Thursday, August 15, 2013

New Colors!

For about the last 15 years or so, I've had the same travel watercolor set.  I had taken it with me on trips here and there and all over.  Then, without even noticing, it was gone!  I looked for it to take with me on the last couple of trips, and thought it was just misplaced.  But, after a pretty comprehensive search through the earlier part of this week, and no gold, well, I gave up the old set for lost.

I was bummed.  Really bummed.

Then, I went to the art store with a friend and she went to another part of the store while I asked a shop employee for recommendations on a suitable replacement.  The set nearest to the one I lost was a bit too compact and had a water reservoir attached to it which was cool, but it was so limited in pigment pan space, that it just wasn't right.  She then showed me the set she has herself.  It's a set with 12 pans, but with space for 24 and fits a brush of regular size, too!  I was sold.  I bought two additional pans from their Horadam line - Manganese violet and a Dark red.

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid and received a new box of crayons, I tested out each color... So that's what I did here.


Yay! New watercolor set!  

Schmencke Set 75412 AKADEMIE® Aquarell, Solid metal box
with 12 half pans and space for 12 additional half pans
And, in 15 years, watercolor pans have changed a lot!  These pans are so much smoother and less grainy than before.  The pigment cakes dry way faster, too, and the colors flow much more like ink.  I'm kind of glad the old set retired itself.  Otherwise, I might never have known!


6 comments:

marcy harriell | oonaballoona said...

i love this!!! tell me you're keeping this as art!

Carolyn said...

Your artwork is so beautiful... you could frame that! That's a really nice watercolour set. I wish I was half as artistic as you!

Alice said...

I know how you feel! I lost my beautiful set of 24 W & N paints in a metal box. When at last I tracked down another, I couldn't believe I had to pay over £100 (mine had been over twenty years old and cost much less back then). However, as you have said, the quality now is much improved. Enjoy your new set!

I like your new-paint doodle.

adriprints said...

I could!

adriprints said...

Wow! Thank you for the compliment!

adriprints said...

I know! I had a bit of sticker shock too, but am pleased with the changes. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!