Schmincke Horadam Gouache Metal Set 10 x 15ml Tubes

An addendum to my prior review on this excellent gouache line: there are a few, to my mind, glaring omissions in the palette. This means that, even though I've been able to stop making a great many of my own gouaches, using the Schmincke line instead, I still find myself grinding a few colors: I quite like PB 15:3 (Helio Blue in the Schmincke Horadam line), but it's not an "artist's" substitute for PB 36 (Cerulean Blue). PB 16 (Helio Turquoise in the Horadam line) is a fine greenish blue, but the palette really requires, in addition, a blueish green, like PG 50 (Cobalt Turquoise). Finally, the line needs another violet, in addition to PV 19 (Quinacridone Violet, which is more madder than violet) and PV 23 (Dioxazine, another red violet, though a fair bit bluer than ... MoreAn addendum to my prior review on this excellent gouache line: there are a few, to my mind, glaring omissions in the palette. This means that, even though I've been able to stop making a great many of my own gouaches, using the Schmincke line instead, I still find myself grinding a few colors: I quite like PB 15:3 (Helio Blue in the Schmincke Horadam line), but it's not an "artist's" substitute for PB 36 (Cerulean Blue). PB 16 (Helio Turquoise in the Horadam line) is a fine greenish blue, but the palette really requires, in addition, a blueish green, like PG 50 (Cobalt Turquoise). Finally, the line needs another violet, in addition to PV 19 (Quinacridone Violet, which is more madder than violet) and PV 23 (Dioxazine, another red violet, though a fair bit bluer than Quinacridone Violet). I frequently find myself having to make my own PV 14 (Cobalt Violet--my Cobalt pigment is a blue violet), and occasionally trying to make PV 15 (Ultramarine Violet, another blueish violet). Schmincke clearly has no problem including toxic metal pigments in its artists' gouache palette, so I'm not sure I understand the decision to substitute "tones" in a few places, rather than offering them as an additional choice. I'm glad Schmincke offers non-toxic tones for those who prefer or need them, but it seems "tones" won out over metal based pigments in two or three--for me--key areas of the spectrum (cool blues, turquoises, and, arguably, violets). It's a wonderful line--the best out there, I believe. But I sincerely hope Schmincke considers adding a few Cobalt pigments to the palette.

Before I tried Schmincke, I was generally disappointed with the various gouaches I used, all of which claimed to be artist grade, even if some were clearly sneaked into designer lines, such as Winsor and Newton's. I ended up tossing quite a few. So I began making my own gouache with some success (though, I never could mix a good ultramarine violet gouache). Then I tried Schmincke. Whether it's because of the particular fine grind of the pigment, a combination of their particular pigments and binder mix or what, I can't say, but these gouaches don't ever dry dull and chalky, and they don't ever seem to crack (perhaps my applications haven't been thick enough). Perhaps also because of the grind, it takes longer for a dab of paint to disperse when mixed with water than ... MoreBefore I tried Schmincke, I was generally disappointed with the various gouaches I used, all of which claimed to be artist grade, even if some were clearly sneaked into designer lines, such as Winsor and Newton's. I ended up tossing quite a few. So I began making my own gouache with some success (though, I never could mix a good ultramarine violet gouache). Then I tried Schmincke. Whether it's because of the particular fine grind of the pigment, a combination of their particular pigments and binder mix or what, I can't say, but these gouaches don't ever dry dull and chalky, and they don't ever seem to crack (perhaps my applications haven't been thick enough). Perhaps also because of the grind, it takes longer for a dab of paint to disperse when mixed with water than any other gouache I've tried--the additional effort spent dispersing is a worthwhile and minor inconvenience, considering the results). The paint applies evenly and beautifully, and they have a particular brilliancy that is, in my experience, unsurpassed. They also mix well, since most paints in the line are based on a single pigment. All but 10 of the 48 are based on a single pigment, and the 10 are typically the ones you'd expect--the earth colors, like raw umber, etc. Mix Delft Blue with Quinacridone Violet and make a beautiful and stunningly vibrant blue violet that doesn't require PW 6/Titanium White to express its color, like Dioxazine, and is probably more lightfast (if less mixable). As you'd expect from a line of artists' gouache, nearly the entire line, with the exceptions of Dioxazine (Violet), Lemon Yellow, Madder Lake Deep, Cadmium Red Tone, and Prussian Blue, rates as having very good or excellent lightfastness.They're expensive, but if you really want the best--consistently the best line (rather than mixing and matching across manufacturer lines)--this is it, and they're well worth it. FYI, Schmincke has two other lines of gouache: HKS (intended for designers, with a larger color selection that isn't so concerned with single pigments and lightfastness as the Horadam line) and a student-grade line. Other manufacturers, like Winsor and Newton, would do well to follow suit, at least by separating an artists' gouache line from their designers' line. Thanks to DickBlick for choosing to stock Horadam gouache.

I decided to buy gouache for my trip to Yosemite! It was rewettable and though it would have been nice to buy more tubes, I just bought small containers from Artist Loft with a snap on lid and mixed my paints to make more shades. It was very easy to use because the paints in the containers did not dry for weeks. I am excited to use these again when my friend and I go pleinair painting. I also read before purchasing gouache that a lot of oil painters use this and I can see why. When you layer paint ontop of a dry layer, it reactivates it and combines the different colors together. But since I still have trouble painting in this style, my colors appear a bit dull. I'm sure I'll get used to this soon.