Watercolor tubes vs. pans?

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

Most painters here seem to use tube paint allowed to dry on the palette, re-wetted before use. It is an economical way to use paint. Except for certain pigments such as Burnt Umber, Cerulean Blue and Viridian they reconstitute easily with water.

The only time I use paint from the tube is when painting florals when I need pure colour.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[artdragon86]

heh I broke down and ordered the Winsor and Newton Artist Field Box (it looked so convenient and cute I couldn’t reist :D), so in a way that solves my problem of using dried W&N tube paints. However, I do still have the empty pans and I have been thinking of getting a few Daniel Smith watercolours (already have some of the luminescent ones but they also have some nice colours that W&N doesn’t seem to have in their range). Does anyone know how well Daniel Smith paints reconstitute with water after being left to dry?

Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil.
Rebecca ~ http://artdragon86.wordpress.com/

[painterbear Moderator Oakwood, Ohio]

Rebecca,
I use a lot of Daniel Smith tube paints and they dry in my palette. I have no trouble reconstituting them with a little water before beginning a painting session. Go for it!

Truth be told, I haven’t had any trouble reconstituting any of my artist grade paints from different manufacturers.

Sylvia

[tikkimarsala]

I have winsor newton artist pan colors, and I love them. The color is vibrant and pigment load is good. I also have schmincke artist grade pans, but I like the winsor newton ones better. I used to paint only with tube paints, and I find the pans much more easy to use. I don’t have to think about what tubes I need to squeeze out ahead of time. I have tried drying tube paints in pans recently too, but I like the rewetting capability of the pan watercolors better. The tube paints, just don’t rewet as well. I have Daniel Smith, Van Gogh and Winsor Newton tube paints. I am curious to see if anyone has found better pan watercolors. I have heard good things about White Nights, Rembrandt and Kremer. But I haven’t tried them.

[Fidgement]

I am using a set of Yarka’s I originally purchased in 1998. I have replaced a few of the pans due to mold over time, as the set was in storage for a long time, but they are very easy to work with. I also have a small set of WN artists pans and they are luscious. I have some tubes I’m using from various makers, so I guess I use both types of paint, but eventually I will probably stick with pans as they are easier to manage, IMHO.

Helen

[Riverfrog]

I also use W & N pans, they are definately a lot easier to use than tubes especially for plein air painting and quick sketches.
I have switched to buying tubes recently and agree that it is a drag having to keep going back to the tube to squeeze more in, it doesn’t last as long either. The following day any left in the pan is not as nice or easy to use as a purpose made pan.

To me the only advantage for tube paint is if you need a large quantity mixed.

I am about to try Holbein as it is said to remain fresh and creamy in the pan, we will see!!

http://s3.amazonaws.com/wetcanvas-hdc/Community/images/18-Feb-2013/1041532-red_potatoes_signature_photo.jpg Red Potatoes

[RuiFromUK]

Most of the time I also use paint from tubes that has been squeezed on to the palette(s) well beforehand. To save me the trouble of not having to slightly re-wet the paint before use I tend to use paint from manufacturers that use honey in their manufacture, e.g. Schmincke, Sennelier, MaimeriBlu and Blockx.

Although there are exceptions where I use Daniel Smith, W&N, M Graham and DaVinci but I tend to squeeze the tube paint as needed for the reasons the others have mentioned.

Kind regards.
Rui

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."
"I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance."
Socrates.

[steveoreno]

Wow, legos! I learn something new and creative on WC everyday. But tubes vs Pans….isn’t it true that art and beauty are in the eye of the beholder? Art is an on going experiment..from the time the first cave dwellers painted the first cave walls. To me if I reconstitute red and it’s still red and stays red, then that’s good enough for me. All the viewer sees is the end result. As artist we can debate this forever, but there are times when paint from the tube is better(large washes). As for me, I spritz my dry pans and reuse. It has never failed me.

[virgil carter]

Steve, I have it on good authority from some of the early cave painters (I won’t use any names here, but you know who you are), that an early and endless debate was whether or not it was better to paint caves with large sticks or small sticks.

The debate goes on!

Sling paint!
Virgil

Sling paint,
Virgil Carter
http://www.virgilcarterfineart.com/

[steveoreno]

lmao…Virgil, you hit the nail on the head!

[Joe Cartwright]

I use Winsor and Newton tube paints and have absolutely not trouble using them when they dry (for the colors I use at least).
I actually prefer the tube colors to dry before I paint as I find I can get even stronger darks with them that way. It is all a mater of artistic taste and the subject you are painting as to weather you want to paint with fresh or dried paint.

http://amzn.to/1E72ilp (Book) www.paintingwithwatercolors.com (Demonstrations)
www.watercolour-painting.com (Blog)
www.joecartwright.com.au (Gallery)

[earthnut]

I use tube paint in “half pans”. The original idea was from this website with the Altoids tin. I used legos for my pans, can make half or whole sized pans. I Glued a flat piece in the box and and pop out pans when I want to change colors. I recently switched to M Graham paints and I am loving them!

The pan set I have I found to chalky for my taste. Well it is about 20 years old, might make a difference.

OK what legos are you using?? I have lots of old legos, but none look like that on the bottom. Did you modify them?

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice. ~ John Calvin

[Ginevive]

Just wondering.. I have many tubs WCs (WN and others.) So basically if I obtain glycerine and add some to the freshly-squeezed paint.. do you think that I could then put it into a tray setup and go from there?

-Jen Sintzel

[painterbear Moderator Oakwood, Ohio]

Jen,
I let my paints dry in my plastic palettes and have no trouble rewetting them as is. I don’t think you need to add glycerine to freshly-squeezed paint unless you have a tube that has dried out before you try to squeeze the paint out.

Sylvia

[StewGold]

For Winsor and Newton I usually add 1 drop runny honey and a couple drops glycerine to a half pan, and stir very gently with a toothpick. You don’t want bubbles. Have never added anything to Michael Graham tubes, even the Viridian comes back to life 5 minutes after a quick spray of water. Daniel Smith have been fine as well. The MaimeriBlu greens were fine without additions as well.

I got the tiny Restaurant breakfast jar of runny honey, and stood it in hot water to soften it, you can then pick up a tiny drop with a toothpick. For the glycerine I found a tiny one drop bottle in a cake decorating shop; and got a funny look for saying it was for paint. If all you can get is a big bottle, use some instead of sugar in a rum torte.

Think the only colour that was a bit odd to get a decent brushful was Daniel Smiths Genuine Turquoise, which shrank like mad and always looks a little white to begin with.

Have fun , Leslie

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