The Archive
Reporting, comparisons, and field notes — newest first.
paints-and-pigments
Coming back to watercolor after years away? This side-by-side look at Kuretake Gansai Tambi, Prima Marketing Confections, and Winsor & Newton Cotman pan sets
·10 min read
paper-and-surfaces
Not all watercolor paper is created equal — and cotton content matters more than price tag. Here's how KOVIEDE, Canson XL, Strathmore 500, and Arteza stack up
·10 min read
paper-and-surfaces
Not all watercolor sketchbooks behave the same under a loaded brush. Here's how ARTEZA, Moleskine, and tumuarta stack up for intermediate painters who want
·11 min read
paints-and-pigments
Not all watercolor pan sets are created equal. Here's how Kuretake Gansai Tambi, Prima Marketing Confections, and Daniel Smith's pan offerings stack up — on
·11 min read
paints-and-pigments
Deciding between Liquitex Professional and Golden Heavy Body acrylics? This guide breaks down pigment load, color mixing, price-per-ml math, and which brand
·10 min read
paints-and-pigments
Ready to move beyond student-grade watercolors? This guide explains pigment codes, lightfastness ratings, and exactly which Daniel Smith tubes are worth the
·8 min read