Change

...... by Bill Hudson

For anything to get better, it must change. But change also carries the possibility of disappointment and failure.

Recently, my son Luke and I watched his son Tyler playing in a baseball game. Luke introduced me to another nearby parent, Marcello, who had two sons also playing on Tyler’s team. As we talked, Marcello and I realized a connection. I’m a watercolor artist, and he works nearby in a facility that manufactures paints for artists. In fact, Marcello is the owner of the Da Vinci Paint Co. which produces watercolor, oil, acrylic, and gouache art paints. Although I’ve seen Da Vinci products in many art stores, I confessed that I had only used Winsor & Newton paints for my entire 30 years in watercolors. Marcello offered some of his Da Vinci paints if I wanted to give them a try. I did, and now thank him for a very favorable change.

Background - Paints vs. Dyes

Colorants are present in nearly every product. Colorants can be either pigments or dyes.

Dyes are solutions wherein colored chemicals (like salts) are dissolved in liquids (like water). Dye solutions impart color by being absorbed and/or chemically-bonded into the substrate (e.g. clothing).

Pigments are small, solid, insoluble, opaque particles of color. As a colorant, they are held in uniform suspension with a combination of binders, dispersants, and other additives. The final product may be a liquid (e.g. paint), paste (e.g. lipstick), or solid (e.g. plastic). Unlike dyes, pigments do not penetrate the substrate; they remain on the surface.

Watercolor Paint

Like all other paints (oil, acrylic, gouache, tempera, casein, etc.), watercolor contains pigment, binder, and additives.

Pigments – Pigments can be natural (i.e. derived from rocks, plants, and insects), synthetic, organic, or inorganic. Pigments are milled or ground as small as possible to a powder form to reduce color nuances and increase covering power.

Binder – Gum Arabic is the water-soluble binder that suspends the pigments, dries clear, and provides adhesion to varied substrates.

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Additives – can include glycerin (a humectant that retains moisture), ox gall (a dispersant that increases blending of neighboring colors), honey (keeps paint soft and vibrant), and preservatives like phenol or urea to prevent the growth of mold or bacteria. Chinese white can be added to produce opaque watercolors.

Who Makes Professional Grade Watercolors?

There are many producers of professional grade watercolors. Some prominent brands include: Winsor & Newton, Sennelier, Daniel Smith, Holbein, Da Vinci, M. Graham, Maimeri Blu, Grumbacher, Rembrandt, Daler Rowney, and Schmincke Horadam.

Each manufacturer has a proprietary formula for the ingredients, concentrations, processes, and prices involved in delivering their product to the public. It’s competition that yields change, ever-better products, and a wide selection for the end user.

Comparing Da Vinci Watercolor to Winsor & Newton

Marcello gave me a generous selection of 15 Da Vinci watercolors to try. With every tube I was impressed with the concentration of color and thick yet creamy texture. Each color remained soft, and easily reactivated day after day. I enjoyed Da Vinci paints and wanted additional colors. So, I went to their website davincipaints.com to research art store outlets. While on the website, I became impressed with much more:

(1)   All Da Vinci paints (watercolor, oil, acrylic, and gouache) are available in three tube sizes.

(2)   Watercolors are produced in 124 colors in either 8 mL, 15 mL, or 37 mL tubes, or in assorted pan sets. For comparison, Winsor & Newton has 118 colors.

(3)   Da Vinci paints began over 100 years ago in Italy with Marcello’s grandfather. Since 1975, they are produced only in the USA at his nearby facility in Orange County, California.

(4)   Although Da Vinci paints are sold in art stores worldwide, they are also sold online (davincipaints.com) direct to the public, at discount prices. The product can be shipped or picked up at the facility itself.

(5)   The website also includes a detailed Color Chart and Technical Information Sheet for each paint media. Every color is described by: pigment(s), lightfastness, transparency, staining/lifting, granulation, toxicity, and price range.

All said, I find no disadvantages and several good reasons for changing to and recommending Da Vinci paints.

Thank you, Marcello.