What Are Watercolor Paints? Introduction & Types Explained
Watercolor painting is gaining increasing popularity due to its transparency and fluidity. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at three common types of watercolor paints: pan (solid), tube, and liquid. Have you ever been confused about which one to choose? Ever wondered what makes tube watercolors different from solid ones? We’ll answer these questions and more. Let’s uncover the unique characteristics of each watercolor type.
All three types—pan (solid), tubed, and liquid watercolors—belong to the category of transparent watercolors. These paints are typically made from organic and inorganic pigments, combined with natural gum, preservatives, glycerin, and other additives.
Watercolors can also be classified by quality level: student grade and artist/professional grade. Artist-grade paints are crafted from finely ground natural mineral and plant pigments, mixed with high-quality binders, resulting in vibrant colors and excellent performance. These paints involve complex production processes and come at a higher price. Student-grade watercolors may use synthetic substitutes for costlier pigments, making them more affordable but typically offering less color stability, blending ability, and uniform diffusion.
Solid Watercolors (Pan Paints): Features, Activation & Usage Tips
How to Activate Solid Watercolors: Techniques & Tips
Solid watercolors are popular for their compact form and convenient use. They contain minimal moisture and come in a dry, hardened state, requiring water for activation. A common technique is to spray a fine mist of water over the pans and let them sit briefly before using a brush to pick up pigment. This method avoids contamination when using multiple colors, ensuring cleaner results.
Another approach is to dip a moist brush directly onto the pigment. This allows precise control over the paint’s consistency, enabling artists to adjust transparency and layering more effectively. The key is maintaining proper moisture levels in the brush to reactivate the paint fully and enhance depth and detail in the artwork.
Portability & Tray Design of Solid Watercolors for Artists on the Go
Solid watercolors are highly portable and perfect for outdoor sketching. Their lightweight form allows artists to bring a wide color selection wherever they go. Once a pan runs out, it can be easily replaced or refilled with tubed watercolor, left to dry, and reused as a pan—both cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Many solid watercolor sets feature individual trays or pans, enabling users to customize their color palettes. The organized layout also improves workflow and makes colors easier to locate during painting.
Limitations of Solid Watercolors: What Artists Should Know
Despite their advantages, solid watercolors have some limitations. Due to the manufacturing process, the paint may have a slightly grainy texture and lower transparency than other types. Over time, the surface of the pans can become dirty or muddy. To maintain cleanliness, artists should adopt good painting habits and clean the surface regularly, especially after heavy color mixing.
Tubed Watercolors: Benefits, Usage & Buying Guide
How to Use Tubed Watercolors & Their Advantages
Tubed watercolors offer a more traditional painting experience. Unlike pan paints, they require a separate palette for mixing. A well-divided palette is recommended for better color control. These paints contain more glycerin, giving them a creamy texture and making them easy to dilute and blend with water. Simply squeeze the desired amount onto the palette and start painting.
Their excellent water solubility and rich pigments allow for smooth blending and vibrant effects. Tubes also provide better access to large quantities of paint, making them ideal for both small- and large-scale artworks.
Tubed Watercolors: Direct Application & Cost Considerations
Tubed paints are suitable for a wide range of applications. They are generally more affordable than pan watercolors, though prices vary by brand. Artists can apply them directly, without waiting for activation, saving time during painting.
However, it’s easy to accidentally squeeze out more paint than needed. Paint that dries on the palette can be reused, but it’s important to reseal the tube properly after use to prevent the paint from drying out.
Shelf Life and Stability of Tubed Watercolors
Compared to solid paints, tubed watercolors are less stable for long-term storage. Over time, separation of binder and pigment (also called “binder bleeding”) can occur. It’s common to see a clear liquid come out before the actual pigment when first opening a tube. This makes precise pigment-to-binder ratios harder to control. Additionally, tubed paints generally have a shorter shelf life than solid versions.
Liquid Watercolors: Key Features & Artistic Benefits
How to Use Liquid Watercolors: Easy & Efficient Techniques
Liquid watercolors are known for their exceptional fluidity and brilliance. Artists can use them immediately after dispensing, with no need for pre-wetting or mixing. They are highly pigmented and vibrant, offering a striking look on paper.
They can also be used directly without dilution, allowing precise control over intensity and tone. This makes them especially suitable for dynamic or experimental works.
Vibrant Colors of Liquid Watercolors: Why They Stand Out
One of the biggest advantages of liquid watercolors is their bright, vivid color payoff. Compared to traditional types, they offer more intensity and saturation—even when heavily diluted. This allows for expressive, modern visual effects and striking contrasts in artwork.
Challenges of Liquid Watercolors: What to Watch Out For
Due to their high fluidity, liquid watercolors can be difficult to modify once applied to paper. Their tendency to stain and lack of erasability means mistakes are harder to fix. They also have a shorter shelf life and may fade over time, which makes them less suitable for archival-quality pieces. Furthermore, their heavier packaging makes them less ideal for travel.
Despite these limitations, liquid watercolors remain a favorite among illustrators, designers, and experimental artists.
Comparing Solid, Tubed & Liquid Watercolors: Which One to Buy?
To sum up, each type of watercolor paint—solid, tubed, and liquid—has its own advantages, suitable for different artistic needs and styles. Solid watercolors are compact and great for sketching or outdoor use. Tubed paints offer richer pigments and better blending, ideal for detailed and large-scale work. Liquid watercolors provide vibrant, transparent color and fluidity, perfect for modern or experimental art.
Many artists even use these types in combination: sketching with solid pans, layering with tubed paints in the studio, and adding final effects with liquid watercolors. Understanding how to leverage each medium helps improve creative flexibility and artistic expression.
From a B2B Perspective: Watercolor Paint Types for Different Markets
As a professional art supply supplier, we understand how different watercolor types serve various markets—educational, retail, and creative industries. Solid watercolors are perfect for students and plein air painters. Tubed paints cater to professional artists and studios. Liquid watercolors, with their brilliance and ease of use, are popular in illustration and design fields.
We offer a variety of sizes, packaging options, and product grades to meet your purchasing needs. Whether you’re looking to expand your product range or source in bulk, we provide reliable, high-quality, and customizable solutions. For wholesale orders or OEM inquiries, feel free to contact us—we’re here to support your business growth with consistent and professional supply.
