![]() Watercolor paints have a lightfastness grading, as per the ASTM scale (American Standard Test Measure). They are ‘fugitive paints.’ This means the colors will tend to fade out, disappear, or turn grey, changing the feel of your paintings. Some watercolor paints contain pigments and dyes that are not lightfast. Lightfastness refers to how long the paint will last on exposure to light. Lightfastness – How long will the paint last? Paints are categorized as transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, and opaque. If there is a layer on the black line, it means the paint is not transparent. Tip: Draw a black line in waterproof ink. And, mixing one or more such paints will result in a muddy wash. Opaque watercolors tend to dry with a chalky finish. You can apply multiple washes over each other and create a subtle change in color (the layering technique). The more transparent the paint the more layers you can add to your paintings. This means when you apply a wash on paper, it allows light to pass through. Reading a Watercolor Label (Source) Transparency – How clear is a paint application? Let me simplify them so you can see how they’ll end up looking in your painting. Have you ever read the fine print on a watercolor tube? I admit it sounds like a lot of numbers and confusing phrases. Choose quality over quantity.Ĭharacteristics: What to look for in Watercolors? Otherwise, it is best to use a small selection of professional paints that fit your budget. When you are first learning how to watercolor paint, and want to keep the costs low, pick up a student set. Notice that the artist swatch is brighter and more transparent. You’ll need to pick more color to create vibrant washes Pigments mixed with fillers leading to a slightly chalky feel.Supports layering, lifting, spreading and other watercolor techniques.High pigment concentration resulting in vibrant washes. ![]() Quality: Professional or Student Grade Paints? Specifically, in avoiding muddy colors and fading paintings. Now, I know what I’m doing when I buy paints and I’ve found it works wonders for improving my art. While it is fun to ‘gamble’ a bit in the art store – this is not the best way to pick paints! Over the years, I’ve read books and talked to artists to understand my art supplies a little better. I’ve picked up watercolor paints for such reasons in the past… My favorite Instagrammer swears by this brand. ![]()
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