Holbein Artists' Watercolors

Holbein Artists' Watercolors are imported from Japan, a country with the oldest professional watercolor tradition in the world. Japanese colors have always been renowned for their brilliance, and Holbein continues in the same tradition. For more than a century, the Holbein color laboratories have produced a full-range palette of transparent watercolors that not only achieve world-class standards in lightfastness and color vigor, they also retain their clean, crisp, brilliant characteristics over long periods of time. In addition to the pigments that are traditionally used in European art, the Holbein watercolor collection contains many exceptional and brilliant colors that are not found in other watercolor lines. Holbein does not contain ox-gall or any other dispersants that inhibit optimum brush handling qualities. This makes Holbein ideal for painting in the Japanese watercolor tradition, where brushstrokes are often preserved. Holbein is the perfect choice for fine detail work such as lettering and scrolling. Gift Idea — For the artist on the go, Holbein offers great travel sets! See Holbein Artists' Watercolor Sets for pictures and more detailed specifications of these sets.

For Jane's Classes: (Bold = “strongly suggested” for best results).

a. 3 Reds: Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Permanent rose, Scarlet Lake (or an equivalent transparent red/pink), and Burnt Sienna (reddish earth tone).

b. 4 Blues: cobalt, French ultramarine, and Thalo (or equivalent: Winsor, Prussian blue). Cerulean blue.

c. 3 Yellows: Aureolin (or Winsor Lemon, or Winsor Yellow—make sure they are the transparent ones), New gamboge, and Quinacrodone gold

d. 2 Greens: Viridian, and Thalo (or Winsor) green.

e.Other good colors /occasional use: Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Quinacrodone or Winsor Red. Payne’s Gray. Cadmium Orange. Winsor Violet. Cobalt Violet. Manganese Blue. MAKE SURE ALL YOUR COLORS HAVE THE Mfgr’s HIGHEST LIGHTFASTNESS RATING).

Arches Watercolor Paper

The choice of leading watercolorists all over the world, Arches is the product of five centuries of papermaking experience. You can rely on Arches to always be consistent. Arches watercolor papers are mouldmade in France, with 100% cotton fiber content. They are pH neutral, gelatin-sized, and air-dried. Sheets have two deckle edges, are watermarked, and embossed.

Jane recommends 100% rag watercolor paper, 140 lb, cold press, hot press or rough. I use Arches hot and cold press. Large (22x30”) sheets, or blocks/loose sheets at least 11 x 15”. The larger the better. Don’t skimp on paper.

Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolor Brushes

Winsor & Newton have created a brush perfectly matched to their Artists’ Watercolor paints. This series of professional quality watercolor brushes features specially selected Kolinsky sable fitted into seamless ferrules. The innovative contoured, double-bodied handle with a satin matte finish provides a comfortable, secure grip. Excellent color carrying capacity, ability to point, and spring back into shape are noted features of the “new classic” watercolor brush series.

For Jane's Class:
1" flat. For Larger work, 2" skyflow or wash brush
Sisze 10 to 12 Round (or filbert) brush
Size 4 to 8 round, or rigger for detail