Honestly, Another Travel Palette?!? Cotman Field Box Review
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2022
- I have wanted this travel palette forever and when I found it on amazon for a great price I snagged it. I figured it was worth it just for the palette and I could add my favorite paint. This is also available in the Winsor & Newton Professional paint as well.
Cotman Field Box (Amazon) amzn.to/3njqnC3
Cotman Field Box (Blick) shrsl.com/3l6tg
Professional field box (Amazon) amzn.to/39XJaQu
Professional Field Box (Blick) shrsl.com/3l6te
*Let me preface this review with the fact that I got this set so cheap I was OK with buying it just for the palette (and I'm glad I did)
Pros:
The travel palette is mostly awesome and well made
Cons:
The color selection was lackluster and not great if you have a limited palette, I feel key colors were left out and replaced with cheaper colors that were not as useful.
I really dislike the included travel brush.
The thumb ring on the back will likely break.
Bottom line: I love the palette itself and really only bought it for the palette. I have lots of tube paint and I can fill it with what I want but if you don't have lots of tube colors and you can pay a bit more I would go for the pro one. the paint quality is better and the colors are more useful (useful but not perfect.) I don't recommend this set for mixing as the colors are weak and dull but I think this set (brush and all) would work well projects such as cardmaking, scrapbooking, bible journaling or anything you want to add color to unsized paper as the suryp consistency of the paint is actually better on those surfaces than higher quality watercolors. I don't mean to criticize this paint to harshly but the selection of colors is not the best and would frustrate many painters. Of course, this is only my opinion.
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I like cotman paints. I actually bought mine just a few years ago, just for the purpose of finding out why so many people dislike these paints so much. - And I ended up liking them a lot! Out of the student grade watercolors these really are amongst my favorites. I do agree though that W&N doesn't always make the best choices when it comes to color selection for their sets.
I have a sketcher's box from 1992ish (😮) and I absolutely agree with you - those colors STILL are much more pigmented than the current ones, much more satisfying to work with. Thanks for another straightforward review!
Me too! Agree with the older Cotman paints being so much more pigmented and richer. The sap green has changed beyond all recognition sadly.
I bought this a year ago for $23 to take on vacation. I totally agree with your review. I was not happy with the paints but the pallet was handy.
Why I like Cotman:
I often use my Cotman for mixing into my good paints (turner, DS). Because the Cotman are not as strong, it's easier to control how much I'm mixing.....for example, I like to use the phthalo blue because mixing just a bit of it doesn't overwhelm the other paint.
I also use a lot of the Cerulean Blue Hue for skies, it's a great sky color, and clouds lift out easily because there is a bit of white in the paint.
Permanent Rose is a nice, soft pink that I use a lot.
Payne's grey is a nice charcoal color.
Yellow Ochre I use a lot, too, often right alongside my Turner yellow ochre.
The Cadmiums are nice and clear, and have a soft light to them.
I think they work well for ink and wash in a travel sketchbook. The paint dries fairly quickly on both paper and the palette.
Cotman has an amazing selection of palettes......I really think it's worth getting one of them, because even though the paints aren't the very best, they can be super useful.
I like my old Cotman sketchers box for urban sketch, small, light, holds a brush, and if something were to happen to it I wouldn't mind! But I think I'll get this set and fill it with the professional W&N from my tubes.
Lindsay: Rags on the tiny little brush. Again Lindsay: Shows a gorgeous painting she painted with it.
I must have found that palette about the same time you did, because I was astonished at the price. I have gotten miles of use out of it. I initially planned to immediately replace the paints with pro paints, but I’ve found for my little daily sketches at the park, the Cotmans work just fine, plus I wouldn’t be heartbroken if something happened to them. I will eventually put pro paints in it. I even like that Cerulean blue, makes a perfect sky when diluted. I also added a permanent rose and yellow ochre. Warning for anyone who would buy this just for the box - WN pans are smaller than most half pans, and regular half pans may not fit in this palette. Just pop out the Cotmans and fill the pans with your own favorite tube paints.
Note: The pans aren't smaller. They are simply a different shape. All the half pans I've bought over the years** hold 1.5mls - including W&N. I also think that the shape isn't an issue as if you want other paints in this box, you can just pop out the paint and replace it. The Cotman will usually fit in other half pans, and all W&N pans will fit perfectly well in standard metal palettes.
** I'm speaking as an art tutor and art group leader who has supplied paint to students and group members since the 1990's to the present day.
@@MrsBarnabas you are correct and stated it better. The different shape allows you to get more pans in a typical metal palette, so I think of them as smaller. For that reason I prefer the WN pans and got a slew of them one time.
Thx so much for this, as i wanted to buy 2 extra ones from Daniel Smith!! I woukd be heartbroken if they woukdn't fit, as shipping and 2 pans cost a lot here in Holland.
Ahhhh Sale my favourite 4 letter word!! ( well 1 of them)
Honestly unless you specifically want that exact travel palette, there are much better value palettes out there. The Van Gogh 12 or 15 pan pocket boxes cost around €20, and of course there are a plethora of different Chinese options.
It really is a shame that the Cotman line seems so lackluster - I know some people love it, but most people I've seen are just really disappointed with it.
Absolutely. Started with them and I kept wondering why everything looks washed out... not using them anymore.
I think they're a great second step. I started with the artist's loft watercolors from Michael's and instantly hated them. They didn't mix well, the colors were limited, and it took a lot of work to reactivate them. I used them for maybe 10 pieces before upgrading to the Windsor and Newton Cotman collection. It still surprises me how much of a leap in quality these paints are. Nowadays I use art academy paints for my primaries and Cotman for my convenience colors. I may eventually switch to the professional paints when I'm more well trained, but I'm pretty happy with how they work for my current skill level.
@Trevor Minton Honestly, at the end of the day the most important thing is that it works for you. If you get the results you want at a price point that suits you, you're doing great!
I wouldn't recommend the Cotman paints because I don't have any personal experience with them, so I can only compare other's reviews with what I've used at a similar price point. But if you're happy with them, I'm happy for you 😊
@@FaerieDust thank you for being so kind. I was half expecting to get dragged through the mud for going against the grain. I hope that the art supplies you have work as well for you as mine do for me. Art is something that I wish everyone was able to make and express themselves with. Any way that makes that happen is a good way
Great review, thank you! Don't think these paints wouldn't be good for professional work, but for travel and painting outdoors they are just fine.
Great video. Very useful. Specially for a someone new to watercolor. Using these paints would make beginners believe that watercolor is too difficult to use. I actually had that experience. Many years ago I picked up watercolor and enjoyed it. Then life got really busy and I didn't have as much time. Years later I picked it up again with new paints. My painting were disappointing so I walked away from watercolor. A few years ago I retired and started learning about watercolor paints on UA-cam. It was great to learn that the paint made a big difference. Your reviews are great because they always provide a context and a sense of where the product is compared to others. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I have learned so much.
Love your honesty about the brand. I totally agree with you.
Your honesty is such a gift♡♡♡
That's a nice illustration with that little brush! Love it!! I bought this palette a couple of years ago, also on some sort of super sale somewhat, and I'm glad I bought it for my collection!
Love your reviews. You are always honest. Best way to be. Thank you for sharing
I feel your pain! Appreciate your honesty! Thank you Lindsey❤️
I’ve eyed this set just for the palette. Good review. Thank you! Also very interesting on the pigments in the professional sets!
I appreciate your honesty! You did it so we don’t have to! I feel the same dissatisfaction.
I wanted a plastic pallet because it’s lighter and was going to bring a little Cotman set for travel. Now I’ll select a different set or dabs of Windsor and Newton professional paint in a King art travel pallet. The takeaway message is understanding the limitations of these new paints. I’ll be sure to swatch and experiment with the paint kit, brushes and paper too, before a trip. Hope you all have a relaxing vacation!
Such a good review! So I actually bought an Ebay lot of VINTAGE Winsor and Newton watercolor paints: both Artist professional grade and Cotman grade..(In the lot I bought several tubes were of different vintage generations- some from the early 1900s all the way to the 1990s and early 2000s) and I have to be honest the Vintage Cotman watercolor paint I have is MORE vibrant and definitely better quality (in my opinion) than todays W&N Artist Grade paint!!...So with the evidence I have I will have to conclude that the quality has def been decreasing over the years:( Anyway great video, i agree with you 100%. Thanks for sharing 💙
Is it just decreasing quality due to less care/greed/profit margins... or because they have been forced to find more non-toxic ingredients that really just don’t work the same... or a mixture of the two I wonder... 🤔🤔🤔
Love your honest reviews, as usual. Thank you. ❤️
Thanks!
Thanks for the honest review Lindsay! I love your geranium painting, what a bummer it was frustrating to paint. The palette is nice, wish the paints in it were better.
What a timely video! I had been eyeing this paint box forever and finally bought it too! I should have splurged a little more and got the professional paints instead, but I can always fill it with paints I like. I didn’t catch the deal, I found it for $30. Jackson’s Art had the professional for $70 approximately.
As much as I love Winsor & Newton products, I agree with you about the colour selection in their sets, it frustrates me to no end too. I can never get beautiful purples with their alizarin crimson, I would much prefer any magenta. Totally with you about the ceruleum blue and white as well. I feel relieved that you feel the same way as I do about these art supplies, thank you for sharing your honest opinion :)
I have this and tossed the paint after one use. I also took the flask out, since I always carry water, and stuck a short pencil, eraser, travel brush and small cloth on that side instead. I love the palette - I love all little travel palettes - and am so glad I got it on sale like you. For more than $25 I would have been angry about the paint.
I enjoy my Cotman box when working on tiny pieces in a planner or on a gift card. The options have improved a great deal!
Thank you for the review.
I bought the set a little while ago mostly because I like the pallet , even though ,I rarely paint outside , I use it to paint cards for my family .
After watching this video I am thinking about emptying the pallet and fill it with some of my professional paints for future use outside .
Thank you 😊
Thank you Lindsay for a great review. Here in the U.K. we can get this palette in the larger stores of the stationary store W.H. Smith. I actually love the Windsor and Newton colours, including Cotmans. In general I use the large 21ml tubes and these can be used to refill pan sets.
I enjoyed your presentation and hearing your views. Thank you again and happy painting. Love to you Lindsay and to all - Dawn 🌅
I first got interested in watercolors earlier this year and bought the Cotman sketcher box of 12 because the reviews were so glowing on amazon. I was extremely disappointed in the color payout, and I think the only reason I didn't give up on watercolor altogether was that I was watching a lot of youtube videos and saw what was possible. My next set was the Mei Liang/Pretty Excellent, and it is so. much. better. for a beginner. I actually feel like I get paintings worth my effort compared to the ones I did with the Cotman set. I like the idea of this palette, but I will never buy more Cotman paints, and it has honestly made me not want to touch the W&N professional line, either.
Seriously, the professional line is much much better. I just switched my DS and the pro opera pink. Equally vibrant!
Cute set. Great review Lindsay. Thanks.
I bought this when you said it was on sale, and I have no regrets. I agree that the paint is very lackluster. I had a great experience overall, possibly because I took it out on the first nice day of the year, possibly because I used my escoda travel brush set instead of the provided tiny brush. Either way, I agree, the paints aren't great, but on the bright side, that means you burn through them really fast, and can replace with something better!!?! I love the pallet itself, but I also just filled my Jerry Q travel palette, and I might like that one just as much!
I’ve changed out several of my pans to make it more personalized for my needs. Love it. I use warerbrushes instead of the tiny travel brush.
Thanks for your honest review. It was thorough and comparitive so I don't think there's anything wrong with telling it the way it is. It looks like a neat little pallet. Thanks.
I agree, yellow ochre is the best. I couldn’t live without it.
Wowza this was a great review. I truly believe you know your stuff, so thank you for this. 👍👍
Yes, I found making gray tones without realizing the Cerulean Blue and Burnt Umber were whitened and opaque respectively. My Batman painting test turned out chalky for my video. But the rest are transparent but not vibrant results as I’m used to, but decent enough. Big contrast when using the professional grade.
I don’t think you are being salty at all, I think your comments are fair and honest (as always!). I started using Cotman in the 1990s and I’m sad that the quality has dipped so much. Some of the tubes I have from that era are still great but I agree that there are so many better, cleaner and more affordable options now. Appreciate your review 🙏
I have the WN professional field box and do a lot of plein air sketching with it. I love it and use it every day. The colours in the professional field box are a great selection and I don’t use black or white so will be swapping those out and adding 2 extra half pans for a 14 Color palette . I have the WN 24 half pan professional set as well as the Daniel Smith set and love both sets. I don’t use the pocket brush, preferring sable.
Ooo....I was so hoping you would review this Lindsay. I have it in my Amazon list to buy. Weirdly, I nearly asked if you could review this about 2 weeks ago but thought naw, I doubt my mate will have time. Thanks for this xxxx
back in the day when i painted plein aire i had a folding chair made for painting (as opposed to a beach chair) it has large pockets to carry all my gear. I was able to carry full size brushes and paper if i wanted. My colleagues used small camp tables, i kept my pallet in my lap, i had an older version of cotman's travel palette. Since being outside is thirsty work i took a large bottle of water to drink and use for painting. a vital piece of equipment was an empty jug for USED water! So many paints contain toxic chemicals (cadmium and cobalt for ex.)its best to not dump them outside
The cotman sketchers box was my first foray into fancier watercolors. It's the student paint I saw recommended the most. Now it's a great set for my kids. I prefer my other sets, since the colors are more vibrant.
You mentioned this being on sale in April. I snatched it up for $ 20.00. So dang cute. I love it. I figure I will use the Cotman paint then replace with better quality in the future.
Well, I’m glad I decided not to get this one! I missed the sale, but have seen it for $35 on Amazon lately. Still not a bad price, but I didn’t want the paint because it doesn’t have the reds I like. Thanks for the review!
I bought the profesional one and added the two colors at the top and replaced the white. I did cut the sponge to make it fit in between the 2 top pans. And a piece of tissue paper below the water tank.
Thx so much 4 this perfect review. I watched another reviewer and he said very different things, thought the colors were brilliant, and professional-like, so i just bought this set here in Holland for like 45 dollar, your first half review made me so sad, cause you (instead of the other reviewer) clearly know what you are talking (duh, as always.. You are so amazingly welinformed, so fabulous to hear all your info) about and explaining everything brilliantly (as always again), but fortunately then you say for whom this set would be excellent.. And... Yeah, that is ME, you discribe me perfectly LOL, so... Thank god.. A good buy for me 🤭😁👍😉, thx again for a amazing review, so fab to hear all you know and learn so much from that and your honesty!!
I'm glad to help!
I always thank you for your honesty as many people I feel aren't entirely honest and it's frustrating because you truly want to know how a product is and unfortunately you can't trust many peoples reviews. That's why I always go to your channel when looking into products. Have a great vacation.
Thanks:)
Thanks for the honest review! It's $25 on Amazon right now, down from $31 last week. Hopefully it will drop more. I think I'll stash the Cotman paints and fill the pans from the professional tubes I already have. Handy to have the water flask and mixing space out the door. Of course that little brush has to go 😂 Or at least be augmented with a 6 or an 8.
Hullo Lindsay, thank you for sharing your honest review. Professionally made hues can be as good as true cads n cobalts! I believe that every brand that has moved their production to China has had their recipes “stolen” I use quotes as who knows what their contract says. I believe that if you are serious about painting outside your palette of choice should be “The Portable Painter” I am truly a fan of DaVinci paints for filling your paint pans! In North America I don’t believe that you can get a better professional quality paint! Yes I include Dan Smith in that statement!!! Those dirty so n so’s! Sorry I am quite angry at that corporation! If I were in Europe I would pick Schmincke or Van Goth to fill my portable painter palette. I do enjoy watching your videos and seeing your opinions on these supplies, thank you.
@Lindsay • Thanks for pointing out the difference the paper makes. As a cardmaker with not much space, it could work for me. Good advice on the pan size, i.e., you can't replace, you need to refill. As I seem to recall, you did a video a while back about how to refill pans from tubes. I'll have to look it up (unless you have the link handy. 😉)
Just squeeze it in!
Since cottan mo e to China, there quality went wayyy down! Still good pai t for the money, can buy them EVERYWHERE. The cottman pocket box with 12 colors and that same pocket Bush is the set I recommend to everyone who wants to try watercolor for the first time. The colors that did and I think stil do come in that set is just right....yes it still has a white and I rather them put a Payne's gray or ANY other color in its place but since WN invest red China white....i see why they include it in everything. And it does make awesome pastels if that's something ur into..... it's not that I never use white...its just i rarely do
I started with a pocket Cotman set and some colours are brilliant, but some where a struggle to use. I think the tubes are better than the pans. I feel lucky that I live in UK and the professional line can be purchased cheaper than other countries.
Thanks for this review Lindsay. Saw these on Amazon and was wondering if they’re worth purchasing. Love the palette though. Too bad we can’t purchase only the palette.
That would be great!
Intense Blue yes! The Cotman Intense Blue (phthalo) is the best! Pretty sure it’s no expensive. I don’t much like Cotman Cerulean either. I don’t need pre-whited colors.
I ordered the cotman 24 set during Covid and I’ve adored them, I usually drop water on them with a water brush and let it soak in for a bit and then the color pay off is fine
That's a nice set!
I found this field palette with original paints in a thrift store last week for CAD$5.99. Original price tag was dated 1993. The only thing missing was the ring on the back. The paints are amazing. So much better than the paints in a small WN cotman set I bought 2 years ago. Definitely the quality is poorer now
I got the professional field box and added a quin rose . The middle row frustrated me as the pans slid out the bottom every time I lifted it up while I was arranging the half pans. Also I could only fit W&N pans in that middle bit. My spare pans were too big.
Thank you so much, you are so awesome ❤️❣️
I definitely agree in the quality going down, my first watercolors i bought other than the marie’s ones from job lot were cotman and I remember them being decent, this was probably like 6 or 7 years ago, and then i bought the sketchers box more recently and they’re like gummy and have no pigment.
Bizarrely I just had this arrive today! Fully intended to gift the pans to someone else and put the professional colours that I already have in there.
Thanks for the review Lindsay I bought this a couple of years back and ost of the colors are the same but it does has colbalt blue hue and yellow ochre but no paynes grey or purple. However, I took them out and put other paints in them and don't use the Cotman at all.
With that being said I was wondering if you have done a review on Peerless and how to you put yours together so that they are useable? Keep up the good work.
I have some viviva colorsheets which are similar. I don't like them as much as regular halfpans tho and I find flipping between sheets annoying. Someone made me a folding paper palette of peerless and that was more convienient but you would use ip the colors quickly. Search peerless on my channel and that video should come up.
I had bought the sketchers pocket box years ago and also noticed that the colours were not as intense as from other manufacturers,
I thought it was OK because they were also a bit cheaper, but that I often had to mix a medium yellow, red or blue because none were available that was very annoying.
The mixing surface wasn't enough for me on the way either.
At the same time I bought 3 tubes of Cotman to test, and they were a little too shiny for me when I applied them and also too weak.
Great review! I completely agree, I always replace Cotman pans with good tube colours. However I have 4 of these field boxes, and absolutely love them! I bought my first in 1982, and still use it, over 40 years later.
The field box itself is a treasure. It’s a genius design, and great investment. It’s more compact than newer kickstarter designs, lighter, cheaper, and self-contained, so it’s ideal for working from your car, or plein air.
If you remove the middle rail, you can use full pans. My original grey box has 14 transparent half-pans. I later added a second box for cadmiums, cerulean, titanium white and other opaque colours to keep separated from my transparent set. I also have 2 full pan boxes; one with a limited palette of watercolours, and a second full pan box with gouache from tubes.
Too bad they don’t just sell the empty box. The cheap paint degrades the experience for seasoned painters, and inexperienced people become discouraged, and blame themselves for poor washed out results.
I don't know how much cheaper they could sell it for. It's $18.50 right now.
@@thefrugalcrafter Agreed! It’s a remarkable price for a field palette. I think I paid around $70 for my first one in 1982 - a major splurge at that time.
Hi Lindsay, which would you recommend more, this palette or the portable painter (with the assumption that I would remove the Cotman paints and put my own in)?
The portable painter hands down
Oh dear. That does make me hope that the custom-compiled Cotman palette I put together last summer is from _before_ the quality decline. I bought the blue metal Cotman tin and some extra colors - mostly earth tones, if I'm going to be 100% honest, heheh - to stick in it for plein air painting (fantasy self~), but haven't actually used it for that purpose yet because life has been insane. I mostly didn't want to take my expensive set of paints outside.
I bought this with professionell colors and I like it very much, I have a lot of brands, bought in Germany, but I like Winsor & Newton very much, best wishes from Cologne, Germany :-)
Lindsey I have this . . I would like to up grade the pans. Would you suggest what you would put in. I have no problem switching from Windsor professional to other brands just want to use the travel palette which. Don’t now as the colors are as you note dull. Love watching you thanks
I would refill the pans with the 6 tube essential set from Daniel Smith (a warm and cool of each primary) then add sap green, yellow ochre and burnt seinna and 3 more colors you like. I like Davinci watercolors too if you are in the USA, good prices.
@@thefrugalcrafter thank you so much. I will
Have a look at DS as I don’t have any. I love your work and you live in my favorite place Maine the way life should be. Spent several years at a summer cottage in Alfred
This pallet is so tempting but I never liked W& N paints professional or otherwise. The grandkids have enough of my discarded paints so I keep passing on it.
Tfs.
I'm a beginner but am so unimpressed with WN paint. I spent so much money on them for a class and just set them aside.
Heya Lindsay! I think this Cotman box only serves for the box itself. 😅 I have one I bought used from eBay, a good price too. I sold the mint Cotman pans to a friend. Now, you recommend the box with the pro paints, but it really depends from where you buy it. If you check out British reviews about the field box, the selection is worse than Cotman: comes with a milky PY53 nickel titanate lemon, a black, a white, a true PR83 alizarin crimson, yellow ochre AND raw Sienna! The other 6 colors are fine (UltB, Windsor red, a mid yellow, phtalo blue, sap green, burnt Sienna) but almost half of the palette gets compromised with colors a professional artist would like to replace! :/ I have British Cotman paints from 2014, back when they were still produced in France. I just want to finish them off because I like the pan format, so I can fill my Sketchers box with professional paints.
You let that bee out of your bonnet, Lindsay!! 😂😉👍🏾🙏🏾 Never was a WnN lover, so that’s okay with me. TFS!! 🥰👍🏾💜 Breathe, deep breaths!!
😆
Similarly, I coveted this set, mostly for the pallette. Got it cheap a couple months ago, swatched it out, and what??. I still have old cotman paints that are stronger including the real cads. (Granted they are tubes, not pans). And I learned on cotman, with a few cherished pro colors -work that has lasted years longer than it should have (LOL). Sorry to hear that WN is going wrong. I have so many of their excellent products in my aging stash. 🥴
Give me a good cool pink hue and a warm red and I can mix a good Alizarin Crimson hue. But you cannot get a good cool pink hue from Alizarin Crimson! That they include the one and not the other makes me crazy!
i recently got the schminke travel palette and it is super nice, the paint is sooo pigmented but i cosed the water reservoir cap too tight and can't get it to open anymore
i also have two W&N premade palettes from several years ago and i think they are really good.(the sketcher's pocket set and the one that comes with a water brush)
I think I managed to snatch the old professional version with Cadmiums, year and a half ago.
Thanks for the review! If this isn't a good range of colors for a beginner to learn color mixing from, then what would be a good starter set?
Daniel Smith 6 color essential set is good. If you can get it for under $30
@@thefrugalcrafter Thanks for the reply!!
Thanks Lindsey!!!
I’ve had this forever this is great to modify to hold 30 halfpans
Hi Lindsay! Do you have any updates on how you have modified this palette for yourself? I have enough paint but for the price I’m considering getting it as a holiday travel palette and putting my own paints in. If you decided to do an updated video on it I’d happily watch 😊😊😊😊
Yes I do! I put in a motley crew of half pans from Regina's watercolor and some earth tones. It's lovely but in all honesty it's one for the collection. I thing the portable painter is the most useful travel palette and if you are looking for the best travel palette I'd go for the portable painter classic. I am glad I bought this tho because it's fun to try something nw once in a while.
I remember taking a watercolor class as a kid and was taught to lick our brushes after using to help the bristles keep their shape. I wonder if misinformation like that is why they avoid highly toxic colours like cadmium in the starter sets.
Might be
Nice surprise, thought you were off this week. Sadly W&N have been selling out for years, my first paints were Cotman and not so long ago. Love the palette though. Thanks
I am on vacation but I prerecorded videos:)
I am on vacation but I prerecorded videos:)
I have a version with professional paint and I like it. I think we have so many affordable brands that perform very good and Cotman is rather plain and chalky in comparison. I like their professional line, but I don't like that they have put black and white in the set, white is transparent and neutrals I mix so almost never use black. For mixing phthalo green is great, both for mixing black and for mixing vibrant greens so I added it to the set, I also added violet.
Yeah, I don't know how they choose colors for kits sometimes.
I know people freak out about alizarin crimson but I have 20 year old paintings that don't look faded and that was my cool red since I was in 8th grade
I have this from early 2000s and my paints are different. Cad red hue, cobalt blue, yellow ochre, Chinese white, cad yellow hue(2 of them. I think they screwed up), ultramarine, sap green, burnt umber, aliz crimson, veridian and burnt sienna.
I never buy cotman anymore. I have my old sets (3) when I was a student and the pigments and quality aren’t the same. I totally agree with you that it’s sad that they are leaning on their name to make profits and giving lower quality products. It would be very discouraging to new painters thinking it was their skills.
Thanks for your honest review. Question for anyone, if I ditch the water bottle can I get some more half pans in there???
Probably, I never thought of doing that. I think they are $19 now.
@@thefrugalcrafter OK!!! Wow, wow, wow, WINNING! Lindsay, I hacked that little bad boy, and it WORKED!
I had gone ahead and ordered it from the Zonians was shipped next day. Unboxed this afternoon.
I'm totally good with the Cotman pans and tubes. They work for what I'm usually playing around with very well. I was intrigued by the micro palette.
Ok, so removed the wee sea sponge, not something I use normally. Took out the water bottle, which upon actually seeing it I deemed a HUGE waste of space. If I'm going out to sketch and paint outside I'm going to have my water bottle with me, and probably a thermos of tea for the months coming up.
I kept the 12 original colors, yes even the white, though I doubt I'll use it much, don't know, some opaque pastel things?
I moved the pans around to the configuration I like.
So, 12 pans as set up. 2 on top left and right row where the sponge was.
Opposite side where the flask was 2 rows of 4 and one row of 2. There is easily enough room for 5 more half pans. The wee travel brush is still in there to the right of the last row on flask side.
It closes just fine.
I was going to secure the original pans with a touch of plastitack but I couldn't find mine and didn't feel like digging.
I used 1/4" round foam craft sticker things on the new side to secure and the original side so they didn't make so much noise.
They are holding very secure.
I'm cool with the original 12 colors, but sometimes when watercolor sketching I want some more green and blue varieties in a hurry.
That was kind of the point of me doing this.
The water cup cap still fits on and click locks easy.
The only things gone are water flask and wee sea sponge. I'm very happy. 😊😊😊
Thank you for sharing 🙏
As of today the Cotman set is on Amazon for $18.88 and the Professional set is $72.12. I have a newer Cotman set and like it. I will probably refill with Danial Smith or M. Graham after I have used up the Cotmans.
The color wheels produced by those paints say everything that needs to be said, which you articulated very well: get this if you want the palette but know you might want to add your own pans of paint and probably replace the travel brush. And be careful with the thumb ring. I bought the student grade set of the _White Knights_ paints, _Sonnet,_ on the advice of another UA-cam artist who said it was as good as the professional grade with the possible exception of the fade resistance. She couldn’t find any information on it and hadn’t tested it herself so she couldn’t say. This particular artist compounded her own watercolors so I trust she knew what she was saying. Another UA-cam artist included the Sonnet set in her top 10 of best sets for beginners and I believe you also gave them a nod. The colors are incredibly pigmented. The vibrancy of the colors is literally breathtaking. I’m glad I got that set for the price I did at the time. The very first set of paints I purchased (Johnny Q?) were in a small palette that I loved and felt would be perfect for traveling. It doesn’t have a water flask though 😢. I’m glad I love the palette because the paints are utterly forgettable but thankfully, replaceable. As always, thank you Lindsey! I greatly value, enjoy, and appreciate your reviews and recommendations above all others.
The sonnet paint is good!
GET EM LINDSAY
100% agree with you
enjoyed the review
Thanks what do you think of Paul Rubens set.
I like them. Great value
Going to shops like Michael's here in Calgary, Canada, I don't often see the W&N or Cotman brands.
I see a lot of Artist Loft products though.
Artist Loft is Michael's house brand, so there will often be tonnes of it there. White labeled stuff on the cheap, basically.
All the big box stores are doing more with their house brands and less with name brands these days.
@@thefrugalcrafter that's too bad. I miss seeing Tim Holtz and Jane Davenport products.
I just wanted to add that with the pandemic and the run on rubbing alcohol here, we Canadians can no longer buy rubbing alcohol at a high enough concentration for art purposes. Highest c is 75% vs the 90+% we artists need for alcohol inks.
Hi, My Friend. Another beatdown on expensive art supplies, lol. Yay! The colors are blah. We all have our favorite brands of brushes and 'kit' brushes tend to lack. Just my opinion. I'm quietly cheering "Get em' Lindsay!" You stick up for all of us when we nose dive into your reviews to add to our hoard. Your painting is gorgeous and you are not being salty. You are just being honest. Until the next product review spanking, happy crafting. 😃 Thank you!
I know you hate the brush, but your illustration is beautiful.
Yes! Make the geraniums into a tutorial please.
Hey Lindsey, I've been watching you for so many years now and just love your content and I can always rely on your opinion to be honest and with fellow artists best interest at heart. Anywho ..🤓.. I just had a quick question. I have been stocking Amazon for Paul Rubens Artist grade watercolor tube sets to restock. And so far NADA ..😤😠.. Do you think they have replaced their artist grade watercolor tubes for the opaque artist watercolor tubes? 🤔 Ugh. I've been so frustrated because Ali Express has them but for a pretty penny that I am not wanting to spend our wait forever and a day for. What would you recommend as a replacement for quality and price to the Paul Rubens artist grade tubes? I loath Cotman and want to get professional quality paints. I saw your review on the Artwhale paints but they were student grade. They are tempting though. Lol ok now I'm rambling. 😊 Thx
I'm not sure why they no longer sell the tubes on amazon. It might be that they are more likely to get damaged or they didn't keep selling well. I'm not sure. Could be the price went up on the tubes and 5hey didn't think they would sell at that price. If they went up on Ali that could be why.
Thank you for a great review Lindsay. Very unfortunate such a well known company is sacrificing their reputation for profits. Disappointing for sure and not a good long term strategy for their brand.
They have the professional version for sale up on Amazon, too, however, I won't buy it because their listing is all mixed up. They have it listed as the 14-pan travel palette, but have the field palette pictured, and then vice-versa, the 12-pan field palette is listed with the 14-pan travel palette pictured. (At least it was that way yesterday.) I don't want to buy the Cotman version because I know I just do NOT like the Cotman line. They're so difficult to re-wet and work with, and I don't want to get stuck with 12 pans of watercolor I won't use and wouldn't subject a friend to.
A few years ago I ordered this set from consumer crafts but their listing was messed up and they sent a different cotman set so you are right to be concerned.
I always hated Cotman. I just don’t get why people like it so much. In the same price range we can find, at least here in Brazil, easily the Van Goghs by Rembrandt and they are so much better! But now I’m not using most of them anymore, I upgraded to professional watercolors. I do have some Winsor and Newton, but it’s not my favorite. I love Schmincke and Daniel Smith. I also love White Nights by Nevskaya Palitra - it’s probably hard for you guys to get them since they come from Russia. But it’s a great paint. Love their professional gouache btw.
Rembrandt and Maimeri Blu are great brands as well. And, of course, Sennelier (not a big fan though). Oh and I do love my QoR. I have a little set. Wish I had more, but I always forget to import them.
Oh yes, I completely agree! I got myself Cotman 45 half pans palette and they're so pale and plain. I've had high expectations (Winsor&newton duh), and I'm so disappointed. Every time I give it another try, I'm like "why!?"! I'll stick to my guns ( Nevskaya Palitra pans and Van Gogh tubes)!
Side note: I believe the so-called "student edition" shouldn't even exist. Professionals are able to use crappiest materials and still create masterpieces. But students should have THE BEST materials while studying, and it's definitely not Cotman or some crappy watercolor paper etc.
Excellent point. How many students are turned away by the frustration of using sub-par materials, not realizing that it is not their fault they are not achieving results they hope for.
Bummer, it went up to $31.
save your hair color activator bottles. the narrow spout fills water pens, and small containers fantastically
Thank you for teaching me about the colors and the ingredients that company uses to make a color, im learning alot about color theory ,and the ingredients( componets? am i saying that right?? Sometimes i get confused on terminology as im learning so much info every day) ... i try not to buy anything from china anymore i try to buy from europe or american countries im just trying to know that workers are getting paided a decent pay scale .....it actully forces me to do more of a no buy till xmas orr whats a want or need....it was hard the first year but its been quite few years know that i done this.... i even spoke to the inventor at painters palette asked if hed considered making his product in usa in the future to support american jobshe said he was locked in to manfacture it in china but he consider it in future i hope he would or does....mikelle art mom🎨✍👩🎨
Not surprised by comments on paint, I’ve been meh 🫤 about this brand for a while, just dull and not the best to work with, flow is almost non existent. I know this is student grade, for the price I expect better. There professional brand I’m not that happy with either, just the colours there is no pop and these are looking a little dull as well. Could just be me though. Cute pallet, think I will pass mainly because of the brand. Thanks for the look.
I got my box same time as you and my colors are different: cad yel pl, cad yel, cad red pl, alizarin, ultramarine, cobalt, sap, viridian, yel ochre, b umber, b sienna and black.
That is so odd.
That is so odd.
Tried to find the deal, but I was too late. I like the palette and would replace the paints.