Have you ever stared at a wall of colorful watercolor pans, feeling a little lost? It’s like being in a candy store with too many choices! Picking the perfect set of watercolor pans can feel overwhelming. You want vibrant colors that mix well, but the brand names and pan sizes all blur together.
Many artists struggle with knowing which pans truly deliver on their promises. Do some dry out too fast? Are some pigments weaker than others? These little frustrations can really slow down your creative flow. You want paint that works with you, not against you.
This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore what makes a great watercolor pan. You will learn exactly what features to look for so you can choose paints that make your artwork shine. Get ready to unlock smoother painting sessions and brighter colors!
Top Watercolor Paint Pans Recommendations
- EMPTY WATERCOLOR HALF PANS : 48Pcs white plastic half pans with magnetic stripe, watercolor paint pan size: 19mmx16mmx10mm (0.75”x0.63”x0.4”), capacity: 1.8ml, fit for Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith , M Graham , Prima, Grumbacher, Kuretake, Holbein, Lukas, Schmincke or Sennelier watercolor paint and more
- MAGNETIC STRIPE: 2 tape sheets 50 magnetic squares (1 tape sheets of 25 magnetic squares,each 15x15x1.5mm), magnet on 1 side, self adhesive on the other side, adhere the magnet to the bottoms of the paint empty pans, Use in metal tins
- WATERCOLOR PANS FOR MULTIPLE USES: suit for metal watercolor tins, empty watercolor Half pans are fit for holding repacking solid paint, or fill with watercolor paints to create a unique DIY travel watercolor kits, convenient to be removed and replaced, you can exchange the sequence of the paint pans easily. and they are universal use and easy to carry in your package
- HIGH QUALITY HALF PANS: the empty watercolor pans is very lightweight, thinner walls and they take up less room, It’s durable and reusable, portable size for sketching and perfect for watercolor Oils or Acrylics Painting, fit for many types of metal watercolor tins/palette, such as Jane Davenport and Prima watercolor palette
- This is a perfect gift for professional artists, watercolor painters, beginners and paint lovers
- Package includes 1 airtight watercolor palette with 18 wells for different paint colors and 2 large mixing areas.
- Mr. Pen airtight watercolor palette is made of sturdy white plastic that is easy to clean.
- This paint tray palette has an airtight lid, which is excellent for keeping the paint pans moist and easy to clean. Keep your colors tidy and organized.
- This watercolor palette is perfect for the classroom, travel, and Plein air painting. Suitable for students, occasional users, and professional artists.
- Mr. Pen airtight watercolor palette works perfectly for watercolor, acrylic, and other water-based pigments.
- 3.2ml empty watercolor paint pans suit for metal watercolor tins,great for holding repacking solid paint and homemade watercolors.
- Empty watercolor paint pans size: 3.0cm x 19cm x 1.0cm, 3.2ml
- Color:white; Material:plastic
- These Full pans are easy to be removed, you can exchange the sequence of the paint pans easily
- Packge includes 48pcs white Plastic Empty Watercolor Paint Pans,purchase does not include the watercolor tins
- Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours are a range of water colours that are made to our high quality standards but costs are kept to an economical level by replacing some of the more costly pigments with less expensive alternatives
- Cotman Water Colours possess good transparency, excellent tinting strength and good working properties
- This popular pocket-sized plastic box features an integral mixing palette in the lid
- This water colour set contains a pocket brush and 12 Cotman Water Colour half pans: Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Yellow Hue, Cadmium Red Pale Hue, Alizarin Crimson Hue, Ultramarine, Intense Blue (Phthalo Blue), Viridian Hue, Sap Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Chinese White
- 12 colors (plus 1 brush and tray)
- Empty Watercolor Palette Size: 8.9 × 4.4 × 0.8 inches (22.5 × 11 × 2 cm) metal watercolor palette with 28pcs standard empty watercolor full pans. Designed for refilling your own paints and DIY watercolor sets. PLEASE NOTE: Not compatible with XL, oversized watercolor pans. Please check pan size before purchasing.
- Secure Watercolor Tin with Lid: Portable metal watercolor tin palette with a secure lid to keep your paints clean, dry, and protected. Perfect for travel, outdoor sketching, urban sketching, and on-the-go artists.
- High-Quality Metal Palette with Mixing Areas: Durable metal palette with smooth rolled edges for safe handling. Features 2 large fold-out mixing areas and 1 extra mixing area when the pan tray is removed — ideal for watercolor and gouache mixing, sketching, and travel use.
- Watercolor Full Pans Size: Each empty plastic full pan measures 1.18 × 0.78 × 0.4 inches (3 × 2 × 1 cm) with a 3ml capacity. Thin-wall design allows more paint space while fitting securely in standard watercolor palette tins.
- Durable and Reusable Design: Each empty watercolor full pan locks firmly into place inside the metal tin to prevent movement during transport. Easy to remove, replace, and rearrange — ideal for DIY watercolor paint makers, refillable palettes, and custom color sets.
- 50 Essential Colors for Every Artist: A carefully curated palette of vibrant, rich pigments that cater to all artistic styles—just add a little water to activate these semi-transparent watercolors.
- 6 Premium Brushes Included: Enjoy precision painting with high-quality brushes (sizes 3/0 to 3) featuring fine-pointed tips—no cheap water brush pens or wooden substitutes here!
- Built-In Mixing Tray for Easy Blending: The integrated mixing space lets you create custom colors effortlessly—no extra tools needed for seamless color exploration.
- Beginner-Friendly All-in-One Kit: Perfect for new artists! This set simplifies watercolor painting with ready-to-use colors and tools, so you can start creating confidently right away.
- Portable Metal Case for Artists On-the-Go: Everything stores neatly in a sturdy metal "tool box"—ideal for travel, or plein air painting adventures.
- Enough Watercolor Paint Kits: the package contains 150 pieces of watercolor half pans with 150 pieces of magnetic squares, 300 pieces in total, meeting your daily using, sharing and replacing needs for paint
- Reliable Material Adopted: paint pans are mainly made of plastic, compact and lightweight, solid and strong, easy to wipe clean, reusable and long lasting, serving you for a long time
- Easy to Install: one side is a magnet, and the other side is sticky, these paint magnets can be firmly fixed into the bottoms of half pans, and thus they don't slide around in the empty watercolor palette, simple to assemble and remove, allowing you to change the places of pans with different colors at your will
- children
- A Wide Range of Applications: the travel water color kit is suitable for repacking solid paint, or filling with watercolor paints to create DIY watercolor palettes, fitting artists, teachers, students and so forth, versatile and practical
- 100 UNIQUE SHADES YOU COULD DREAM OF, EXTREMELY WIDE SELECTION OF COLORS: Grabie watercolor paint set of 100 colors including 50 regular watercolors, and the amazing metallic, macaron, and fluorescent watercolors, features high-quality artist-grade watercolors that blend easily and offer many color options to save you time from having to blend custom colors. With 100 different watercolor paints to choose from, let your imagination run wild.
- PRECISELY FORMULATED WATERCOLOR PAINTS, LET YOUR INSPIRATIONG FLOW: Grabie watercolor set possess good transparency, excellent tinting strength and good working properties. These paints are made from a selection of modern high-quality pigments milled to perfection, bright, rich, soluble, easy to blend, fade-resistant, durable and will not crack. A must have watercolor paints to add to your art supplies, make your watercolor art come to life.
- HIGH QUALITY PAINT SET, 100% NON-TOXIC TESTED AND CERTIFIED FOR SAFE USE: Grabie watercolor paint set conforms to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 safety standards, utilizing high grade pigments developed to showcase the vibrancy of rich, vivid color, 100% safe and non-toxic. Artist quality paints are manufactured by high-quality control standards, aimed at providing quality painting, drawing and art supplies for all ages and levels.
- PREMIUM WATERCOLOR SET WITH PENCIL AND BRUSHES, EVERYTHING INCLUDED: This travel watercolor set gives you the ability to paint with watercolor paint at home or while traveling, 1 drawing pencil, 1 natural sponge, 1 swatch sheet and 3 water brush pens, this watercolor set is complete with the most comprehensive selection of watercolor accessories, ideal for artists, amateur hobbyists and painting lovers.
- PERFECT PORTABLE WATERCOLOR PAINT SET, CREAT ON THE GO: Ultimate travel watercolor set with a compact carrying box, size-8.19*4.93*1.38 in, item weight-14.9 oz, the sturdy metal case won't take up much space in your bag, lightweight and portable. Grabie watercolor paint set has been selected by lots of artists, travel, indoors, countryside, park, beach, garden and city, wherever they go, they can always enjoy the freedom of painting.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing Your Perfect Watercolor Pans
Watercolor painting is a fun and beautiful art form. Watercolor paints come in different forms, but pans are very popular. Watercolor pans are solid blocks of paint. They are great for beginners and professional artists alike. This guide helps you pick the best watercolor pans for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When buying watercolor pans, look closely at what makes them special. These features really matter for your painting experience.
1. Pigment Concentration
- High Concentration: Better paints use more actual pigment. This means your colors will look brighter and stronger even after you add water.
- Low Concentration: Cheaper paints use more filler. Your colors might look pale or weak when you paint.
2. Lightfastness Rating
Lightfastness shows how well the color resists fading when exposed to light. Artists want paints that last a long time.
- Look for labels like “Excellent” or ASTM ratings of I or II. These colors stay vibrant for years.
- Avoid paints rated III or IV if you plan to display your artwork in sunny areas.
3. Binder Quality
The binder holds the pigment together. High-quality watercolor pans use gum arabic. This binder helps the paint flow smoothly onto the paper.
Important Materials: What’s Inside Your Pans?
The ingredients determine how your paint behaves.
Pigments Used
- Professional Grade: These often use single, pure pigments. They mix cleanly and offer brilliant results.
- Student Grade: These might mix several pigments to create one color. They are cheaper but might not mix as clearly.
Additives and Fillers
Good paints use minimal fillers. Fillers like chalk can make the paint feel gritty. Good pans re-wet easily. Poor quality pans might crumble or resist water.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality is not just about the label; it’s about how the paint performs.
Improving Quality: Ease of Re-wetting
A high-quality pan softens quickly when you touch it with a wet brush. This saves you time. If you have to scrub hard to get paint, the quality is likely lower.
Reducing Quality: Cracking and Binding
If the paint dries out and cracks severely inside the pan, the binder might be weak. Good pans should crack only slightly or remain smooth. Poor binding makes the paint lift off the paper unevenly.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about where and how you plan to paint. This affects the best choice for you.
Portability and Set Size
- Travel Artists: Small, compact sets with 12 or 24 colors work best. Metal tins are durable for travel.
- Studio Artists: Larger sets (36 or more colors) offer more variety. You might use plastic palettes which are lighter to move around the studio.
Transparency vs. Opacity
Watercolor is known for being transparent (you can see layers underneath). Some modern pans include more opaque colors (like white or bright yellows) for highlights. Decide if you need very transparent colors or some stronger, covering colors.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Watercolor Paint Pans
Q: What is the main difference between watercolor pans and tubes?
A: Pans are dry, solid blocks of paint. Tubes hold creamy, wet paint. Pans are better for travel and quick sketching. Tubes are better for mixing large amounts of color quickly in a studio setting.
Q: How do I activate watercolor pans?
A: You activate them by touching the dry paint surface lightly with a wet brush. Let the brush sit for a few seconds to let the water soak in. Then, you pick up the color.
Q: Are student-grade pans okay for serious artwork?
A: Student-grade pans are great for practice, learning techniques, and quick studies. For gallery work or commissions, professional grades offer better lightfastness and richer color.
Q: Can I refill my watercolor pans?
A: Yes, you can! You can buy tube paints or larger pans to refill empty slots in your palette tin. This is a cost-effective way to customize your set.
Q: How should I store my watercolor pans?
A: Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep the lid closed when not in use to prevent dust from settling on the paint.
Q: What does “granulation” mean for watercolor pans?
A: Granulation is when some pigments settle unevenly on the paper, creating a lovely, textured effect. Some artists love this texture; others prefer smooth washes. Check reviews to see if a color granulates.
Q: How long do watercolor pans last?
A: If stored properly, watercolor pans can last for many, many years, even decades. They dry out but usually re-wet perfectly fine.
Q: Should I buy a set with white paint included?
A: Often, the white paint in a pan set is not very opaque. Many watercolorists prefer to use the white of their paper or buy a separate tube of opaque gouache for highlights.
Q: Can I mix my own colors in the palette pan?
A: Yes! Most metal or plastic palette lids have mixing wells. You can mix small amounts of color there before applying it to your paper.
Q: What is the best paper to use with watercolor pans?
A: Cold-press watercolor paper, around 140 lb (300 gsm) weight, works best. It has a slight texture that grabs the pigment well from the pans.