Thanks Marty, interesting sample packing! According to the Handprint web site they are definitely DaVinci made. In my book that alone puts them in the top tier of high grade watercolor paint. I wish I could confirm where Joe's Kilimanjaro paper comes from. He keeps that pretty secret.
Great review! The lead holder is beautiful and what a thoughtful gift. I'm with her, your videos are my favorite! You're always supporting others (especially on Marty & Steve live); have a great voice and always so humble. I live in desert area and find beauty where others don't....types of cactus, mesquite, etc. But, I've never seen such magnificent sunrises & sunsets. In KS & Dalhart, TX.. I loved the farms; especially watching each season. Wildflowers of any kind fascinate me. I do think artists have an "eye"..I concur. People differing from norm are some of my favorites. I enjoy "listening to life stories" and blessed 95% of them. I traveled over US in educational job for 4 yrs. Wow! Neat people, neat places. My opinion: God's given us artists a unique outlook. Definitely different than "surface people". I know my husband delights in wild animals, flowers on oil leases. Even rigs against sunsets are stunning! We are so blessed... Have to say, "Yahoo" to your wife for crossing Canada on her bike!! I watched that but didn't comment.. Keep up the good work! I'm working to get word out about your RU-vid site...Nancy
Hullo Marty, A wonderful review of American Journey Paints! I am quite sure that DaVinci is the manufacturer of Cheap Joe’s Paints. I have used several same pigment colors and they react so similarly. I have enjoyed a couple of tours through the DaVinci paint company and I recommend DaVinci Paints of California without reservations! I have used these paper pressed palettes to send paints to friends and associates and they are truly versatile and very well made. You did a lovely job with these paints, thank you.
AJ has always been my favorite watercolors as they've got some personality and spunk. Their paint sets are a lot of fun (i recommend the 'beach comber' and 'quinacridone' sets), with odd, unique colors like 'pat's coastal blue' (a must for Seattle), brown derby, blue stone, coffee and cream and harvest wheat. Happy painting!
Great review, what a great idea these little samples, lets you try before you buy! I was hoping you would do a little sketch with them, I love when you do that? Next time please? Always cheers me. I love looking at clouds, love painting them as well, soothes my soul! TFS
Marty, do you think they (DaVinci) make the watercolor sticks as well? I thought for a moment a long time ago that Daniel Smith might possibly had made them but then the "made in California" shot that down. Thoughts? Thanks! Hope your summer is going well!
Hi Erin - They do make some watercolor wax crayons and yes Daniel Smith does make watercolor sticks. Here is a link to the DaVinci's: explosionart.com/product/Da-Vinci-EncauSticks-Watercolor-Sticks-Phthalo-Green.html Here is a link to the Daniel Smith's:www.danielsmith.com/ItemList--Daniel-Smith-Watercolor-Sticks--m-593
Makes me kinda sad that It's very expensive to get stuff from DickBlick's or Joe's in Canada, these seem particularly good. And I love the tins that the standard American Journey sets come in. Thanks for the great video Marty! :)
One tip - If you buy paints from WetPaint you can save some money on shipping. I don't think they carry American Journey, but they carry or can get most anything. Call them and ask for Darrin. Tell him I sent you his way. wetpaintart.com
very bright watercolor paints! to ba they aren t for sale in Holland, correct me if I m wrong. And the cartons are very nice to refile with couple of drops from tubes after they ve gone empty. how would they keep the color over the years?
+abigail van der Pluijm Hi Abigail, I don't know if they are available in Holland, but maybe you could order them from the states. I think these will keep just find over the years, but I'll need to check that...in a few years. :-) - Marty
I tried to search on your channel but didn't come up with anything. I was wondering if you have ever tried ShinHan Professional Water Colors? Are they really professional or are they student grade. They have a lot of mixed colors which makes me wonder about them. But they are very vibrant. Thank you.
I too have read nothing but positive reviews about that line of paints as well. As far as finding 'beauty', I usually use the word 'unique' because in today's commercial world the models all look anorexic and are really almost this cookie cutter face! It's BORING!!! All the great artists would search for unique people that had striking and unusual features. At least that's my opinion and I do share the same tenancy to catch myself staring into tree shapes thinking 'oh that's what I've been looking for'.. the shapes and geometry all in nature. :) Great.. now I want to go paint something LoL
Great demo Marty! I will see about getting some of the samples to try. The world would be a better place if people would try/pause for a moment to see the beauty in things around them!
Hey Marty, Great review. I was going to ask you if you had DaVinci on your list. Unfortunately, there are a lot of demos of AJ on youtube but I can't find any of the DaVinci other than Peter Sheeler listing them on his materials list for his paintings. I wonder if the AJ are the exact same paint rebranded or a different formula based on AJ specifications? -Pete
+hitgar Hey Pete - Great to hear from you. Yes, from what I understand they are exactly the same paint. I don't find the AJ specs anywhere, but there is some detail on the DaVinci website here (scroll to the bottom): www.davincipaints.com/paints/watercolors
Pete I just tested 16 AJ colors a friend sent me. They have the same pigments as my beloved DaVinci paints, but they aren't the same formula by a long shot. DaVinci paint blooms softly wet into wet, AJ just sits there. Pretty sure there's little to no dispersant in the AJ.
Gorgeous Pen. i too find beauty in everything and love weird or different things and people. I think it is artist thing. Im blessed to get to do art full time and it makes so happy. nothing in life makes me happier than creating. Love these little sets my get some for my self. i just got some daler and downey paints they were cheap. i have yet to try them. Got them in a travel case. Shannon
I'm so glad to see that you reviewed the AJ paints. My dad lives about 20 minutes from the store in Charlotte, and I always try find an excuse to stop in whenever I visit him. (Gotta give a shout out to the CLT store staff--super nice folks!!) I have a few AJ tubes and sample sets, and I really like them. I'm fascinated with the Blue Stone color. I'm finding it to be nicely versatile. I keep saying I want to make a day trip visit to the original CJ's in Boone, but I'm a little scared of what it would do to my bank balance. 😂
Thanks Marty! Another great review. Would it be possible for you to do a short video explaining how you conduct your light fastness tests? I think that would be very helpful information. Thanks again!
Great review! I think I'm going to use the American Journey Paints to do sample paintings before I use Sennelier for the final image. I do have a question though on the paints you mixed in the Sennelier swatch chart you have because I can't read the colors and haven't found a video on them. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks 😊
Here is a link to the review I did on the Sennelier watercolors: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YshFRccHHjw.html Hoe that helps. ~Marty
Very nice review, as always. I was especially happy to hear your "philosophical" comments. You have an appealing sensitivity to the world around you. Thanks for sharing this part of yourself.
+Sharon Nolfi - Hi Sharon - Thank you for the kind comments. Knowing that there are people out there in the great big world that connect with beauty, through art is comforting. Thank you for watching! - Marty
I have wondered about these paints! I haven't been brave enough to 'try' them! Thanks for all the helpful info! The sample kits seem to be a really great way to check them out too! Really appreciate you looking into this line of watercolor! We are birds of a feather when it comes to opening our eyes to the beauty that surrounds us Marty! I try to teach my girls ( as much as they'll let me😜) to live in the moment and have a heart full of grace and appreciation. I think that helps us to get a whole new view of the world sometimes. Some days we're spot on and others we need to be reminded....so thanks my friend! Enjoy your weekend.
+Denise Chapel Greetings Denise - Sometimes in life you're just made so happy when you meet people who just get it. You get it and it's wonderful to know there are like-minded people in the world. I try to teach my kids the same and I think they get it as well. Maybe that's what we owe the world. :-) - Marty
Oh I forgot to mention because I prefer watercolour paint with honey after I put then into the pallet wells (large wells) I put 3 drops of honey and stirred really well they now behave like sennelier and M Graham paints they disperse better and remain tacky in the Wells. .I'm not afraid to experiment lol Heather
Those look like great paints! Sir, I like how sincere you are about why you like to do art, and I agree, there are a lot of beautiful things in life, and art let's us capture that beauty, in any way that we see them from our perspective.
hi Marty these were my first set of paints and the light fastness is pretty good with them they had a special when I got them the large 37m 12 of them and a huge porcelain pallette and 6 great brushs I would recommend them to any professional artist :) Heather
+Owings Art hmmm...maybe only using the essential sample set create a scene from nature, or something you can find in the kitchen, something you see in a coffee shop and see what people come up with. Some of the coloring groups I've joined on Facebook also have challenges where you can only pick three colors and create a picture. They're fun :)
I have a few of cheap joes paints and they are among my favorites especially since they re activate so well and the colors are so vibrant. Great review.
for some reason this review felt different to me... maybe the little talk in the beginning about beauty. . I quite loved it. . These paints look lovely and I thought both of the shout outs are adorable. -Sana'a
thanks for reviewing these! have you also reviewed the actual da Vinci's by chance? I tried searching but nothing came up for you or any one else. only brush reviews came up :/ perhaps bad marketing on da Vinci's part? thanks! ~Tina
Hi tv09 - No I haven't because these are the exact same paints. They are identical so it would be redundant to review them. They're really nice paints though.
Hi Marty. Just love all your comparisons! Could not find one for the Maimeri Venezia (made in Italy). Also Peerless. Thank you so much for all the work you have put in to the comparisons as they are very helpful when deciding what sets to buy when one is overwhelmed by the choices on the market. :)
Hi Lynn, Thank you for your kind comments. Unfortunately the Maimari's are very expensive, and then there is shipping, so I haven't sprung for them yet. I've had my eye on them for some time now, so if they come down a little in price or someone sends me a pack, I'll be able to add them to the list. :-) ~Marty
Thanks Marty for your reply. Bought set 24 as they were on sale in Melbourne Australia, while ago and was wondering how they stack up against other brands. Kind regards to you :)
