Are Handmade Watercolours Worth It?
Anyone who has seen handmade watercolour paints will have the same questions going around their head. Are they worth it? What are they? What’s the big deal? Aren’t they expensive?
These questions are completely normal, we all think like this when it comes to spending our hard earned cash and buying handmade watercolor paints aren’t any different.
So what’s the deal?
What are handmade watercolours?
So let’s first start off by defining what handmade colours are as many people don’t really know even after buying them!
Handmade watercolours (or any paint) are exactly what is says on the tin. Paint that is made by hand. Pigment and paint binder are mixed and mulled together using a paint muller. You can find a little more on this here.
Personally I only consider paints to have the handmade label if they have been mixed and mulled by hand. I say this because there are a fair few companies out there claiming to be handmade when actually they are artisan. You can have handmade paints that are artisan but artisan paints aren’t necessarily handmade. Something to keep in mind.
Handmade paints take some work as it requires some effort to grind some pigments down by hand. Using machinery is cheating!
Are handmade paints worth it?
So now we have defined what handmade paints are and how they come into existence we now stage the question – are they worth it?
It depends on who you are and what you’re looking for. If you aren’t looking for unique pigments, artist quality paints, paints with personality or looking to support a small business then handmade paints probably aren’t worth it for you. But! I’m going to try and change your mind!
Most handmade paints are artist quality so if you’re serious about your paints you can buy knowing that you can receive the high quality art materials that your art needs. You can also find a range of unique, quirky and discontinued pigments that you can’t get from a commercial company.
Want to paint with rare gemstones such as Lapis Lazuli? Discontinued pigments like Manganese Blue Genuine? Use ancient pigments from long ago that have now been made obsolete? Well I have some good news – you can potentially find all of the above from a handmade maker. Some pigments are very expensive or are only available in small quantities. This makes them unavailable to large commercial companies but perfect for the handmade maker.
Handmade paints are handmade. Yes I’ve said it multiple times in this article but they are handmade by a person. Yes a real person. A person who is most likely an artist who likes to be creative, quirky and unique. They can channel this into their paints. All paints whether commercial or handmade have their own characteristics. Just like the super honey based formula of Sennelier watercolours handmade paints can have their own quirks and behaviours which can be influenced by the maker. Now you can’t get that from a corporate machine!
On top of some added flare supporting a handmade maker usually means it’s a one person show. Got a question or some feedback? You won’t be contacting some admin team based in a far away land who won’t ever speak to the monkey behind the wheel. Instead contact will often be with the maker themselves! Direct contact has it’s benefits as the maker will be the most knowledgeable person about their product. This is can be really helpful if you have a specific question.
And if that isn’t enough you will also get that feel good boost from supporting a small business.
Are handmade watercolours expensive?
How expensive are handmade watercolours? Are they too expensive?
Fair questions.
Pricing can vary maker to maker, what pigments they offer and which country that they live in.
If they are based in a country with a high cost of living, expensive shipping and offer the rarest and most sort after pigments then this is going to reflect in their prices. Don’t let this put you off some of their expenses are out of their control.
I have had a couple of people buy my colours for a rare colour and give my brand in its entirety a review to only brand my paints as expensive and “You can get this colour from such a such a company for less”. This is a clear example why I’m writing this article! As mentioned above a lot of work goes into making paints by hand. Paints from a handmade maker shouldn’t be compared to bigger corporate companies for this reason. Yes handmade paints are not always the affordable option but that is not their intention.
Handmade paints take a lot of hard work and dedication. This makes them special as they are made with a lot of love and care.
I hope this article has helped you see through the eyes of a paint maker a little more and might consider giving some handmade paints a go.
If you’d like to learn more about the process you can find a video here.
How do I get your range and how much are they? I am in Australia whats the shipping cost. Can I buy manganese blue and Laois as pigments to use with acrylic binder from you?
Hi, Thanks for commenting. I base my prices on how much all of the materials are, some pigments are more expensive than others which reflects on the price. I do ship worldwide including Australia. I’m currently taking a break from selling paint so I’m not able to provide any shipping info currently. Sorry to disappoint you but I don’t sell pigments.