Written by Today is opening day of World Watercolor Month™ in North America! Friends in other locations around the world have already started- yay! To spread some festive watercolor cheer I’m here with this post on the new custom curated Schmincke Horadam watercolor set from Wet Paint. Square palette boxes are not always available. This was like finding a palette unicorn, so I ordered it. There is also a little show & tell about the 35 new colors that Schmincke released in 2017 for their 125th anniversary.
I’ve written before about the store Wet Paint, located in St Paul, MN. Every experience I’ve had with them has been wonderful. They have a large and diverse selection, and carry interesting papers, sketchbooks and journals- including ones that seem hard to find, unique, or uncommon in the US. They carry those nice Hahnemühle Nostalgie & Watercolour sketchbooks. Their staff has always been genuinely helpful and friendly. I especially want to thank Kate, who helped me when I goofed up my order. They have free shipping for orders over $99 in the continental US. I’ve always received my order within a few days of placing it, and I’m nowhere close to MN. My experience with some larger online art supply retailers, is that it takes much longer to receive an order. If you want something quick, I would definitely give WetPaintart.com a try.
Normally I go on and write about the companies or makers, but in the interest of keeping this short(er)- you can read all about the “125 Years of Schmincke Horadam Watercolours” in this Jackson’s Art blog post here. It’s short and interesting, and goes on to tell about family, paints, war, their use of ox gall, and how their owl logo has changed over the years since 1881.
Since 2011, Wet Paint has been releasing custom Schmincke sets. All that info can be found here. This year’s set contains five of the new colors released in 2017.
The 2017 botanical set was curated by Marilyn A. Garber, founder of the Minnesota School of Botanical Art at Longfellow House in Minneapolis, MN. It came with one of her small botanical prints.
Although there are stickers on the bottom of each half pan with a number, there are no color names on the pans. I usually write those on with a Sharpie. In my experience, the stickers fall off. There is a ring on the bottom of the palette and the inside tray is removable.
215 – Lemon Yellow
220 – Indian Yellow
483 – Cobalt Azure- NEW
493 – French Ultramarine Blue- NEW
482 – Delft Blue
940 – Brilliant Red Violet
910 – Brilliant Blue Violet
524 – May Green
784 – Perylene Green- NEW
349 – Cadmium Red Light
343 – Quinacridone Red Light- NEW
346 – Ruby Red Deep- NEW
Since this is a botanical set, it didn’t have any earth tones. I ordered three individual half pans of the new colors. Those were going for around $10 and up- Rutile Yellow, Green Umber, Transparent Sienna. I ordered an empty Schmincke half pan- $0.90, and added in Cadmium Orange from a tube that I already had. Empty Schmincke anything- pans, tins, are expensive, but I wanted it to look consistent- matchy matchy. Swatch done on Arches 90lb cold press.
There were two duplicates in this set from a previous set that I have- Lemon Yellow & Cadmium Red Light. I still ordered it because of the box, and the pans are cheaper per pan price in a set. $69.95 for the 12 half pan set, that works out to be less than $6 a pan. An empty Schmincke tin, not including empty half pans, starts at over $40, so if that price is deducted then the watercolor pans drop down to less than $2.50 a half pan. I don’t know if I’m writing this bit to be informative, or justify this purchase to myself, or to help you justify a purchase- perhaps it’s all three.
$40+ for an empty metal palette does not seem reasonable to me. Here is a link to a post that goes over some different options, and more reasonably priced empty rectangle watercolor tins/boxes. There seems to be lots of options out there these days.
A simple and quick little example on Fabriano Artistico 140lb paper using- Lemon Yellow, French Ultramarine, Delft Blue, Brilliant Red & Blue Violets, May & Perylene Greens, Cadmium Orange, and Green Umber. I love these colors!
One more small example, it’s on Arches 140lb cold press. The Rutile Yellow in the foreground- love it! World Watercolor Month- one down! 30 more to go 🙂
If you want this set- order it now. They go fast! Happy Independence Day- this weekend they have a shipping promo- “WEEKEND SHIPPING PROMO: Free standard shipping on orders of $17.76 or more! Valid 6/30 thru 7/4, 2017.” Yes!
The palette fits in one of these nylon MochiThings Better Together Note Pouch V3– outer dimensions in inches: width: 5.3″, height: 8.9″, depth: 0.8″, inner dimensions: 4.9×8.3 inches. I like this zipper pouch for a small travel set-up, but it is way overpriced- about $31. I bought it when MochiThings had a sale. Similar things can be found on Amazon and other places for way less, it just takes a bit of sleuthing. Often pouches/cases that fit Kindles or iPad minis will work. I was able to fit a couple of travel brushes inside the palette (click to enlarge).
Jackson’s Art in the UK, came out with this special edition “Schmincke: Horadam Watercolour: Porcelain Palette Metal Set: 12 Half Pans” set for £58.
A post on another Schmincke set can be found here, along with extra colors added in.
Kate at Wet Paint sent a Dot Card of the 35 new Schmincke colors for 2017 to present for this post. Thanks again Kate! 32 of the colors are single pigment. Brilliant Opera Rose is a fugitive pigment- across all brands. Click the photo to enlarge, zoom in and eyeball.
This is a link to the color chart of the 35 new Schmincke Horadam Watercolours, which includes lightfast, transparency, and staining qualities.
Doodlewash Guest Artist Jane Blundell wrote this post on her blog with all of the new 2017 colors swatched, along with her insights and pigment info. If you are into pigment info, Jane is a great resource.
Creative expression is important, it helps us to know ourselves better. I write art supply posts with the intention that they will be helpful to other artists and creative folks. And for those that have that inkling that they are creative, that they are artists- you so are! Go ahead, let it out! Grab hold of that artistic inkling, that wave, and ride it for all it’s worth- it’s showing up because it wants to be expressed through you! You know that expression- dance like no one’s watching? Paint, sketch, and create like no one’s watching- do it for you. Do it for the joy it creates in your heart and watch that spread to others! When I was first figuring out watercolor, I relied on the generosity of others sharing what they were using and discovering, and I still do. I’m figuring this stuff out for myself anyway, so I figured I may as well share the information love, and pay it forward. Occasionally a company will send along a product for review, and I present those too. Otherwise I’m presenting from my own exploration- because I am riding that artistic wave that showed up for all it’s worth. Truly- it was like it just showed up one day and said “paint me,” and it would not be ignored. Then it said “write me,” and here we are. There are many other art supply reviews available on Doodlewash. Click on “Reviews” at the top of the site or click here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this review.
As you can see from the desk photo above, I’ve been busy- I’ll be back next week with another one!
Join in and celebrate World Watercolor Month with us in July! Click here for more info.
Great review Jessica! Question: why do most artists prefer travel palettes with “pans” over palettes with empty spaces to “fill-your-own” colors?
Good question. Maybe some others will chime in. I like boxes, even little ones…hehe. I also like that I can trade them out and put them in other boxes. In a fill your own, what’s there is there and can’t really be rearranged or removed. For some reason the fill your own that I have, I use the least.
Thank you Jessica for another great review. Your doodles are pretty awesome too!
Thanks Laura…and nice rhyme! 😉
Thanks Jessica for another great review, and the tip about free shipping! I also appreciate the “create for you” encouragement! Love your paintings too!
Thanks so much Cathy 🙂
OMG, you gave me an epiphany about using travel pouches for Kindles, etc. Why did I never think of that???
Hehe, yay!
I know right?! Now I can have an organized travel set up for my car!
Another great review full of information and photos. I love your reviews – thank you!
Thank you, much appreciated!
I’ excited
The best part of any materials review is knowing there are even more supplies with which to experiment and be creative. Thanks for the heads up about pricing. Your paintings are charming, Jessica.
Thank you Sharon 🙂
awesome review, i think you are better of mixing your own earth tones, if you mix with non granulating pigments they can be awesome for landschaping and botanicals, depending on the preference i personally like non granulating more, as i am only in it for 2 years i like a bit more control in my paint, for that reason I like schmincke and white nights for mixing, white nights retails in rhe us as Yarka I believe. But it is the same paint, just different retail name.
Thank you Aafke 🙂
Oh dear…I loved your review so much that I just ordered the set including 6 extra half pans. Rutile yellow, yellow orange, pthalo sapphire, green umber, maroon brown and geranium red. I justified it as an early birthday present….but really its my daughters birthday coming up. You like my logic?! Thanks so much, new to this site and really enjoying it 🙂
I have a color similar to maroon brown that I love, and I was definitely tempted by geranium red. Happy early Birthday to you! Yay 🙂
Which color of yours is similar to maroon brown? Is it lke a burnt sienna?
Daniel Smith Raw Umber Violet.
Hi Jessica. It turns out that the geranium red is very similar in hue to the quinacridone red light even though they’re two different pigments
I have called them about shipping to Canada:) You have tempted me..I love kits and when I buy tubes I make my own kits w/ cigar boxes..vintage paint kits..etc..and I am not even accomplished..:(
However..my husband says ..that’s what you like :)♥
Shipping..the exchange.blablabla my same old story;)
Thank you..Love your reviews beaucoup!
Hopefully it won’t be too much more to Canada! And you’re husband makes a good point- if it’s what you like and you have fun with it, that’s all that matters 🙂
been so busy, just now had time to read your excitement above – as always, I find your information helpful and enlightening!
Hi Ann, I hope all is well with you! Loving what you have been creating with the tea bags- really amazing.
Beautiful
I’m a little late to the party here, but I just wanted to say I LOVE the shot of your desk!! What a beautiful ‘mess’. I also just bought the 24 half pan set (long) Schmincke Horadam watercolors. I am eyeballing the Holiday set from Wet Paint right now, and am wondering if having this square tin is worth it? I like my long tin, and I have a Winsor and Newton 12 pan cotman set. The rectangle shaped one. Thank you so much for a great review.
Hi Kelly, I’ve been enjoying the square tin, and for no good real reason other than I find square appealing. I had seen them for a long time, but they are always limited edition, so when these came out, I grabbed one. Someone on IG told me she fit 33 half pans in hers when she removed the rail insert. That’s a lot of pans!
If you are happy with what you’ve got and know it- that is a wonderful thing! I often find it a silly extravagance, and very western, that I have all of these things. They are not needed.
Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂
I just wanted to say that I ordered and received this first set. Then I added another row of additional colors. I use it a lot! Love the palette and the colors.
Yay! I want to see what you added 🙂
You will 😄😄
Jessica, did you get the fall version of the square Schmincke palette?
Hi Cathy, I did not.
I love the new colors especially the graphite!
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