Best Student Grade Watercolor Paints Beginners
The line of watercolor paints for artists is quite expensive, and art supplies manufacturers diversify their product range by adding a line of student-grade watercolor paints. Their price is much cheaper, so it is easy to reach the majority of users.
Although they may not be as good as the artist’s line, student watercolor paints have their uses too; and in some cases, they are more suitable for you than artist-grade paints.
Suggested content
Top 8 Best Watercolor Papers For Beginners
Watercolor beginners are very confused about choosing the right watercolor paper. Because there are many paper manufacturers in the market and each brand has different types of paper.
What differences between student and artist watercolor paint?
Only when you regularly use both of these paints will you see the difference. From vibrancy, material composition, consistency, and lightfastness, manufacturers have to minimize these features in order to lower the cost of the product.
When reviewing the most popular watercolor paints for beginners. We list the main differences when comparing artist and student colors that you should know before choosing the best paints brand for you.
1. The color range of student grade watercolors is limited
Manufacturers tend only to use cheap and popular pigments to create student-grade watercolor paints because some pigments are very expensive compared to the student-grade’s price. In addition, they also use synthetic colors to replace the real pigment in this production line
Nearly all student-grade paints will be made from pigment series numbers 1 to 3,  the lower the series number the color will be cheaper  (Series 1 – cheaper).
 For Example
- Vermilion’s artist made real pigment: PR106, Vermilion for the student is fake Pigment: PO73, PR254, PY110
- Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors range up to 80 colors, while Cotman Watercolors are only available in 40 colors
2. The performance of student grade paint can't work as artist
School-grade paint is difficult to dilute and when mixed together easily become a dirty mixture. The Fillers are added to reduce the pigment density which is a weakness of student paint that makes it can’t work like professional paint.
While, artist-grade paints are easy to dilute and mix as required by the artist, and colors are bright and mix beautifully on paper while retaining their value.
3. Different uses and different target audience
As the name suggests, student grade paint is used for studying and not for the final artwork, they are intended for amateurs, students, hobbies, and beginners to practice basic techniques in watercolor. However, professional painters still use them in some cases such as sketching with their watercolors.
Top Student Grape Watercolor Paints Brands for Beginners
Below, in my experience, I recommend the Best Student Grade Watercolor Paints Beginners based on characteristics: performance, price, and popularity.
1. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors
At the top of this list that I would recommend to you is Cotman Watercolors-student class watercolor paint of famous art supply manufacturer Winsor & Newton. This line of watercolor paints is used in many art classrooms around the world.
Cotman Watercolors uses good-quality pigments with a reduced amount of pigment compared to the professional watercolor line. Colors may start to fade over time but this is not a problem for beginners.
If you’re wondering about its lightfastness rating – rest assured. Most colors of the Cotman line are rated AA and A for Excellent and Good lightfastness
With 40 good-quality colors (their professional line has 108 colors), you don’t have to worry about color choices for your artwork.
No products found.
Key Features
- Available in 40 good-quality colors.
- Made in the UK
- Available in tubes, Pans, and boxes.
2. Royal Talens Van Gogh Watercolors
2nd on this list can’t help but mention Van Gogh Watercolors, a student-grade brand of Royal Talens manufacturer from Holland.
The basic range of Van Gogh Watercolors includes colors designed for students, comprising 72 good-quality watercolors. Their features are vibrant, transparent, and intense colors with high lightfastness (mostly 2 and 3-star lightfastness). Thanks to their purity and uniform viscosity, these watercolors are easy to apply and blend
No products found.
Key Features
- 72 good-quality colors
- Country of Origin: Holland
- Packaging: Tubes, Pans, Sets
3. Sennelier La Petit Aquarelle
Choosing the right watercolor paper can be difficult and challenging. Because of the variety of surfaces, forms, and weights, prices vary considerably from brand to brand. Hope this article will help you in choosing the best quality student-grade watercolor paper, that is suitable for your needs.
La Petite Aquarelle is designed to make creating mixes and washes easier and is perfect for artists learning to master watercolor, as well as for those who paint outdoors.
Pigments have been specially selected for their miscibility and the glycerin-enhanced binder allows for a smoother application of color on paper.
No products found.
Key Features
- Available in 40 quality colors.
- Country of the brand: France
- Available in tubes, Pans, and boxes.
4. Daler-Rowney Aquafine Watercolour Paint
Started on a mission in 1783 to produce high-quality pigments for oil color manufacturers. Daler-Rowney has become one of the most famous art supply companies in the world to this day.
The Daler-Rowney Aquafine line of watercolors is made of high-quality and modern pigments that provide excellent performance and controllability. With a color range of 48 colors, helping artists to freely choose colors for their work.
Almost every pigment receives high lightfastness ratings, great brightness and mixing ability are the main features of this range of watercolors.
Aquafine Watercolor Paints offers students and artists a high-performance watercolor line at an affordable price.
No products found.
Key Features
- Available in 48 quality colors.
- Ideal for coloring to Manga, illustrations, landscapes, and letterings.
- Made in the UK
- Available in tubes, Pans, and boxes.
5. Sakura Koi watercolor
Sakura is a Japanese art supply manufacturer with a history of more than 100 years. Started in 1921 as a pencil manufacturer in Osaka, this company has since grown to become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of a variety of stationery products as well as a wide range of art supplies.
The Sakura koi watercolor line is loved by beginners, designers, and illustrators for its cheap price, high-perform, and wide range of colors of up to 96 colors, including 60 regular colors, 4 metallic colors, 8 fluorescent colors, and 12 pearlescent colors.
The vibrant fluorescent colors are great for adding a touch of color that glows under black light. Iridescent and pearlescent hues are ideal for adding shimmer to your text, illustrations, manga characters, and mixed multimedia paintings.
Also, you can discover a whole new range of stunning effects by mixing these creative artistic colors with your traditional watercolor paints.
No products found.
Key Features
- Available in 96 quality colors, including 60 regular colors, 4 metallic colors, 8 fluorescent colors, and 12 pearlescent colors.
- Ideal for coloring to Manga, illustrations, landscapes, and letterings.
- Country of the brand: Japan
- Available in Tubes, Haft Pans, and Sets
6. Shinhan Professional Watercolor
ShinHan Professional Watercolor is manufactured from carefully selected pigments of high quality and blends with the binder in an optimal mixing ratio. Its formula is based on the production technology of PWC – ShinHan Extral Fine Watercolor- their top-rank brand of watercolor paints. This results in their brightness, and transparency is very excellent.
No products found.
Key Features
- Available in 48 quality colors.
- Made in the Korea
- Available in tubes, Pans, and boxes.
Summary
Student-grade watercolor paints are made specifically for students, and beginners, not the final artwork, so you may get bored with the lack of options and their performance. But for amateurs and beginners, high-quality student-grade paints are their ideal choice.
In the end, the choice is yours.