watercolour art travel set

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The Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Artists Who Love Traveling

Written by Robert S. Brown  / Fact checked by Helen B. Harris

If you are flying 38,000 feet off the ground or on a train running miles away from your hometown, you have the perks of a wanderer: to take delight in bright blue skies, red-orange sunsets, and breathtaking landscapes.

However, for an artist who moves places, every trip is worthwhile when you capture these picturesque sights and draw them in your sketchbook using a brush or pencil. For a vast spectrum of colors and artistic effects, perhaps you go for the best watercolor travel set. But the next question is, what should you look for when choosing a portable watercolor set?

• First of all, a watercolor travel kit should be portable and compact enough to put away in your luggage or pocket. A gawky and bulky watercolor set would be too cumbersome to carry around and probably end up in disarray.
• Furthermore, it is significant to consider what a travel watercolor kit consists of. Besides the color palette, does it include a travel-friendly brush or a sponge? Does it come with a handy carrying bag for hassle-free storage? Although the accessories and tools depend on your preferences and needs, a complete mini watercolor set only delivers the essential tools.
• Another crucial part is the overall quality of colors. A small watercolor set should not present substandard pigment quality and blend- No matter how compact it is or how few the color options are, the pigments should be vibrant, blendable, and lightfast.

Not all artists travel by plane. But if you do, make sure you get a TSA-approved watercolor set. Aside from that, there is much more to learn in this comprehensive guide and review. I will show you the in-depth guidelines, as well as the top-pick products that best suit your artistic demands.

Sakura XNCW-24N

Winsor & Newton 390640

Lightwish MeiLiang

Table of Contents

1. Sakura XNCW-24N Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch Box

2. winsor & newton 390640 cotman water colour paint, 3. lightwish meiliang watercolor paint set, 4. artsy watercolor paint set, 5. meeden 4336971288 watercolor paint set, 6. jerry q art jq-124 watercolor travel pocket set, 7. artistro 432 watercolor paint set, 8. sennelier 10-131605 french artists watercolor travel set, 9. artify ‎4336953153 watercolor field sketch set, 10. winsor & newton 390658 cotman watercolor brush paint set, what to look for when buying watercolor travel sets, what is the most reliable watercolor travel set brand, can you fly with watercolor paint, how do you do a watercolor travel journal, what is included in a watercolor travel set, top 10 watercolor travel set reviews.

From its size to quantity, you can tell that this Sakura Koi watercolor travel kit is thoughtfully curated for painters or artists who love traveling. It features a compact size and sleek design that you can easily fit inside your bag or even your shirt pocket.

Impressively, this small set has the essential tools for basic watercolor painting, with a water brush (refillable) and a half-pan watercolor set.

The colors are formulated to present beautiful and vivid hues. Aside from that, the highly pigmented shades blend well to create a wide range of colors.

Moreover, it uses no ordinary brush; it is a refillable water brush that lets you paint without using a container with water.

Since you can fill it up with water, you can simply take it out of your pocket or bag and are all set for a painting session! You can paint effortlessly even when you are on a plane, on a train, or sitting by the park for Plein air painting.

In addition to that, this kit comes with a detachable pegged palette where you can mix your favorite colors. When you are all done, you can just place it back inside the kit for hassle-free and neat storage.

I also want to emphasize the base pull-down ring at the back of the watercolor set. Although it is just a small detail, I found the ring is quite useful if you want to keep the palette steady as you hold it. While it keeps the watercolor kit from sliding off your palm, the ring also helps you paint comfortably wherever you are.

• Compact and sleek design
• Includes a water brush tip and a detachable mixing palette
• Fits perfectly in bag or shirt pockets
• Highly blendable and pigmented colors
• Has a base pull-down ring for easy holding
• Paint blocks need stronger adhesion to prevent from falling out

For professional quality watercolor set brands, Winsor & Newton is among the ones that always come to mind. The colors deliver high-quality pigments that explicitly showcase your art with vibrant hues and artistic painting effects. Plus, the colors in the palette blend impeccably well.

This pocket watercolor set includes 12 Cotman Watercolors that render good transparency to create beautiful washes. I also noticed that these colors have intense tints and uniform consistency that lend an excellent layout of colors.

Therefore, even though these are half-pan watercolors, there is no need to build the colors to achieve their vividness. A few dabs and strokes can already create rich watercolor tones.

Aside from that, I appreciate the addition of white in the range. Although the white tone of the paper serves as a brilliant backdrop for watercolors, the white pigment can ramp up the drawing or watercolor art with highlights and subtle color mixtures.

All these amazing features come in a small watercolor palette that can fit inside your shirt or bag pocket. The longest side is roughly six inches and just a tad bigger than a card! Even when you open it, the upper side has partitions where you can mix colors.

• A half-pan watercolor pocket set that offers brilliant colors
• Pocket-sized watercolor travel kit for superior portability
• Designed with a mixing palette in the lid
• Includes a small brush
• The brush is too small and slightly difficult to use

The best thing about this MeiLiang traveling watercolor kit is the great color selection that does not break your bank. With just a slight difference from the price of the Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor paint set, you can indulge in a wider color range with this one.

Right before that, the first thing that caught my attention was the metal case. Contrary to most portable watercolor sets I have seen on the market, this one uses a sturdy case that keeps the pan secure.

Even when you stack in your fully packed luggage, there is no need to worry about breaking or damaging your watercolor palette.

Besides that, the flip cover works as a mixing palette as well. Similar to the Sakura Koi watercolor travel set, this one also has a metal ring under the case for steady and hassle-free painting.

When it comes to the color quality, I must say that it is pretty impressive since they are highly pigmented and fluid. This allows you to create glazing effects and revel in smooth watercolors without any chalky or grainy textures after drying.

Moreover, it features a compact size, perfect for traveling. It is long but has a sleek and slim design that you can easily slip into your pocket or bag.

Another useful addition is the refillable watercolor brush that makes painting a lot easier and mess-free. I can simply take it out and paint it on my watercolor travel journal whenever and wherever I like.

• Offers a wide selection of highly pigmented colors
• Creates beautiful glazing effects that without grainy textures when dried
• Comes in a sturdy metal case
• Slim and sleek design
• Includes a water brush
• The brush has some loose bristles

The highlight of this Artsy Watercolor paint set is the innovative pocket design. The first time I saw it, I did not think it would have 42 colors! This artistic palette comes in different trays that you can fan out to see the vibrant array of assorted colors.

Every tray has color labels at the bottom to help you identify which colors to use. I find this useful since some colors, particularly the orange and red shades, look a bit identical. Thankfully, there are no duplicates in the colors, allowing you to mix and play with various combinations.

Moreover, these beautiful pigments are lightfast and vivid, allowing you to showcase watercolor artworks with their amazing color quality. Mixing the colors is not a problem at all since they are highly blendable. Plus, they dry quickly, preventing any ink pooling and grainy textures.

When you are done painting, you can simply slide each tray back to its palette for storing. This leaves you an ultra-compact and portable watercolor set that you can fit in your shirt or bag pocket.

One of the best things I love about this set is the water brushes. Unlike some portable watercolor paint sets that only have one water brush or paint brush, this one includes three water brushes. They work as backup brushes in case you like mixing a lot of colors or filling up your watercolor journal with your travels.

In addition to that, this set has a sponge where you can dry and clean your brushes after painting.

• Innovative compact design for enhanced portability
• Offers an array of pigmented colors
• Highly blendable and quick-drying
• Includes three water brushes and a sponge
• Intuitive pan display and labels to identify and view all the colors
• Color pans are not replaceable

Comparing this beside the Artsy watercolor paint set, you can see some striking similarities with the innovative pan display, color labels, and even the painting tools. Moreover, it comes at an affordable price range.

If you look closely at these palettes, the differences fall under the brush and color selection. Both have 42 colors but this one has darker tones in neutrals, greens, and blues. When you mix them with water, the colors beautifully blended, presenting rich and artistic watercolor washes.

As I work with these watercolors, I also noticed that they dry quickly and can resist fading as well. Curated with a vast array of colors, this palette allows you to create an endless range of vibrant hues for artistic and colorful artwork.

With regard to its design, this travel watercolor paint set does not fail to impress with its unique palette design. Similar to the Artsy portable watercolor kit, you can fan out the palette and swipe out to different tabs to find the color you need. Aside from that, there are color labels to easily identify the shades.

When you put everything away, it shifts into a lightweight and compact palette that you can slip inside your bag or pocket. Another sweet treat is the addition of four different water brush sizes that you can use for fine to broad applications. Not to mention the addition of a sponge to clean and dry your brushes.

• Ultra-lightweight and compact palette design
• Offers a great selection of pigmented watercolors
• Quick-drying and lightfast colors
• Includes four refillable water brushes in various sizes
• Does not have a hard case or cover to protect the palette

It can be a bit challenging for a beginner watercolor artist to find the best watercolor travel set to start with. With that said, this Jerry Q Art pocket set has the tools an amateur artist needs when traveling and painting with watercolors.

Sifting through the details, this pocket watercolor set features a slim and sleek design for enhanced portability. Once you open the lid, it is pretty awesome to find an array of beautiful colors along with the necessary painting tools. This includes a water brush, a small sponge, and detachable mixing pans.

For a beginner, I bet these tools and color selection are more than enough to start with a watercolor travel journal. Since everything is compact, there is no trouble putting them away in a small pocket in your shirt or bag.

Though it is made of plastic, it is surprisingly sturdy. I also like how the lid closes tightly, keeping the palette secure and protected whenever you travel.

While that already sounds impressive, the colors do not fall short of their quality and performance. The brilliant colors have a nice amount of pigment, revealing a bright and stunning spectrum of colors. Furthermore, these watercolors are highly blendable, making it much easier to create washes and preserve some translucent watercolor effects.

One more thing I noticed is the ceramic calligraphy tray. I did not know what to use it for but I think it would be useful for artists who practice calligraphy art.

• A portable and great quality starting watercolor kit for beginners
• Sleek and slim design for hassle-free transportation
• Brilliant color selection; very pigmented hues
• Highly blendable colors that can create vibrant washes
• Includes a water brush, a calligraphy pan, a sponge, and a removable mixing tray
• No color labels; difficult to find matching watercolor replacements

At first glance, I could already tell that this watercolor paint set would be an exquisite gem. Right from its vibrant mint metal box and dainty artwork details, ARTISTRO did a great job of making this kit to be aesthetically pleasing as possible. I even love the elegant metal lid lock that looks like the one you see on classic musical boxes.

Upon opening the watercolor palette, everything inside is even more fascinating. You can see all 48 vibrant colors arranged into a neat and beautiful layout – ranging from light to dark tones.

On the upper part of the lid is an organized space for the essential painting tools. This includes a water brush pen, a sponge, a drawing pencil, an eraser, a watercolor brush, and a swatch sheet. Plus, there are small watercolor sheets as well. As a beginner, I sincerely do not think there is anything else to ask for!

The palette is a combination of pigmented fluorescents and metallics, rendering unique, vibrant colors. When mixing the colors, I can tell that the watercolors are highly blendable, producing rich washes and artistic textures. Mind you, the binder is thick and a bit gelatinous, causing the watercolors to create grainy or granulated textures and finishes.

With that in mind, some artists might not fancy such grainy textures. However, this allows you to create artistic effects and colors besides smooth and colorful washes. I find this an amazing trick to amplify watercolor artworks. Aside from that, the exclusive water brush pen and original brush make blending and layering effortless.

On the other hand, the size is not as compact and slim as the previous watercolor sets on the list. It is a bit bulky though it can still fit well in your bag. And since it is a metal tin case, it can protect the palette from damages.

• Offers vibrant and pigmented colors that can produce washes
• Creates granulated textures for unique and artistic effects
• Includes essential painting tools for convenient travel painting
• Comes in a sturdy metal tin case for added protection
• Suitable for advanced and professional artists
• Not the ideal option for beginners
• Slightly bulky compared to other compact watercolor sets

I have always been hunting for the best watercolor paints for professionals. But my curious self has always wanted to try other reputable brands other than Winsor & Newton. Thus, Sennelier was my next target, and I am glad I did give it a shot.

I hear a lot of amazing things about this brand, particularly the superb quality of watercolors. However, I admit that the price tag is the least attractive thing. But the question is, what is so special about it? To concur with the reviews and rumors, it was definitely the pigmented colors that I have seen the best so far.

Unbeknownst to many, the highlighted ingredient is honey. This helps preserve the longevity and quality of colors, making them impeccably brilliant and luminous at the same time.

As expected, the colors give off vivid hues that blend nicely in a beautiful shade. Even with simply dampening the colors, it is easy to obtain pigments and render bright washes and representations of what every color should be.

In terms of portability, this half-pan watercolor palette is small and slim, providing an ideal size for traveling. Plus, it comes in a sturdy metal case that secures all the colors.

• Impeccably brilliant and pigmented colors that easily blend
• Creates vivid strokes and washes even with just a few dabs
• Very compact and sleek design for hassle-free storage and travel painting
• Comes in a sturdy metal tin case
• Excellent color longevity
• No brushes included

Another budget-friendly option for watercolor travel sets is this one from Artify. This mini kit gives amateur watercolor artists a chance to try great quality watercolor without breaking their banks. I know for sure because I have seen the quality pigments that produce an imaginative and endless range of colors.

Impressively, the colors blend well and deliver vibrant hues when mixed with water. Therefore, making washes and artistic effects would not be a problem. Aside from that, the watercolors dry quickly, preventing any messy spills that can bleed through paper.

How about the size? I must say that this set is the perfect fit for your pocket whether it is a bag or your shirt. The plastic case is sturdy, securing the palette from any damage.

In addition to its portable and innovative design, I think the removable palette is genius. Not only can you arrange the colors according to your preference, but also reuse and wash them should you ever need to. Plus, the mixing tray is detachable and can be placed anywhere within your reach.

Some artists might not find this a big deal but I was impressed by how thoughtful the manufacturer designed the palette this way. Thus, it can accommodate left and right-hand painters.

Moreover, three brushes and two sponges complete this watercolor travel kit. The ring at the back of the base keeps the palette convenient to hold. Hence, this makes painting and traveling fun and easy to do!

• Removable and customizable mixing tray to accommodate left and right-hand painters
• Compact design
• Includes essential painting tools (three brushes and two sponges)
• Designed with a base ring for comfortable painting sessions
• Some paints break easily when not properly stored

When it comes to Winsor & Newton, I have nothing to expect but satisfying results in terms of color blends and vibrancy. Luckily, this Cotman Watercolor Brush Pen set is not so different from my favorite watercolor sets from this brand.

First of all, the size of this half-pan set ensures hassle-free storage when you are traveling. It is so dainty that you can fit inside your shirt pocket or mini compartments in your bag. When it is closed, it presents an understated yet sophisticated design that you can take out for a quick paint session anywhere you go.

As soon as you open the lid, the upper space provides partitions where you can mix different colors. Afterward, my eyes took me to the color labels that are neatly presented to help you organize and identify colors. Since the pans are replaceable, the color labels are crucial when finding matching shades.

As usual, Winsor & Newton did it again with this impressive array of colors. They deliver quality pigments even with just a few dabs, allowing you to create vivid washes and artistic watercolor effects.

Aside from that, the water brush pen is a handy addition to this set. It lets you paint without dipping into the water and start with your painting right away. And since it is refillable, you can simply fill it up whenever you have to. The clear barrel or reservoir lets you know how much water you have used.

• Creates vibrant color blends and watercolor effects
• Designed with color labels for easy identification
• Has a mixing tray to blend colors
• Includes a water brush pen
• Very compact
• Water flows heavily sometimes

Portability and Storage

When looking for a travel watercolor set, it is reasonable to consider whether it is compact enough to put away in your pocket or luggage. Since you will be moving from one place to another, it will not be practical to add some unnecessary weight to your things.

With that said, you must have a portable set that you can easily take out or put away and keep in mind that a complete travel painting kit does not need to be big and bulky. Fortunately, some brands offer foldable watercolor palettes and travel-friendly sizes that you can easily slip into your pocket or bag.

Accessories and Tools

A set consists of a variety of tools and accessories that will provide you with a complete setup for painting on the go. For a watercolor travel set, it should at least include a portable and refillable water brush. Since you will be traveling by air or land, this type of brush dispenses water as you paint, allowing you to paint right on the spot conveniently.

There is no need to fill up a container or cup with water, which can end up quite messy while traveling. Just fill the brush up and you are all set to paint anytime and anywhere you want. Some sets also include a pencil, a sponge to dry the brush, and a paint palette for mixing colors. Others have multiple refillable brushes for versatile applications.

Pigment Quality

Many artists use watercolor because it can spruce up drawings and sketches with an array of vivid colors. Aside from that, it can add unique effects to your artwork, especially if you love working with mixed media.

Therefore, it is important that you have high-quality pigments so as to deliver a vibrant spectrum of colors. No matter how few the color options are, a lightfast and premium quality watercolor palette can exhibit promising results.

Color Selection

The color selection all depends on your preferences and needs. But since watercolor travel sets usually have limited options, it would be better to stick with the primary shades. They typically come in sets of 9 or 12.

Lucky you if you can have more options without comprising the storage properties and portability. Some brands offer more than the usual colors that come in 24, 36, 42, 48, or more packed in a foldable or compact case.

Blendability

Watercolor is among the versatile art media that allows you to mix and blend colors, creating a custom color selection for your artwork. A watercolor travel kit homemade palette usually has that, presenting your favorite shades and mixtures.

A portable or mini travel watercolor palette should also let you do so despite the limited amount and selection of colors. Moreover, the excellent blendability allows you to maximize your palette and achieve your desired color combinations. Hence, you can browse the reviews or test the watercolor set for seamless color gradients.

TSA Approved (Transportation Security Administration)

This is a mandatory factor to consider for those who are planning to fly with their watercolor sets. Airlines provide specific and detailed regulations about the items that you are allowed to bring in a carry-on.

In general, TSA has restrictions on liquid watercolors. Every tube of watercolor paint should be no more than 3.4 ounces, and all wrapped in clear zip-top bags. For dry watercolor palette sets, they are relatively much easier to bring on a plane since they come in compact and convenient sizes.

It is quite hard to tell because there are a lot of amazing brands that offer excellent watercolor travel sets. However, Sakura is by far the most reliable brand for great quality watercolor sets that feature assorted colors and essential tools. Plus, they come at a reasonable price range. But if it is about budget-friendly decent watercolor sets that have a wide array of colors, I would go for MEEDEN.

On the other hand, Winsor & Newton and Sennelier are my favorite brands for professional quality watercolors. They might be relatively more expensive than other brands but they have a reliable lineup of portable watercolor sets that let you paint like a pro.

Yes, you can as long as your watercolor paint palettes and sets do not violate the TSA’s regulations and restrictions. As mentioned, TSA is lenient with dry watercolor travel sets because of their small and convenient size, allowing you to bring them on a carry-on without any trouble.

The first thing you can do is list your itinerary. Jot down where you would go first and the places you would probably pass by. Sometimes, you can be spontaneous and draw the scenes and unforgettable memories you would like to record and remember. Thus, Make sure to bring a travel or portable watercolor journal or drawing book with you.

Like a travel photo journal or album, a watercolor travel journal lets you record memories, events, and beautiful sights, but with a different method – painting. For example, you can paint the dinner or lunch you have had, a beautiful sunset, or even the view from your hotel or train. As you capture these events, you can doodle around your drawings or write what your painting is all about.

Apart from the watercolor palette, a watercolor travel set usually includes a small or a refillable water brush. Although not necessary, some sets have a sponge to dry the brush, small partitions for water (in case water brushes are not available), and additional water brushes for versatile and effortless painting sessions.

Moreover, the tools and accessories in a watercolor set vary from one brand to another. Check the composition of a painting set you will buy to ensure you get the essential tools for your watercolor paintings.

The best watercolor travel set is not just about the portable size but the quality of pigments and essential tools as well. It is quite amazing how you can document everything you see when you travel, and a watercolor travel set helps you do that. This is the reason why you deserve to have the best watercolor kit that can beautifully capture and paint landscapes and even mundane sights when you wander around.

This list has jotted down the top picks for portable watercolor sets on the market. Besides their popularity, the brands mentioned offer reliable and excellent quality watercolor sets that are worth trying. Hope this helps!

Art has always been a part of my life; it influences my upbringing and later my career choice. For me, it is always a part of my parenting technique. So for whichever purpose that you come to art, you can start here with us.

How to Choose the Best Travel Watercolor Set

The primary advantage of a travel set is portability, so the size and weight matter. A compact, lightweight set is easier to carry around, whether you’re exploring urban landscapes or hiking up a mountain trail. Some sets come with a compact watercolor travel brush, a waterbrush, a detachable palette or a water container, which is amazing for those who don’t like carrying around all the equipment for watercolor painting.

Quality of Pigment

Not all watercolors are created equal. The vibrancy and durability of your paintings depend largely on the quality of the pigments in your set. High-quality paints offer more color intensity, enabling you to capture the world around you with stunning accuracy and lasting for a lifetime, in contrast to low quality pigments, which can easily yellow or fade in a matter of weeks.

Although archival pigments tend to be much more expensive, if you plan on painting professionally or want your works to stay as they are, then investing a bit more is not a bad idea.

Range of Colors

Ensuring a brand has a wide range of colors will allow you to hand pick your favorite pigments and attach them to your travel palette easily, without needing a lot of non-interchangeable variety cramped in a small palette.

Besides, a set with lots of small pans might be prone to color contamination due to the limited space and can be a hindrance when you want to use only a few pigments and can’t build a cohesive color palette with ease.

Accessories

Some travel sets come with added bonuses like a built-in mixing palette, or a water brush. A palette is essential for mixing colors, and its inclusion makes for a more compact set.

A water brush combines a brush and water container into one tool, which can be a game-changer when painting on the move.

High-quality watercolor sets can be pricey, but there are also many affordable options available that don’t compromise too much on quality. It’s important to find a balance between cost and quality that suits your budget.

Will watercolor work on canvas?

While traditionally, watercolor is used on paper, especially designed for its absorbency, it can indeed be used on specially primed canvas meant for watercolors. This allows you to create larger, more durable pieces that can stand the test of time.

Best Watercolor Travel Set Today

• Best Watercolor Travel Set Overall — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Compact Set
• Best Watercolor Travel Set for Beginners — SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit
• Best Value Watercolor Travel Set — ‎ Paintcrush Watercolor Paint Set
• Best Watercolor Travel Set for Professional — Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL
• Best Metallic Watercolor Travel Set — ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor Paint Set

1. Best Watercolor Travel Set Overall — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Paint Compact Set

Selection Criteria

• Our Score – 9/10
• Our Score- 8/10
• Our Score – 10/10

About the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor

Winsor and Newton is one of the most popular brands in the world of watercolors and not without good reason. Although the Cotman line is not “professional watercolor paint”, it still is very high quality paint, has a wide color range and it’s very lightfast in comparison to other brands.

The Cotman line has something other “student-grade” paints don’t, and that is color variety. This means, you can get each individual pan separately  and build your own color palette, or replace the colors you use the most without needing to get a whole new set.

• Extensive color range
• High-quality pigments
• Refills available
• Set might be too small for some

2. Best Watercolor Travel Set for Beginners — SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit

About the SAKURA Koi Pocket Field

The Sakura Koi Pocket field is a small, portable set with one of the most bright color combinations, perfect for landscaping, flower painting and ghibli-like illustrations. It has 30 pans which fit nicely into its small case and it comes with a mixing palette as well as a waterbrush and a sponge packing everything you need to paint on the go.

The palette has a foldable handle so you can use it on a flat surface or hold it with your hands as you paint, and it comes in 72 colors as well for those who love to have everything at hand.

• Small and portable
• Very affordable
• No refills or pan replacements available
• Limited color range

3. Best Value Watercolor Travel Set — ‎Paintcrush Watercolor Paint Set

• Our Score- 7/10
• Our Score – 8/10

About the Paintcrush Professional Watercolor

The Paintcrush watercolor set is not one of the most popular, however it is one of the highest quality professional watercolor paints that are also extremely affordable and offer great value. This small, select watercolor palette is the perfect starter set for those who want to learn color mixing and color theory, it has all the needed pigments as well as an included watercolor painting course by Kristy Rice.

This set offers one of the greatest values which is learning watercolor painting and color mixing, which will take the limitations of needing lots of pigments. You’ll be able to experiment with professional-grade watercolor paint as well as learn from one of the best.

• Professional watercolor paint
• High-quality, vibrant ink
• Painting lesson included
• Great value for the price
• On the expensive side

4. Best Watercolor Travel Set for Professional — Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL

• Our Score – 7/10

About the Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL

Well known as one of the best watercolor brands worldwide, Schminke now presents this small, yet amazing travel watercolor set. This set is not only beautiful and very high quality, but it’s also portable, easy to use and has a great design where the container is also a water tank and the cap becomes a water container so that you can easily paint from anywhere, anytime.

It has a small integrated mixing palette and handle in the back for easy holding.

• High quality watercolor paint
• Small, portable presentation
• Water container and tank included
• Very expensive
• Limited color set
• No space for paint brushes

5. Best Metallic Watercolor Travel Set — ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor Paint Set

About the ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor

Since a while ago, Arteza has been building a name and reputation of their own and we must say that although they’re a relatively new brand, their products are exceptional. This metallic watercolor set is no different. Crafted with care and attention to detail, this iridescent watercolor travel set is the dream of many. Whether you love giving metallic accents to your work or are a lettering artist or craft professional, this set has everything you could dream of.

This set includes a waterbrush and two mixing palettes, plus the pans are interchangeable and Arteza does have a dedicated color range for metallic watercolors so you can get the ones you like the most and arrange your own palette.

• Wide color range
• Portable and refillable
• Includes a waterbrush
• Mica-based paints

Conclusions

In the end, the best travel watercolor set is the one you feel most comfortable with, be it you’d rather have everything in one set or you prefer to carry your tools separately, it’ll be up to you to unleash your creativity in the most unexpected places, adding a personal, hand-painted touch to your travel experiences. The sets we’ve reviewed bring that possibility to your fingertips, allowing you to paint anywhere without the need for a vast array of tools, and make the cleanup as simple as a splash of water.

So pack your brushes, choose your colors, and let the world be your canvas. Whether capturing the fleeting hues of a sunset or the intricate details of a bustling street, a travel watercolor set invites you to see the world through the eyes of an artist, where every scene is a potential masterpiece waiting to be painted.

Happy painti

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Here Are the Best Student-Grade Watercolor Travel Sets

By The ARTnews Recommends Editors

The ARTnews Recommends Editors

Watercolor is an ideal medium for plein air painting. You don’t need lots of supplies, but you can still have at your fingertips the color range of acrylic or oil paint—all without the hassle of extensive setup or time-consuming cleanup. Maximize watercolor’s portability by choosing a travel set with built-in palettes, brush holders, and more. Browse our selection of some of our favorite student-grade watercolor travel sets below. Note that while they are student-grade sets, they are suitable for all but the most advanced skill levels.

1. Sakura Koi Watercolors

At the top of our list sits this set from Japanese brand Sakura, which comes with everything you need to start painting, save for paper. It opens to reveal a removable palette with five mixing pans, 18 little paint cakes, a brush, and a sponge for mopping up excess water. The paint is highly concentrated and vivid, and the color palette is solid, including fundamentals like Chinese White and Ivory Black, in addition to shades like ultramarine, vermillion hue, and cobalt blue hue. The included brush is a water brush—ideal for painting on the go, as all you have to do is fill up its reservoir. The box features a pull-down ring for easy holding, and the cakes can be refilled—choose from Sakura’s range of 84 colors!

2. Sennelier La Petite Aquarelle Watercolor Travel

Sennelier’s travel sets  come with just a box with several wells and paints, so it’s a great option if you already have a favorite brush or want to shop for specific tools to supplement it. It features the company’s La Petite student line of paints, which are made with honey as a binder—a special ingredient that makes them super smooth and easy to rewet. While the color pigmentation is of course not as intense as Sennelier’s artist-grade paints, these paints are an especially nice choice for glazing, showcasing beautiful translucency. This set of 24 half-pans set features a range of colors ideally suited to landscape studies.

3. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Paint Compact Set

Winsor & Newton makes its Cotman student-grade paints more affordable by replacing the costliest pigments with more economical alternatives. While less expensive than the company’s professional-grade paints, they still provide strong, non-grainy color and good transparency. This pocket travel set features 12 half pans in a useful range of colors, including burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and cadmium yellow, and includes a brush, built-in palette, and a slide-out dish for mediums. The air-tight case will keep the pigments safe and drip-free in your bag. 

4. Raphaël Watercolor Travel Pan Set

If portability is a priority, consider this round set that measures just four and a half inches in diameter—small enough to slip into a pocket. It opens to reveal 10 half pans on one side and a dozen mixing compartments on the other, and snaps firmly shut to a flat disk with non-skid pads on its bottom. The colors are highly pigmented and flow well. Included is a mini brush measuring just three and a half inches from end to end.

5. Kuretake Gansai Tambi Portable 14-Color Set

Gansai, a traditional Japanese watercolor, uses a binder different from that found in Western watercolors, resulting in bright, creamy paints that are more opaque and shinier than what many watercolorists in the United States are used to. With beautiful chroma and without the chalkiness that can accompany heavy application of other paints, these affordable paints are an excellent and satisfying option for beginners as well as professionals. Kuretake ’ s travel set of 14 gansai colors includes a water brush plus a drawing pen.

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The Best Watercolor Travel Sets

How to Find the Best Watercolor Travel Set for Painting on the Go 

It can be challenging to make time for art, so what better time to be ready to make art than while you’re traveling on vacation? If you’re an art lover or you know one, you know how much it means for an artist to have quality art supplies available when inspiration strikes.

However, art— especially painting— can get quite messy. 

The good thing about water colors is that they’re relatively mess-free and TSA-approved for carry-ons whenever they’re in solid form. 

Having a travel watercolor kit can make a 4+ hour flight or ride more bearable. 

I know that when I travel, my senses come alive, and it’s fun to let my new surroundings turn into inspiration for art. Watercolor depictions of streets of Paris done in person, for example, are far more unique than just photographs on an iPhone. Plus, they make great postcards!

Traveling with watercolor supplies

It is important to know the flight restrictions for other materials you might want to bring alongside your watercolors. Anything with a pointed tip or that could be considered “sharp” must go in a checked bag.

Varnish or any flammable liquid is banned all together on a plane. If you want to bring some existing paintings with you, you’ll want to pack them inside a portfolio or see if you can carry them on the plane with you. 

Now, for a watercolor travel kit, everything we’ve mentioned til now has been about solid watercolor paints. Some artists do like to use liquid watercolors and might want to bring these on the plane with us. 

Liquid watercolors on a plane are fine, as long as each paint tube is less than 3.4 ounces. Make sure to check the tubes or containers of liquid watercolor paints before you try to bring them on the plane! 

Honestly, before you bring anything on that isn’t “technically” essential, you should double check the latest TSA guidelines as rules related to liquids have been changing.

Even with these rules and regulations on the planes (especially), trains, and buses, you shouldn’t let the art stop. 

Up next, we’ve got a list for you for the best watercolor travel sets. Afterwards, we’re throwing in some extras, like canvases and extra brushes, that you can also bring on board with you. 

Sennelier L’Aquarelle’s Honey-Based Travel Set , – Top Paint Quality

• Dimensions: 6 1/4″ x 3 7/8″ x 1 1/4″. • Weigh: (approx.) 6-7 oz (compare to 1-2 sticks of butter)

This is a honey-based, less toxic alternative that many like for the paints’ textures and ultra-high concentrations. 

The whole set isn’t much bigger than your iphone (in terms of length and width, not depth). 

Why We Love Sennelier L’Aquarelle’s Honey-Based Travel Set 

Even better, this kit has 14 gorgeous, impressionist-based colors. You read that right— the colors are based on the great impressionist works. 

These are great for an artist who’s a fan of the impressionists, such as Van Gogh, and who plans to paint traveling or nature scenes. 

Here’s the list of colors it has: 

Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Deep, Phthalocyanine Blue, Warm Sepia, Lemon Yellow, Carmine, French Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Payne’s Gray, Phthalocyanine Green Light, Forest Green, Dioxazine Purple, Raw Umber, Cinereous Blue, Naples Yellow Deep, Bright Red, Venetian Red, and Ivory Black.

Because they grind the pigments more finely, the cubes have a more concentrated pigment and smoother texture. 

The honey-based solution is not only wonderfully natural, but it also gives longevity to the paint tabs. It also keeps the paint from becoming muddy. In other words, between the honey base and the pigment concentration, this paint set has a long life. 

Users online report that this set creates more luminous and vibrant hues than the average watercolor set. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the pros & cons of the Sennelier L’Aquarelle’s Honey-based Travel Set: 

• Very concentrated color
• Contains some natural products (honey-based)
• Vibrant hues based on impressionists’ colors
• Small size and tray for convenience 
• Professional quality watercolor paints 
• Case cover is will need a rubber band likely
• It has only 1 brush, so you might need a couple of extras 

Who’s This For? 

With its professional quality paints, this is suitable for someone with experience in painting or even a professional artist. They’ll need a rubber band just in case the cover comes loose, however. 

If they are a professional artist, they’ll probably prefer a pocket brush set (see at the end of this artist). 

Lightwish’s MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Paint Set, with 36 Colors and Brush – Pocket Sized Case

Overall, this metal “pocket box” measures 9.2” X 3.8” X 1”. It might be just a bit big for most of our pockets, but it still has a travel-friendly size. 

We Love the MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Travel Set

We love its 36 vibrant colors. The colors are coated in arabic gum for added gloss and for a stronger intensity. 

The metal case has a mixing tray just opposite to the colors, which unfolds when you open the piece. 

They’ve also thrown in a synthetic, round-tip watercolor brush. 

Many users say this is perfect for art students, as well as hobbyists and kids. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the pros & cons of the MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Travel Set: 

• Intense pigments
• Glossed for smooth texture 
• High quality (many report to be better than the Winsor Newton brand)
• Durable, metal tin that stays closed 
• Brush included
• Only 1 brush (may need additional brushes)
• Colors dry more transparent than expected, from Arabic gum 

Who is this for? 

This is great for anyone— art student, artist, kid, or adult beginner. 

Sakura’s XNCW-18N, Watercolor Field Sketch Set

Also available in the 12-color, 24-color, 30-color, & even 48-color versions, this basic travel kit is another great option for painters on the go. 

It’s so small (at 1.25” X 4.65” X 8”), that it can fit inside a shirt pocket. 

Why We Love Sakura’s XNCW-18N, Watercolor Field Sketch Set

First off, this set is ultra convenient with its light, compact design. For easy gripping, they’ve installed a metal ring on the bottom. 

While it is made of plastic, this does mean it’ll be lightweight. With this set, you get all the necessary basics (& many more, depending on the version you get). 

As far as the paint quality, we’d say it’s average. Its refillable water brush comes apart, so you can easily fill it up with water, use it, and then take it apart for easy storage. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the pros & cons of Sakura’s XNCW-18N, Watercolor Field Sketch Set: 

• Contains a refillable brush (that you can also dissemble) 
• Variety of versions available 
• Ultra small size available, and compact
• Ultra lightweight
• Ring for easy grip while painting 
• Blendable colors
• Flimsy case (plastic, less durable)
• Only one brush 
• Average quality (nothing spectacular to the overall quality) 

This set is more suitable for beginners and light hobbyists. 

Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set , Best Budget-Friendly Pick

This set includes a plastic pocket containers (with pallet, storage, and mixing trays), 24 colors, a sea sponge, a porcelain calligraphy dish, and a watercolor brush. 

In total, the case measures out to 8” X 4”. 

Why We Love the Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set

For just 12 bucks, this set is a great deal. You’ll have almost everything you need, besides the canvas sheets and perhaps some extra brushes. 

For a skilled color mixer, this set has all the essential colors. We also love its natural sea sponge and porcelain calligraphy dish. This enables so much more creativity and convenience. After opening, the inner trays swing out and snap to the side for additional mixing space. 

However, when you’re finished, the whole piece is incredibly compact and lightweight. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set: 

• Extremely travel-friendly
• Lightweight and compact
• All essential colors
• Includes high quality extras that aren’t common in competitors 
• Very low price ( on Amazon )
• Alternative versions available 
• Doesn’t contain sheets or additional brushes
• Container isn’t as durable as metal (plastic container) 

This set is more ideal for either a beginner or someone who’s a master mixer. The colors require know-how in mixing. 

The quality is pretty basic, so it’s suitable for beginners. 

Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48-ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones – Best Overall Watercolor Travel Kit

This box measures out 8.07” X 3.7” X 1.65” in size and about 12.7 ounces in weight. 

Why We Love Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48-ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones

This watercolor travel kit has an inspiring amount of watercolor paints and even variations like metallic and fluorescents. 

Look, below, at these gorgeous colors!

Besides the watercolor paints, we love its extra contents. It has not 1— but 2 paint brushes (one water brush and one standard, small brush). You’ll notice you don’t really need to get anything else with this kit. 

It has 10 sheets, or canvases (7” X 3”), a sponge, an eraser, and a pencil, all encased within a beautiful, secure, and durable metal box. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48-ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones: 

• A true All-in-One Set 
• Secure and durable tin box container 
• Small, compact size
• Amazing variety of colors and color types for its size 
• Above-average features for decent price
• Extra art supplies 
• High quality paint 
• Some of the colors may be unnecessary for pros and then difficult to blend for amateurs 
• Not very gender-neutral casing / doesn’t have a more masculine version

Who’s this for? 

Their travel watercolor kits are definitely more on the feminine side, if you look at the design on the front of the tin box. However, the box is tidy and someone could always slap a sticker over the top to make it less frilly if he or she preferred; it’s practical and would suit anyone who wanted an all-in-one set.  

Don’t forget these other travel essentials!

Watercolor canvas packs  , canson xl series watercolor textured pad.

Features: 

• 7” X 10” = ideal size
• Textured & suitable for multiple mediums 
• 9” x 12” Side wire version and other sizes, fold-over, etc., versions available 

Arches Watercolor Paper Pad

• 10” X 14” & 11.69” X 16.53” for larger works
• Cold pressed, hot pressed, and rough textures available 
• 12 sheets 
• Coated with natural gelatin 
• Made by traditional method, in cylinder molds 
• Long fibers 

Watercolor Brushes (Travel-Size)

Maple store’s travel watercolor brushes with round, extra long synthetic sable.

• Leather portable case (5.32” X 2.37”)
• Synthetic sable / nylon hair 
• Nickel=plated handle 
• Cured for spring and resilience
• Absorbent 
• Handmade 
• Ergonomic, containing handle for extended length 

WA Portman’s 5-pc Small Travel Paintbrush Set (Fine) for Acrylic, Watercolor, and Gouache

 Features

• Synthetic brush
• 5 total brushes (3 round in sizes 1,2, & 4, and 2 flat in sizes 3 &4)
• Extra-durable magnetic case that bends back for convenient brush access
• Overall, extremely durable, user-friendly, & pocket-sized 

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I Paint at 36,000 Feet With This TSA-Approved Watercolor Set

I never thought that I needed to paint on an airplane. I never thought that I needed to paint on a bench in Prospect Park, or on a train ride upstate, or anywhere other than my dedicated uncomfy chair at my kitchen table. Paints are messy, and they require a carefully configured space, cups of murky water, and rolls of paper towels for blotting brushes, as well as sopping up said murky water when you spill it.

Or so I thought. When a friend showed me her Winsor & Newton pocket paint box , I was impressed. When she then showed me her set of water-bearing brush pens , my world changed. The pairing is genius, and at the same time remarkably simple: Each brush tip is attached to a squeezable plastic tube that you fill with water before you paint. The tip screws on, and the water doesn’t come out unless you press it. You gently squeeze the body of the brush over the palette, which is built into this tiny paint set, and use your single, delicate drop of water to moisten and mix. And that’s it. Then you paint. (I swear by my Bienfang sketchbook , which has bright-white, medium-weight, 70-pound paper, but any sketchbook with a little texture, and at least 50-pound paper, will work just fine.)

I experienced the true versatility of this combo on a recent flight to Chicago: Not only could I slip the paints past the TSA in my backpack (they’re dry and solid, so no issues there), I was able to fill up the brushes with a little dribble of water from the airplane bathroom sink, and use a couple of airline napkins to dry the brush. And when I’d finished painting an elegant still life of a chilled plastic bottle of California Cabernet and a resealable bag of Cheez-Its, I wiped off the brush and the palette with one of those napkins, and tucked the whole set away. I found it to be an extremely calming way to spend an otherwise not-calming flight.

If I were the kind of person who carried things around in my shirt pockets, I would carry these there, because they would fit. But instead, I just keep them in my bag for those special moments when the light hits a breakfast sandwich just right .

[ Editor’s note: The exact pens Alex Testere loves are sold out, but these are a very similar model. ]

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Paint your adventures with 10 of the best travel watercolour sets

If you enjoy painting outdoors, a travel watercolour set is an essential piece of kit. Discover Gathered’s pick of the best travel watercolour sets

Whether you like to paint on your holidays or simply want a convenient paint set to take with you on the go, a travel watercolour set is just what you need.

Travel watercolour sets are small enough to fit in your bag or slip into a suitcase pocket. They contain a limited selection of colours and are usually enclosed in a sturdy case.

Many travel watercolour sets come with a miniature brush or a water brush to make it more convenient for you to paint wherever you are.

There are sets available to suit all budgets, but we’d recommend looking out for well-known brands such as Winsor & Newton and Daler Rowney. While these sets only include a few paint pans, the quality of the watercolours will be much better than those found in cheaper sets.

If you like adding a touch of sparkle to your paintings, you can also buy gorgeous metallic paint sets to give your art an extra shimmer.

10 best travel watercolour sets

1. winsor & newton cotman pocket watercolour sets.

Winsor & Newton’s compact pocket watercolour sets are ideal for artists who like to paint on the go. These sets include eight paint pans with space to add four more pans of your choice, so you can customise the set to suit your needs. It also comes with a small brush that’s perfect for quick sketches!

The range has four different colour palettes available, including sets designed for portraits, flowers, landscapes and celestial landscapes. This means you can choose the shades that match your painting style.

2. Artway travel watercolour paint set

Looking for travel watercolour paints that won’t break the bank? This set from Artway is affordable without compromising on quality.

It includes 14 watercolour pans in a good selection of shades, such as cadmium red, cobalt blue, leaf green and lemon yellow. The paints are vibrant and dry with a glossy finish.

The robust tin also folds out to create a paint palette for mixing colours together. This is always a useful feature when you’re painting outdoors! There’s a handy miniature brush included too.

3. Sennelier Aqua Mini watercolour tin

Watercolour paint sets don’t come much smaller than this teeny tiny travel tin by Sennelier. It’s very compact and includes just eight paint pans, but they still managed to find space to include a brush.

Sennelier has a great reputation for producing high-quality paints and these watercolours come in a selection of beautifully pigmented shades.

Buy the Sennelier Aqua Mini watercolour tin from Cass Art

4. Daler Rowney Aquafine On the Go watercolour set

This stylish travel watercolour set from Daler Rowney comes in an unusual round tin. The colours are arranged around the outside with a palette and brush in the centre.

The set contains 18 colours, so you’re unlikely to feel restricted. The paints have a beautiful creamy consistency too.

It’s small enough to take with you for a painting session en plein air and provides excellent value for money overall.

This is a good set for beginners looking to buy their first set of travel paints.

5. Winsor & Newton complete pocket set

Winsor & Newton’s Cotman range is aimed at beginners and art students. It’s a good option for anyone looking for decent watercolour paints, especially if you’re not yet ready to upgrade to professional-standard paints.

This set contains 16 beautiful shades to experiment with. As an added bonus, the pocket set also comes with a travel paintbrush, pencil and a mouldable eraser – everything you need to create stunning watercolour sketches on your travels.

Everything you need to know about watercolour painting

Watercolour paints are fantastically versatile and can be used to create everything from portraits to botanical art. Learn everything you need to know about watercolour painting with our comprehensive guide.

6. Winsor & Newton Cotman metallic pocket set

If you want to add some sparkle to your paintings, we’d recommend this mini metallic watercolour set from Winsor & Newton.

With eight shimmering shades, these brilliant paints will give all of your art an extra dimension.

There’s space to fit additional watercolour pans if you’d like, but we’d recommend using the metallic paints alongside a larger watercolour set with a wider range of colours.

7. Derwent Graphitint paint travel set

Strictly speaking, Derwent’s Graphitint paints aren’t strictly watercolours: they’re graphite paints with added colours. You can use them in the same way as watercolours to create paintings in subtle, muted shades.

If you already own watercolours, you might enjoy using this set as a change from conventional watercolours – it’s always good to switch up your painting style now and then!

The set comes in 12 colours with a small water brush and a sponge as an added bonus.

8. Winsor & Newton Professional watercolour field pocket set

If you’re heading off on a special trip, why not treat yourself to an upgraded set of watercolour paints?

While this professional set from Winsor & Newton might seem pricey, the quality of the paint is much higher than the Cotman range. These professional paint pans contain more pigment, so a little goes a long way. The paints are also permanent and lightfast, so your artwork won’t fade over time.

This set could last you for years if you take good care of it and you can easily replace any paint pans that get used up.

9. Schmincke Akademie watercolour set

This brilliant little set of travel watercolour paints from Schmincke includes 12 half pans in bright, lightfast shades.

The paints are highly pigmented and would be suitable for both beginners and experienced artists. The compact set is ideal for travellers, but it also comes in larger sizes if you want a wider selection of colours to choose from.

10. Cass Art Professional watercolour quarter pan

Paint like a pro with this watercolour travel set by Cass Art. It’s always worth checking out own-brand products sold by art stores, as they’re often excellent quality.

This set has a range of brilliant colours that are truly professional quality. It comes with a small brush and the tin itself is strong. For added protection, the Cass Art set comes with a leather travel pouch to keep your paints safe.

The whole set is about the size of a smartphone, so it’s highly portable – perfect for all of your painting expeditions!

• Buy Cass Art professional watercolour quarter pan from Cass Art

The best travel watercolour sets will inspire you to capture your travels

When you’re out and about or travelling, it’s not always convenient to bring lots of heavy art supplies with you. Choosing a travel watercolour set means that you can settle down for a painting session whenever the mood strikes you!

Travel watercolour sets usually contain a more limited range of colours and come in a strong box or tin. These sets often include mini brushes to make your art kit even more convenient to carry. They’re often small enough to fit into a pocket too.

Look out for well-known paint brands, as the paint quality is usually better than the budget options.

Become a better painter with our watercolour techniques guide

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn. Pick up new tricks and improve your painting style with Gathered’s watercolour techniques guide.

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The Best Travel Watercolor Kits For Every Level Artist

I love the idea of packing up a sweet little watercolor kit, a thermos of tea, some snacks, and heading out for a day of plein air painting alone in the beautiful countryside.

I’d drive somewhere rural and full of prairie, strap my folding chair to my back, and hike out to a remote location where birds, butterflies, and the occasional bunny would frolic about, as I listened to soothing music in my earbuds.

The best part is, I don’t paint landscapes or nature, so I’d be hiding in a field somewhere painting little triangles, and still happy as a clam.

Anyway, let’s talk travel watercolor kits. I’m sure you’ve seen them on Pinterest and Instagram, right? Some are pre-made, and some are fabulous little treasure boxes artists have cobbled together to carry their most essential paints and accessories.

For this post, I’m focusing on the pre-made kits that you can buy. They include small pans of watercolors, one small brush, and an area or more to use as a palette.

They are small enough to stash in a bag (or even a pocket), and fold closed to contain all the items. They’re perfect if you travel or have a long commute and want to do something besides:

• Stare at your phone
• Stare at other people
• Read a book

Watercolor Travel Kits to Buy

Want to bypass the DIY thing and just buy a lovely little watercolor travel kit to take with you? Apparently some of these small kits are okay to take on airplanes. Be prepared for people to gawk at your art-makin’.

Sakura Koi Watercolor Travel Kit

We’ll start with what is undoubtedly the most popular travel kit, the Sakura Koi. No doubt if you’re into travel watercolor kits, you’ve heard of or seen this one all over social media.

Sakura is an overall fantastic brand, and this little kit is perfect for painting on the go for most people.

• half-pan watercolor paints
• Refillable water brush
• 2 sponges (set into the case)
• Removable mixing tray
• Very lightweight
• The lid doubles as an easel
• You can stash a few sheets of paper in the box

What I love about it:

I love how the tray has little feet that fit perfectly over the paints when you close the kit, but then you can remove it and place it in the lid or on the edge of the box by snapping two legs into two of the holes. If you place it in the lid, the feet elevate it for easier access. This is one of those small design features that you end up appreciating so much!

It comes in different sizes and numbers of paint colors. I have the 18 color set, which is fine for if you really want to save space, but not enough colors for my liking. I’d go with the 24 or 30 color sets if you want more color choices.

Who is it For:

This set is perfect for teens up through adults who aren’t necessarily looking for professional-quality paints, but still want a well-designed travel set with lots of colors to choose from.

You’ll want more water brushes, either to have different brush shapes, just as backups, or to help keep your colors separate. You can sort of clean the brush tips on the sponges, but if you’re fussy about keeping your colors pure, be safe and buy more brushes.

You can see paint swatches for all of the colors here.

Here is a pic of the sizes for the different sets:

Winsor & Newton

You can always count on Winsor & Newton for quality art supplies, and their watercolor kits are no exception. I’m including 2 here, because you absolutely need to feast your eyes on the gorgeous professional travel kit.

Winsor & Newton Cotman Pocket Box

This is similar in quality to the Sakura Koi. You get good quality paint, just this side of the lush professional paints. This little box is a no-frills travel set that comes with 12 half-pan paints and a teeny tiny brush.

• Just 5″ long when closed makes it nice and small!
• 12 half-pans of basic mixing colors
• Lid is segmented for 3 mixing areas

The larger watercolor pans mean you can use larger paint brushes (and they last longer, of course).

You get the bare necessities: paints and a mixing surface and a brush.

The price is great, so this is an amazing introduction set for beginners.

This kit is for someone who wants to take up the least amount of space in their bag or suitcase, while still getting quality paints. You won’t get a ton of colors, so make sure you’re comfortable mixing paints, or practicing as you go. This is an excellent starter set for anyone who prefers a very pared-down paint set.

Buy your own brushes, either regular or the pen style brushes

Use double-sided tape or sticky tack to keep the pans in place – this is a common complaint with this kit, but easily fixable

Switch out the colors you find you don’t use for colors you prefer – some reviewers mentioned adding a green and purple. It’s hard to find refill pans for these so your options are:

• refill with professional half pans
• squeeze tube watercolors into the empty pans and let them set up

Paint up a color chart to bring with you before you travel- look at this amazing example from one reviewer:

Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Field Box, 12 Half Pans

Yes. When you are ready to graduate to professional watercolor paints, this is your travel kit. 12 half pans give you more paint, and are nestled in a 5.2″ long case that opens up into a mini portable artist’s studio.

• Compact size still holds a lot of paint
• Larger sponge than most travel kits
• Folding travel brush
• 2 palette surfaces fold out and stay connected to the case
• Large water cup attached to the end

Here’s a list of the colors that come in this set:

French ultramarine, Winsor blue (green shade), permanent sap green, Winsor green (blue shade), Winsor lemon, Winsor yellow, scarlet lake, Winsor red, permanent alizarin crimson, permanent rose, yellow core, burnt sienna, raw umber and titanium white.

Rich, vivd colors don’t fade and don’t have that granulated texture that watercolor paints can sometimes develop.

Good sized sponge for cleaning brushes and using to add texture to your painting

Included water flask built into the lid

Generous half pan colors that, since they are professional quality, you can mix up lots more colors

Plenty of palette surfaces

A splurge for people who want to use professional-quality paints on their fabulous trip through Italy, working artists, or anyone who is obsessed with using the highest-quality art supplies. So worth it.

Yep, more brushes! Bring along a few different sizes, as the brush included is small.

Buy your refill (or other color) half pan paints at Blick ; the refills are usually cheaper there than Amazon.

Use distilled water in the included water bottle if you tend to leave the water in there for more than a few days, so it doesn’t get gross.

Professional paint needs professional paper. Use 100% cotton!

Travel Watercolor Kit For Kids

If you give a kid a semi-decent quality art kit, they will 10 times out of 10 feel like a professional artist, love you forever, and probably go to town using it immediately. Little travel watercolor kits are PERFECT for kids to bring on vacations, to doctor’s appointments, to dinner, and basically anywhere you would normally let them play on a screen.

In all honesty, I have not tried this kit, but most of the reviews look legit (you can always tell fake reviews), and I LOVE how compact and cool this little set is.

• 42 colors of paint
• Small divided side palette for mixing colors
• Colors are labelled on the edges for quick locating
• Non-toxic paints

It fans out to reveal 42 colors, and comes with a small sponge and watercolor pen brush. You can just toss this thing in your bag or their backpack with a small sketchbook, and you don’t have to chase markers or crayons all over the place.

It comes in a really cute box, so remember this next time you need a kid gift. You can give them the paint set and a sketchbook for under $25! (see images below)

Watercolor pen brushes are amazing inventions for kids, because, hey, no tipped over jars of water!

I would stick to kids and beginners for this kit. I may be an art supply snob, but as cute as this is, there are a bunch of other brands selling the exact same design. There’s a reason reputable art supply companies have been around for a long time and earn our trust.

Travel Sketchbooks/Loose Paper

Don’t forget the paper! Think about whether you want a travel sketchbook or loose paper – or even a pack of watercolor postcard paper – these are all fairly small, but are good quality to take the abuse of water and pigment.

I couldn’t resist this gift idea for the travel watercolor enthusiast: It’s a drool-worthy box

containing a Winsor & Newton 100% cotton watercolor sketchbook, 12 half pan paint colors in a tin box, and a size 3 of their series 7 (kolinsky sable) paint brush, plus a blank color chart! Swoon.

4 thoughts on “The Best Travel Watercolor Kits For Every Level Artist”

It makes sense to think about whether a portable watercolor set will fit in your pocket or luggage when shopping for one. It will not be sensible to add extra weight to your belongings because you will be relocating from one location to another.

My family always say that I am killing my time here at net, but I know I am getting experience daily by reading such fastidious articles or reviews.

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Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set

Whether you’re an amateur art enthusiast or a seasoned painter, you may already know that not all water paint sets are created equal. Ideally, you want a set that is user-friendly, effective, and versatile. A travel watercolor set is a great investment thanks to its portable and easy-to-use nature.

Table of Contents

• 1 Why Buy a Travel Paint Set?
• 2.1 Best Overall: ARTSY 42 Colors Watercolor Travel Paint Set
• 2.2 Premium Pick: PRIMA Watercolor Confections – Tropicals Set
• 3.1 For Those Looking to Save Money
• 3.2 For Those Wishing to Have a Variety of Shades
• 3.3 For Those Who Want the Most Vibrant Colors
• 4 Additional Tips and Tricks
• 5.1 Do Painting Travel Sets Compromise on Quality?
• 5.2 Do Travel Watercolor Palettes Cost More?
• 5.3 Where Can I Find Reliable, Quality Compact Watercolor Sets?

Why Buy a Travel Paint Set?

So, why purchase a portable watercolor set for travel? Why won’t your current standard-size one suffice? The simplest answer is that these sets are both easier to work and travel with. If you’re constantly on the move, but still want to indulge in your painting passion when inspiration hits, you want a set you can quickly grab and take with you wherever you go.

Portable watercolor sets are generally easy to keep on-hand while on the move since it has all the necessary color ranges of your standard acrylic or oil paint sets, sans the myriad of extra bits and pieces.

Travel sets are designed to be compact; meaning you don’t have to bring along dozens of painting utensils that you may not necessarily need. A compact set provides you with all of your watercolor essentials to stay engaged in your peaceful painting without being short of any main utensils needed for a breathtaking water painting.

Further than that, even if you aren’t a major traveler, a travel watercolor palette may still prove incredibly useful to you. You can use these convenient sets daily to bring a creative dash of excitement to any other activity you enjoy. 

Some of these activities may include painting an impressive sunset during a picnic, appreciating the tranquil scenery around you at a park, or simply tracing the outlines of some dreamy clouds while winding down on your front porch.

How to Find the Best Travel Watercolor Set

Now that you have a better idea of just how useful travel painting sets are, the next step is to learn more about what travel paint set is best for you, depending on your specific requirements. Here, we will discuss three popular watercolor travel sets and what the associated pros and cons are so that you can decide for yourself which is the best fit for you.

Best Overall: ARTSY 42 Colors Watercolor Travel Paint Set

No top watercolor portable set list would be complete without this extensive range of colors brought to you by the well-loved ARTSY watercolor paint set. This palette offers all of the traditional colors necessary to create the artwork of your dreams in a neatly-condensed packaging; making it easy to carry around. The practical design of this palette is easily one of its biggest benefits for watercolor enthusiasts since it can be simply fanned out or put back in for easy storage.

• 42 vibrant assorted colors with strong and light-fast pigmentation
• Provide seamless blending and dries quickly
• Includes three water brushes, a palette, and a sponge for easy use

On top of the impressive range of colors, the set also offers useful painting utensils necessary to create a watercolor masterpiece without taking up unnecessary space. Chalky watercolors that dry up after use can ruin a perfectly good palette. Luckily, the ARTSY watercolor paint set doesn’t have this problem and can be used time and time again, while working perfectly each time. Thanks to this highly sought-after set, you don’t need to choose between efficiency and quality.

• The palette consists of an astonishing 42 colors through fanned-out color palettes that easily expand and retract, giving you a variety of colors needed to make an artwork pop without taking up too much space.
• The included items are 3 water brushes, a compacted water pallet, a removable sponge, and a plastic packet for easy carrying.
• The colors are known to be of high quality and vibrant, leaving you with a striking watercolor painting every time!
• The fanned layout of this travel watercolor set can cause smudging of the layers both above and below. It’s best to ensure the colors are dry before you close the palette.
• The layout may cause some unwanted mixing of colors between the palettes if you’re not careful.
• Customers feel some colors are too similar to others in the set, making it difficult to distinguish any actual differences besides the color code.

Premium Pick: PRIMA Watercolor Confections – Tropicals Set

Perhaps one of the lesser-known brands on this list, the Prima travel set provides you with incredible, quality colors that are both strongly pigmented and vibrant. The Prima watercolor confections – Tropicals set has been known to be used by various mixed media artists and has generally been well-received by both experienced and amateur painters. If you’re looking for a compact travel watercolor palette that can easily fit into even the smallest of bags or even purses, this is the best choice for you. The palette’s size can be compared to that of one of today’s standard smartphones, with possibly just a little more weight to it.

• The set includes 12 unique colors that seamlessly blend together
• Artist-grade quality pigments that are strong and vivid 
• Comes in a high-quality metal container for easy transport

More than that, the packaging itself also adds to the practicality of the set. It comes in a handy metal box, ensuring that your precious watercolors are protected against any possible damage if extra pressure is applied. The metal box also helps to keep your watercolor set intact if it mistakenly falls or slips from your fingers, as accidents occur often at the worst of times. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, the watercolors themselves sure will. This pallet comes with twelve distinctive colors that are eye-catching and of professional quality.

• The small size of this set makes it easy for you to take it with you just about anywhere you please; helping you to create art whenever, wherever!
• A palette that’s safe and secure is always a great investment for a painter that’s constantly on the move and doesn’t have time to carefully package and keep a constant eye on their assets.
• The striking pigments can bring even the simplest of artworks to life through the intense nature of these unique shades.
• The theme may limit you to a concept that you’re trying to paint. If this is your first purchase, invest in a travel paint set that offers a wider variety of colors first.
• Some customers feel that the tin isn’t as sturdy as they’d like for it to be, and the sticker on top of the tin is difficult to remove.
• Reviews state the metal tin does not necessarily pin down each of the watercolors included, which makes for a wonky pallet set.

How to Identify the Best Travel Watercolor Set for You

It’s clear that each set will make for a useful investment and will help keep your painting passion alive, even while jet-setting the globe. However, you may have specific preferences that will determine which palette is ideal for you. Keeping those potential aspects in consideration, here are some things to look out for which may help you choose the ideal one for you.

For Those Looking to Save Money

Buying yourself a stunning watercolor set doesn’t mean that you need to break the bank in the process. Some of the best basic yet effective watercolor paint sets can be purchased online for very little. 

Keep an eye out for highly-rated products that don’t compromise on quality for the sake of affordability, resulting in an all-around win!

For Those Wishing to Have a Variety of Shades

If you’re tired of the same standard 12 watercolors offered in most standard sets and are hungry for something different, look for watercolor travel sets with as many as 24, 36, 42, 50, and more different colors in one palette. A myriad of shades can help you create just about any image that comes to mind, as you are not limited by colors. Look for packaging that stays compact despite the carried shades too, so you don’t need to worry about the set taking up extra space.

For Those Who Want the Most Vibrant Colors

Are you a fan of all things bright and beautiful, including paint palettes? There are a variety of watercolor paint sets with themed color palettes, such as a brightly-colored tropical selection. Themed watercolor palettes with vibrant shades are ideal for making artworks pop as a result of their intense hues. The best choice of watercolor palettes will depend on the individual since we all have different needs. 

However, it’s clear that there are a variety of options to choose from for enthusiastic painters on the go, regardless of one’s specific requirements.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Looking for some extra information to ensure you’re fully prepared for your next painting session on the go? We’ve got you covered with that too! Here are some useful tips and tricks to keep in mind when buying a portable watercolor set:

• Although we all want to save extra money where possible, finding the cheapest travel paint set shouldn’t be the determining factor on whether or not you wish to invest in a specific travel palette. Instead, look through the reviews given on the website from which you want to purchase the item. Mainly positive reviews are an adequate indicator that the product won’t let you down and will give you your money’s worth.

• Don’t want to limit yourself to just one set? Why not purchase an additional one or two instead for future reference? With extra palettes, you won’t need to compromise on the shades you are looking for, as inspiration may strike you without the necessary tools required to bring your vision to life. It’s best to be overprepared, after all.
• Many painters feel that the brush is the main component that determines whether or not your painting experience is a pleasant one , and the quality of the finalized product too. Taking time to do research on which brushes within these sets are musically effective for their watercolors provided will give you better insight into which set will give you the ideal brush for the look you’re trying to execute on your painting.

These simple yet effective tips will help you choose the best travel watercolor set for your needs, without any potential disappointment due to lack of information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do painting travel sets compromise on quality.

No, the right travel set will offer you convenience and quality hand-in-hand. Travel sets are simply just smaller versions of their standard counterparts and do not skip on any necessary quality, effectiveness, or even any accessories for the sake of their compact nature. To make the set smaller, they simply use smaller spaces for the watercolor holders and design the palette in such a way that it can easily fit in the most compact of spots, even in your hand! The above-mentioned sets are known for their high-quality watercolors and included accessories that are effective at helping you to create an impressive work of art. All of the sets we have discussed work wonderfully and don’t compromise on any necessary aspects.

Do Travel Watercolor Palettes Cost More?

Not necessarily, no. The pricing is reflected in the brand, available colors, and other additional utensils included. The main difference between a standard watercolor set and a travel set is the design and layout, as it should easily fold into packaging that can be carried around hassle-free. As a matter of fact, some travel sets may actually cost slightly less due to their smaller designs. Usually, though, there is no drastic difference in cost and you will be glad to know that you may even save a few bucks if you purchase your set from the right place!

Where Can I Find Reliable, Quality Compact Watercolor Sets?

With some patience and research, you may easily find high-quality watercolor sets both in-store and online. A local arts and crafts store may stock some travel watercolor sets, hopefully offering some variety. However, if you don’t come right there, you can get what you need without even needing to leave the comfort of your own home. Online retailers like Amazon offer an extensive range of watercolor sets that caters to a variety of needs you may have. Some of these potential needs may include any concerns you have over the number of colors offered, the need for adequate accessories to paint effectively, and a layout that is suitable for the nature of the set.

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team .

Cite this Article

Matthew, Matthysen, “Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set.” Art in Context. January 4, 2023. URL: https://artincontext.org/best-travel-watercolor-set/

Matthysen, M. (2023, 4 January). Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/best-travel-watercolor-set/

Matthysen, Matthew. “Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set.” Art in Context , January 4, 2023. https://artincontext.org/best-travel-watercolor-set/ .

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REVIEW: Art Nomad Travel Watercolor Set by ZenArt

The Art Nomad Professional Watercolor Paint Set from ZenArt isn’t the smallest travel set or the lightest, but it is one of the handiest and most complete.

With 6 brushes, 24 colors, 1 pencil, 4 large mixing wells, and a sponge, it has almost everything you’ll need except paper and water. The colors are non-toxic and professional quality.

Art Nomad Specs

• Dimensions: 8 x 3.5 x 1.3 inches / 24.5 x 10 x 4.5 cm

• Weight: 330 g

The set is also referred to as the ‘Professional Watercolor Paint Set Art Nomad’ and ‘Art Nomad 24*7 Watercolour Travel System’ depending on which site you are visiting.

The Packaging

The set comes in a cardboard box. The art by Anastasia Shimshilashvili is beautiful. The cardboard is pretty thin, but I’m going to keep it just because of the art.

It includes a pamphlet with a color chart, all the pigment index information, examples of possible brush strokes, and information about brush care.

There is a pre-printed swatch chart for you to paint in the colors. It’s on good watercolor paper so you get a good idea of colors. It also has a logo printed on it though, I think to give the idea of transparency.

There is also a plastic splash guard to place between the paints and the brushes, to protect both. It can also be used to protect your paints when you are out and about in nature where stuff might be blown into your palette.

Art Nomad Palette

The palette case is quite unique. Made of recyclable plastic, it has an elegant lid, and a rolling hinge that allows the brush stand to lie flat or to be rolled into an upright position.

I mentioned above that this set isn’t the lightest or smallest. It’s a bit too large for my older self to hold in my small hands for an extended time. That said, it isn’t too heavy or too large, either. Most people could carry it from place to place without discomfort. And the weight helps stabilize the set while you are using it.

It won’t fit in most pockets, but would fit in larger purses or a briefcase.

The paints sit in the set, which is partitioned, rather than in separate inserts.  You could remove a cake of paint, but not the pans themselves.

The paints come wrapped in clear plastic. They are loose in the pans, but just adding a few drops of water in the bottom, secures them in place.

The mixing area has four good-size wells.

Make sure to take note of the order of the brushes. The handles are slightly different sizes and the brushes sit snugly in the stand. But if you change the order, they aren’t as snug and will come loose when the case is closed.

The brush sizes are all different, so I took a waterproof marker and wrote the size on each brush holder, so I’d know which was which.

All the working parts of the case move easily and smoothly. The lid snaps shut securely to prevent accidental opening, but there’s a little bit of a trick to opening it.

You can see a half-circle in the curve of the lid that looks a bit like you could push it. You can’t. But hook your fingernail under it and push up gently and the lid comes right open.

Don’t despair! If your nails are too short for that, grasp the top lid at the corners with one hand, and the bottom corners with the other hand. Pull gently to open the case.

The case has the usual ring at the bottom that you can slide your thumb through to help stabilize it if you want to hold it in your hand.

There is a good size sponge that sits between the paints and the mixing area. This can be used for controlling the amount of water in your brush.

That brings me to a little surprise that came with the set. There were two extra paints — a deep chocolate, and a golden yellow.

There was no information included about these two paints and  I’m not sure if all sets will have extras, and if they will be the same colors. But it was a really nice surprise. They are actually my favorite colors in the set.

I cut the sponge into three pieces and was able to make a place for the two extra paints.

Art Nomad Travel Set Brushes

The brushes include (going from left to right in the photo):

• Angled size 10
• Flat size 12
• Round size 8
• Flat size 14
• Round size 4

The brushes are a Japanese Synthetic — I wasn’t able to find any other information listed anywhere. They are more soft and flexible than the brushes usually found in this kind of set.

Overall, the brushes are small, and hold the usual amount of water that you get with synthetics of this price range, so they’ll work best for smaller paintings and sketches. This is a travel set, so that is what you might expect.

The handles are very short. Possibly too short for those with larger hands, but just about perfect for me.

One of the inserts shows a range of brush strokes, but that’s not the same as trying them out yourself. I played with them, and was quite pleased with the range of strokes that were available.

The rounds don’t have a super sharp tip, but come to a nice point so you’re able to get both fat and thin lines.

The flats have a nice chiseled edge that allows thin lines and the flexibility gives sweeping curves. They do splay as they get dry, but not as quickly as most synthetic flats. I could dry brush for quite a while before getting the streaks that splaying will cause.

I could get almost the exact same marks with the flats as with the angled, but it was easier to get some of them with the angled brush. Angled brushes are sort of a convenience that way.

Another convenience brush, fan brushes are really nice for foliage and dry brushing.

ZenArt refers to these paints both as professional and artist quality. I would put them at high-end artist grade, and low-end professional. They’re made in South Korea.

The colors are bright and vibrant. They are non-toxic and vegan-friendly.

The humidity here is such that I find it hard to say how *reactive these paints are. I’m finding all my paints take a little more work to get thoroughly wet, and they all dry out much faster than usual. So all I can really say is that these activate as well as my other professional pan paints.

*reactive – how quickly the paints (especially pan paints) get wet enough to paint with, and how much they move when you put them on the paper.

Based on my other ZenArt sets, I think these will wet very easily when the humidity changes.

ART Nomad Professional Water colors list : 
 Lemon Yellow, Cad-Free Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Red Ochre, Cad-Free Orange, Cad-Free Red, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Rose, Quinacridone Pink, Quinacridone Rubin Violet, Ultramarine Violet, Cobalt-Free Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Prussian Blue, Cobalt-Free Turquoise, Turquoise, Emerald Green, Dark Green, Yellow Green, Sap Green, Raw Umber, Deep Black

Examples Using Art Nomad Set

Since this is a travel set, where people might be using sketchbooks and postcards, which are seldom the highest quality, I only did one of my examples on 100% cotton watercolor paper.

For my first example, I used Bamboo Mixed Media paper. My emphasis was on exploring the reds and greens in the set rather than trying for realistic color.  This is slightly absorbent paper, but the color stayed bright and moved well.

My second example was on cellulose watercolor postcard. I was trying some of the other colors, but also playing with the range of values (light to dark) that I could get.

This paper is one that allows for easy lifting. I found that the brushes in this set hold enough water that I had to be careful or I would lift color accidentally. It was easy enough to control once I was aware of it.

For my Halloween decorated stairs I used a smooth sketch paper. I really liked how bright the color was.

For my last example, I mainly used the two extra colors, and a 100% cotton paper. I love these two colors.

The Company

ZenART takes pride in creating products designed to satisfy all the needs of an artist — quality, ease-of-use, mood, and price. They look for ways to bring elegance to each product, believing it enhances the artistic urge to create beauty.

Links of interest

REVIEW: ZenART Allegro Travel Watercolor Paint Set

• Art Nomad Professional Watercolor Paint Set  
• Hahnemühle Bamboo Mixed Media Sketchpad
• Hahnemühle Nostalgie Postcards
• Hahnemühle Watercolor Postcards
• Hahnemühle Hot Press The Collection Watercolor Paper

Disclaimer:

I bought this set with my own money because I was intrigued and thought others would be interested in it. I received no other considerations, though this post may contain affiliate links which help support Doodlewash. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Sandra Strait

I’m a self-taught artist who dances about with all sorts of artistic mediums. My main loves are Watercolor, Zentangle and Ballpoint pen. The subjects of my work are many and varied and change at whim. I’m a little bit crazy, but doesn’t that come with being an artist? I post Reviews and Tutorials here on Doodlewash.

See author's posts

Halloween Flight

Autumn curiosities.

20 Comments

20 thoughts on “ REVIEW: Art Nomad Travel Watercolor Set by ZenArt ”

What a sleek package and great, vibrant colors! 😍 I need to stop reading your reviews because I get sooo tempted to buy all the supplies. LOL!

Temptation, your name is Sandra! If you’re tempted, I’m doing my job right, lol!

Great review Sandra. You’ve sold me so now I have to come up with a really good reason to order one. So tempting!

Thank you, Karen! The holidays are coming up!

Ah! Good excuse 😂

Thanks for the great review Sandra. I wish I could afford this travel kit it would be perfect for me to have in the country 😉

Thank you, Zoie! It is a handy-dandy little set!

What a cute little travel set! I may have to add that to my wishlist! 😊

It’s definitely a handy set to have!

Thanks for another excellent review, Sandra! This looks like a very nice travel set and the colors are lovely!! Beautiful paintings, too!!!

Thanks a million, Mary!

you got great results! this looks like a great set to take on vacations. I don’t do much outdoors painting but I do like to take supplies with me on vacation. hahaha!

Thanks a bunch, Alice! I plan to use it for vacations myself!

Excellent review Sandra 😊

In my Amazon cart😉

Yay! You’ll love it!

Very good review, snd the set looks very imaginative…. But the beauty of everything is your fabulous work in the review… Thanks for you time and effort on preparing this reviews for all of us….

Thank you so much, Walt!

Hi Sandra, I will be receiving mine tomorrow! We are going to two road trips, I believe this will be perfect. Thanks for the review 🙂

You probably have yours by now. I’m doing some unexpected travel, and this will come in quite handy!

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THE 10 CLOSEST Hotels to Electrostal History and Art Museum, Elektrostal

Hotels near electrostal history and art museum, property types, distance from, traveler rating, hotel class.

• Best Value Properties ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data, including traveler ratings, confirmed availability from our partners, prices, booking popularity and location, as well as personal user preferences and recently viewed hotels.
• Traveler Ranked Highest rated hotels on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews.
• Distance from Electrostal History and Art Museum See properties located closest to the place of interest first with confirmed availability for your dates from our partners.

31. Mercure Moscow Baumanskaya

32. Hotel Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki

33. Borodino Alliance Hotel

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Spellbinding Cover Art for ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ Could Break Auction Record

The original watercolor illustration of a young wizard boarding the Hogwarts Express was artist Thomas Taylor’s first professional commission

Julia Binswanger

Daily Correspondent

When 23-year-old  Thomas Taylor was commissioned to create the cover art for a new children’s fantasy novel, he was a graduate student working at a bookstore in Cambridge, England. The world hadn’t yet heard the name “Harry Potter.”

Now, Taylor’s original cover art for the first edition of J.K. Rowling’s  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is going to auction, where it’s expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000.

“It is exciting to see the painting that marks the very start of my career, decades later and as bright as ever!” says Taylor, now an author and illustrator, in a statement from Sotheby’s. The auction house calls his portrayal of the young wizard, complete with his signature lightning bolt scar and round glasses, the “universal image” that defined Potter’s look.

Taylor was among the first to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . He completed the assignment—a watercolor of a young wizard boarding the  Hogwarts Express —in two days.

When the novel debuted in 1997, Taylor was still working at the bookshop. As it became increasingly popular, his colleagues would inform customers that one of their own created the cover art.

“I’m sure you can imagine the looks of confused suspicion on the punters’ faces as their friendly but scruffy bookseller was pointed out as the cover artist of a book that was on everyone’s lips,” writes Thomas on his  website .

With time, Taylor actually became “quite critical” of the piece, as he told the Rowling Library in 2022.

“It was the first professional job I did outside art school, so it was my beginning in illustration,” he said. “And normally, when you start out as an illustrator, you kind of hope that your first work will be a bit forgotten and then you’ll develop and get better and get better. But of course, in this case, this first piece of work has followed me my entire career.”

Though Taylor’s cover was sometimes used for translations of the novel, it never made it to the American edition. Instead,  Mary GrandPré provided the artwork for the book, which also received a title change, becoming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone .

Taylor’s original illustration was last sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2001, when it brought in £85,750 (about $106,000), reports CNN ’s Amarachi Orie. Now, auction house officials are hoping it will sell for much more—and potentially even break records.

An unsigned first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone currently holds the record for the priciest item related to the series. That volume went for $421,000 at a Heritage Auctions sale in 2021.

“It is hard to convey the impact of this illustration by Thomas Taylor, created in 1997 for the then-unknown novel,” says Richard Austin, Sotheby’s global head of books and manuscripts, in the statement. “Instantly recognizable today, Taylor’s work serves as the visual blueprint for the boy wizard who has since inspired millions worldwide.”

On June 26, the book will be sold along with other significant works by 19th- and 20th-century British and American writers, including Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Edgar Allan Poe. Later this summer, Sotheby’s will also sell one of Rowling’s original handwritten manuscripts for The Tales of Beedle the Bard .

Taylor’s illustration and Rowling’s manuscript will go on display at Sotheby’s New York from June 21 to 25.

Today, Taylor is still writing and illustrating his own stories. Despite his criticisms of the work, he’s proud of what it’s come to mean to readers. As he told the Rowling Library, “I’ve become very aware over the years that a lot of people have a lot of strong emotional and nostalgic attachment to this image, so I’m very proud of that. I’m very, very happy about that.”

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Julia Binswanger | READ MORE

Julia Binswanger is a freelance arts and culture reporter based in Chicago. Her work has been featured in WBEZ,  Chicago magazine,  Rebellious magazine and  PC magazine. 

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Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia