The Best Watercolor Paints and Pallets

​I'm sharing with you my personal collection of the Best Watercolor Paints and Pallets that I use day in and day out. Links included on where to buy each pallet, which paint colors are my favorite and why I like each pallet and how they differ too! 

Koi Travel Size Watercolor Paints 

[ shop this palette : HERE ]

Technically called the Sakura Koi Watercolors Pocket Field Sketch Box that I purchased from Hobby Lobby a couple of years back. As you can see, it is well loved and has traveled MANY places with me. I love that this palette came with its own watercolor brush (one with the water in the handle), a sponge for to clean your brush and soak up water and I really love the extra  extension tray for mixing colors. It is a little larger than my other travel size palette (see below) but has more color options. All of the basic colors, plus a few extras, like a nice fleshy peach, and few blue + green options. The colors are very rich and show up vibrant on your paper. 

Travel Size Watercolor Pallet by Winsor & Newton

​[ shop this palette : HERE ]

The Winsor & Newton travel watercolor palette was the first palette I bought to travel with, and even though it is limited in colors, I think it is my favorite to travel with. It's so tiny (and cute) and can fit in basically every bag I own. This palette also comes with its own cute little paint brush, that I am surprised I haven't lost yet. I usually pack more brushes when I take this palette, as that paint brush is good in qauilty, but tiny in size. The colors are rich and really nice in qaulity but the thing that I really love about this palette is that you can change out the colors. You can buy the little squares of color OR you can use an empty square and squirt in your favorite colors from a tube! 
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Royal & Langnickle Watercolor Paints & Mijello Air Tight Water Color Pallet 

[ shop : Royal & Langnickle Watercolor Paints : HERE ]
[ Shop : Mijello Air Tight Watercolor Palette : Here ]

Now, we are moving on to 'squirt' paints (as I like to call them) or better known, tube paints. I usually prefer squirt (watercolor) paints to the premade dry palettes. I feel like I like the colors are better and are eaiser to mix and manipulate. However, they aren't as easy to travel with or whip out quickly.

When I was teaching art in the classroom, Royal & Langnickle was one of  the brands I choose to use with my students. However, they also make a professional grade line of paints + brushes that are good quality and affordable in price. The colors pop on the page and in the palette, and brush smoothly against your paper. My favorite colors in this set are the yellows and the pink.

I purchased this Air Tight Watercolor Palette a while back, and never got around to using it. When I got these paints, I decided to put it to work and it is no joke. If I leave my paints wet and then close this up, they will still be moist when I come back to them the next day. I highly recomend this watercolor palette. 

Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor Paints + Pallet 

[ Shop : Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor Palette set : Here ]

Okay, this Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors + Palette is the BEST and my most favorite watercolors I have ever used, ever. However, I will admit that the one below is right on its level- but all other palettes + watercolor paints I've used don't compare. (In my opinion.) When purchasing the set, it comes with paints and a palette. My two favorite colors is the HOT pink and deep dark smoky blue. 

This set is a little more expensive than the ones above, but totally worth the investment. I know the tubes look small, but they will last you. The colors are rich and vibrant and come in a wide variety of shades. I'm not lying when I say this is my go to palette. 

​Kuretake Watercolor Palette

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Kuretake Watercolor Palette : Shop​

I bought this Kuretake Watercolor Palette because I kept seeing it pop up in Instagram pictures of some of my favorite artist that I follow online. Finally, I decided I had to check it out for myself. I see why so many great artist have it. It is one of the Best Watercolor Palettes I have ever used, really! You can see that I am nearly out of the Periwinkle Blue (no.61) and Teal (no.50). The colors are rich, vibrant, thick and so fun to paint with. AND this set comes with a copper + gold metallic...that are actually metallic and still vibrant. LOVE this palette! 

Student + Budget Friendly Watercolor Paints 

[ Shop : Artist Loft 36 + 24 Watercolor Paint Pallet Sets : HERE // 
Crayola Watercolor set : HERE // Prang Watercolor set : HERE // Reeves Tube Watercolor Paints : Here ]

Lastly, here are the palettes to use, that WONT break the bank and are good options to start out with if you are new to the craft, or if you are wanting to paint with your kids. I highly recomend the Artist Loft brand palettes. They have great color options and aren't so bad in quality to only be $5! 

WHEW! That was A LOT! I hope it's helpful in helping you decide which pallet is best for you! 
Also, let me know what I missed and/or what your favorite watercolor paints/pallets are to use- I'd love to hear from you! 

Psst! : If you like this post, do me a favor and pin it!