Is Artist Grade Paint Worth The Money?

SUMMARY: Many artists struggle with choosing the right watercolour paint. Here’s why we suggest choosing artist grade paint over student grade paint.

Watercolor painting is a wonderful art form, whether you’re a student painter, professional painter, or hobbyist. Choosing the right materials will determine your experience with painting and at the top of your materials list should be watercolor paints. But how do you know if student vs artist grade paint is better? Is artist grade worth the money? Let’s discuss.

Key Takeaways

1. Student grade paint has less pigment and has added fillers than professional artist grade paint.

2. While the price is less for student grade paint, it is recommended to choose artist-grade paint as you will save time and money in the long-run.

3. When purchasing paint, it is recommended to choose paint from a tube as the paint has a better texture and will last longer.

Student vs Artist Grade Paint

The biggest difference between student and artist grade paint is pigment. Pigment can be costly. When you consider that many colours are made of more than one pigment, which come from a variety of sources, you begin to understand the complexity. Those pigments then must go through manufacturing processes to make them compatible with the other components of the paint.

Since students tend to have less money than artists, paint companies need to offer a lower priced option. They’re able to cut the cost of student grade paint by using less pigment and more filler. Less pigment, however, means less vibrant colors.

Artist quality paints will also have a higher level of lightfastness. Lightfastness refers to pigments that are light stable - meaning that when exposed to UV light, they resist fading. Conversely, pigments that do fade when exposed with UV light are deemed fugitive. Lightfastness is measured on a scale, ranging from very poor to excellent. Artist grade watercolours should have a rating of very good or excellent. Not only will artist grade paint be more fun and easier to work with, but it will also look better and last longer.

Watercolour Paint in Tubes vs Pans

Within the student vs artist grade paint debate, you must also choose if you want paint in a tube or pan. Both student and artist grade offer both delivery methods. Professional painter or student painter, your best bet will always be tube. Paints in tubes are richer and wetter. Paint has to be dry in order to be contained in a pan, so you can expect to spend more time reconstituting the color if you choose to go this route. Even with artist grade paints, if it’s delivered in a pan, you’ll notice much less color payoff. This is due to the amount of water you must add to reconstitute the paint. Plus, most pan paints are sold in half pans which are very small, 15mm x 19mm or 1/2” x 3/4”, which make using larger brushes very difficult.

Watercolour Paint Brands

There are dozens of paint manufacturers in the watercolor market and choosing a reputable one can be a challenge. A few of the better-known companies are: Daniel Smith (USA), Da Vinci (USA), Holbein (Japan), M. Graham (USA), MaimeriBlu (Italy), Schmincke (Germany), Sennelier (France), Tri-Art (Canada) and Winsor & Newton (England). Most of these companies only sell artist quality paint but some like Winsor & Newton have a student line called Cotman. The two brands that we use most often are Daniel Smith and Tri-Art.

Daniel Smith Paint is made in Seattle. They make artist grade watercolor paints as well as oil paints. They have a huge variety of watercolor options. Their paint is particularly rich and thick. You can visibly see the difference when you initially put it on your palette in comparison with student grade paint.

Tri-Art Paints are made in Canada. They offer both student and artist grade options. In addition to watercolors, they also offer acrylic and oil paints as well as inks. Their watercolors are a bit earthier and thicker than Daniel Smith, which makes them super enjoyable to work with. When used properly, they can offer an excellent gradation.

Closing Thoughts

When debating between student and artist grade paint, it’s tempting to choose the former because of its lower price. However, an investment in artist grade paint, whether you’re a professional painter or a student painter, will take your watercolor painting experience to the next level. Not only will your painting look more vibrant, but you will also enjoy the experience more. Plus, your painting will last much longer! Choose your watercolor paints wisely, put in the time to practice, and the rest will follow.