This is more of my first impression with using Holbein Artists' Watercolour than a full detailed review. I'll continued to update this "review" after I use the Holbein watercolour paint more thorough to create art. My thoughts below are based on the colour chart that I've painted.
Holbein is a Japanese company based in Osaka, Japan. It was founded in 1900 and took the name of European artist Hans Holbein in the 1930s. They are one of the world's largest art supplies manufacturer.
The set that I've bought is the 12-tube 5ml set. Price for it on eBay is around US $25 with shipping included, or US $40 for the 18-tube set, or US $50 for the 24-tube set. The pricing is very competitive and attractive compared to western brands.
Holbein watercolour only comes in artist grade. There's no student grade. They are available in tubes and pans, individually and sets. They are easily available since you can get them on eBay with free shipping included.
The colours in this 12-tube set I have are:
- Ivory Black (PBk 9) - LF3
- Chinese White (PW 6) - LF3
- Permanent Yellow Light (PY74, PY83) - LF2
- Yellow Ochre (PY 42) - LF3
- Vermilion Hue (PO73, PR 254, PY 110) - LF3
- Crimson Lake (PR 177, PR 122, PV19) - LF3
- Cobalt Blue Hue (PB 29, PB 15) - LF3
- Prussian Blue (PB 27) - LF2
- Permanent Green No. 1 (PY 3, PY 53, PG 7) - LF2
- Viridian Hue (PG 7) - LF 3
- Burnt Sienna (PBr 7) - LF 3
- Burnt Umber (PBr 7) - LF3
Holbein uses a lightfast rating of 3 stars where 3 is excellent and 1 is fugitive. It's quite ironic that the so called Permanent colours actually have a lightfast rating of just 2.
Several colours are hue, which means they are substitute colours made with different pigments than the traditional pigments. This is either For example with Viridian, the original granulates while this Hue version does not.
This is the colour chart I've painted.
The colours definitely look vibrant. All the colours seems like they do not granulate which is surprising considering there are Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber which should be granulating colours. Anyway, I read online that Holbein is recommended to those who prevent non-granulating colours.
The quality of the paint seems good enough to me. The only downside is, perhaps my set has been unused for too long, the binder has separated from the pigment in many tubes. But that doesn't affect how the paint mixes with water though -- the paint is still soft and dissolves easily.
If you want a second opinion on Holbein watercolour, check out this review my friend Erwin Lian wrote a few years ago.
For more art product reviews, visit https://www.parkablogs.com/content/list-of-art-products-reviewed
