One of my other obsessions besides notebooks is art supplies. I have way too many, and I don’t use them as often as I should, but I still treat myself to new ones once in a while. And I have to say, my latest purchase is a perfect notebook companion!
I’d seen this particular Winsor & Newton watercolor box before, but kept thinking I didn’t need it– and I really don’t need it. I already have 3 other Winsor & Newton travel-size watercolor kits (including ones similar to this and this), plus another small box that I filled myself with empty pans and loaded with gouache. (That actually didn’t work out all that well, gouache works better out of the tube.) I also prefer metal paint boxes to plastic ones, as they seem more durable.
This new set has their Cotman colors, which are considered student grade, so somewhat lesser quality than the set of artist-grade Winsor & Newton paints I treated myself to a couple of years ago (the black tin seen in the photo above, and opened in the photos below. I don’t think it’s available any more, but Schmincke has a very similar set in a metal box, as does Sennelier.). But it has whole pans, which is very rare for these little sets, and it has slightly different colors than some of my other sets. When it popped up as being a pretty low price on Amazon one day (under $25, which it still is as of this writing), I decided to just go for it. What can I say, I’m weak.
The nice thing is that I can swap out the full size pans for half-pans if I want to fit in twice as many colors. (Even though I usually think less is more when it comes to paints– something like this would be total overkill, in my opinion.)
I haven’t started using this set yet, but in the meantime I am really loving the size and shape– exactly the same as my favorite notebooks!
I’m a constant reader but don’t think I’ve ever commented. Thanks! With apologies for stoking your addiction, a shared addiction I should add, you should check out the daler-rowney 1/4 pan set (https://www.jacksonsart.com/daler-rowney-artists-watercolour-89693). It’s my favorite for traveling since it’s small, packs in a few more colors, and quite durable. There is more than enough paint for journals and, if I run low, I just squirt in a bit more from a tube and let it dry. Shipping from the UK was much lower than expected and the pound is quite weak right now…
Secondly, back in the 90s, W&N made brush sets out of the same boxes which were handy. I have two, one sable set and one synthetic set, at home. If you are really interested I can send a picture. I use them a bit but, if I am taking spare brushes, I have a small, Italian set of brushes in a crazy but beautiful that I prefer.
Thanks again,
Paul
That’s a nice set – I have the Cotman Pocket Sketchers box, and the large metal Artist’s Watercolour tin. The Cotman is excellent for portability (and pretty durable), but I do think that the enamelled metal is nicer (and easier) to mix colours on.
The Cotman pans are also lighter in terms of their pigment load, which is great when you’re aiming for a subtle wash, but a pain when you want the colours to pop :)