Favorite Supplies: Handmade watercolor paint obsession

Supply Guide

Aug 27

My first set of watercolor paints was a basic set of Reeves tube paints in 12 traditional artist colors. I had bought it + let it sit in my studio for years before opening it when I was pregnant with my second daughter.

The set included colors like Burnt Sienna, Lemon + Crimson. I quickly discovered that those were not my colors + that the joy I derived from my work was deeply associated with the colors in which I created. When I didn’t like the colors, I was disappointed with the outcome.

So I began to search out tubes of paint in colors like Lime, Turquoise + Pink to build my paint collection.

For the love of handmade watercolors

I now had more of what I call “my colors,” but it was a trip to Kauai, where I discovered The Ocean Paper, that led to my discovery + love of handmade watercolor paint.

The Ocean Paper made all the colors that I wanted to use without having to mix the colors myself!

I ordered my first custom set in 2020 + it felt like Christmas morning unwrapping each individually packaged pan of paint. It marked the beginning of my obsession with handmade watercolor paint.

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Since ordering that first set, I’ve ordered 3 more custom sets from The Ocean Paper. Plus, I’ve discovered more beloved handmade brands to fuel my watercolor paint addiction.

Favorite Handmade Watercolor Paint Brands

These appear in the order in which I discovered them.

The Ocean Paper | Kauai

Sold individually or in sets, these pan watercolor paints are made using the highest quality pigments + are artist grade. From pastels, to neutrals, to beautiful blues + greens, the names alone will inspire you to purchase them. I am in love with these paints + couldn’t recommend them more.

Ruby Mountain Paint Co. |Colorado

Maker of artist-quality, non-toxic watercolors using pure pigments sourced from around the globe, specifically chosen for their color properties, lightfastness + application in watercolor. I love supporting this woman owned local company + Kate has made custom colors just for me!

Jazper Stardust | Pennsylvania

Available in 200 colors ranging from traditional translucent colors to opaque granular pure color mineral/stone pigments. My quest for vibrant neon paints led me to this brand + I was not disappointed.

Case for Making | San Francisco

Paints are made from the highest quality of minerals. Each color is carefully selected + tested, created with a ton of pigment with just enough natural watercolor medium to make the paints rich, opaque + long-lasting. Plus, they have an awesome mission: We believe in the creative power of all humans, and that to be creative and be truly ourselves we need to be free and safe.

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L’Ecole Des Beaux Arts, aka Idba Brooklyn | Santa Fe, NM

These beautiful paints were an Instagram discovery from artist Deborah Stein. Deborah’s Dreamscape palette was so alluring, I had to purchase it. Idba’s handmade watercolor paint is pure pigment mixed with natural watercolor medium; this gives their paint a rich, opaque, pure quality. They use the finest natural, mineral, earth + some synthetic pigments from Italy, France, Germany, Mexico, Austria, India and the US- and they use no known toxic pigments.