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The Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Artists Who Love Traveling

Written by Robert S. Brown  / Fact checked by Helen B. Harris

best watercolor travel set

If you are flying 38,000 feet off the ground or on a train running miles away from your hometown, you have the perks of a wanderer: to take delight in bright blue skies, red-orange sunsets, and breathtaking landscapes.

However, for an artist who moves places, every trip is worthwhile when you capture these picturesque sights and draw them in your sketchbook using a brush or pencil. For a vast spectrum of colors and artistic effects, perhaps you go for the best watercolor travel set. But the next question is, what should you look for when choosing a portable watercolor set?

  • First of all, a watercolor travel kit should be portable and compact enough to put away in your luggage or pocket. A gawky and bulky watercolor set would be too cumbersome to carry around and probably end up in disarray.
  • Furthermore, it is significant to consider what a travel watercolor kit consists of. Besides the color palette, does it include a travel-friendly brush or a sponge? Does it come with a handy carrying bag for hassle-free storage? Although the accessories and tools depend on your preferences and needs, a complete mini watercolor set only delivers the essential tools.
  • Another crucial part is the overall quality of colors. A small watercolor set should not present substandard pigment quality and blend- No matter how compact it is or how few the color options are, the pigments should be vibrant, blendable, and lightfast.

Not all artists travel by plane. But if you do, make sure you get a TSA-approved watercolor set. Aside from that, there is much more to learn in this comprehensive guide and review. I will show you the in-depth guidelines, as well as the top-pick products that best suit your artistic demands.

travel-watercolor-kit

Sakura XNCW-24N

travel watercolor colors

Winsor & Newton 390640

travel watercolor colors

Lightwish MeiLiang

Table of Contents

1. Sakura XNCW-24N Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch Box

2. winsor & newton 390640 cotman water colour paint, 3. lightwish meiliang watercolor paint set, 4. artsy watercolor paint set, 5. meeden 4336971288 watercolor paint set, 6. jerry q art jq-124 watercolor travel pocket set, 7. artistro 432 watercolor paint set, 8. sennelier 10-131605 french artists watercolor travel set, 9. artify ‎4336953153 watercolor field sketch set, 10. winsor & newton 390658 cotman watercolor brush paint set, what to look for when buying watercolor travel sets, what is the most reliable watercolor travel set brand, can you fly with watercolor paint, how do you do a watercolor travel journal, what is included in a watercolor travel set, top 10 watercolor travel set reviews.

From its size to quantity, you can tell that this Sakura Koi watercolor travel kit is thoughtfully curated for painters or artists who love traveling. It features a compact size and sleek design that you can easily fit inside your bag or even your shirt pocket.

Impressively, this small set has the essential tools for basic watercolor painting, with a water brush (refillable) and a half-pan watercolor set.

The colors are formulated to present beautiful and vivid hues. Aside from that, the highly pigmented shades blend well to create a wide range of colors.

Moreover, it uses no ordinary brush; it is a refillable water brush that lets you paint without using a container with water.

Since you can fill it up with water, you can simply take it out of your pocket or bag and are all set for a painting session! You can paint effortlessly even when you are on a plane, on a train, or sitting by the park for Plein air painting.

In addition to that, this kit comes with a detachable pegged palette where you can mix your favorite colors. When you are all done, you can just place it back inside the kit for hassle-free and neat storage.

I also want to emphasize the base pull-down ring at the back of the watercolor set. Although it is just a small detail, I found the ring is quite useful if you want to keep the palette steady as you hold it. While it keeps the watercolor kit from sliding off your palm, the ring also helps you paint comfortably wherever you are.

  • Compact and sleek design
  • Includes a water brush tip and a detachable mixing palette
  • Fits perfectly in bag or shirt pockets
  • Highly blendable and pigmented colors
  • Has a base pull-down ring for easy holding
  • Paint blocks need stronger adhesion to prevent from falling out

For professional quality watercolor set brands, Winsor & Newton is among the ones that always come to mind. The colors deliver high-quality pigments that explicitly showcase your art with vibrant hues and artistic painting effects. Plus, the colors in the palette blend impeccably well.

This pocket watercolor set includes 12 Cotman Watercolors that render good transparency to create beautiful washes. I also noticed that these colors have intense tints and uniform consistency that lend an excellent layout of colors.

Therefore, even though these are half-pan watercolors, there is no need to build the colors to achieve their vividness. A few dabs and strokes can already create rich watercolor tones.

Aside from that, I appreciate the addition of white in the range. Although the white tone of the paper serves as a brilliant backdrop for watercolors, the white pigment can ramp up the drawing or watercolor art with highlights and subtle color mixtures.

All these amazing features come in a small watercolor palette that can fit inside your shirt or bag pocket. The longest side is roughly six inches and just a tad bigger than a card! Even when you open it, the upper side has partitions where you can mix colors.

  • A half-pan watercolor pocket set that offers brilliant colors
  • Pocket-sized watercolor travel kit for superior portability
  • Designed with a mixing palette in the lid
  • Includes a small brush
  • The brush is too small and slightly difficult to use

The best thing about this MeiLiang traveling watercolor kit is the great color selection that does not break your bank. With just a slight difference from the price of the Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor paint set, you can indulge in a wider color range with this one.

Right before that, the first thing that caught my attention was the metal case. Contrary to most portable watercolor sets I have seen on the market, this one uses a sturdy case that keeps the pan secure.

Even when you stack in your fully packed luggage, there is no need to worry about breaking or damaging your watercolor palette.

Besides that, the flip cover works as a mixing palette as well. Similar to the Sakura Koi watercolor travel set, this one also has a metal ring under the case for steady and hassle-free painting.

When it comes to the color quality, I must say that it is pretty impressive since they are highly pigmented and fluid. This allows you to create glazing effects and revel in smooth watercolors without any chalky or grainy textures after drying.

Moreover, it features a compact size, perfect for traveling. It is long but has a sleek and slim design that you can easily slip into your pocket or bag.

Another useful addition is the refillable watercolor brush that makes painting a lot easier and mess-free. I can simply take it out and paint it on my watercolor travel journal whenever and wherever I like.

  • Offers a wide selection of highly pigmented colors
  • Creates beautiful glazing effects that without grainy textures when dried
  • Comes in a sturdy metal case
  • Slim and sleek design
  • Includes a water brush
  • The brush has some loose bristles

travel watercolor colors

The highlight of this Artsy Watercolor paint set is the innovative pocket design. The first time I saw it, I did not think it would have 42 colors! This artistic palette comes in different trays that you can fan out to see the vibrant array of assorted colors.

Every tray has color labels at the bottom to help you identify which colors to use. I find this useful since some colors, particularly the orange and red shades, look a bit identical. Thankfully, there are no duplicates in the colors, allowing you to mix and play with various combinations.

Moreover, these beautiful pigments are lightfast and vivid, allowing you to showcase watercolor artworks with their amazing color quality. Mixing the colors is not a problem at all since they are highly blendable. Plus, they dry quickly, preventing any ink pooling and grainy textures.

When you are done painting, you can simply slide each tray back to its palette for storing. This leaves you an ultra-compact and portable watercolor set that you can fit in your shirt or bag pocket.

One of the best things I love about this set is the water brushes. Unlike some portable watercolor paint sets that only have one water brush or paint brush, this one includes three water brushes. They work as backup brushes in case you like mixing a lot of colors or filling up your watercolor journal with your travels.

In addition to that, this set has a sponge where you can dry and clean your brushes after painting.

  • Innovative compact design for enhanced portability
  • Offers an array of pigmented colors
  • Highly blendable and quick-drying
  • Includes three water brushes and a sponge
  • Intuitive pan display and labels to identify and view all the colors
  • Color pans are not replaceable

travel watercolor colors

Comparing this beside the Artsy watercolor paint set, you can see some striking similarities with the innovative pan display, color labels, and even the painting tools. Moreover, it comes at an affordable price range.

If you look closely at these palettes, the differences fall under the brush and color selection. Both have 42 colors but this one has darker tones in neutrals, greens, and blues. When you mix them with water, the colors beautifully blended, presenting rich and artistic watercolor washes.

As I work with these watercolors, I also noticed that they dry quickly and can resist fading as well. Curated with a vast array of colors, this palette allows you to create an endless range of vibrant hues for artistic and colorful artwork.

With regard to its design, this travel watercolor paint set does not fail to impress with its unique palette design. Similar to the Artsy portable watercolor kit, you can fan out the palette and swipe out to different tabs to find the color you need. Aside from that, there are color labels to easily identify the shades.

When you put everything away, it shifts into a lightweight and compact palette that you can slip inside your bag or pocket. Another sweet treat is the addition of four different water brush sizes that you can use for fine to broad applications. Not to mention the addition of a sponge to clean and dry your brushes.

  • Ultra-lightweight and compact palette design
  • Offers a great selection of pigmented watercolors
  • Quick-drying and lightfast colors
  • Includes four refillable water brushes in various sizes
  • Does not have a hard case or cover to protect the palette

travel watercolor colors

It can be a bit challenging for a beginner watercolor artist to find the best watercolor travel set to start with. With that said, this Jerry Q Art pocket set has the tools an amateur artist needs when traveling and painting with watercolors.

Sifting through the details, this pocket watercolor set features a slim and sleek design for enhanced portability. Once you open the lid, it is pretty awesome to find an array of beautiful colors along with the necessary painting tools. This includes a water brush, a small sponge, and detachable mixing pans.

For a beginner, I bet these tools and color selection are more than enough to start with a watercolor travel journal. Since everything is compact, there is no trouble putting them away in a small pocket in your shirt or bag.

Though it is made of plastic, it is surprisingly sturdy. I also like how the lid closes tightly, keeping the palette secure and protected whenever you travel.

While that already sounds impressive, the colors do not fall short of their quality and performance. The brilliant colors have a nice amount of pigment, revealing a bright and stunning spectrum of colors. Furthermore, these watercolors are highly blendable, making it much easier to create washes and preserve some translucent watercolor effects.

One more thing I noticed is the ceramic calligraphy tray. I did not know what to use it for but I think it would be useful for artists who practice calligraphy art.

  • A portable and great quality starting watercolor kit for beginners
  • Sleek and slim design for hassle-free transportation
  • Brilliant color selection; very pigmented hues
  • Highly blendable colors that can create vibrant washes
  • Includes a water brush, a calligraphy pan, a sponge, and a removable mixing tray
  • No color labels; difficult to find matching watercolor replacements

travel watercolor colors

At first glance, I could already tell that this watercolor paint set would be an exquisite gem. Right from its vibrant mint metal box and dainty artwork details, ARTISTRO did a great job of making this kit to be aesthetically pleasing as possible. I even love the elegant metal lid lock that looks like the one you see on classic musical boxes.

Upon opening the watercolor palette, everything inside is even more fascinating. You can see all 48 vibrant colors arranged into a neat and beautiful layout – ranging from light to dark tones.

On the upper part of the lid is an organized space for the essential painting tools. This includes a water brush pen, a sponge, a drawing pencil, an eraser, a watercolor brush, and a swatch sheet. Plus, there are small watercolor sheets as well. As a beginner, I sincerely do not think there is anything else to ask for!

The palette is a combination of pigmented fluorescents and metallics, rendering unique, vibrant colors. When mixing the colors, I can tell that the watercolors are highly blendable, producing rich washes and artistic textures. Mind you, the binder is thick and a bit gelatinous, causing the watercolors to create grainy or granulated textures and finishes.

With that in mind, some artists might not fancy such grainy textures. However, this allows you to create artistic effects and colors besides smooth and colorful washes. I find this an amazing trick to amplify watercolor artworks. Aside from that, the exclusive water brush pen and original brush make blending and layering effortless.

On the other hand, the size is not as compact and slim as the previous watercolor sets on the list. It is a bit bulky though it can still fit well in your bag. And since it is a metal tin case, it can protect the palette from damages.

  • Offers vibrant and pigmented colors that can produce washes
  • Creates granulated textures for unique and artistic effects
  • Includes essential painting tools for convenient travel painting
  • Comes in a sturdy metal tin case for added protection
  • Suitable for advanced and professional artists
  • Not the ideal option for beginners
  • Slightly bulky compared to other compact watercolor sets

travel watercolor colors

I have always been hunting for the best watercolor paints for professionals. But my curious self has always wanted to try other reputable brands other than Winsor & Newton. Thus, Sennelier was my next target, and I am glad I did give it a shot.

I hear a lot of amazing things about this brand, particularly the superb quality of watercolors. However, I admit that the price tag is the least attractive thing. But the question is, what is so special about it? To concur with the reviews and rumors, it was definitely the pigmented colors that I have seen the best so far.

Unbeknownst to many, the highlighted ingredient is honey. This helps preserve the longevity and quality of colors, making them impeccably brilliant and luminous at the same time.

As expected, the colors give off vivid hues that blend nicely in a beautiful shade. Even with simply dampening the colors, it is easy to obtain pigments and render bright washes and representations of what every color should be.

In terms of portability, this half-pan watercolor palette is small and slim, providing an ideal size for traveling. Plus, it comes in a sturdy metal case that secures all the colors.

  • Impeccably brilliant and pigmented colors that easily blend
  • Creates vivid strokes and washes even with just a few dabs
  • Very compact and sleek design for hassle-free storage and travel painting
  • Comes in a sturdy metal tin case
  • Excellent color longevity
  • No brushes included

travel watercolor colors

Another budget-friendly option for watercolor travel sets is this one from Artify. This mini kit gives amateur watercolor artists a chance to try great quality watercolor without breaking their banks. I know for sure because I have seen the quality pigments that produce an imaginative and endless range of colors.

Impressively, the colors blend well and deliver vibrant hues when mixed with water. Therefore, making washes and artistic effects would not be a problem. Aside from that, the watercolors dry quickly, preventing any messy spills that can bleed through paper.

How about the size? I must say that this set is the perfect fit for your pocket whether it is a bag or your shirt. The plastic case is sturdy, securing the palette from any damage.

In addition to its portable and innovative design, I think the removable palette is genius. Not only can you arrange the colors according to your preference, but also reuse and wash them should you ever need to. Plus, the mixing tray is detachable and can be placed anywhere within your reach.

Some artists might not find this a big deal but I was impressed by how thoughtful the manufacturer designed the palette this way. Thus, it can accommodate left and right-hand painters.

Moreover, three brushes and two sponges complete this watercolor travel kit. The ring at the back of the base keeps the palette convenient to hold. Hence, this makes painting and traveling fun and easy to do!

  • Removable and customizable mixing tray to accommodate left and right-hand painters
  • Compact design
  • Includes essential painting tools (three brushes and two sponges)
  • Designed with a base ring for comfortable painting sessions
  • Some paints break easily when not properly stored

travel watercolor colors

When it comes to Winsor & Newton, I have nothing to expect but satisfying results in terms of color blends and vibrancy. Luckily, this Cotman Watercolor Brush Pen set is not so different from my favorite watercolor sets from this brand.

First of all, the size of this half-pan set ensures hassle-free storage when you are traveling. It is so dainty that you can fit inside your shirt pocket or mini compartments in your bag. When it is closed, it presents an understated yet sophisticated design that you can take out for a quick paint session anywhere you go.

As soon as you open the lid, the upper space provides partitions where you can mix different colors. Afterward, my eyes took me to the color labels that are neatly presented to help you organize and identify colors. Since the pans are replaceable, the color labels are crucial when finding matching shades.

As usual, Winsor & Newton did it again with this impressive array of colors. They deliver quality pigments even with just a few dabs, allowing you to create vivid washes and artistic watercolor effects.

Aside from that, the water brush pen is a handy addition to this set. It lets you paint without dipping into the water and start with your painting right away. And since it is refillable, you can simply fill it up whenever you have to. The clear barrel or reservoir lets you know how much water you have used.

  • Creates vibrant color blends and watercolor effects
  • Designed with color labels for easy identification
  • Has a mixing tray to blend colors
  • Includes a water brush pen
  • Very compact
  • Water flows heavily sometimes

watercolor-travel-kit

Portability and Storage

When looking for a travel watercolor set, it is reasonable to consider whether it is compact enough to put away in your pocket or luggage. Since you will be moving from one place to another, it will not be practical to add some unnecessary weight to your things.

With that said, you must have a portable set that you can easily take out or put away and keep in mind that a complete travel painting kit does not need to be big and bulky. Fortunately, some brands offer foldable watercolor palettes and travel-friendly sizes that you can easily slip into your pocket or bag.

Accessories and Tools

A set consists of a variety of tools and accessories that will provide you with a complete setup for painting on the go. For a watercolor travel set, it should at least include a portable and refillable water brush. Since you will be traveling by air or land, this type of brush dispenses water as you paint, allowing you to paint right on the spot conveniently.

There is no need to fill up a container or cup with water, which can end up quite messy while traveling. Just fill the brush up and you are all set to paint anytime and anywhere you want. Some sets also include a pencil, a sponge to dry the brush, and a paint palette for mixing colors. Others have multiple refillable brushes for versatile applications.

Pigment Quality

Many artists use watercolor because it can spruce up drawings and sketches with an array of vivid colors. Aside from that, it can add unique effects to your artwork, especially if you love working with mixed media.

Therefore, it is important that you have high-quality pigments so as to deliver a vibrant spectrum of colors. No matter how few the color options are, a lightfast and premium quality watercolor palette can exhibit promising results.

Color Selection

The color selection all depends on your preferences and needs. But since watercolor travel sets usually have limited options, it would be better to stick with the primary shades. They typically come in sets of 9 or 12.

Lucky you if you can have more options without comprising the storage properties and portability. Some brands offer more than the usual colors that come in 24, 36, 42, 48, or more packed in a foldable or compact case.

Blendability

Watercolor is among the versatile art media that allows you to mix and blend colors, creating a custom color selection for your artwork. A watercolor travel kit homemade palette usually has that, presenting your favorite shades and mixtures.

A portable or mini travel watercolor palette should also let you do so despite the limited amount and selection of colors. Moreover, the excellent blendability allows you to maximize your palette and achieve your desired color combinations. Hence, you can browse the reviews or test the watercolor set for seamless color gradients.

TSA Approved (Transportation Security Administration)

This is a mandatory factor to consider for those who are planning to fly with their watercolor sets. Airlines provide specific and detailed regulations about the items that you are allowed to bring in a carry-on.

In general, TSA has restrictions on liquid watercolors. Every tube of watercolor paint should be no more than 3.4 ounces, and all wrapped in clear zip-top bags. For dry watercolor palette sets, they are relatively much easier to bring on a plane since they come in compact and convenient sizes.

portable-watercolor-set

It is quite hard to tell because there are a lot of amazing brands that offer excellent watercolor travel sets. However, Sakura is by far the most reliable brand for great quality watercolor sets that feature assorted colors and essential tools. Plus, they come at a reasonable price range. But if it is about budget-friendly decent watercolor sets that have a wide array of colors, I would go for MEEDEN.

On the other hand, Winsor & Newton and Sennelier are my favorite brands for professional quality watercolors. They might be relatively more expensive than other brands but they have a reliable lineup of portable watercolor sets that let you paint like a pro.

Yes, you can as long as your watercolor paint palettes and sets do not violate the TSA’s regulations and restrictions. As mentioned, TSA is lenient with dry watercolor travel sets because of their small and convenient size, allowing you to bring them on a carry-on without any trouble.

The first thing you can do is list your itinerary. Jot down where you would go first and the places you would probably pass by. Sometimes, you can be spontaneous and draw the scenes and unforgettable memories you would like to record and remember. Thus, Make sure to bring a travel or portable watercolor journal or drawing book with you.

Like a travel photo journal or album, a watercolor travel journal lets you record memories, events, and beautiful sights, but with a different method – painting. For example, you can paint the dinner or lunch you have had, a beautiful sunset, or even the view from your hotel or train. As you capture these events, you can doodle around your drawings or write what your painting is all about.

Apart from the watercolor palette, a watercolor travel set usually includes a small or a refillable water brush. Although not necessary, some sets have a sponge to dry the brush, small partitions for water (in case water brushes are not available), and additional water brushes for versatile and effortless painting sessions.

Moreover, the tools and accessories in a watercolor set vary from one brand to another. Check the composition of a painting set you will buy to ensure you get the essential tools for your watercolor paintings.

The best watercolor travel set is not just about the portable size but the quality of pigments and essential tools as well. It is quite amazing how you can document everything you see when you travel, and a watercolor travel set helps you do that. This is the reason why you deserve to have the best watercolor kit that can beautifully capture and paint landscapes and even mundane sights when you wander around.

This list has jotted down the top picks for portable watercolor sets on the market. Besides their popularity, the brands mentioned offer reliable and excellent quality watercolor sets that are worth trying. Hope this helps!

Helen B Harris

Art has always been a part of my life; it influences my upbringing and later my career choice. For me, it is always a part of my parenting technique. So for whichever purpose that you come to art, you can start here with us.

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Here Are the Best Student-Grade Watercolor Travel Sets

By The ARTnews Recommends Editors

The ARTnews Recommends Editors

Watercolor travel set

Watercolor is an ideal medium for plein air painting. You don’t need lots of supplies, but you can still have at your fingertips the color range of acrylic or oil paint—all without the hassle of extensive setup or time-consuming cleanup. Maximize watercolor’s portability by choosing a travel set with built-in palettes, brush holders, and more. Browse our selection of some of our favorite student-grade watercolor travel sets below. Note that while they are student-grade sets, they are suitable for all but the most advanced skill levels.

1. Sakura Koi Watercolors

At the top of our list sits this set from Japanese brand Sakura, which comes with everything you need to start painting, save for paper. It opens to reveal a removable palette with five mixing pans, 18 little paint cakes, a brush, and a sponge for mopping up excess water. The paint is highly concentrated and vivid, and the color palette is solid, including fundamentals like Chinese White and Ivory Black, in addition to shades like ultramarine, vermillion hue, and cobalt blue hue. The included brush is a water brush—ideal for painting on the go, as all you have to do is fill up its reservoir. The box features a pull-down ring for easy holding, and the cakes can be refilled—choose from Sakura’s range of 84 colors!

2. Sennelier La Petite Aquarelle Watercolor Travel

Sennelier’s travel sets  come with just a box with several wells and paints, so it’s a great option if you already have a favorite brush or want to shop for specific tools to supplement it. It features the company’s La Petite student line of paints, which are made with honey as a binder—a special ingredient that makes them super smooth and easy to rewet. While the color pigmentation is of course not as intense as Sennelier’s artist-grade paints, these paints are an especially nice choice for glazing, showcasing beautiful translucency. This set of 24 half-pans set features a range of colors ideally suited to landscape studies.

3. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Paint Compact Set

Winsor & Newton makes its Cotman student-grade paints more affordable by replacing the costliest pigments with more economical alternatives. While less expensive than the company’s professional-grade paints, they still provide strong, non-grainy color and good transparency. This pocket travel set features 12 half pans in a useful range of colors, including burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and cadmium yellow, and includes a brush, built-in palette, and a slide-out dish for mediums. The air-tight case will keep the pigments safe and drip-free in your bag. 

travel watercolor colors

4. Raphaël Watercolor Travel Pan Set

If portability is a priority, consider this round set that measures just four and a half inches in diameter—small enough to slip into a pocket. It opens to reveal 10 half pans on one side and a dozen mixing compartments on the other, and snaps firmly shut to a flat disk with non-skid pads on its bottom. The colors are highly pigmented and flow well. Included is a mini brush measuring just three and a half inches from end to end.

5. Kuretake Gansai Tambi Portable 14-Color Set

Gansai, a traditional Japanese watercolor, uses a binder different from that found in Western watercolors, resulting in bright, creamy paints that are more opaque and shinier than what many watercolorists in the United States are used to. With beautiful chroma and without the chalkiness that can accompany heavy application of other paints, these affordable paints are an excellent and satisfying option for beginners as well as professionals. Kuretake ’ s travel set of 14 gansai colors includes a water brush plus a drawing pen.

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How to Choose the Best Travel Watercolor Set

The primary advantage of a travel set is portability, so the size and weight matter. A compact, lightweight set is easier to carry around, whether you’re exploring urban landscapes or hiking up a mountain trail. Some sets come with a compact watercolor travel brush, a waterbrush, a detachable palette or a water container, which is amazing for those who don’t like carrying around all the equipment for watercolor painting.

Quality of Pigment

Not all watercolors are created equal. The vibrancy and durability of your paintings depend largely on the quality of the pigments in your set. High-quality paints offer more color intensity, enabling you to capture the world around you with stunning accuracy and lasting for a lifetime, in contrast to low quality pigments, which can easily yellow or fade in a matter of weeks.

quality of pigment

Although archival pigments tend to be much more expensive, if you plan on painting professionally or want your works to stay as they are, then investing a bit more is not a bad idea.

Range of Colors

range of colors

Ensuring a brand has a wide range of colors will allow you to hand pick your favorite pigments and attach them to your travel palette easily, without needing a lot of non-interchangeable variety cramped in a small palette.

Besides, a set with lots of small pans might be prone to color contamination due to the limited space and can be a hindrance when you want to use only a few pigments and can’t build a cohesive color palette with ease.

Accessories

Some travel sets come with added bonuses like a built-in mixing palette, or a water brush. A palette is essential for mixing colors, and its inclusion makes for a more compact set.

accessories

A water brush combines a brush and water container into one tool, which can be a game-changer when painting on the move.

High-quality watercolor sets can be pricey, but there are also many affordable options available that don’t compromise too much on quality. It’s important to find a balance between cost and quality that suits your budget.

Will watercolor work on canvas?

While traditionally, watercolor is used on paper, especially designed for its absorbency, it can indeed be used on specially primed canvas meant for watercolors. This allows you to create larger, more durable pieces that can stand the test of time.

Best Watercolor Travel Set Today

  • Best Watercolor Travel Set Overall — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Compact Set
  • Best Watercolor Travel Set for Beginners — SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit
  • Best Value Watercolor Travel Set — ‎ Paintcrush Watercolor Paint Set
  • Best Watercolor Travel Set for Professional — Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL
  • Best Metallic Watercolor Travel Set — ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor Paint Set

1. Best Watercolor Travel Set Overall — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Paint Compact Set

Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Paint Compact Set

Selection Criteria

  • Our Score – 9/10
  • Our Score- 8/10
  • Our Score – 10/10

About the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor

Winsor and Newton is one of the most popular brands in the world of watercolors and not without good reason. Although the Cotman line is not “professional watercolor paint”, it still is very high quality paint, has a wide color range and it’s very lightfast in comparison to other brands.

The Cotman line has something other “student-grade” paints don’t, and that is color variety. This means, you can get each individual pan separately  and build your own color palette, or replace the colors you use the most without needing to get a whole new set.

  • Extensive color range
  • High-quality pigments
  • Refills available
  • Set might be too small for some

2. Best Watercolor Travel Set for Beginners — SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit

SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit

About the SAKURA Koi Pocket Field

The Sakura Koi Pocket field is a small, portable set with one of the most bright color combinations, perfect for landscaping, flower painting and ghibli-like illustrations. It has 30 pans which fit nicely into its small case and it comes with a mixing palette as well as a waterbrush and a sponge packing everything you need to paint on the go.

The palette has a foldable handle so you can use it on a flat surface or hold it with your hands as you paint, and it comes in 72 colors as well for those who love to have everything at hand.

  • Small and portable
  • Very affordable
  • No refills or pan replacements available
  • Limited color range

3. Best Value Watercolor Travel Set — ‎Paintcrush Watercolor Paint Set

Paintcrush Watercolor Paint Set

  • Our Score- 7/10
  • Our Score – 8/10

About the Paintcrush Professional Watercolor

The Paintcrush watercolor set is not one of the most popular, however it is one of the highest quality professional watercolor paints that are also extremely affordable and offer great value. This small, select watercolor palette is the perfect starter set for those who want to learn color mixing and color theory, it has all the needed pigments as well as an included watercolor painting course by Kristy Rice.

This set offers one of the greatest values which is learning watercolor painting and color mixing, which will take the limitations of needing lots of pigments. You’ll be able to experiment with professional-grade watercolor paint as well as learn from one of the best.

  • Professional watercolor paint
  • High-quality, vibrant ink
  • Painting lesson included
  • Great value for the price
  • On the expensive side

4. Best Watercolor Travel Set for Professional — Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL

Schmincke - HORADAM AQUARELL

  • Our Score – 7/10

About the Schmincke – HORADAM AQUARELL

Well known as one of the best watercolor brands worldwide, Schminke now presents this small, yet amazing travel watercolor set. This set is not only beautiful and very high quality, but it’s also portable, easy to use and has a great design where the container is also a water tank and the cap becomes a water container so that you can easily paint from anywhere, anytime.

It has a small integrated mixing palette and handle in the back for easy holding.

  • High quality watercolor paint
  • Small, portable presentation
  • Water container and tank included
  • Very expensive
  • Limited color set
  • No space for paint brushes

5. Best Metallic Watercolor Travel Set — ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor Paint Set

ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor Paint Set

About the ARTEZA Iridescent Watercolor

Since a while ago, Arteza has been building a name and reputation of their own and we must say that although they’re a relatively new brand, their products are exceptional. This metallic watercolor set is no different. Crafted with care and attention to detail, this iridescent watercolor travel set is the dream of many. Whether you love giving metallic accents to your work or are a lettering artist or craft professional, this set has everything you could dream of.

This set includes a waterbrush and two mixing palettes, plus the pans are interchangeable and Arteza does have a dedicated color range for metallic watercolors so you can get the ones you like the most and arrange your own palette.

  • Wide color range
  • Portable and refillable
  • Includes a waterbrush
  • Mica-based paints

Conclusions

In the end, the best travel watercolor set is the one you feel most comfortable with, be it you’d rather have everything in one set or you prefer to carry your tools separately, it’ll be up to you to unleash your creativity in the most unexpected places, adding a personal, hand-painted touch to your travel experiences. The sets we’ve reviewed bring that possibility to your fingertips, allowing you to paint anywhere without the need for a vast array of tools, and make the cleanup as simple as a splash of water.

So pack your brushes, choose your colors, and let the world be your canvas. Whether capturing the fleeting hues of a sunset or the intricate details of a bustling street, a travel watercolor set invites you to see the world through the eyes of an artist, where every scene is a potential masterpiece waiting to be painted.

Happy painti

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Craftwhack

The Best Travel Watercolor Kits For Every Level Artist

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I love the idea of packing up a sweet little watercolor kit, a thermos of tea, some snacks, and heading out for a day of plein air painting alone in the beautiful countryside.

I’d drive somewhere rural and full of prairie, strap my folding chair to my back, and hike out to a remote location where birds, butterflies, and the occasional bunny would frolic about, as I listened to soothing music in my earbuds.

The best part is, I don’t paint landscapes or nature, so I’d be hiding in a field somewhere painting little triangles, and still happy as a clam.

Anyway, let’s talk travel watercolor kits. I’m sure you’ve seen them on Pinterest and Instagram, right? Some are pre-made, and some are fabulous little treasure boxes artists have cobbled together to carry their most essential paints and accessories.

For this post, I’m focusing on the pre-made kits that you can buy. They include small pans of watercolors, one small brush, and an area or more to use as a palette.

They are small enough to stash in a bag (or even a pocket), and fold closed to contain all the items. They’re perfect if you travel or have a long commute and want to do something besides:

  • Stare at your phone
  • Stare at other people
  • Read a book

Watercolor Travel Kits to Buy

Want to bypass the DIY thing and just buy a lovely little watercolor travel kit to take with you? Apparently some of these small kits are okay to take on airplanes. Be prepared for people to gawk at your art-makin’.

Sakura Koi Watercolor Travel Kit

We’ll start with what is undoubtedly the most popular travel kit, the Sakura Koi. No doubt if you’re into travel watercolor kits, you’ve heard of or seen this one all over social media.

Sakura is an overall fantastic brand, and this little kit is perfect for painting on the go for most people.

  • half-pan watercolor paints
  • Refillable water brush
  • 2 sponges (set into the case)
  • Removable mixing tray
  • Very lightweight
  • The lid doubles as an easel
  • You can stash a few sheets of paper in the box

What I love about it:

I love how the tray has little feet that fit perfectly over the paints when you close the kit, but then you can remove it and place it in the lid or on the edge of the box by snapping two legs into two of the holes. If you place it in the lid, the feet elevate it for easier access. This is one of those small design features that you end up appreciating so much!

It comes in different sizes and numbers of paint colors. I have the 18 color set, which is fine for if you really want to save space, but not enough colors for my liking. I’d go with the 24 or 30 color sets if you want more color choices.

Who is it For:

This set is perfect for teens up through adults who aren’t necessarily looking for professional-quality paints, but still want a well-designed travel set with lots of colors to choose from.

You’ll want more water brushes, either to have different brush shapes, just as backups, or to help keep your colors separate. You can sort of clean the brush tips on the sponges, but if you’re fussy about keeping your colors pure, be safe and buy more brushes.

You can see paint swatches for all of the colors here.

Here is a pic of the sizes for the different sets:

Koi travel watercolor kit sizes

Winsor & Newton

You can always count on Winsor & Newton for quality art supplies, and their watercolor kits are no exception. I’m including 2 here, because you absolutely need to feast your eyes on the gorgeous professional travel kit.

Winsor & Newton Cotman Pocket Box

This is similar in quality to the Sakura Koi. You get good quality paint, just this side of the lush professional paints. This little box is a no-frills travel set that comes with 12 half-pan paints and a teeny tiny brush.

  • Just 5″ long when closed makes it nice and small!
  • 12 half-pans of basic mixing colors
  • Lid is segmented for 3 mixing areas

The larger watercolor pans mean you can use larger paint brushes (and they last longer, of course).

You get the bare necessities: paints and a mixing surface and a brush.

The price is great, so this is an amazing introduction set for beginners.

This kit is for someone who wants to take up the least amount of space in their bag or suitcase, while still getting quality paints. You won’t get a ton of colors, so make sure you’re comfortable mixing paints, or practicing as you go. This is an excellent starter set for anyone who prefers a very pared-down paint set.

Buy your own brushes, either regular or the pen style brushes

Use double-sided tape or sticky tack to keep the pans in place – this is a common complaint with this kit, but easily fixable

Switch out the colors you find you don’t use for colors you prefer – some reviewers mentioned adding a green and purple. It’s hard to find refill pans for these so your options are:

  • refill with professional half pans
  • squeeze tube watercolors into the empty pans and let them set up

Paint up a color chart to bring with you before you travel- look at this amazing example from one reviewer:

travel watercolor colors

Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Field Box, 12 Half Pans

Yes. When you are ready to graduate to professional watercolor paints, this is your travel kit. 12 half pans give you more paint, and are nestled in a 5.2″ long case that opens up into a mini portable artist’s studio.

  • Compact size still holds a lot of paint
  • Larger sponge than most travel kits
  • Folding travel brush
  • 2 palette surfaces fold out and stay connected to the case
  • Large water cup attached to the end

Here’s a list of the colors that come in this set:

French ultramarine, Winsor blue (green shade), permanent sap green, Winsor green (blue shade), Winsor lemon, Winsor yellow, scarlet lake, Winsor red, permanent alizarin crimson, permanent rose, yellow core, burnt sienna, raw umber and titanium white.

Rich, vivd colors don’t fade and don’t have that granulated texture that watercolor paints can sometimes develop.

Good sized sponge for cleaning brushes and using to add texture to your painting

Included water flask built into the lid

Generous half pan colors that, since they are professional quality, you can mix up lots more colors

Plenty of palette surfaces

A splurge for people who want to use professional-quality paints on their fabulous trip through Italy, working artists, or anyone who is obsessed with using the highest-quality art supplies. So worth it.

Yep, more brushes! Bring along a few different sizes, as the brush included is small.

Buy your refill (or other color) half pan paints at Blick ; the refills are usually cheaper there than Amazon.

Use distilled water in the included water bottle if you tend to leave the water in there for more than a few days, so it doesn’t get gross.

Professional paint needs professional paper. Use 100% cotton!

Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Paint Sketchers' Pocket Box, Half Pans, 14-Pieces

Travel Watercolor Kit For Kids

If you give a kid a semi-decent quality art kit, they will 10 times out of 10 feel like a professional artist, love you forever, and probably go to town using it immediately. Little travel watercolor kits are PERFECT for kids to bring on vacations, to doctor’s appointments, to dinner, and basically anywhere you would normally let them play on a screen.

In all honesty, I have not tried this kit, but most of the reviews look legit (you can always tell fake reviews), and I LOVE how compact and cool this little set is.

  • 42 colors of paint
  • Small divided side palette for mixing colors
  • Colors are labelled on the edges for quick locating
  • Non-toxic paints

It fans out to reveal 42 colors, and comes with a small sponge and watercolor pen brush. You can just toss this thing in your bag or their backpack with a small sketchbook, and you don’t have to chase markers or crayons all over the place.

It comes in a really cute box, so remember this next time you need a kid gift. You can give them the paint set and a sketchbook for under $25! (see images below)

Watercolor pen brushes are amazing inventions for kids, because, hey, no tipped over jars of water!

I would stick to kids and beginners for this kit. I may be an art supply snob, but as cute as this is, there are a bunch of other brands selling the exact same design. There’s a reason reputable art supply companies have been around for a long time and earn our trust.

Travel Sketchbooks/Loose Paper

Don’t forget the paper! Think about whether you want a travel sketchbook or loose paper – or even a pack of watercolor postcard paper – these are all fairly small, but are good quality to take the abuse of water and pigment.

Global Art Materials Travelogue Watercolor Book, Square, 8-1/4-Inch by 8-1/4-Inch

I couldn’t resist this gift idea for the travel watercolor enthusiast: It’s a drool-worthy box

containing a Winsor & Newton 100% cotton watercolor sketchbook, 12 half pan paint colors in a tin box, and a size 3 of their series 7 (kolinsky sable) paint brush, plus a blank color chart! Swoon.

travel watercolor colors

1 thought on “The Best Travel Watercolor Kits For Every Level Artist”

It makes sense to think about whether a portable watercolor set will fit in your pocket or luggage when shopping for one. It will not be sensible to add extra weight to your belongings because you will be relocating from one location to another.

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Learning your Watercolor Color Palette

How to know each color in your travel palette.

T ravel paint palettes get messy real fast. When I close my palette up after using it, excess water swishes about inside, applying a film of gray and brown over each color.

On top of that, I never remember exactly which shade of blue is which, and which shade of yellow or orange or even sienna is which.

This becomes more of a problem while travel sketching, because I need to paint quickly, without testing color on a swatch.

I've slowly learned that the precise name of the pigment you are using, and even the brand, is important to know, especially when you are traveling and have just a small timeframe (and small, uncomfortable spaces) to paint. Often, you don't even have time to mix paint. You need to get it done with a single color.

Watercolor Palette for Travel

I reference a smartphone photo to quickly find colors I need while sketching on the road. I like using large waterpoof palettes, as I can open them up, get them wet and not worry too much about them leaking in the rest of my gear. Check out this palette by Martin Mijello .

In fact, memorizing the position of certain keystone colors is tremendously helpful while traveling. I've finally resolved this problem by doing this:

Label your pigments - use strips of sticky notes, masking tape or even place the palette on a grocery bag, and write the names of each pigment outside the palette. Take a smartphone photo of the palette, and keep the photo handy, either by printing it and taping it to the back of your palette, or just keeping the photo saved on your phone.

Best Colors for a Travel Watercolor Palette

Below are a few colors which could easily be mistaken for other colors in a palette. I give my reasons for needing each of these exact pigments, and why its important for me to label and memorize them. For me, these are the best, most essential pigments in my watercolor palette.

Cobalt Turquoise Watercolor

Cobalt Turquoise

Winsor & Newton's Cobalt Turquoise is the color of shallow seas. This is my go-to shade for shallow water on maps. It mixes vibrantly with just about any blue or green, and I use it as a base for both water and dark jungle. Link to Cobalt Turquoise

Pthalo Blue

There is really no replacement for this synthetic, chemical blue, which is sometimes called Helio Blue or Winsor Blue. It turns paper into vivid, daytime skies, immeasurably important in so many travel sketches.

Pthalo blue is often considered too intense and overpowering for many realistic paintings, but when you need to lay down color quickly while sketching on the side of a road or in a cafe, that surreal sky comes in handy. Link to Pthalo Blue

Pthalo Blue Watercolor

If I had just one watercolor shade in my palette, this historical pigment, discovered in different cultures around the world, would be it. In fact, travel sketches with black liner pen and indigo watercolor look great. My Winsor & Newton Indigo is used for so many different travel sketching purposes, and I never tire of this versatile midnight blue, which can laid down dark and intense, or soft and pale. I use it to represent black, by adding burnt sienna, and I use it for shadows, and the edge of oceans. There is something about this specific pigment against white paper that is uniquely clean and crisp. Link to Indigo

Cadmium Orange

Another pigment that can be confused for others in the palette, but which has such unique characteristics of its own, is Cadmium Orange.

You can see in the example how many different tints and shades this single pigment can produce. This is why cadmium orange is so useful on the road. A few swipes of the brush produces rich and varied orange and yellow textures. Link to Cadmium Orange

Cadmium Orange Watercolor

Pthalo Turquoise

This is a singular color. There is nothing like it at all. When my brush goes for this pigment, it's going big. Imagine a dark turquoise, that can be glazed into an almost-black. Sometimes it feels blue, but mostly, it's a vibrant, dark turquoise, the color of jungle leaves in the early morning. Link to Pthalo Turquoise

Ultramarine

Ultramarine defines the deep blue of the distant sea on a sunny day. But it also takes on different characteristics on paper, from gentle and light to deep and pure. Link to Ultramarine Blue

Ultramarine Watercolor

Quinacridone Violet

This is another spectacular and vivid hue, that works so well in travel sketches. I love this pigment for the way it transforms from deep violets to airy magentas. Bougainvillea, rainy streets at night. Link to Quinacridone Violet

Winsor Violet

This brilliant bluish-purple, sometimes called dioxazine purple, actually shows up in nature all the time. This paint is loaded with pigment. You can see in the example how you can almost create a black out of this intense violet. Deep marine hues, evening skies, and a great color to represent many Latin American bird species. Link to Winsor Violet

Winsor Violet Watercolor

French Ultramarine

French ultramarine looks exactly like ultramarine in the palette, and the two shades are often difficult to tell apart on the paper. But french ultramarine lays down on the paper in a different way; it has a more pure, soft quality to it, and so I like to use it for afternoon sky. Link to French Ultramarine

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Gouache Travel Set

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Pack your Own Airplane Food

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The Perfect Toddler Backpack

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Traveling with Nib Pens

Nib pens make a great alternative kit for your travel sketchbook. Here are some reasons why.

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Photography backpacks tend to be heavy and clunky. I've learned there is a better way to pack heavy gear.

Waterproof Watercolor Palette

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Pack a Longboard Skateboard

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How to Know each Color in your Travel Palette

A tip on keeping your watercolors organized while traveling.

acrylgiessen.com – Creative Magazine

Best Travel Watercolor Set – Our Top Travel Paint Set Recommendations

This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through them, at no additional cost to you.

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A travel watercolor set is ideal for those artists who enjoy painting while on the move. Watercolor painting does not require a lot of equipment and setup, and cleaning is extremely easy. We are here to help you choose the best travel watercolor set, whether you are a beginner or a professional artist.

Table of Contents

  • 1.1 The Pros and Cons of a Portable Watercolor Set
  • 1.2 How to Choose the Best Travel Watercolor Set
  • 2.1 Best Value for Money Set: WINSOR & NEWTON Cotman Watercolor Set
  • 2.2 Best Beginner Set: SAKURA Watercolor Set
  • 2.3 Best Professional Set: WINSOR & NEWTON Professional Watercolor Set
  • 3 Tips for Using a Travel Watercolor Set
  • 4 How to Make Your Own Travel Watercolor Palette
  • 5.1 Are Watercolors Allowed on the Plane When Traveling?
  • 5.2 Do Watercolor Paint Sets Last a Long Time?
  • 5.3 Are Pan Watercolors or Tubes a Better Option for Traveling?
  • 5.4 What Are Half Pan Watercolor Paints?
  • 5.5 What Is the Best Way to Transport Watercolor Brushes?

Reasons for Choosing a Travel Watercolor Set

When you are inspired to paint and you are out walking in nature or elsewhere, you need painting materials that can easily be carried around with you. Something you can simply pull out of a bag or even your pocket. Watercolor paints come in paint pans or tubes; the paint pans consist of dry paint and are best for transporting as tubes might break open.

Travel Watercolor Palette

Most of the portable watercolor sets come with a limited color palette that has about 12 to 16 paint colors, some brushes, and a mixing tray. Normal watercolor sets may have a lot more paint colors, brushes, and other materials that make it more difficult to easily transport around. A travel paint set is small in size and lightweight, and usually also comes in a durable container or carry case.

The Pros and Cons of a Portable Watercolor Set

When working with watercolors, there are a few pros and cons that go with them. Some of the problems with watercolors may require some patience and practice to remedy. So, if you are a beginner, do not feel intimidated by painting with watercolors. Some of the benefits of watercolor painting travel sets are as follows.

  • Water-based, so it is easy to clean
  • Watercolors dry quickly
  • Easy to use by beginners
  • Easy to carry and transport
  • A more affordable option
  • Dry paint can be reactivated
  • No wastage of paint
  • You can keep the paints for a long time
  • Paint may lighten or crack if left out in the sun
  • Watercolor techniques can be difficult to learn
  • Any mistakes are impossible or difficult to fix
  • Can take time and more water to get a good consistency
  • You are limited in colors and materials
  • Dust and dirt can get into the paint

How to Choose the Best Travel Watercolor Set

Artists might have different needs when it comes to a travel watercolor set, you might want to paint while traveling to different countries or capture that sunset while out hiking. However, there are some points to think about.

Portable Watercolor Set

Size Matters

No matter what you are doing or where you are, when you are on the go and want to take out some watercolors to paint, the size of your travel paint set is important. You might need a set that fits perfectly inside your pocket or bag. Also, your portable watercolor set should be lightweight, as you do not want to be weighed down by extra baggage.

The shape of the container must also be appropriate, so you do not catch it on anything.

Paint Colors

You might like having only a few basic colors at your disposal or maybe you want something more substantial? This can include a travel watercolor set with only eight colors up to 40. Whatever your travel watercolor palette, there should be a travel paint set that suits your needs. The quality of the paint colors is also important, the cheaper you go, the less permanent or vibrant the colors become.

Making Travel Paint Set

When you are on the go and standing on a rock ledge, you do not want to have to fumble with zips and loose materials or tools that can slip out, and you only notice once you get home. The brushes and other tools that come with the travel paint set should, therefore, be secure enough that they will not move around or get lost.

You might want to consider another small bag for extra tools like pencils or sharpeners.

Some travel paint sets have space to put your paper and come with water pens. But you might need to include something like a collapsible water cup and a separate sketchbook. If you do carry everything in a bag, try getting a more compact, specialized, art bag to help with easy access, so you do not have to go searching for everything.

Best Travel Watercolor Set

A lot of artists have gone through testing out the various best travel watercolor sets available, and each has its own opinion. Some prefer larger palettes, while others only require a small travel palette set. So, we have brought together three popular recommendations for you.

Travel Watercolor Set

Best Value for Money Set: WINSOR & NEWTON Cotman Watercolor Set

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Sketchers’ Pocket Box contains 12 high-quality colors that come in a durable case. There are cheaper paints out there, however, if you are looking for quality paint colors, these come at an affordable price. You also get a travel brush with the set and a mixing palette designed into the lid. The paints wet nicely and flow smoothly with a uniform consistency on paper.

WINSOR & NEWTON Cotman Water Colours Pocket Box

  • Set contains a pocket brush and 12 Cotman watercolors
  • Good transparency, tinting strength, and working properties
  • The plastic box features a mixing palette in the lid for easy use

The paint colors contain transparency and softness with great working properties that are common with this brand, so it will not work so well on standard paper and cotton paper is your best choice. The set contains Chinese white, sap green, yellow ochre, burnt umber, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, phthalo blue, ultramarine, viridian hue, cadmium yellow, lemon yellow, and cadmium red. Some of the contents might vary in hue.

  • Economical, quality pigments
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Value for money
  • Easy to transport
  • Excellent transparency
  • Good color selection
  • Pans are a bit loose

Best Beginner Set: SAKURA Watercolor Set

The Sakura Watercolor Set is a quality Japanese painting set that comes with 30 colors, half pans, a watercolor brush, and a sponge. The collapsible watercolor brush can store water for convenience, which makes it great for outdoor painting or painting on the go. The colors blend well and are also certified as non-toxic. This portable watercolor set is great for beginners that want quality but are not necessarily looking for professional-watercolor paints. You might need to add in more brushes for more variety and to help keep the painted colors separate.

SAKURA Assorted Watercolor Sketch Set

  • The compact kit contains quality watercolors and a water brush
  • Portable kit makes transporting easy for outdoors painting
  • Individually tested watercolors blend well with each other

The set has a wide range of colors that include white, black, brown, and gray. The paints blend well, are vibrant, and have a slightly creamy consistency but still provide nice transparency. Unfortunately, you do not get refills for this set, but you can consider replacing it with their watercolor tubes . Although the tube colors are limited, you might not be able to get the paint color you need. Colors are also placed quite close to each other with no separation, which makes it easy for the colors to mix into each other. The travel paint set might be heavier than others in its class, but it does provide more usefulness.

  • Quality pigments
  • Wide range of colors
  • Compact design
  • Paints blend nicely
  • No refills available
  • Easy to contaminate colors
  • You need more brushes

Best Professional Set: WINSOR & NEWTON Professional Watercolor Set

The Winsor and Newton Watercolor Set is a pocket-size set that contains professional-quality paint 12 paint colors in half pans. You also get two palettes to mix with, a bottle or water container as a sponge, and a foldable travel brush. The painting set is compact but provides more than enough paint. The two mixing palettes are attached to the main case and fold-out, like the attached water container. The colors provided include your raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, French ultramarine, permanent sap green, Winsor blue, red, yellow, and green, Winsor lemon, permanent alizarin crimson, yellow core, permanent rose, and scarlet lake.

WINSOR & NEWTON Professional Water Colour Field Box

  • A pocket-sized field box of professional watercolor paints
  • Includes half pans of 12 basic and versatile watercolor shades
  • Comes with 2 palettes, a water container, sponge, and brush

These are vibrant colors that will not fade and do not have a grainy texture. These watercolor paints are more on the expensive side but do provide the highest quality paints. You might want to consider adding a few more different size brushes, as the one provided is rather small. You can also get refills for this set when you run out. When using the water container, it is best to add distilled water, so if you forget about emptying it, it will not be too unpleasant. We also recommend you use good quality cotton paper for these watercolor paints.

  • Professional quality paints
  • Vibrant colors
  • Comes with two palettes and a water container
  • The paint goes a long way
  • Compact and easy to use and transport
  • Colors and content may vary

Tips for Using a Travel Watercolor Set

Inspiration can hit at any moment, so it is clever to always have a travel paint set with you. Some artists feel more comfortable assembling their own set with everything they need, but today many affordable and useful travel watercolor sets contain all you need. However, as some artists have learned through experience, there are always those little tips and tricks that can help out even further. Below are a few of these tips:

  • Keep it simple , if you are in doubt about if you are going to use anything, leave it out. Otherwise, you might be including everything but the kitchen sink, which defeats the entire point of traveling light.
  • Some sets come with water containers , but if not, consider a silicone cupcake liner or collapsible cup.
  • If you have some watercolor color tubes, why not create your own travel set using an empty metal palette tin. This way you can make a travel watercolor palette that suits your needs with chosen colors and better-quality paints.
  • Most times, you will have to include a small travel brush set that usually comes in a handy carry case or use brushes you already have and carry them in a zipper pencil case with you.

Small Travel Watercolor Palette

  • Consider a set of watercolor brush pens that already contain water and pigment.
  • Tape the brushes together end to end when traveling with loose This helps protect the bristles.
  • A sketchbook should also be compact , so an ideal size would be A5 or close to this. So, 5 x 8 inches or 9 x 12 inches, maybe even 14 x 11 inches are good choices and should fit into a carry bag.
  • Consider a sketchbook with spirals as you do not have to tear pages out.
  • If you want to use a watercolor backboard, consider corflute as it is lightweight and durable. Corflute is a corrugated plastic that you can usually buy in various size sheets.
  • If you are carrying other liquids or gels, store them in zip-lock bags.
  • Always plan for the weather when painting outdoors, it is best to be prepared.

How to Make Your Own Travel Watercolor Palette

Tube paints have more vibrant paint colors than the pan paints that come with the travel paint sets. You also might not get all the colors you want in a set, so by making your own travel watercolor palette, you can customize the paint colors. Since carrying tubes of paint can be risky, as they may burst open or become messy, drying the tube paint in the pans is a better travel option. Also, it is easier to get paint from the pans than it is to squeeze it out of a tube. Some colors to include in your palette can include the following.

These are only suggestions, and you can customize your palette to whatever colors you want to work with.
  • Warm red, yellow, and blue
  • Cool red, yellow, and blue
  • Burnt sienna
  • Burnt umber
  • Neutral gray or another darker neutral tint

So, you have chosen your colors, and have your favorite palette ready. This could be plastic or metal. Write what pigment brand, name, number on each pan. Choose a tube of paint and open it carefully if it has not been used in a while. Squeeze slowly into the pan, making sure not to fill it completely, only about halfway. You can then use a toothpick to stir the paint and move it to fill the corners of the pan. Pick up and tap the pan on the table to help get rid of any bubbles.

Best Travel Paint Set

Follow the same process for all the colors you are going to use. You must then leave the paint to dry naturally for about 24 hours, or it might also take a few days. If you want, you can fill a second time, just make sure it is not to the top of the pan. You need some space for the water, which activates the paint. If the paint seems to crack or shrink significantly, adding a drop or two of glycerin to the paint before placing it into the pan can help. You can place the colors in whatever order you like or is convenient for you.

Do not be limited by where you paint, there are so many options available for travel watercolor sets that you should be able to find something that works for you. So, go out, travel, and explore, nothing should prevent you from creating beautiful art pieces on the go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are watercolors allowed on the plane when traveling.

The dry watercolor sets are compact and easy to transport and are allowed on the plane. The liquid watercolors, on the other hand, are also easy to transport and are not flammable. However, they must be taken with you and checked in or placed with your carry-on.

Do Watercolor Paint Sets Last a Long Time?

Both tube and pan watercolors can last for a long time, the tube of paints for about five years, while the pan watercolors can go for longer at around ten years. However, you will most probably use them before that. The time can vary due to how you store and look after your watercolors.

Are Pan Watercolors or Tubes a Better Option for Traveling?

Watercolor paints in tubes do tend to have higher quality pigments that are more vibrant than pan paints. You will need more paint to get similar results from pan watercolors. Watercolors in pans and metal tin are best for traveling. These come with pans, but you can also make your own travel watercolor palette with tube paints.

What Are Half Pan Watercolor Paints?

Watercolor pans come in various sizes and are perfect for a portable watercolor set. Full pans can be seen as a full tube of paint, while half pans contain half the amount. For an even more compact travel watercolor palette, you can also get quarter and eighth pans.

What Is the Best Way to Transport Watercolor Brushes?

Many of the watercolor sets come with a paintbrush that is kept inside with the paint set. You can also purchase a paintbrush set that comes in its own pouch for protection. However, if you are taking loose brushes, you can simply tape them together end to end to help protect the brushes.

matthew matthysen

Matthew Matthysen is a multidisciplinary artist. He completed his fine art degree, majoring in History of Art and Contemporary Drawing Practice at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Before joining acrylgiessen In 2020, Matthew worked part-time as an art teacher at Reddford Blue Hills High school. Matthew creates drawing and painting tutorials for acrylgiessen and captures them not only photographically and in written form. He also records the creation of his works in his own creative studio as in video format, from which later with a voiceover and a video editor also drawing tutorials for the Youtube channel of acrylgiessen are created.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and about acrylgiessen .

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  • Travel Essentials & Accessories

14 Best Travel Watercolor for 2024

Published: September 7, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Amye Bessette

  • Arts & Culture
  • Hotel Reviews
  • Plan Your Trip

14-best-travel-watercolor-for-2023

Introducing the 14 Best Travel Watercolor for 2023, an essential guide for artists and avid travelers alike. This comprehensive list showcases the finest watercolor sets specifically designed for those on the go. Whether you are embarking on a thrilling adventure or simply exploring new horizons, these top-rated travel watercolors will ensure you can capture the beauty of your surroundings with ease. With a range of vibrant colors, portable packaging, and high-quality pigments, these sets are the perfect companions for any journey. Get ready to unleash your creativity and bring your artistic visions to life wherever your wanderlust takes you in 2023.

Jump to Review

Winsor & Newton Watercolor Paint Set

Winsor & Newton Watercolor Paint Set

This product has a rating of A. * What does this rating mean?

Overall Score : 9/10

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set is a compact and lightweight field pocket set perfect for outdoor watercolor painting. It includes 12 half pans of high-quality watercolors that possess good transparency and excellent tinting strength. The set also comes with a pocket brush, an artist's sponge, a water bottle, and a clip-on water container. With a range of vibrant colors, this set is ideal for both beginners and experienced artists. It offers professional-grade quality at an economical price. The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set is convenient and offers everything needed for creating beautiful watercolor artworks on the go.

Key Features

  • Economical range of high-quality watercolors
  • Transparency and excellent tinting strength
  • Compact and lightweight field pocket set
  • Includes pocket brush, artist's sponge, water bottle, and clip-on water container
  • 12 half pans in a range of vibrant colors

Specifications

  • Color: Multicolor
  • Dimension: 5.12Lx1.57Wx2.76H
  • Size: 14 Piece Set
  • Good value for money
  • High-quality pigments
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Comes with essential accessories
  • Small brush
  • Limited water supply
  • Inconsistent aesthetics

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set is a top choice for art enthusiasts who are looking for a portable and convenient watercolor set. Its high-quality pigments, compact design, and included accessories make it a reliable companion for outdoor painting. While the small brush and limited water supply may be minor downsides, the overall performance and value for money of this set are outstanding. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, this set is sure to meet your watercolor painting needs. Bring your creativity to new heights with the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set.

Portable Watercolor Palette with Magnetic Clip and Oil Pot

Portable Watercolor Palette with Magnetic Clip and Oil Pot

Overall Score : 8/10

The Portable Mini Tin Box is a 12-well empty watercolor palette that is perfect for artists on the go. It includes a small paint storage kit with a magnetic clip and oil pot, making it ideal for outdoor sketching and painting. The tin box is compact and easy to clean, while the magnetic clip allows for convenient attachment to a drawing book. The stainless steel oil pot is durable and rust-resistant, perfect for blending oil paint or cleaning brushes. This portable watercolor set is small enough to fit in your pocket or bag, making it a convenient tool for recording beautiful moments wherever you go.

  • Mini Portable Painting Travel Kit
  • Paint Box Dimensions
  • Magnetic Design Clip
  • Convenient and Compact
  • Color: Outdoor Painting Set-selva
  • Highly pigmented colors
  • Fits nicely inside mint tin
  • Nice portable setup for watercolor
  • Perfect size for Plein air painting
  • Adorable and convenient
  • No true blue color
  • Smaller than regular half-pans
  • Not true half pan size

The Portable Mini Tin Box is a fantastic travel companion for artists. Its compact size and magnetic clip make it easy to carry around, while the 12-well palette provides ample space for a variety of colors. The highly pigmented paints and durable construction make it a high-quality product. However, some users may find the lack of a true blue color disappointing, and others may prefer larger half-pans. Overall, this watercolor palette offers great convenience and functionality for artists on the go.

Watercolor Journal Sketchbook

Watercolor Journal Sketchbook

The Watercolor Journal is a perfect companion for artists on the go. It features 140lb, 300gsm heavyweight watercolor paper that is suitable for various mediums, including watercolors, acrylics, ink pen, colored pencils, markers, and oil pastels. The acid-free paper ensures that your artworks stay vibrant over time without yellowing or lightening. With round corners and a hardbound cover, this journal is durable and protects you from accidental paper cuts. The micro-perforated sheets allow for easy removal and framing of your artworks. Additionally, the journal includes an inside handy pocket for storing your arts and essentials. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, the Watercolor Journal is a high-quality sketchbook that will meet all your creative needs.

  • 25% Cotton 300gsm Heavy Weight Watercolor Paper
  • Acid-Free Paper
  • Round Corner And Hardbound
  • Micro-Perforated Sheets
  • Inside Handy Pocket
  • Color: Gray
  • Dimension: 5.50Lx3.50Wx0.78H
  • Size: 3.5" x 5.5"
  • Durable and heavyweight paper
  • Does not bleed or turn yellow over time
  • Micro-perforated sheets for easy removal
  • Includes a handy inside pocket for storage
  • Not suitable for watercolor glazing and lifting out
  • Pages are perforated, not bound

The Watercolor Journal is a fantastic option for artists who desire a compact and portable sketchbook. The heavyweight watercolor paper is of excellent quality, ensuring that your artwork remains vibrant and long-lasting. The micro-perforated sheets allow for easy removal and framing, while the handy inside pocket provides additional storage space. However, it’s worth noting that the paper may not be suitable for certain advanced watercolor techniques, and the perforated pages may not be ideal for those who prefer bound sketchbooks. Overall, this journal offers great value for its features and is a must-have for artists on the go.

Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set

Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set

Overall Score : 8.5/10

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set offers high-quality watercolors at an economical price. With good transparency, excellent tinting strength, and good working properties, this set is perfect for both beginners and professionals. The pocket-sized plastic box with an integral mixing palette provides convenience for on-the-go painting. The set includes 12 Cotman Water Colour half pans, a pocket brush, and colors ranging from Lemon Yellow Hue to Chinese White. The pigments are vibrant and can be easily replaced or supplemented with additional colors. While some customers found the paint pans to be loose in the case, simple modifications like using removable glue dots can solve this issue. Overall, this versatile and compact watercolor set delivers great value and quality.

  • Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours with transparent performance
  • Pocket-sized plastic box with mixing palette
  • Includes 12 Cotman Water Colour half pans and a pocket brush
  • Variety of colors from Lemon Yellow Hue to Chinese White
  • Easily replaceable and expandable with additional paints
  • Dimension: 2.56Lx5.12Wx0.87H
  • Size: 13 Piece Set
  • Convenient pocket-size for travel
  • Good transparency and tinting strength
  • Versatile range of colors
  • Replaceable and expandable paint pans
  • Paint pans may be loose in the case
  • Difficulties opening the palette container

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set is a reliable companion for artists on the go. Its compact size and integral mixing palette make it perfect for travel and outdoor painting. The variety of vibrant colors and the quality of the pigments ensure excellent results. Although the loose paint pans and difficulties opening the palette container can be minor drawbacks, they can be resolved with simple modifications. Overall, this paint set offers great value for its price and is suitable for both beginners and professionals. Whether you’re exploring the streets of Paris or creating masterpieces at home, this watercolor set is sure to ignite creativity and deliver satisfying paint results. Unleash your artistic potential with the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set!

ARTISTRO Watercolor Paint Set

ARTISTRO Watercolor Paint Set

The ARTISTRO Watercolor Paint Set is a high-quality, portable watercolor set that includes 48 vivid colors, including metallic and fluorescent shades. It is suitable for artists, amateur hobbyists, and painting lovers of all skill levels. The set comes in an elegant and giftable tin box, making it ideal for professionals or beginners. The watercolors are non-toxic and conform to safety standards. Everything needed to paint on the go is included, such as a water brush pen, watercolor paper, and a black marker. The set is compact, lightweight, and perfect for traveling. With vibrant colors and convenient features, this watercolor paint set provides endless possibilities for creative expression.

  • High Quality Watercolor Paint Set
  • Create On the Go
  • Elegant Design & Giftable Box
  • Everything Included
  • Dimension: 8.07Lx3.70Wx1.65H
  • Size: 1 Count (Pack of 1)
  • Vibrant and vivid colors
  • Ideal for beginners and professionals
  • Compact and portable
  • Includes water brush pen and watercolor paper
  • Some colors may not match the chart
  • Metallic paints can absorb excess water

The ARTISTRO Watercolor Paint Set offers a wide range of vibrant colors, making it perfect for artists, hobbyists, and painting enthusiasts. With its compact and portable design, this set is great for painting on the go. The inclusion of a water brush pen and watercolor paper makes it convenient and versatile. While there may be slight inconsistencies in color matching and the metallic paints require careful handling, these minor drawbacks do not outweigh the overall quality and value of this set. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, the ARTISTRO Watercolor Paint Set is a fantastic choice for unleashing your creativity.

SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit

SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit

The SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit is a portable watercolor palette perfect for artists on the go. It includes 12 beautiful half-pan watercolor cakes that allow for mixing vibrant colors. The kit also comes with a 4 mL water brush with a medium tip, a dabbing sponge for artistic effects, and a palette for color mixing inside the snap case. The Sakura watercolor paints are of the highest quality and provide stunning results. This kit is ideal for students, hobbyists, and artists looking to paint anywhere and everywhere. Its compact size makes it easy to carry and store. Get creative with the SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit and unleash your artistic potential!

  • Portable Watercolor Palette for Art Anywhere
  • Create On the Go with the 4 m L water brush
  • Includes 12 half-pan watercolor cakes
  • Mix vibrant colors with the palette and dabbing sponge
  • Highest quality Sakura watercolor paints
  • Dimension: 3.50Lx1.00Wx6.10H
  • Size: 12 Count (Pack of 1)
  • Portable and compact
  • High-quality watercolors
  • Convenient palette for color mixing
  • Comes with a water brush and sponge
  • Colors may require more layering for intensity
  • Blocks may fall out of the pan
  • Water brush needs to be disassembled for storage
  • Limited color selection

The SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit is a fantastic travel companion for artists. Its portable design, high-quality watercolors, and convenient features make it a must-have for painting on the go. While the color selection is limited, the ability to mix vibrant colors with the palette and sponge allows for endless creativity. The water brush and sponge provide the necessary tools for artistic effects. The compact size of the kit makes it easy to carry and store. Overall, the SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit is highly recommended for students, hobbyists, and artists who want to explore their creativity anywhere and everywhere.

Sable Watercolor Travel Brushes

Sable Watercolor Travel Brushes

Overall Score : 9.2/10

The Sable Travel Watercolor Brushes by Fuumuui are perfect for artists on the go. With a variety of shapes, premium sable hair bristles, and a pocket-sized leather pouch, this set is ideal for watercolor, gouache, illustration, animation, restoration, and rendering. The brushes have holes for air circulation, ensuring they dry properly. The set comes with a 2-year warranty, 24-hour online customer service, and a 90-day money-back policy. Customers rave about the quality and portability of these brushes, making them a worthwhile purchase for any artist.

  • Variety of brush shapes
  • Premium sable hair bristles
  • Pocket-sized leather pouch
  • Holes for air circulation
  • 2-year warranty and 24-hour customer service
  • Color: Black
  • Size: Large
  • High-quality materials and craftsmanship
  • Excellent portability
  • Versatile for various painting techniques
  • Hassle-free storage and drying
  • Size 12 brush handle may not fit securely
  • Sizing of brushes may be smaller than expected

The Sable Travel Watercolor Brushes by Fuumuui are a fantastic option for artists who need a portable and reliable set. With their high-quality bristles, handy leather pouch, and versatile brush shapes, these brushes are perfect for creating a wide range of artwork. While there may be some minor issues with the sizing and fit of certain brushes, the overall quality and performance of this set make it a great investment. Whether you’re a professional artist or a hobbyist, these travel brushes will surely enhance your artistic journey. Get ready to explore the world with your creativity!

Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Portable 14 Colors Set

Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Portable 14 Colors Set

The Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Portable 14 Colors Set is a professional-quality watercolor paint set that is perfect for artists and crafters. Made in Japan, this set includes 14 Gansai Tambi paint colors, a travel-sized drawing pen (MANGAKA 01), and a refillable water brush pen. The colors are vivid and opaque, and the pans are carefully filled for smooth application. This set is versatile and can be used for sketching, painting, cartooning, illustration, cardmaking, and more. The GANSAI TAMBI watercolors are based on traditional Japanese colors found in nature. The set is compact and portable, making it ideal for use on the go or at home.

  • Portable set with 14 Gansai Tambi paint colors
  • Includes a travel-sized drawing pen and refillable water brush pen
  • Ideal for sketching, painting, cartooning, illustration, cardmaking, and more
  • Vivid and opaque colors with smooth application
  • Compact and portable for use on the go or at home
  • Color: Multi
  • Dimension: 3.46Lx6.57Wx0.98H
  • Size: 16 Piece Set
  • Vivid and opaque colors
  • Smooth application
  • Includes drawing pen and water brush pen
  • Versatile for various art applications
  • Pans may melt in hot weather
  • Soft paint texture when dry

The Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Portable 14 Colors Set is a high-quality watercolor paint set that offers vibrant and smooth colors. While the paint pans may melt in hot weather and the texture becomes soft when dry, this set is still a great choice for artists and crafters. The inclusion of a travel-sized drawing pen and a refillable water brush pen adds convenience and versatility to this portable set. Whether you’re sketching, painting, cartooning, or doing illustrations, this set provides the essential tools you need for your artistic endeavors. Overall, it’s a reliable and compact set that delivers professional-quality results.

WOOCOLOR Watercolor Paint Set, 50 Vivid Colors

417GzRqvYSL. SL500  - 14 Best Travel Watercolor for 2024

The WOOCOLOR Watercolor Paint Set offers 50 vibrant colors in a portable metal box, perfect for kids, adults, hobbyists, and beginners. These high-quality watercolors are easy to use and dry quickly without fading. The set includes 50 half pans, two kinds of paint brushes, a sponge, and a color card. The empty pans can be used for mixing and blending colors. Made with premium quality pigments, these watercolors are non-toxic and provide a smooth and vibrant painting experience. With its beautiful packaging, this set makes an ideal gift for any aspiring artist. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed, with a commitment to high quality and resolution of any issues.

  • High Techniques: 50 vibrant colors for endless creativity
  • Value pack: Portable metal travel box with 50 half pans, brushes, sponge, and color card
  • Artist quality: Non-toxic pigments that mix well and dry smoothly
  • Ideal gift: Beautifully packaged and perfect for everyday practice
  • Satisfaction Assurance: High quality guarantee and excellent customer service
  • Color: 50 colors
  • Dimension: 7.99Lx3.54Wx1.30H
  • Size: 4 Piece Set
  • Vibrant and mixable colors
  • Non-toxic and fade-resistant pigments
  • Affordable and great for everyday practice
  • Excellent customer service
  • Cheap container and brushes
  • Small pan sizes

The WOOCOLOR Watercolor Paint Set is a great option for artists of all levels. With its vibrant colors, compact design, and affordable price, it offers everything you need for your art journey. While the container and brushes may be cheaply made, the quality of the pigments and the excellent customer service make up for it. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a beginner, this set will allow you to create lively and vibrant works of art. Overall, it’s a wonderful product that offers great value for its price.

Jerry Q Art 18 Assorted Water Colors Travel Pocket Set

Jerry Q Art 18 Assorted Water Colors Travel Pocket Set

The Jerry Q Art 18 Assorted Water Colors Travel Pocket Set is the perfect companion for artists on the go. With its compact size and lightweight design, it fits easily in your pocket, making it convenient for painting anytime, anywhere. The set includes 18 vibrant colors that are formulated to blend easily, allowing you to create a wide range of shades and effects. The refillable water brush and sponge make it easy to transport and store water for painting. The built-in palette in the lid provides a convenient space for mixing colors. Whether you're a professional artist or a beginner, this set is sure to impress with its quality and versatility. Get one for yourself or give it as a gift to a fellow artist.

  • 18 Assorted Water Colors With a Quality Refillable Water Brush And Sponge
  • Designed To Fit In Your Pocket, Ideal For Painting On The go, Perfect For Artist of All Age
  • Water Colors Are Formulated To Blend Easily
  • Small Size, Light Weight and Beautiful Range of Color, Perfect for A Gift
  • Contents: 18 Vibrant Colors in 18 mini watercolor cakes, Quality Water Brush To Transport and store water, A Porcelain Calligraphy Dish, Sea Sponge, All in a Plastic Case
  • Color: Various
  • Dimension: 7.40Lx0.60Wx3.50H
  • 18 vibrant colors for a wide range of shades
  • Refillable water brush for easy transportation
  • Built-in palette for color mixing
  • Perfect for artists of all ages
  • Flimsy half pans that may stain
  • Disappointing water brush
  • Inconsistent sponge quality

The Jerry Q Art 18 Assorted Water Colors Travel Pocket Set is a convenient and versatile option for artists on the go. While it may have some drawbacks, such as the flimsy half pans and disappointing water brush, its compact size, vibrant colors, and built-in palette make it a great choice for both beginners and professionals. Whether you’re painting in a studio or on a travel adventure, this set has everything you need to unleash your creativity. Despite its minor flaws, this set offers good value for the price, making it a worthwhile investment for any artist. Give it a try and let your imagination soar!

Portable Compact Artist Brushes

Portable Compact Artist Brushes

The Kolinsky Travel Watercolor Brushes is a set of portable and compact artist brushes designed for art painting, gouache, acrylic painting, and oil painting. Made with high-end natural sable hairs, these brushes hold an abundance of water and release it evenly, providing a smooth flow of paint. The sturdy short handle comes with a sealable cover and a nickel plated copper ferrule for durability. The brushes come with a high-quality storage bag that can hold 4 brushes, making it easy to carry and perfect for artists on the go. With a versatile set of brush types, the Kolinsky Travel Watercolor Brushes are suitable for beginners and professionals alike. Overall, these brushes offer great quality and portability for all your painting needs.

  • Bristles made from high-end natural sable hairs
  • Sturdy short handle with sealable cover
  • High-quality storage bag with strap
  • Versatile set with four brush types
  • Easy to clean
  • Color: Silvery-4
  • High-quality bristles for smooth flow of paint
  • Durable and comfortable handle
  • Portable and lightweight design
  • Suitable for various painting techniques
  • Not as comfortable as more expensive brands
  • Brushes may feel heavier
  • Not suitable for individuals with hand/finger problems
  • Limited color options

The Kolinsky Travel Watercolor Brushes are a reliable option for artists who value portability and quality. The natural sable hairs provide a smooth and consistent flow of paint, while the short handle and removable cover add convenience. The brushes come with a high-quality storage bag, making them perfect for artists on the go. While they may not be as comfortable as more expensive brands, they offer great value for the price. Overall, these brushes are a suitable choice for both beginners and professionals alike, allowing for precise and detailed artwork wherever you go.

Travels with Watercolor

Travels with Watercolor

Travels with Watercolor is a captivating book that showcases the beautiful paintings of Lucy Willis. Whether you're an aspiring watercolor artist or simply appreciate stunning artwork, this book is a must-have. Lucy Willis employs a more direct style of painting onto dry paper, resulting in fresh and spontaneous work that perfectly captures vibrant scenes from her travels in Africa and the Mediterranean. The book not only features her vibrant paintings but also provides valuable tips and hints for outdoor painting. Regardless of whether you're a studio-bound artist or an adventurous outdoor painter, this book serves as an inspiring resource to enhance your painting techniques and ignite your creative spark.

  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Dimension: 11.25Lx0.50Wx9.00H
  • Beautiful and vibrant paintings
  • Valuable tips and hints for outdoor painting
  • Inspiring resource for all artists
  • Limited discussion on color and its relationship to place

Travels with Watercolor is a delightful book that showcases the talent of Lucy Willis. Her vibrant and spontaneous paintings transport readers to stunning locations across Africa and the Mediterranean. While the book could benefit from more in-depth discussions on color, it still provides valuable tips and inspiration for both beginner and experienced painters. Whether you’re an artist seeking guidance or an art enthusiast who appreciates captivating artwork, this book is a wonderful addition to your collection. Pick up Travels with Watercolor and let Lucy Willis’ talent inspire your own artistic journey.

Arches Watercolor Journal

Arches Watercolor Journal

The Arches Watercolor Travel Journal is a must-have accessory for artists on the go. This 6×10-inch journal features 15 sheets of natural white 100% cotton paper, providing you with a beautiful canvas to bring your artwork to life. The cold press, 140 lb paper is perfect for a variety of mediums including watercolors, gouache, ink, and acrylic. Its superior strength and gelatin sizing ensure that colors remain vibrant while preventing paints from penetrating into the paper. The travel-friendly design allows you to practice your painting skills anywhere, with a pulp-dyed backboard for stability. With a rich heritage dating back to 1492, Arches remains committed to producing premium art papers. Overall, the Arches Watercolor Travel Journal offers exceptional quality and convenience for artists who love to create on the move.

  • 15 sheets of 140 lb watercolor paper
  • Superior strength and resistance to scratching and erasing
  • Plein air painting with extra rigidity for stability
  • Exclusive gelatin sizing for enhanced colors and easy blending
  • Premium art papers since 1492
  • Color: Natural White
  • Dimension: 10.00Lx6.00Wx0.40H
  • High-quality paper that holds paint well
  • Perfect for traveling and plein air painting
  • Gelatin sizing enhances colors and allows for easy blending
  • Thick pages handle water perfectly
  • Spiral binding for easy folding and flat painting
  • Some reports of slight damage to the product
  • Paper may buckle under heavy use
  • Not suitable for everyone's preferences

The Arches Watercolor Travel Journal is a top-notch choice for artists who prioritize quality and convenience. With its premium 140 lb watercolor paper, gelatin sizing, and travel-friendly design, this journal offers an exceptional painting experience wherever you go. While a few users reported minor issues, such as slight damage or paper buckling, the majority of reviews praise the paper’s ability to hold paint and produce stunning results. Whether you’re a professional artist or a hobbyist, this journal is worth considering for all your artistic adventures.

Pocket Paint Brushes for Travel Watercolor Painting

Pocket Paint Brushes for Travel Watercolor Painting

The Travel Watercolor Brushes are a set of professional quality pocket brushes. They are designed with synthetic fibers that imitate the properties of a sable brush, providing a soft, controlled application and the ability to absorb liquids. The set includes three round point tip brushes in ideal sizes for different colors and painting techniques. The brushes have a comfortable ergonomic design with a cap that extends the handle for convenient use. They can be used for a variety of painting techniques and come in a leather portable case for easy transport. Customers have praised the set for its durability, fine point, and water-holding capacity. The brushes are also considered a great value for their price. Overall, they are recommended for both beginners and seasoned artists.

  • Professional quality brushes with synthetic sable fibers
  • Ideal sizes for different colors and painting techniques
  • Comfortable ergonomic design with extendable handle
  • Versatile set for various painting techniques
  • Comes in a leather portable case
  • Dimension: 9.20Lx2.60Wx0.50H
  • Professional quality
  • Durable and holds shape well
  • Great value for the price
  • Fine point and water-holding capacity
  • Convenient and portable
  • Metal handles can be heavy and uncomfortable to hold
  • Some brushes may have loose parts
  • Synthetic fibers may be more suited for acrylics than watercolor

The Travel Watercolor Brushes are a reliable and versatile set for both beginners and experienced artists. Their professional quality and affordable price make them a great investment. The brushes are durable, hold their shape well, and provide a fine point for detailed work. While the metal handles may be a bit heavy for some users, the overall comfort and convenience of the set outweigh this drawback. With their versatile use for various painting techniques and the added bonus of a leather portable case, these brushes are a must-have for any artist on the go. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, these brushes will surely enhance your artwork and make your painting experience more enjoyable.

Travel Watercolor Buyer's Guide

Considerations when choosing a travel watercolor set:.

  • Portability: Look for a lightweight and compact set that easily fits in your travel bag or pocket, ensuring convenience and ease of use while on the go.
  • Number of Colors: Decide how many colors you'll need. Compact sets generally offer fewer colors, while larger sets provide a wider range of hues for more intricate artwork.
  • Quality of Pigments: Pay attention to the quality of pigments used in the set. High-quality pigments offer better color intensity, lightfastness, and durability, allowing your artwork to stand the test of time.
  • Palette Design: Consider the palette design, as it affects your painting experience. Some sets have a fixed palette, while others allow you to mix and match individual pans, giving you more artistic freedom.
  • Brush Quality: Check the quality of the included brush. A good brush ensures smooth strokes, even color application, and durability.
  • Ease of Use: Look for a set that is easy to set up, use, and clean. This saves valuable time during your travels, allowing you to focus on your artistic expression.

Essential Features in a Travel Watercolor Set:

  • Compact Size: Fits easily into your travel bag or pocket.
  • Lightweight: Does not add significant weight to your luggage.
  • Durable: Resistant to accidental drops and travel wear and tear.
  • Secure Closure: Prevents leaks and ensures paints stay fresh.
  • Separate Mixing Area: Provides space for creating custom colors.
  • Removable Pans: Makes it easy to replace or add colors.
  • Built-in Brush Holder: Keeps your brush secure during transportation.
  • Wide Range of Colors: Offers versatility in capturing diverse landscapes.
  • Water Lock System: Prevents water from spilling during travel.

Maintenance and Care Tips:

  • Cleaning Brushes: Rinse brushes thoroughly after use to prevent color contamination or damage to the bristles.
  • Drying Pans: Allow pans to air dry before closing the set to avoid mold and prevent colors from blending.
  • Proper Storage: Store the set in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain the quality of pigments.
  • Cleaning Palette: Clean the mixing area after every use to prevent color transfer and maintain true color representation.
  • Avoiding Excessive Water: Use a minimal amount of water to prevent pans from becoming too saturated, making them hard to close or causing colors to bleed.

Frequently Asked Questions about 14 Best Travel Watercolor for 2023

Yes, you can bring a travel watercolor set on an airplane. However, make sure to check the airline’s guidelines regarding art supplies and any restrictions on liquid containers.

Absolutely! Travel watercolor sets are versatile and user-friendly, making them suitable for both beginners and experienced artists.

Many travel watercolor sets offer refillable or replaceable pans, allowing you to customize your color selection or replenish individual colors when needed.

Rinse the brush thoroughly after each use and store it in a brush holder provided in the set. This ensures the brush stays clean, protected, and ready for your next creative adventure.

Absolutely! While primarily designed for travel, these watercolor sets are versatile tools that can be used in various settings, be it at home, in the studio, or outdoors.

Travel watercolor sets may be suitable for older children who have developed the necessary motor skills and an interest in watercolor painting. However, adult supervision is always recommended.

While travel watercolor sets are designed with portability in mind, many professional artists find them useful for quick sketches or studies on the go, though they might prefer larger sets for more complex works.

Yes, you can mix colors in a travel watercolor set. Most sets provide a separate mixing area for you to experiment and create custom colors to complement your artwork.

Cleaning a travel watercolor set is generally simple. Rinse the pans and brush thoroughly with water and let them air dry before closing the set.

While primarily designed for watercolor painting, some sets may be suitable for other wet media techniques such as gouache or ink. However, it’s important to check the specific characteristics of the set and whether it is compatible with your desired medium.

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I Paint at 36,000 Feet With This TSA-Approved Watercolor Set

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I never thought that I needed to paint on an airplane. I never thought that I needed to paint on a bench in Prospect Park, or on a train ride upstate, or anywhere other than my dedicated uncomfy chair at my kitchen table. Paints are messy, and they require a carefully configured space, cups of murky water, and rolls of paper towels for blotting brushes, as well as sopping up said murky water when you spill it.

Or so I thought. When a friend showed me her Winsor & Newton pocket paint box , I was impressed. When she then showed me her set of water-bearing brush pens , my world changed. The pairing is genius, and at the same time remarkably simple: Each brush tip is attached to a squeezable plastic tube that you fill with water before you paint. The tip screws on, and the water doesn’t come out unless you press it. You gently squeeze the body of the brush over the palette, which is built into this tiny paint set, and use your single, delicate drop of water to moisten and mix. And that’s it. Then you paint. (I swear by my Bienfang sketchbook , which has bright-white, medium-weight, 70-pound paper, but any sketchbook with a little texture, and at least 50-pound paper, will work just fine.)

I experienced the true versatility of this combo on a recent flight to Chicago: Not only could I slip the paints past the TSA in my backpack (they’re dry and solid, so no issues there), I was able to fill up the brushes with a little dribble of water from the airplane bathroom sink, and use a couple of airline napkins to dry the brush. And when I’d finished painting an elegant still life of a chilled plastic bottle of California Cabernet and a resealable bag of Cheez-Its, I wiped off the brush and the palette with one of those napkins, and tucked the whole set away. I found it to be an extremely calming way to spend an otherwise not-calming flight.

If I were the kind of person who carried things around in my shirt pockets, I would carry these there, because they would fit. But instead, I just keep them in my bag for those special moments when the light hits a breakfast sandwich just right .

water-bearing brush pens

[ Editor’s note: The exact pens Alex Testere loves are sold out, but these are a very similar model. ]

Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pocket Box

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The Best Watercolor Travel Sets

How to Find the Best Watercolor Travel Set for Painting on the Go 

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It can be challenging to make time for art, so what better time to be ready to make art than while you’re traveling on vacation? If you’re an art lover or you know one, you know how much it means for an artist to have quality art supplies available when inspiration strikes.

However, art— especially painting— can get quite messy. 

The good thing about water colors is that they’re relatively mess-free and TSA-approved for carry-ons whenever they’re in solid form. 

Having a travel watercolor kit can make a 4+ hour flight or ride more bearable. 

I know that when I travel, my senses come alive, and it’s fun to let my new surroundings turn into inspiration for art. Watercolor depictions of streets of Paris done in person, for example, are far more unique than just photographs on an iPhone. Plus, they make great postcards!

Traveling with watercolor supplies

It is important to know the flight restrictions for other materials you might want to bring alongside your watercolors. Anything with a pointed tip or that could be considered “sharp” must go in a checked bag.

Varnish or any flammable liquid is banned all together on a plane. If you want to bring some existing paintings with you, you’ll want to pack them inside a portfolio or see if you can carry them on the plane with you. 

Now, for a watercolor travel kit, everything we’ve mentioned til now has been about solid watercolor paints. Some artists do like to use liquid watercolors and might want to bring these on the plane with us. 

Liquid watercolors on a plane are fine, as long as each paint tube is less than 3.4 ounces. Make sure to check the tubes or containers of liquid watercolor paints before you try to bring them on the plane! 

Honestly, before you bring anything on that isn’t “technically” essential, you should double check the latest TSA guidelines as rules related to liquids have been changing.

Even with these rules and regulations on the planes (especially), trains, and buses, you shouldn’t let the art stop. 

Up next, we’ve got a list for you for the best watercolor travel sets. Afterwards, we’re throwing in some extras, like canvases and extra brushes, that you can also bring on board with you. 

Sennelier L’Aquarelle’s Honey-Based Travel Set , – Top Paint Quality

Sennelier L'Aquarelle’s Honey-Based Travel Set 

• Dimensions: 6 1/4″ x 3 7/8″ x 1 1/4″. • Weigh: (approx.) 6-7 oz (compare to 1-2 sticks of butter)

This is a honey-based, less toxic alternative that many like for the paints’ textures and ultra-high concentrations. 

The whole set isn’t much bigger than your iphone (in terms of length and width, not depth). 

Why We Love Sennelier L’Aquarelle’s Honey-Based Travel Set 

Even better, this kit has 14 gorgeous, impressionist-based colors. You read that right— the colors are based on the great impressionist works. 

These are great for an artist who’s a fan of the impressionists, such as Van Gogh, and who plans to paint traveling or nature scenes. 

Here’s the list of colors it has: 

Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Deep, Phthalocyanine Blue, Warm Sepia, Lemon Yellow, Carmine, French Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Payne’s Gray, Phthalocyanine Green Light, Forest Green, Dioxazine Purple, Raw Umber, Cinereous Blue, Naples Yellow Deep, Bright Red, Venetian Red, and Ivory Black.

Because they grind the pigments more finely, the cubes have a more concentrated pigment and smoother texture. 

The honey-based solution is not only wonderfully natural, but it also gives longevity to the paint tabs. It also keeps the paint from becoming muddy. In other words, between the honey base and the pigment concentration, this paint set has a long life. 

Users online report that this set creates more luminous and vibrant hues than the average watercolor set. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the pros & cons of the Sennelier L’Aquarelle’s Honey-based Travel Set: 

  • Very concentrated color
  • Contains some natural products (honey-based)
  • Vibrant hues based on impressionists’ colors
  • Small size and tray for convenience 
  • Professional quality watercolor paints 
  • Case cover is will need a rubber band likely
  • It has only 1 brush, so you might need a couple of extras 

Who’s This For? 

With its professional quality paints, this is suitable for someone with experience in painting or even a professional artist. They’ll need a rubber band just in case the cover comes loose, however. 

If they are a professional artist, they’ll probably prefer a pocket brush set (see at the end of this artist). 

Lightwish’s MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Paint Set, with 36 Colors and Brush – Pocket Sized Case

Lightwish’s MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Paint Set

Overall, this metal “pocket box” measures 9.2” X 3.8” X 1”. It might be just a bit big for most of our pockets, but it still has a travel-friendly size. 

We Love the MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Travel Set

We love its 36 vibrant colors. The colors are coated in arabic gum for added gloss and for a stronger intensity. 

The metal case has a mixing tray just opposite to the colors, which unfolds when you open the piece. 

They’ve also thrown in a synthetic, round-tip watercolor brush. 

Many users say this is perfect for art students, as well as hobbyists and kids. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the pros & cons of the MeiLiang Watercolor Pocket Box Travel Set: 

  • Intense pigments
  • Glossed for smooth texture 
  • High quality (many report to be better than the Winsor Newton brand)
  • Durable, metal tin that stays closed 
  • Brush included
  • Only 1 brush (may need additional brushes)
  • Colors dry more transparent than expected, from Arabic gum 

Who is this for? 

This is great for anyone— art student, artist, kid, or adult beginner. 

Sakura’s XNCW-18N, Watercolor Field Sketch Set

Sakura’s XNCW 18N Watercolor Field Sketch Set

Also available in the 12-color, 24-color, 30-color, & even 48-color versions, this basic travel kit is another great option for painters on the go. 

It’s so small (at 1.25” X 4.65” X 8”), that it can fit inside a shirt pocket. 

Why We Love Sakura’s XNCW-18N, Watercolor Field Sketch Set

First off, this set is ultra convenient with its light, compact design. For easy gripping, they’ve installed a metal ring on the bottom. 

While it is made of plastic, this does mean it’ll be lightweight. With this set, you get all the necessary basics (& many more, depending on the version you get). 

As far as the paint quality, we’d say it’s average. Its refillable water brush comes apart, so you can easily fill it up with water, use it, and then take it apart for easy storage. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the pros & cons of Sakura’s XNCW-18N, Watercolor Field Sketch Set: 

  • Contains a refillable brush (that you can also dissemble) 
  • Variety of versions available 
  • Ultra small size available, and compact
  • Ultra lightweight
  • Ring for easy grip while painting 
  • Blendable colors
  • Flimsy case (plastic, less durable)
  • Only one brush 
  • Average quality (nothing spectacular to the overall quality) 

This set is more suitable for beginners and light hobbyists. 

Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set , Best Budget-Friendly Pick

Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set

This set includes a plastic pocket containers (with pallet, storage, and mixing trays), 24 colors, a sea sponge, a porcelain calligraphy dish, and a watercolor brush. 

In total, the case measures out to 8” X 4”. 

Why We Love the Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set

For just 12 bucks, this set is a great deal. You’ll have almost everything you need, besides the canvas sheets and perhaps some extra brushes. 

For a skilled color mixer, this set has all the essential colors. We also love its natural sea sponge and porcelain calligraphy dish. This enables so much more creativity and convenience. After opening, the inner trays swing out and snap to the side for additional mixing space. 

However, when you’re finished, the whole piece is incredibly compact and lightweight. 

Why We Love the Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set

Overall, here’s a summary of the Jerry Q 24-ct Watercolor Travel Set: 

  • Extremely travel-friendly
  • Lightweight and compact
  • All essential colors
  • Includes high quality extras that aren’t common in competitors 
  • Very low price ( on Amazon )
  • Alternative versions available 
  • Doesn’t contain sheets or additional brushes
  • Container isn’t as durable as metal (plastic container) 

This set is more ideal for either a beginner or someone who’s a master mixer. The colors require know-how in mixing. 

The quality is pretty basic, so it’s suitable for beginners. 

Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48-ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones – Best Overall Watercolor Travel Kit

This box measures out 8.07” X 3.7” X 1.65” in size and about 12.7 ounces in weight. 

Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48 ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones

Why We Love Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48-ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones

This watercolor travel kit has an inspiring amount of watercolor paints and even variations like metallic and fluorescents. 

Look, below, at these gorgeous colors!

48 ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones

Besides the watercolor paints, we love its extra contents. It has not 1— but 2 paint brushes (one water brush and one standard, small brush). You’ll notice you don’t really need to get anything else with this kit. 

It has 10 sheets, or canvases (7” X 3”), a sponge, an eraser, and a pencil, all encased within a beautiful, secure, and durable metal box. 

Overall, here’s a summary of the Artistro Watercolor Paint Set, 48-ct with Metallic & Fluorescent Tones: 

  • A true All-in-One Set 
  • Secure and durable tin box container 
  • Small, compact size
  • Amazing variety of colors and color types for its size 
  • Above-average features for decent price
  • Extra art supplies 
  • High quality paint 
  • Some of the colors may be unnecessary for pros and then difficult to blend for amateurs 
  • Not very gender-neutral casing / doesn’t have a more masculine version

Who’s this for? 

Their travel watercolor kits are definitely more on the feminine side, if you look at the design on the front of the tin box. However, the box is tidy and someone could always slap a sticker over the top to make it less frilly if he or she preferred; it’s practical and would suit anyone who wanted an all-in-one set.  

Don’t forget these other travel essentials!

Watercolor canvas packs  , canson xl series watercolor textured pad.

Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Pad

Features: 

  • 7” X 10” = ideal size
  • Textured & suitable for multiple mediums 
  • 9” x 12” Side wire version and other sizes, fold-over, etc., versions available 

Arches Watercolor Paper Pad

Arches Watercolor Paper Pad

  • 10” X 14” & 11.69” X 16.53” for larger works
  • Cold pressed, hot pressed, and rough textures available 
  • 12 sheets 
  • Coated with natural gelatin 
  • Made by traditional method, in cylinder molds 
  • Long fibers 

Watercolor Brushes (Travel-Size)

Maple store’s travel watercolor brushes with round, extra long synthetic sable.

Maple Store’s Travel Watercolor Brushes with Round, Extra Long Synthetic Sable

  • Leather portable case (5.32” X 2.37”)
  • Synthetic sable / nylon hair 
  • Nickel=plated handle 
  • Cured for spring and resilience
  • Absorbent 
  • Handmade 
  • Ergonomic, containing handle for extended length 

WA Portman’s 5-pc Small Travel Paintbrush Set (Fine) for Acrylic, Watercolor, and Gouache

 Features

  • Synthetic brush
  • 5 total brushes (3 round in sizes 1,2, & 4, and 2 flat in sizes 3 &4)
  • Extra-durable magnetic case that bends back for convenient brush access
  • Overall, extremely durable, user-friendly, & pocket-sized 

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The 11 Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Artists on the Go

The 11 Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Artists on the Go

If you’re an artist who likes to travel, you know the importance of having a good set of watercolors with you. But with so many different sets on the market, it can be hard to choose which one is right for you.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best watercolor travel sets on the market and why you should consider purchasing them.

1. Sakura XNCW-30N

travel watercolor colors

Sakura XNCW-30N is the best watercolor travel set for artists on the go. It has 30 colors that are easy to mix and match.

The set also comes with a travel brush and a mini palette, making it easy to take your artwork on the go. Whether you’re sketching in a café or painting in a park, this set is perfect for any watercolor artist who loves to travel.

2. Winsor & Newton Cotman 390640

travel watercolor colors

Winsor & Newton’s Cotman line is a great option for those looking for high-quality watercolor travel sets.

The set includes 12 half pans of Winsor & Newton’s professional-grade watercolors, a brush, a water brush, and a travel case. The colors are highly pigmented and have excellent color retention, making them ideal for painting on the go.

The set also comes with a helpful color chart to help you mix the perfect shades. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just getting started with watercolors, the Winsor & Newton Cotman 390640 watercolor travel set is a great option for those who want to paint on the go.

3. Sennelier, La Petite Aquarelle Watercolor Sets

travel watercolor colors

Sennelier’s La Petite Aquarelle Watercolor Sets are some of the best travel sets on the market. Sennelier is a French company that has been making high-quality artist supplies for over a century, and their watercolors are no exception.

The sets come in a variety of sizes and price points, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. The colors are highly pigmented and mix well, so you can create a wide range of shades and hues.

And the sets come with a brush and a palette, so you have everything you need to get started right away. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned watercolorist, Sennelier’s La Petite Aquarelle Watercolor Sets are an excellent option for your travels.

4. Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI, Portable

travel watercolor colors

Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI is one of the best watercolor travel sets. It is perfect for those who want to experience the convenience of a palette with both a lid and a built-in mixing area.

The Kuretake Gansai Tambi have a wide variety of colors, including some that are not commonly found in pre-made sets. This travel set is also portable, making it easy to take with you wherever you go.

Kuretake’s watercolors are known for their high pigmentation and smooth consistency, making them a top choice for artists of all levels. If you’re looking for a complete watercolor set that won’t weigh you down, the Kuretake Gansai Tambi is the perfect option.

5. Winsor & Newton Cotman 90532

travel watercolor colors

Winsor & Newton’s Cotman 90532 watercolor travel set is a great choice for artists who are looking for a portable set that they can take with them on the go.

The set includes 12 half pans of Winsor & Newton’s Cotman watercolors, a brush, and a travel waterproof case. The Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolors are known for their rich pigments and smooth flow, making them a favorite among artists.

The travel case is also perfect for keeping your paints and brushes safe while you’re on the road. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a beginner, the Winsor & Newton Cotman 90532 watercolor travel set is a great choice for your next painting adventure.

6. Van Gogh Watercolor Paint Set

travel watercolor colors

For artists who enjoy painting on the go, Van Gogh watercolor sets are the perfect travel companion. These sets come with everything you need to create beautiful works of art, including a selection of high-quality paints, brushes, and a portable watercolor palette.

The Van Gogh Watercolor Paint Set is available in three different sizes, each containing a different selection of colors.

The set also comes with a helpful guide that provides tips and tricks for painting with watercolors. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, the Van Gogh Watercolor Paint Set is an excellent choice for anyone who loves to paint.

7. Artify Watercolor Field Sketch Set

travel watercolor colors

Art supplies can be bulky and heavy, making them difficult to travel with. However, the Artify Watercolor Field Sketch Set is the perfect solution for artists who want to take their painting supplies on the go.

This compact set includes everything you need to get started with watercolors, including a brush, a palette, and 12 colors of paint.

The set is also lightweight and fits easily into a backpack or suitcase. Best of all, the Artify Watercolor Field Sketch Set is reasonably priced, making it a great option for budget-conscious travelers.

So whether you’re exploring a new city or hiking in the wilderness, don’t forget to pack your Artify Watercolor Field Sketch Set.

8. ARTISTRO Watercolor Paint Set

travel watercolor colors

ARTISTRO has created the perfect travel set for artists on the go. This watercolor set comes with 12 color pans, a brush, and a water cup, all stored in a sleek case.

The case is small enough to fit in a backpack or purse, but it’s still large enough to hold everything you need for a painting session. The included brush is made of high-quality synthetic bristles that retain their shape and can be used for both wet and dry applications.

The color pans are filled with ARTISTRO’s professional-grade watercolors, which are highly pigmented and easy to blend.

Whether you’re embarking on a new adventure or just painting in your backyard, this travel set will help you create beautiful works of art.

9. Artsy Watercolor Paint Set

travel watercolor colors

The Artsy Watercolor Paint Set is perfect for artists on the go. This travel-friendly set comes with 12 high-quality watercolor paints, a brush, and a sketchbook.

The Artsy Watercolor Paint Set is a great way to explore new techniques and styles while on the go. The set includes 12 richly pigmented colors that are perfect for travel painting. The set also comes with a brush and a sketchbook, so you can easily take your paintings with you wherever you go.

With the Artsy Watercolor Paint Set, you’ll be able to create beautiful paintings wherever you are.

10. MEEDEN Watercolor Paint Set

travel watercolor colors

This set includes all the necessary supplies for a successful watercolor painting experience, including high-quality paints, brushes, and a palette.

The MEEDEN Watercolor Paint Set is also remarkably compact, making it easy to pack and take with you wherever you go. Whether you’re headed out on a day hike or a cross-country road trip, this set will make sure you’re never without your art supplies .

And with its affordable price tag, the MEEDEN Watercolor Paint Set is an unbeatable value for any artist.

11. MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set

travel watercolor colors

The set includes a wide range of colors, as well as a palette and a brush. The MeiLiang set is also compact and lightweight, making it perfect for traveling artists. In addition, the set comes with a carrying case that helps to keep everything organized.

If you’re looking for a high-quality watercolor set that won’t break the bank, the MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set is a great option.

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Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set

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Whether you’re an amateur art enthusiast or a seasoned painter, you may already know that not all water paint sets are created equal. Ideally, you want a set that is user-friendly, effective, and versatile. A travel watercolor set is a great investment thanks to its portable and easy-to-use nature.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Why Buy a Travel Paint Set?
  • 2.1 Best Overall: ARTSY 42 Colors Watercolor Travel Paint Set
  • 2.2 Best Budget-Friendly Option: QIANSHAN Watercolor Paints Set
  • 2.3 Premium Pick: PRIMA Watercolor Confections – Tropicals Set
  • 3.1 For Those Looking to Save Money
  • 3.2 For Those Wishing to Have a Variety of Shades
  • 3.3 For Those Who Want the Most Vibrant Colors
  • 4 Additional Tips and Tricks
  • 5.1 Do Painting Travel Sets Compromise on Quality?
  • 5.2 Do Travel Watercolor Palettes Cost More?
  • 5.3 Where Can I Find Reliable, Quality Compact Watercolor Sets?

Why Buy a Travel Paint Set?

So, why purchase a portable watercolor set for travel? Why won’t your current standard-size one suffice? The simplest answer is that these sets are both easier to work and travel with. If you’re constantly on the move, but still want to indulge in your painting passion when inspiration hits, you want a set you can quickly grab and take with you wherever you go.

Portable watercolor sets are generally easy to keep on-hand while on the move since it has all the necessary color ranges of your standard acrylic or oil paint sets, sans the myriad of extra bits and pieces.

Best Portable Watercolor Set

Travel sets are designed to be compact; meaning you don’t have to bring along dozens of painting utensils that you may not necessarily need. A compact set provides you with all of your watercolor essentials to stay engaged in your peaceful painting without being short of any main utensils needed for a breathtaking water painting.

Further than that, even if you aren’t a major traveler, a travel watercolor palette may still prove incredibly useful to you. You can use these convenient sets daily to bring a creative dash of excitement to any other activity you enjoy. 

Some of these activities may include painting an impressive sunset during a picnic, appreciating the tranquil scenery around you at a park, or simply tracing the outlines of some dreamy clouds while winding down on your front porch.

How to Find the Best Travel Watercolor Set

Now that you have a better idea of just how useful travel painting sets are, the next step is to learn more about what travel paint set is best for you, depending on your specific requirements. Here, we will discuss three popular watercolor travel sets and what the associated pros and cons are so that you can decide for yourself which is the best fit for you.

Portable Watercolor Set

Best Overall: ARTSY 42 Colors Watercolor Travel Paint Set

No top watercolor portable set list would be complete without this extensive range of colors brought to you by the well-loved ARTSY watercolor paint set. This palette offers all of the traditional colors necessary to create the artwork of your dreams in a neatly-condensed packaging; making it easy to carry around. The practical design of this palette is easily one of its biggest benefits for watercolor enthusiasts since it can be simply fanned out or put back in for easy storage.

ARTSY Portable Watercolor Paint Set

  • 42 vibrant assorted colors with strong and light-fast pigmentation
  • Provide seamless blending and dries quickly
  • Includes three water brushes, a palette, and a sponge for easy use

On top of the impressive range of colors, the set also offers useful painting utensils necessary to create a watercolor masterpiece without taking up unnecessary space. Chalky watercolors that dry up after use can ruin a perfectly good palette. Luckily, the ARTSY watercolor paint set doesn’t have this problem and can be used time and time again, while working perfectly each time. Thanks to this highly sought-after set, you don’t need to choose between efficiency and quality.

  • The palette consists of an astonishing 42 colors through fanned-out color palettes that easily expand and retract, giving you a variety of colors needed to make an artwork pop without taking up too much space.
  • The included items are 3 water brushes, a compacted water pallet, a removable sponge, and a plastic packet for easy carrying.
  • The colors are known to be of high quality and vibrant, leaving you with a striking watercolor painting every time!
  • The fanned layout of this travel watercolor set can cause smudging of the layers both above and below. It’s best to ensure the colors are dry before you close the palette.
  • The layout may cause some unwanted mixing of colors between the palettes if you’re not careful.
  • Customers feel some colors are too similar to others in the set, making it difficult to distinguish any actual differences besides the color code.

Best Budget-Friendly Option: QIANSHAN Watercolor Paints Set

Watercolor lovers may already know of this brand, and if not, you definitely should become acquainted with it. Qianshan is a supplier of all things creative, including but not limited to colored pens, markers, bags to carry your creative utensils in, and of course, painting supplies. The company’s travel watercolor set in specific is well-loved thanks to the quality and efficient layout design. When looking for a travel paint set, arguably the most important aspect is how easy it is to carry on you at all times. You’ll be pleased to know that this palette has been designed especially for creatives on the go that want efficiency without skimping on quality paints.

QIANSHAN 36 Assorted Pocket Watercolor Paints Set

  • Set include 36 mini watercolor cakes, two water brushes, and a palette
  • The solid pigment is compressed giving great value for money
  • The watercolor pigments are non-toxic and safe for children

Now, onto the colors. The set has 36 mini watercolor shades, each proving to be as vibrant and eye-catching as the next. The colors are presented in easily compacted spaces; with a lightweight feel that can be easily mixed and matched together if you wish. The useful accessories and supplies that accompany the set are also what makes it an ideal choice for painters constantly on the move. Besides the vibrant colors, the palette includes supplies such as two useful sponges, two board and two round reusable water brushes, and, of course, a lid to keep it all safely intact.

  • The square set easily opens and closes, without any possible cross-contamination of shades. Just pop open the set and you’re good to go!
  • The colors have a non-toxic formula that mixes and paints smoothly, giving you a pleasant painting experience on the go.
  • The extra accessories mean you can create your artwork without the worry of any spillage or shortage of necessary supplies.
  • If you’re traveling with this set, be sure to not turn it upside down, or you may end up with a messy set or even worse, a damaged one.
  • Some client reviews of this product claim that the colors may become chalky when they dry.
  • Some customers say the palette doesn’t stay closed and that the latch is sometimes faulty. You can use an elastic band to cover the set if need be.

Premium Pick: PRIMA Watercolor Confections – Tropicals Set

Perhaps one of the lesser-known brands on this list, the Prima travel set provides you with incredible, quality colors that are both strongly pigmented and vibrant. The Prima watercolor confections – Tropicals set has been known to be used by various mixed media artists and has generally been well-received by both experienced and amateur painters. If you’re looking for a compact travel watercolor palette that can easily fit into even the smallest of bags or even purses, this is the best choice for you. The palette’s size can be compared to that of one of today’s standard smartphones, with possibly just a little more weight to it.

PRIMA Watercolor Confections Portable Paint Set

  • The set includes 12 unique colors that seamlessly blend together
  • Artist-grade quality pigments that are strong and vivid 
  • Comes in a high-quality metal container for easy transport

More than that, the packaging itself also adds to the practicality of the set. It comes in a handy metal box, ensuring that your precious watercolors are protected against any possible damage if extra pressure is applied. The metal box also helps to keep your watercolor set intact if it mistakenly falls or slips from your fingers, as accidents occur often at the worst of times. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, the watercolors themselves sure will. This pallet comes with twelve distinctive colors that are eye-catching and of professional quality.

  • The small size of this set makes it easy for you to take it with you just about anywhere you please; helping you to create art whenever, wherever!
  • A palette that’s safe and secure is always a great investment for a painter that’s constantly on the move and doesn’t have time to carefully package and keep a constant eye on their assets.
  • The striking pigments can bring even the simplest of artworks to life through the intense nature of these unique shades.
  • The theme may limit you to a concept that you’re trying to paint. If this is your first purchase, invest in a travel paint set that offers a wider variety of colors first.
  • Some customers feel that the tin isn’t as sturdy as they’d like for it to be, and the sticker on top of the tin is difficult to remove.
  • Reviews state the metal tin does not necessarily pin down each of the watercolors included, which makes for a wonky pallet set.

How to Identify the Best Travel Watercolor Set for You

It’s clear that each set will make for a useful investment and will help keep your painting passion alive, even while jet-setting the globe. However, you may have specific preferences that will determine which palette is ideal for you. Keeping those potential aspects in consideration, here are some things to look out for which may help you choose the ideal one for you.

Travel Paint Set

For Those Looking to Save Money

Buying yourself a stunning watercolor set doesn’t mean that you need to break the bank in the process. Some of the best basic yet effective watercolor paint sets can be purchased online for very little. 

Keep an eye out for highly-rated products that don’t compromise on quality for the sake of affordability, resulting in an all-around win!

For Those Wishing to Have a Variety of Shades

If you’re tired of the same standard 12 watercolors offered in most standard sets and are hungry for something different, look for watercolor travel sets with as many as 24, 36, 42, 50, and more different colors in one palette. A myriad of shades can help you create just about any image that comes to mind, as you are not limited by colors. Look for packaging that stays compact despite the carried shades too, so you don’t need to worry about the set taking up extra space.

Travel Watercolor Palette

For Those Who Want the Most Vibrant Colors

Are you a fan of all things bright and beautiful, including paint palettes? There are a variety of watercolor paint sets with themed color palettes, such as a brightly-colored tropical selection. Themed watercolor palettes with vibrant shades are ideal for making artworks pop as a result of their intense hues. The best choice of watercolor palettes will depend on the individual since we all have different needs. 

However, it’s clear that there are a variety of options to choose from for enthusiastic painters on the go, regardless of one’s specific requirements.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Looking for some extra information to ensure you’re fully prepared for your next painting session on the go? We’ve got you covered with that too! Here are some useful tips and tricks to keep in mind when buying a portable watercolor set:

  • Although we all want to save extra money where possible, finding the cheapest travel paint set shouldn’t be the determining factor on whether or not you wish to invest in a specific travel palette. Instead, look through the reviews given on the website from which you want to purchase the item. Mainly positive reviews are an adequate indicator that the product won’t let you down and will give you your money’s worth.

Travel Watercolor Set

  • Don’t want to limit yourself to just one set? Why not purchase an additional one or two instead for future reference? With extra palettes, you won’t need to compromise on the shades you are looking for, as inspiration may strike you without the necessary tools required to bring your vision to life. It’s best to be overprepared, after all.
  • Many painters feel that the brush is the main component that determines whether or not your painting experience is a pleasant one , and the quality of the finalized product too. Taking time to do research on which brushes within these sets are musically effective for their watercolors provided will give you better insight into which set will give you the ideal brush for the look you’re trying to execute on your painting.
These simple yet effective tips will help you choose the best travel watercolor set for your needs, without any potential disappointment due to lack of information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do painting travel sets compromise on quality.

No, the right travel set will offer you convenience and quality hand-in-hand. Travel sets are simply just smaller versions of their standard counterparts and do not skip on any necessary quality, effectiveness, or even any accessories for the sake of their compact nature. To make the set smaller, they simply use smaller spaces for the watercolor holders and design the palette in such a way that it can easily fit in the most compact of spots, even in your hand! The above-mentioned sets are known for their high-quality watercolors and included accessories that are effective at helping you to create an impressive work of art. All of the sets we have discussed work wonderfully and don’t compromise on any necessary aspects.

Do Travel Watercolor Palettes Cost More?

Not necessarily, no. The pricing is reflected in the brand, available colors, and other additional utensils included. The main difference between a standard watercolor set and a travel set is the design and layout, as it should easily fold into packaging that can be carried around hassle-free. As a matter of fact, some travel sets may actually cost slightly less due to their smaller designs. Usually, though, there is no drastic difference in cost and you will be glad to know that you may even save a few bucks if you purchase your set from the right place!

Where Can I Find Reliable, Quality Compact Watercolor Sets?

With some patience and research, you may easily find high-quality watercolor sets both in-store and online. A local arts and crafts store may stock some travel watercolor sets, hopefully offering some variety. However, if you don’t come right there, you can get what you need without even needing to leave the comfort of your own home. Online retailers like Amazon offer an extensive range of watercolor sets that caters to a variety of needs you may have. Some of these potential needs may include any concerns you have over the number of colors offered, the need for adequate accessories to paint effectively, and a layout that is suitable for the nature of the set.

matthew matthysen

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team .

Cite this Article

Matthew, Matthysen, “Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set.” Art in Context. January 4, 2023. URL: https://artincontext.org/best-travel-watercolor-set/

Matthysen, M. (2023, 4 January). Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/best-travel-watercolor-set/

Matthysen, Matthew. “Best Travel Watercolor Set – Finding A Portable Watercolor Set.” Art in Context , January 4, 2023. https://artincontext.org/best-travel-watercolor-set/ .

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Susan B. Barnes,

The world is full of beautiful beaches , there’s no doubt about that. Though we most commonly think of white sand beaches, which can vary from the whitest white to cream and even golden sands, there are in fact beaches in myriad colors. While most of us will gladly settle for a patch of sand on our favorite beach under the warm sun, let’s take a look at colorful beaches around the world, and how they got to be that way.

a red sand beach on prince edward island in canada

Argyle Shore Provincial Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

The natural beach found within Argyle Shore Provincial Park features striking red sand that’s a direct result of high concentrations of iron oxide found in the cliffs that rise from the coastline. The day-use park is open mid-June through mid-September and is perfect for a waterfront outing, complete with picnic facilities and a playground for the littlest beachgoers. It’s pet-friendly, too, so long as your four-legged friend stays on a leash. When the tide goes out, you may even spot hermit crabs and digging clams foraging for their dinners.

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The park is in the aptly named Red Sands Shore region of Prince Edward Island, Canada, where you will find plenty of options for lunch and dinner, and some shopping, too.

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Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

A quick flight from Boston, New York or Atlanta will land you in Bermuda , an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina, known for its distinct culture, air of mystery and, of course, pink-sand beaches. Those iconic pink sands, like those found in Horseshoe Bay, are attributed to an abundance of red foram, an invertebrate that grows on the coral reefs found just off the island’s coastline. Red foram skeletons can reach up to 3 millimeters, and when the invertebrate molts as it grows, or dies, the skeletons blend with white limestone sediment to create the pink sands. They provide a bonus: The skeletons help protect coral reefs against erosion.

About 3 miles north of Horseshoe Bay is Southlands Park, 37 acres of natural landscapes, including its own beach, steeped in 300 years of island history. Walk through the grove of banyan trees and feel like you’re in another world.

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Poʻipū Beach, Kauaʻi

Snorkeling, swimming, surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding and fishing are all popular activities at Poʻipū Beach on the south shore of Kauaʻi. Add to that a natural wading pool, on-duty lifeguards and picnic facilities and it’s the perfect destination for a day at the beach . It’s not only people who enjoy Poʻipū’s golden sands that are a result of coral and seashells broken down by ocean waves — Hawaiian monk seals find it a perfect place to rest, too. And during whale season , December through April, you may just spot humpbacks frolicking offshore.

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Near Poʻipū is another natural phenomenon: Spouting Horn blowhole, through which crashing waves soar as high as 50 feet into the air.

All visitors to Kauaʻi are asked to take the Aloha Pledge , making a commitment to protect the island during their stay.

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La Jolla Shores, California

It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s after nightfall when beaches in San Diego occasionally become more colorful. In this part of California, it’s not the sand but the water that takes on a different hue. If you’re lucky, you may glimpse streaks of bright blue in the water, almost as if submerged lights have been turned on to illuminate the waves. It’s not underwater lights that shine, though, but rather bioluminescence, a natural phenomenon involving a type of phytoplankton. Bioluminescence has recently been seen at several beaches in the San Diego area, including Ponto Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach, and other beaches up the Southern California coastline.

Before you catch the bioluminescence after nightfall, spend time exploring the undersea world during the day, while staying dry, at Birch Aquarium.

purple sand on pfeiffer beach in california

Pfeiffer Beach, California

In central California, beachgoers can find patches of purple sand at the north end of the mile-long Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. The purple sand is a result of manganese garnet that has eroded from the nearby hillsides to the beach. It’s not only the purple sand that the beach is known for — there’s also Keyhole Rock, which makes for fantastic photos. During low tide, peek into the tide pools to see the small sea creatures that make their home there. The best time to visit Pfeiffer Beach is in the spring, summer or fall; winter rains may temporarily close access to the beach.

North of Pfeiffer Beach is Old Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown Monterey. Here you’ll find plenty of dining and shopping options, along with whale watching tours, day cruises and more.

the northern lights over jokulsarlon glacier lagoon in iceland

Breiðamerkursandur, Iceland

The dramatic Icelandic landscape becomes even more so with a visit to any of the island nation’s black sand beaches. In fact, nearly all of Iceland’s beaches have black sand, due in large part to the island’s frequent volcanic activity. Iceland is one of the most active areas in the world for volcanic eruptions, averaging an eruption every four to five years, and since 2021, about every 12 months. Volcanic eruptions make for exciting views, but travelers should be aware of evacuations and heed official warnings. Volcanic activity accounts for Iceland’s dramatic black sand, or crushed basalt, the dark gray or black rock with a mineral composition that includes higher levels of augite and pyroxene; basalt accounts for 90 percent of the Earth’s volcanic rock.

One of Iceland’s black sand beaches to visit that’s a bit more remote but still accessible by car is Breiðamerkursandur in Vatnajökull National Park, about a five-hour drive east of Reykjavík in the southeast of Iceland. Breiðamerkursandur is commonly referred to as Diamond Beach, not only because it’s easier for us non-Icelandics to say, but because of the mini icebergs that float ashore from calving glaciers and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. You may also recognize this part of Iceland from its cameo in Game of Thrones .

people lounging on the white sand of siesta beach in florida

Siesta Beach, Florida

Many beaches around the world claim to have white sand, but when you get there, you find the sand to be tan or more golden than white. Not to say those beaches aren’t beautiful, but for a true white sand beach look no further than Siesta Beach on Siesta Key outside of Sarasota, Florida. Ranked the No. 2 beach in the U.S. and No. 9 in the world in the 2024 Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards, the sand at Siesta Beach isn’t just pristine white, but powder soft too. The reason behind the sand’s white color and soft feel? Quartz. The sand at Siesta Beach is made of 99 percent pure quartz grains, which grind down to a soft, flour-like feel as it travels along the rivers in the southern Appalachians to the Gulf of Mexico.

After a day at the beach, hop over to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium on Lido Key to learn all about the marine life that call the Gulf of Mexico home.

Susan B. Barnes is a longtime writer specializing in travel who has written for  AFAR ,  Allrecipes ,  Condé Nast Traveler ,  Travel + Leisure  and other publications.

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COMMENTS

  1. 10 Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Artists Who Love Traveling

    1. Sakura XNCW-24N Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch Box. From its size to quantity, you can tell that this Sakura Koi watercolor travel kit is thoughtfully curated for painters or artists who love traveling. It features a compact size and sleek design that you can easily fit inside your bag or even your shirt pocket.

  2. 12 Essential Watercolors For Traveling Artists

    A watercolor set is a great way to get started in painting while on vacation. It is small and light, making it easy to pack, and it comes with everything you need to get started. The set includes a brush, a palette, and a small tube of watercolor paint. My goal for the upcoming watercolor travel kit is to create the perfect watercolor travel ...

  3. Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Painting On the Go

    The colors are highly pigmented and flow well. Included is a mini brush measuring just three and a half inches from end to end. Buy: Raphaël Watercolor Travel Pan Set $21.56. Buy it. 5. Kuretake ...

  4. The 5 Best Travel Watercolor Sets in 2024

    Best Watercolor Travel Set Overall — Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Paint Compact Set. View Prices! Selection Criteria. Color Range: 96 colors. Our Score - 9/10; ... This set offers one of the greatest values which is learning watercolor painting and color mixing, which will take the limitations of needing lots of pigments. ...

  5. Amazon.com: Travel Watercolor Set

    Professional Watercolor Paint Set, 48 Vivid Colors, Travel Watercolor Set with Classy Tin Box, Portable Watercolor Palette, Water Colors for Adult and Kids Use. 4.7 out of 5 stars. 581. 50+ bought in past month. $36.97 $ 36. 97. FREE delivery Tue, Feb 20 . Or fastest delivery Thu, Feb 15 .

  6. The Perfect Travel Watercolor Palette For Your Needs

    Travel paint sets come with a variety of paper holders and water pens, allowing you to easily place your paper. The Sakura Watercolor Set, which includes a watercolor brush and a sponge, is an excellent Japanese painting set that comes in 30 colors, two half pans, a watercolor brush, and a sponge. The colors work well together and are non-toxic.

  7. Amazon.com: Travel Watercolor Sets

    Watercolor Paint Set, 100 Water Color Pallet Adult, Travel Watercolor Palette set With Regular, Macaron, Metallic & Fluorescent Colors - Art Supply Kit For Kids, Adults, Beginners, Artists. 5.0 out of 5 stars. 63. 300+ bought in past month. $34.99 $ 34. 99. $10.00 coupon applied at checkout Save $10.00 with coupon.

  8. The Best Travel Watercolor Kits For Every Level Artist

    Here's a list of the colors that come in this set: French ultramarine, Winsor blue (green shade), permanent sap green, Winsor green (blue shade), Winsor lemon, Winsor yellow, scarlet lake, Winsor red, permanent alizarin crimson, permanent rose, yellow core, burnt sienna, raw umber and titanium white.

  9. Watercolor Color Palette for Travel (Know Each Watercolor Name)

    Best Colors for a Travel Watercolor Palette. Below are a few colors which could easily be mistaken for other colors in a palette. I give my reasons for needing each of these exact pigments, and why its important for me to label and memorize them. For me, these are the best, most essential pigments in my watercolor palette. ...

  10. Best Travel Watercolor Set

    The Winsor and Newton Watercolor Set is a pocket-size set that contains professional-quality paint 12 paint colors in half pans. You also get two palettes to mix with, a bottle or water container as a sponge, and a foldable travel brush. The painting set is compact but provides more than enough paint.

  11. 14 Best Travel Watercolor for 2023

    Overall Score: 8/10. The Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Portable 14 Colors Set is a professional-quality watercolor paint set that is perfect for artists and crafters. Made in Japan, this set includes 14 Gansai Tambi paint colors, a travel-sized drawing pen (MANGAKA 01), and a refillable water brush pen.

  12. Travel Watercolor Set Review & Comparison

    With only 12 colors in this set, obviously some things have to be left out. This set has no black, and no purple.What colors are included flow and blend beautifully, with the ability to be diluted to very pale tones. The color saturation is nice, although the starting tones aren't as deep as I perhaps would like.

  13. Amazon.com: Winsor And Newton Travel Watercolor Set

    Professional Watercolor Paint Set, 48 Vivid Colors, Travel Watercolor Set with Classy Tin Box, Portable Watercolor Palette, Water Colors for Adult and Kids Use. 4.7 out of 5 stars. 581. 50+ bought in past month. $36.97 $ 36. 97. FREE delivery Wed, Feb 21 . Or fastest delivery Fri, Feb 16 .

  14. Best Watercolor Painting Set for Travel

    water-bearing brush pens. $19. [ Editor's note: The exact pens Alex Testere loves are sold out, but these are a very similar model.] $19 at Amazon. Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Sketchers ...

  15. Ultralight Artist Quality Watercolor Palettes for Travel by Portable

    Discover the ultimate portable watercolor palette with Portable Painter. Our compact and travel-friendly design ensures you can paint anytime, anywhere. Explore high-quality materials and innovative features for an exceptional on-the-go watercolor experience. ... Micro Palette with journal in Fall colors - Portable Painter.

  16. The Best Watercolor Travel Sets in 2024

    Now, for a watercolor travel kit, everything we've mentioned til now has been about solid watercolor paints. ... Also available in the 12-color, 24-color, 30-color, & even 48-color versions, this basic travel kit is another great option for painters on the go. It's so small (at 1.25" X 4.65" X 8"), that it can fit inside a shirt pocket.

  17. The 11 Best Watercolor Travel Sets for Artists on the Go

    The Artsy Watercolor Paint Set is perfect for artists on the go. This travel-friendly set comes with 12 high-quality watercolor paints, a brush, and a sketchbook. The Artsy Watercolor Paint Set is a great way to explore new techniques and styles while on the go. The set includes 12 richly pigmented colors that are perfect for travel painting.

  18. Viviva Colorsheets

    Viviva Colorsheets - Watercolor paints in the form of papers! Shockingly vibrant & long lasting. Viviva Watercolor Pans - Paints on a CORK palette! They are lightfast & 100% biodegradable. Viviva Travel Paint Kits - Everything you need to paint in one beautiful kit.

  19. Best Travel Watercolor Set

    Best Overall: ARTSY 42 Colors Watercolor Travel Paint Set. No top watercolor portable set list would be complete without this extensive range of colors brought to you by the well-loved ARTSY watercolor paint set. This palette offers all of the traditional colors necessary to create the artwork of your dreams in a neatly-condensed packaging ...

  20. Viviva Colors Travel Watercolor

    Viviva Colors Travel Watercolor Set & Water Color Paper Sketch Book Bundle - Premium Watercolor Sheets & A5 Textured Travel Sketchbook - Fun, Vibrant, No Mess Watercolor Paint Set for Adults & Kids. $35.00 $ 35. 00 $36.00 $36.00. This bundle contains 2 items. Next page. Frequently bought together.

  21. Watercolors: High-Quality Watercolor Pans, Tubes, & Pencils

    Daler-Rowney Aquafine Watercolor Travel Set - Metal - 24 Colors + Brush. $45.00 . Add to Cart. Coliro Watercolor - Gold & Silver - 6 Color Set in Metal Tin. $33.00 . Add to Cart. Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Palette - Starry Colors - 6 Color Set. $17.00 . Get Restock Notification ...

  22. Amazon.com: Travel Watercolor Paint Set

    Viviva Colors Travel Watercolor - Viviva Watercolor Sheets, Original 16 Colors Set - Fun, Vibrant, No Mess Watercolor Paint for Adults & Kids - Handmade & Premium Pocket Water Color. 4.7 out of 5 stars. 216. 100+ bought in past month. $20.00 $ 20. 00. FREE delivery Wed, Feb 14 on $35 of items shipped by Amazon.

  23. Watercolour & Travel

    Here are the colors I am using: opera pink (or any bright pink) and phtalo blue (or an..." Watercolour & Travel | Anna on Instagram: "PART 1/2. Here are the colors I am using: opera pink (or any bright pink) and phtalo blue (or any basic blue) . . . . . #art #watercolorart #watercolorartist #watercolor_tutorials #bright_sky #watercolor_gallery ...

  24. 7 Unique Colorful Beaches to Enjoy Around the World

    Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda. A quick flight from Boston, New York or Atlanta will land you in Bermuda, an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina, known for its distinct culture, air of mystery and, of course, pink-sand beaches. Those iconic pink sands, like those found in Horseshoe Bay, are attributed to an abundance of red ...