Holbein Artist's Watercolors Set of 36 Half-Pans with Brush (Palm Box Plus) PN698

This is one of the best watercolor paints I have ever used! The pigments are strong and the paint wets with just a touch of water so the paint will last a long time. It blends beautifully. It has a wonderful range of colors we all use most, well except black and white. I do wish makers would give us other colors instead of black and white. The palette box is very sturdy plastic and it has magnet strips in each row so you could add 9 more half pans if you wish. The mixing tray is hard plastic and performs as plastic does. The brush it comes with is excellent! It is one of the best synthetic brushes I have used. It is about a size 8 as compared to prinston and silver brushes. It holds a ton of water and pigment, has a great snap, and keeps a great point. There is no finger ring on the bottom of the palette. If you like the palette only, I found it on ebay. You can get the palette with empty half pans with magnets on the bottoms. It comes from Japan.

These paints are so nice and vibrant and a dream to use! I was able to fit 9 more half pans of Holbein paints that I had which were not in this set so mine now holds 45 Holbein paints. I own Schminke and these Holbein paints and it is a toss up on which I like better. The box is a nice hard plastic case so nothing to rust. Usually paint brushes that come with a paint set is just "ok" or total junk but this brush has now joined my collection. Its a really nice brush! Each half pan has a magnet on the bottom and it fits into the slots proveded and does not fall out (I turned it upside down while open). My paints arrived earlier than the expected date and were totally worth the wait!

I have tried numerous brands: Winsor & Newton, Schminke, Holbein, Rembrandt, Old Holland, Daniel Smith, Martin Graham-all watercolors. For tubes, I do not believe you can beat Winsor & Newton for consistency, vibrancy and permanence. However, for a pan set, this Holbein is unbelievable. The colors are rich and vibrant. The set itself is beautiful to look at. Everyone in my studio is envious. It arrived promptly and was just as described. My only criticisms: The dioxizine violet is not nearly as dark or as luscious as Winsor's, and I wish that the paint companies, who should know watercolourists, stop putting black in a set. I would much prefer a true dark like Indigo.

I love this set. The pigments are so beautiful! They dance on the paper. The pans are magnetic and don't move around. They are easy for you to arrange as well. I'm happy with my purchase.

The wrapping were fused to the pans and could not be unwrapped to use. Please send a refund and directions to return.The set was unusable.

Product has a good variety of colors, palette snaps inside the lid for compact storage, the lid closes securely so items won't fall out. There's room for additional small brushes, which is nice. This will be a good kit for travel given its overall small size and plentiful colors. The white palette has channels on the back on all four sides; ridges in the lid slip into a couple of the channels to help hold the palette in place when you close the lid. The palette can/should be removed from the lid when in use. The angled corners of the palette provide a finger grip for freeing the palette from the lid. The same channels that secure the palette to the inside lid can be slipped over the edges of the box's body, which might keep the palette from sliding off a table or lap, but the connection isn't secure enough to fully support the palette while mixing unless the palette has supplemental support from a hand, table or lap. With the slightest of jostling, the palette falls off. (If someone has a different experience, please let me know because it is possible my unit is flawed.) Before I ordered, I had asked the question: can the palette be attached to the box as the photo implies? I received opposing answers. In a way, both were correct: yes, it can be attached, but not securely enough to prevent the palette from falling with even slight jostling. I've attached photos and hope they help others with the same question.

Amazing quality, pigment concentration, and box. The only issue I had is that when new, some of the pans would stick to the top palette when still a little damp. Other than that, it is a great design, very easy to carry around.Just beware, most colors have no granulating property to them, so if you want granulating paint you might want to add some those. That is easily done as the last row is the same size as the rest and can be easily filled with new pans.

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