DOODLEWASH REVIEW: Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors, Part I

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors are presented as artist-quality paints with a very large line that the author breaks into two posts. This part focuses on the Extra Fine range, the number of colors and formats available, the use of dot cards, and swatches made on several papers.

Reading notes

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• The Daniel Smith line is described as extensive, with 247 watercolors in total, including the Extra Fine, PrimaTek, and Luminescent varieties.
• The colors are sold in 15 ml tubes, some in 5 ml tubes, and others in sticks, with a few ready-made sets and some introductory kits.
• The author says the brand’s website is a little difficult to navigate and that lightfastness information needs to be checked color by color.
• The samples shown were made on Arches paper and on Strathmore 400 Series paper, and the author comments that they use Strathmore mainly for swatches.
• The text highlights that the Dot Cards show 238 paint dots and help test the colors before buying tubes.
• Among the favorite colors cited are Cascade Green, Undersea Green, Moonglow, Shadow Violet, Lunar Violet, Lunar Blue, Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna, Indigo, Pyrrol Scarlet, and Payne’s Gray.
• The author states that several traditional shades in the line are single-pigment, while several mixes have a separating and granulating effect.
• Undersea Green is called the author’s favorite color, and the text describes its composition as French Ultramarine with Quinacridone Gold.
• Moonglow, Shadow Violet, Lunar Violet, and Lunar Blue are presented as colors with names and effects that stand out.
• Quinacridone Gold is described as an exclusive Daniel Smith pigment.
• The text compares Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna, Pyrrol Scarlet, and Indigo with other brands and says that Daniel Smith’s Indigo is deeper and richer than the other two examples.
• The author mentions Secondary and Primary sets sold on Amazon and says it is worth reading an article about color theory before buying a primary set.
• There are painting examples made with combinations such as Undersea Green, Naphthamide Maroon, Buff Titanium, as well as other combinations used in studies and landscapes.
• The author closes by noting that Part Two of the review continues in another post.