The Sakura Koi set is actually built that way so you can put a 4x6 sheet on the lid and paint on it. It gives you a mixing area, an easel of sorts, the sponges to clean your brush, and the brush. It's supposed to be super portable. Also why there's the ring on the back, you can put your finger through it to help hang onto the palette.
RedStarLights Yes,I think this is GREAT.I got it recently on my own and they are amazing.I have the set of 30 for about $30.00,it's pretty cheap for a good grade of watercolors.
I've sketched and watercoloured outside for years! Starting at age 7 while on holiday. By bus, foot, horse back, or later car, I've used my outdoor kit for around 10 years, after my old one fell apart!. An empty watercolour box, filled with Artist quality paints, brushes, including a round, flat, mop and detail brush. A pop bottle for water, 2 plastic containers, and an old ice cream container top, which I use as a pallet. A plastic box with spare tubes just incase I need extra paint. A Loo roll, and a piece of towelling. My Sketch book, and watercolour paper, and a small folding easel my Grandfather made. All packed into a rucksack. Great for travelling, and no problem when on horseback. As the girls grew older, they too had a rucksack each, and of we would go for a picnic and art session wherever the road took us! Or the horses! There is something special about doing art outside. Be it in a bus shelter in the rain, or a hot summers day sketching narrow boats, a field or the zoo, I love the freedom it gives me to explore. My oldest is a hobby artist, my youngest a Tattooest. I'd be lost without my art.
I'm headed to Mayo Clinic for one of my husband's day-long chemo treatment. I just purchased the Koi 24-color pocket field sketch box and a small watercolor pad. Now, after watching your video, I feel excited about how I'll spend my day! Thanks so much!!
I got this inside info from someone on another RU-vid channel, and it's so useful to know. In the US, pretty much everything follows the "righty tighty, lefty loosey" rule, but in Japan, it's usually or often the other way around. I was about to give up on something new I had just bought before I learned this.
If anyone is looking for a small cheaper watercolor set Winsor&Newton has one with halfed colors. It's called "Winsor&Newton Cotman Sketchers Pocket box". At least I know in Germany it's ~ 12€ and I was pretty satisfied with it but I sadly gave it away a long time ago which I deeply regret. Just in case someone wants to add another one to the list. It's a really tiny box but comes with 12 colors and space to mix them. I so want it back!
I got a collapsible silicone cup with a lid from wish so it can be specific for paint water. Medicine bottles with non-childproof lids work well and they can travel with water in them. Also, instead of the glass dropper bottle, you can get a 2oz plastic squeeze bottle in the travel size section of most stores.
Thank you for all your research! I love to paper craft when I am away from home. I've recently begun stamping and using watercolor again. The industry has changed so much since I started 20 years ago. I stopped for awhile and I am having a lot of fun getting back into using watercolors!
I received that brush years ago and can't recall from where so it is nice to have a name attached now! I loved it to death, literally, RIP brush. I adore those colors too so I am off to find them. Thanks for sharing.
Honestly i've laid my eyes fot the zig clean color marker for like years and you reviewing it making me crave it more but then its so expensive, i could only buy one at a time 😩😩
Thanks Kristine for this very good video. I just want to mention that the little blue japanese water brush could open when traveling to a higher altitude, due to the change of the atmosferic pressure change. So I would recomend to empty it when is not being used.
I'm not sure if you mentioned it or if I just missed it. The Koi water color set actually has a "handle" on the other side that you can put your finger in for traveling. ☺️ btw for my water brush, mine has to get unscrewed counter clockwise to open! I love your videos!!!
Hi! I know this is older, & you might already know, but that little water bottle in that wallet-like travel kit (The blue & yellow one. The little yellow bottle has an accordion-like end you can push to move water to the brush) is made so you can fill the brush pen. Very kewl little set! I haven't seen this kit. where did you / can you get one? Nice, very helpful reviews, even a year later! Great ideas & things to look for, buy or make! TY!
This is a great informational video. Nice job covering all the bases. I love the dropper idea for additional water. I will look for a plastic one. Maybe a cleaned food coloring container? I really like the Koi watercolors. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for all the info. This has been what has held me up when it comes to water coloring. I do not have any water colors as of now and I'm really confused as to what I should purchase. Especially when I'm not sure if I'm going to like water coloring enough to invest in it. I really appreciate your insights.
You can open your sakura koi waterbrush by rotating it clockwise or the way you would normally rotate to close a bottle. I personally often forget that haha!
Love this!!! These were the first watercolor paints I bought! I loved it so much I bought the tubes! 18 set! I Love them too! Lol then I bought Jane Davenports portable small paints that are similar to prima!! I received all these recommendations from The Frugal Crafter, she is great!!! I learned a lot from her, The Watercolor Misfit is also great for beginners! She’s uses radiant liquid water colors, and really goes step by step teaching you everything! And then, there my FAVORITE man!! Steve from The Mind of Watercolor, he’s so chill, very knowledgeable about painting, and everything u really need to know!! He even did reviews on light pads!! I went with his suggestions! I was thrilled to see him using and reviewing the new Waffle flower stamps ( for color swatching!!) He’s freakin awesome! He did mention in the comments how he enjoys UR tutorials!! 😊💗👍🏼 These 3 amazing people, are who I learned and felt extremely comfortable learning from! I highly suggest them to ur viewers!! Thanks Kristine!! All of u guys have changed my life!! I’d be here for even longer if I started thanking u, Jennifer, Kelly L, Laura B, Amanda and so many more!!! God bless u all!! Really, I mean it!!!!!💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
Re the Kuretake travel kit: I'm just guessing, but it looks like maybe the gray fabric envelope on the left is meant to hold the closed palette, keeping it secure while the kit is being carried.
I have that canson block for when I travel. Honestly a business card is sufficient for getting the top sheet off. I have even used the little card with wifi password that the hotel gives you and it works fine.
Thanks so much for this Kristina! I've had my eye on that Kuretake kit for a while now but wondered about the paint quality. I'll go ahead and put it on my wishlist :) I like my brush roll with a piece of cloth laid on top. Lucas makes a very nice travel set - looks like the same tin as the Prima. I always enjoy your videos!
Hey- quick note. Yes, the paints are super pigmented, but they are chalky, don’t flow, even though their case is super portable. I would recommend winsor and Newton cotman watercolors. You can find them on amazon and they are amazing quality!
if you wanna maximize the space in your tin can. Get a double sided tape or just buy a magnetic sheet, attach it under each pans. Detach the silver thingy from the base that holds the half pans. Stick the pans with magnetic sheet on the white base (metal) and you can now fill the empty space in the middle with another 6 halfpans. maybe your own choice of mixed color. :D
wow. so many watercolors. I wish they were mine. I love to paint but I'm not to good at it. I usually draw what im gonna paint then use my watercolor and color it in with my paint brush.
Love the koi palette...hate the paint. Also bought second so that I could have mixing palettes on both sides. Took out paints. Took piece of ridged board, waterproofed it and stuck (with removeable glue dots) full and half pans to it..if traveling to mountains and seashore then the convience colors go into extra palette..i use a lot of water...and do multiple layers. It is sturdy enough to take a beating. ,
Dear Kristina, I've been watching your watercolor videos. I would like to learn watercolor. What supplies do you suggest for an absolute beginner? I have some Donna Dewberry brushes. Can I use those brushes for watercolor?
That was great thank you from a real beginner. I think water colour will be my medium of preference. I have the little tin with a fold out tray for mixing. Mine has a neat little thumb-sized ring on the bottom for holding. Were those little squares of paper impregnated with ink/pigment to dissolve out onto the brush? Haven't come across that before. Thanks again for a nice reviews. I just subscribed. Btw I love your cards and illustrations!
1:00 Sakura koi 3:31 prima decadent pies?? (Did I hear that right???) 8:00 peerless watercolor sheets The rest are papers. And I usually use the Canson mixed media journal
Hi Kristina ~ This is an awesome, awesome informational video. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this for us. The Kuretake kit will be perfect for my daughter, who is an Art Therapist, but lives in a small/tiny home without much in the way of storage. So much helpful information. Thanks for sharing. ~HUGS~
I don't know much on water colouring, but I really enjoy watching your card tutorials. I plan on getting the Sakura Koi 12 colour set. What do you think of the Cotman Watercolor Sketchers' Pocket Box? Apparently they use alternatives to expensive pigments to reduce costs.... I don't know if that's good/bad^^"
Hammad S,For Christmas my friend can only afford the Cotman Watercoloured set for me but I like the Sakura Koi more but it's a bit more expensive but it's fine because I still can use the Cotman set.
sakura koi & cotman both use alternatives to exspensive pigments, its not particularly good or bad unless you care about lightfastness. cotman and sakura koi are pretty similar quality
Okay awesome, thank you =) Actually, I decided to use really inexpensive paints (like the ones kids use). I'll likely have to coat my work many more times than with the stronger pigmented colours, right?
Loved seeing your selections! Going to try the waterbrush you like to use. My current favorite is by Tim Holtz/Ranger. Also going to check out your peerless watercolor book - looks amazing!
midnightprowler 15 really? It’s way too expensive mine was like 15$ or something but I think you can get it on amazon for 17 or 18$ with shipping.... I think? But then again it depends on where you live
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us :) I love watching your videos and always appreciate the time you put into them. Really, really enjoy all your videos.
whenever i travel or go somewhere far like out of country,I ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE ARTSY STUFF EVEN JUST PENCILS AND PAPER and they always say it's useless because i never use it well they don't know that i actually do.xd i never leave without it
Hi Kristina, I saw you have difficulties to open the brush. I think you have to turn it the other way,it is left winded, I think!!! Want to let you know that I love your videos a lot! Sibylle
Hi. Would love to know what are the differences (if any) between Sakura Koi watercolors and Prima watercolors. I don't travel a lot so that wouldn't be a concern. Which one do you think is better? Thanks a lot! :)
The waterbrush for the Koi set unscrews the other way. It's not righty-tighty/lefty-loosy. Probably because it's Japanese made. It always catches me off guard when I go to refill that after refilling my other brushes that unscrew normally.
I have travelled with my: Winsor & Newton - Traveller's Kit with a "small" - pad of watercolor paper, and like it "small" 'coz I only wanna capture "beautiful scenerys" in small! I don't wanna look like a backpacker when travelling! lol
Great review. I think that pouch on the inside of the left cover of the Kuretake Gansai Watercolor Palette with Water Brush looks just the right size to hold the closed palette of paints securely when you aren't actively painting. And, how nice that they made the center pocket removable so it doesn't flop over into either your palette or paper when painting.
It was nice watching your video.. Got to learn about about the kuretake kit. Kristina I have a question...is the Sakura Poster paint a watercolor paint or an acrylic?I've used it both ways but I wanted to know for sure. Can you please help?
Great tips, Kristina! For anyone who has a Hobby Lobby nearby, they have basically the same plastic folding palette for less than half what Amazon.com charges. Plus, you can save even more if you use a coupon! :) I have this one, and it works great. I just squeezed some paint from my tubes into it, let that dry, and I have a great little palette. You can find it in their art department. (This is the one I'm talking about: www.hobbylobby.com/Art-Supplies/Painting-Supplies/Palettes-Tools/Plastic-Folding-Palette/p/5011-PO0851.) They also sell the Koi watercolor pan set. More than on Amazon, but again, you can use a coupon to bring it down to about the same price--and no shipping charges! Thanks for sharing these items & tips, Kristina! :)
elisabet Salazar the white nights are a professional set, so I would go with them. unless you are talking about all professional ranges, then they are roughly the same
Someone had asked me a question pertaining to this video, specifically to your Peerless Watercolor handbook you created. I couldn't come up with an answer. So, I thought I'd go to the source and ask the source, that meant going to you. So, I really hope that you will answer the question... How did you secure the punched out squared Peerless Watercolor piece into your handmade book? Followed by, how did you replace the color piece that you used up?
Marilyn Lyon I have the 12 Koi watercolor set and I also have the same problem. i wanted to make sure that I turned the barrel nicely so it wouldn't leak, but the barrel started to losen up after I turned it the usual direction. thank God I realized it quickly and didn't spill the water
Hi I've picked up some portable watercolors but how should I bring water with me? I don't really want to bring a glass cup with me everywhere I go. Any ideas?