After years now of asking Prima what the pigment compositions of their Watercolor Confections watercolours are, they have provided them for me and I thought I would share them and my thoughts.
I have linked to my videos reviewing these products and links through which you can buy them - sometimes there are excellent deals to be had that are so good, even if you don't like the paints, the metal palette works out cheaper than buying one - I know a few people who have used them for that! The swatch cards in the older sets were horrid glossy stock that actually made the paints look really bad but swatched on watercolour paper, they are much better so don't be fooled if you think that! Try them on a better paper :)
As you will see, all of the palettes are based around the same set of pigments, more or less, so they will all work well together across the sets. I get very tired of hearing people say "these aren't artist quality!" about Prima's paints - they are. Fine artists can get a bit snobby and forget that art-journalling and scrapbooking and mixed media are professional artwork forms, thus, these paints are professional artist quality, but they are not necessarily fine-art suited. I think they are lovely for use in sketchbooks and they form nice limited palettes to challenge yourself with - I take a different one with me in my bag each week to sketch whatever I come across that I enjoy.
As always with non-fine-art watercolours, PW5 Lithopone will be used to extend and opacify some colours but labelling conventions do not require it to be stated.
Anywhere I gave given a pigment without a C.I. number and in capitals e.g. "GOLD", it is a proprietary pigment or coated mica.
In 2018, some of the colours from the early sets were renamed, so I have given both names where this is the case. The numbers have not changed, just the names - the paints are still 100% the same!
The Classics
This was the first set in the series and I didn't get this one for quite some time as the colours in the other sets appealed a lot more. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
BUY ONLINE: US$18.57
BUY ONLINE: £20.79
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
01 | Dove / White | PW6 Titanium White |
02 | Candy / Pinky | PR81 Rhodamine 6G |
03 | Rouge / Red | PR112 Naphthol Red AS-D PR170 Naphthol Red AS |
04 | Carrot / Orange | PO13 Benzidine Orange PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
05 | Canary / Yellow | PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
06 | Green Apple / Green | PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade |
07 | Breeze / Icy Blue | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade |
08 | Sailor / Blue | PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
09 | Lavender / Purple | PB81 Cobalt Tin Alumina Blue Spinel PV23 Dioxazine Violet |
10 | Roasted Coffee / Cocoa | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PBk9 Bone Black |
11 | Slate / Grey | PW6 Titanium White PBk9 Bone Black PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
12 | Dark Night / Black | PBk9 Bone Black |
Tropicals
This was the first set that I bought in the series and I like it for sketching out of doors in the summer months when you don't want to use your best paints - use cheaper ones and fill up your sketchbook! Lovely vibrant colours. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
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BUY ONLINE: £18.47
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
13 | Grassland / Island | PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade |
14 | Plantain / Coconut | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
15 | Thunderstorm / Hurricane | PB29 Ultramarine Blue PB27 Prussian Blue |
16 | Avocado / Parrot | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
17 | Tropicana / Hibiscus | PO13 Benzidine Orange PR112 Naphthol Red AS-D |
18 | Rainforest / Palms | PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
19 | Red Parrot / Pitaya | PR57:1 Lithol Rubine |
20 | North Isle / Reef | PV23 Dioxazine Violet |
21 | Sunset / Pineapple | PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR |
22 | Lush / Sunset | PR81 Rhodamine 6G |
23 | Wild Berry / Ocean | PB27 Prussian Blue |
24 | Cacao / Tiki | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk9 Bone Black |
Decadent Pies
This was the second set I tried and I love these colours - sooo good for sketching beach scenes or anything 'earthy'. Some beautiful, deep, soulful colours herein. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
BUY ONLINE: US$20.57
BUY ONLINE: £18.42
This was the second set I tried and I love these colours - sooo good for sketching beach scenes or anything 'earthy'. Some beautiful, deep, soulful colours herein. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
BUY ONLINE: US$20.57
BUY ONLINE: £18.42
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
25 | Frosting / White Mocha | PW20 Mica |
26 | Silver Pearl / Earl Grey | PW20 Mica PBk9 Bone Black PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
27 | Praline / Pischahio Cream | PW20 Mica PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR PB29 Ultramarine Blue Rich Gold |
28 | Rose Petal / Guava Meringue | PW20 Mica PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PO13 Benzidine Orange Pale Gold |
29 | Vanilla Cream / Banana Cream | PY6 Titanium Dioxide PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
30 | Dark Chocolate / Pecan | PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PO13 Benzidine Orange PBk9 Bone Black |
31 | Frappe / Peach Cobler | PW6 Titanium Dioxide PO13 Benzidine Orange PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
32 | Sweet Jam / Apple | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B |
33 | Caramel / Pumpkin | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue |
34 | Pistachio / Keylime | PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
35 | Blue Berry / Blackberry | PB27 Prussian Blue PBk9 Bone Black PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
36 | Berry Syrup / Blueberry | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
Pastel Dreams
This was not a set that I enjoyed much at first as most colours are very opaque in nature and I found them a little heavy - but I've seen some beautiful lightweight use of them on Prima's Instagram feed with lovely dilute washes - I really need to try these out again! They are jolly ice-cream colours and I think they would be really useful for cardmakers.
BUY ONLINE: US$19.39
BUY ONLINE: £18.42
This was not a set that I enjoyed much at first as most colours are very opaque in nature and I found them a little heavy - but I've seen some beautiful lightweight use of them on Prima's Instagram feed with lovely dilute washes - I really need to try these out again! They are jolly ice-cream colours and I think they would be really useful for cardmakers.
BUY ONLINE: US$19.39
BUY ONLINE: £18.42
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
37 | Brown | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
38 | Chocolate | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk9 Bone Black |
39 | Crimson | PO13 Benzidine Orange PR112 Naphthol Red AS |
40 | Rose | PO13 Benzidine Orange PR112 Naphthol Red AS |
41 | Lemonade | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue |
42 | Citrus | PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR |
43 | Bumblebee | PY3 Hansa Yellow 10G |
44 | Sea Dream | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade |
45 | Paradise | PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
46 | Pool Party | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
47 | Icy Sky | PB27 Prussian Blue |
48 | Lilac Rain | PR81 Rhodamine 6G |
Shimmering Lights
This set is full of metallics and is clearly intended to complete with the far more expensive FineTec metallic watercolours for brushed lettering. They'd be great for that or for card-making but not much use to traditional watercolourists.
BUY ONLINE: US$23.98
BUY ONLINE: £58.32 [may be cheaper at Art From The Heart]
Celestial
The set that never was. It was shipped to some reviewers in 2017 after a long delay but was never released formally though I think a few people did manage to buy sets from reviewers who had been sent it. For undisclosed reasons, it was quietly pulled by Prima. If I can get the pigment info I may add it for completeness.
This set is full of metallics and is clearly intended to complete with the far more expensive FineTec metallic watercolours for brushed lettering. They'd be great for that or for card-making but not much use to traditional watercolourists.
BUY ONLINE: US$23.98
BUY ONLINE: £58.32 [may be cheaper at Art From The Heart]
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
49 | Gold | GOLD |
50 | Twinkle | GOLD/PALE GOLD |
51 | Allure | GOLD |
52 | Treasure | PB27 Prussian Blue GOLD |
53 | Glaze | PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
54 | Antique | PR27 Prussian Blue GOLD |
55 | Coppered | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR PO13 Benzidine Orange |
56 | Flare | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B |
57 | Disco | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
58 | Goldstone | PO13 Benzidine Orange PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue |
59 | Champagne | PEARL |
60 | Chandelier | PEARL |
Celestial
The set that never was. It was shipped to some reviewers in 2017 after a long delay but was never released formally though I think a few people did manage to buy sets from reviewers who had been sent it. For undisclosed reasons, it was quietly pulled by Prima. If I can get the pigment info I may add it for completeness.
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
61 | Venus | |
62 | Comet | |
63 | Vega | |
64 | Aurora | |
65 | Nebula | |
66 | Galactic | |
67 | Heavenly | |
68 | Stellar | |
69 | Luna | |
70 | Big Bang | |
71 | Nova | |
72 | Divina |
Odyssey
This set was originally intended to be released with Celestial and then it was delayed and finally released. The colours are really interesting but I've yet to try it. Prima gave me two reds for 74 Rome - it is either made from PR57:1 and PV23 or PR170 and PV23, which I assume was a reformulation at some stage along the way.
BUY ONLINE: US$22.17
BUY ONLINE: £23.48
This set was originally intended to be released with Celestial and then it was delayed and finally released. The colours are really interesting but I've yet to try it. Prima gave me two reds for 74 Rome - it is either made from PR57:1 and PV23 or PR170 and PV23, which I assume was a reformulation at some stage along the way.
BUY ONLINE: US$22.17
BUY ONLINE: £23.48
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
73 | Tokyo | PR57:1 Lithol Rubine PR170 Naphthol Red AS |
74 | Rome | PR57:1 Lithol Rubine OR PR170 Naphthol Red AS PV23 Dioxazine Violet |
75 | Amsterdam | PV23 Dioxazine Violet PR122 Quinacridone Red |
76 | Maui | PR112 Naphthol Red AS PO13 Benzidine Orange |
77 | Jordan | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
78 | Cusco | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black |
79 | Dubai | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PO13 Benzidine Orange PBk7 Lamp Black |
80 | Jamaica | PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
81 | London | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PB27 Prussian Blue PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
82 | Inca | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PO13 Benzidine Orange |
83 | Budapest | PR170 Naphthol Red AS PO13 Benzidine Orange PV23 Dioxazine Violet PBk7 Lamp Black |
84 | Calgary | PW6 Titanium White |
Woodlands
One of the three sets released in early 2018 in the new packaging, this set is based around landscape colours and thus would be great for landscape sketching - though I've yet to try it myself.
BUY ONLINE: US$30.33
BUY ONLINE: £23.01
One of the three sets released in early 2018 in the new packaging, this set is based around landscape colours and thus would be great for landscape sketching - though I've yet to try it myself.
BUY ONLINE: US$30.33
BUY ONLINE: £23.01
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
85 | Sand Ridge | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black |
86 | Shadow | PBk7 Lamp Black |
87 | Cavern | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black PB27 Prussian Blue |
88 | Foxberry | PR112 Naphthol Red AS PB27 Prussian Blue |
89 | Pond | PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
90 | Stream | PB27 Prussian Blue PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade |
91 | Bear | PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B |
92 | Mist | PB27 Prussian Blue PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
93 | Greystone | PBk7 Lamp Black PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
94 | Daylight | PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
95 | Redwood | PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
96 | Deep Moss | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
Essence
Whilst I have this set, I've yet to open it and try it. The colours are really beautiful and it could be useful for urban sketchers or cityscape painters.
BUY ONLINE: US$30.33
BUY ONLINE: TRY ART FROM THE HEART (UK)
Whilst I have this set, I've yet to open it and try it. The colours are really beautiful and it could be useful for urban sketchers or cityscape painters.
BUY ONLINE: US$30.33
BUY ONLINE: TRY ART FROM THE HEART (UK)
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
97 | Adore | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black |
98 | Chant | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
99 | Emotion | PB27 Prussian Blue PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade |
100 | Earth | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue |
101 | Namaste | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
102 | Ponder | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black |
103 | Eternity | PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
104 | Nirvana | PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
105 | Unite | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black |
106 | Awake | PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Arylide Yellow AAOT |
107 | Creation | PB29 Ultramarine Blue PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PR57:1 Lithol Rubine |
108 | Serenity | PY3 Hansa Yellow 10G PB27 Prussian Blue |
Complexion
This set is just a mix of colours from older sets put together to make a portrait set, so there is no point really in buying this if you already have all of the older sets, of course, but if you don't, this is a really useful portrait set. Note that some of the colours (12, 14, 24 and 31) have different names in Complexion than in their original sets as the paints in those sets have been renamed in 2018, but based on the material Prima has provided, they are the same pigment composition and they do look identical - the paints have not been changed, only the name.
BUY ONLINE: US$29.33
BUY ONLINE: £23.01
This set is just a mix of colours from older sets put together to make a portrait set, so there is no point really in buying this if you already have all of the older sets, of course, but if you don't, this is a really useful portrait set. Note that some of the colours (12, 14, 24 and 31) have different names in Complexion than in their original sets as the paints in those sets have been renamed in 2018, but based on the material Prima has provided, they are the same pigment composition and they do look identical - the paints have not been changed, only the name.
BUY ONLINE: US$29.33
BUY ONLINE: £23.01
Number | Paint Name | Pigments and Notes |
---|---|---|
12 | Black | PBk9 Bone Black |
14 | Coconut | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
24 | Tiki | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk9 Bone Black |
31 | Peach Cobbler | PW6 Titanium Dioxide PO13 Benzidine Orange PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) |
41 | Lemonade | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue |
49 | Gold | GOLD |
87 | Cavern | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black PB27 Prussian Blue |
91 | Bear | PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B |
95 | Redwood | PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT |
98 | Chant | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
101 | Namaste | PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB29 Ultramarine Blue |
105 | Unite | PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black |