, which is around $29 US dollars. Along with those, I ordered individual pans in Golden Orange, Red Brown, Chocolate, Blue Silver, Black Mica- €4,15, around $4.50 each. If not paying with Euro, the amounts fluctuate a bit depending on the exchange rate.
When I ordered they didn’t have Black Pearl available, or I would have ordered that too. Looks like the ones that have “Pearl” in the name are classified as “shimmer.” I took the photos of the Black Mica and Black Pearl from the Coliro site to show a comparison. Black Mica- left, looks more velvety and Black Pearl- right, looks to be more shimmery. Both were available at the time of this writing.
The sets come in a plastic palette. They also sell empty plastic or metal palettes that hold 6 or 12 pans for a few dollars. I ordered a metal tin– around $5, to hold all that I ordered. It has a mixing area in the lid and fits 12 pans. A little goes a long way and I expect these pans to last me a very long time.
So excited that I figured out how to put a video in a review! It’s much nicer to be able to show their luminous quality this way. It’s super short, you might want to replay it a couple of times. Swatches on the awesome Hobonichi Techo’s Tomoe River paper. The Deep Purple and Midnight Blue have an underlying darkness to them that you can see when the page is laying flat.
Because I ordered a set, they sent a free sticker sheet with color names. They also sell them separately. That other thing in the photo below is a super shiny post card.
Another little video, this time a close up of a mandala on Fabriano Artistico 140lb watercolor paper. I used a variety of FineTec paints, along with artist quality watercolors (Holbein and one Daniel Smith I think), and a couple Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll and Metallic Gelly Roll pens.
The power and versatility of Gelly Roll pens is not to be underestimated. Most of the inks are archival. In small areas, I use them like paint a lot of the time. While wet, they are easily smearable with fingers (I do this a lot), and manipulated with water and a brush, or used wet into wet. They claim to be waterproof when dry. I’ve found that to be questionable with the metallic, the metallic bits can rub off. Another favorite is the Gelly Roll Stardust Clear. The pens are a great option if you want to add a little shimmer, but not invest in paints, or want something easy to travel with. Local art stores where I live sell them open stock (individually), which is nice if you only want one or two, or want to try one out before investing in a set of them. The gold Gelly Roll pen is really nice. Most other gold pens that I’ve tried have a greenish cast to them, this one does not. In the mandala, the center blue, the gold and white circle lines, and two rounds of gold are Gelly Roll pens. If you have an interest, here is a link to the photo of the mandala.
See here for the review on the set of six FineTec gold colors pictured up top, and here for a review on a different FineTec set of six iridescent and pearlescent colors, as well as a few other gold/luminous options.
I’m throwing this in because a few people have asked about it. This gold Kuretake Calligraphy Ink is super gold! I don’t do dip pen calligraphy, so I use it for other stuff and always with a brush. I even used it to paint some acorns. This bottle was purchased from Amazon. Shake it a bunch before use, there is a ball inside and that needs to get going. If it’s open and in use for an extended period of time, it needs shaken periodically. It seems to mix fine with other inks and watercolor while it is wet. Other media does not go well over it, once it’s dry it has a repellent quality.
I can be found on Instagram- @jessicaseacrest, where all my creative outlets are entertained, and sometimes telling signs of what will be reviewed next can be found. Art supply reviews are every other Saturday.
Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
Oooooh love that tree branch with gold!!
Thank you Beverly 😀
As usual, Jessica, this review is helpful and enabling. Thank you, thank you.
Thanks Ann. I truly mean them to be more helpful than enabling. Unless someone needs help with enabling. Hehe. My best to you dear 😀
Thank you Jessica, I am with Anne both helpful and enabling. More supplies I will need to purchase at some point! Some great tips on uses of them too. Thank you for that also. A review or two ago you had looked at Prima Watercolor. I had my eye on them for awhile. Your review and serendipity happened for me. I happened to be taking a live class at my local art store/studio (A Work of Heart) and the whole set together was on sale. I got them all naturally. I have tried two sets out so far and really like them. The are a little different to work with on 140# paper which is what I happened to start with. I may switch to 90# the next time. For me (w ho has many tubes of watercolor) they were well worth the purchase and I know I will get use of them.
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Thanks Nancy. I think I might be getting another one of those Prima sets for Christmas. I may end up doing another short review. Maybe I will try them on 90lb too. Thanks for your comment 😀
I always forget to put my name in my post. The last post was from me, Nancy Kvorka.
I think I’m in love. Gotta have som! 😄😄😄
Merry Christmas Jessica
Excellent review! I am sold, have ordered and mentioned your review here. Hope they contact you. I follow them on Instagram also.
Thant really sweet of you Linda. I hope you love them!! I hope you let me know and maybe share something you create with them 😀
The video is great for showing that glimmer! I am also inspired to try the Jelly Roll pens. They kinda sound like a gateway drug for full on shimmer, but I’ll take my chances. ( : Thanks for a another great review.
Happy holidays, Jessica!
Haha! They just might be a gateway drug. I’m visiting my parents and wished I would have brought at least the gold & White Gelly Roll pens! Hope you had a wonderful holiday Ellie! Best Wishes for the New Year.
Great review. I always seem to want the items you review. You have good taste.
Thanks Sharon, I appreciate all the comments that you have left on my other reviews too! My sincerest hope is that they are helpful 🙂
I am definitely a fan of Finetech!
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