| Author | Message | ||
  joanna |
I used to use the Koi as a kid when I did a lot of experimenting. They are very "Oriental"--bright and smooth. The post about American Journey being a good substitute or at least a good bargain for some of the colors seems true. I use AJ for some colors as they are smooth and bright. The filler is annoying (gel takes up space so you use a LOT of paint) but the result is very nice, never chalky. The Holbein antique colors or regular colors is a pricey substitute for Koi. The pigments are very bright and intense but of course Koi cost a lot less. | ||
Suzy |
I hate to keep beating a dead horse with a stick, but oncce again. I like a lot,not all, but a lot of the American Journey paints. They are very ecconomical, and do a great job. FYI..I am at a art show in GA. Perfect weather, beautiful location. The govenor has announce to all the people of GA to stay home, don't drive anywhere. (I just want to slap that fine young man!) Anyway, the people of GA, the obedient little souls they are, are staying home. This show is one of the biggest shows of my tour and I have now had whatI can claim as the worst show in my history...Worse than a rain out! For you Aussies..(Dake) Georgia is two states aways from all the destuction and devastation of Hurricane Katrina. | ||
Eugene |
I use Van Gogh student grade watercolors often. And I sell my work without qualms. V/G colors have excellent lightfastness and I like the way they handle, and they're cheap, so why not use them? Some colors are fugitive, whatever the brand. | ||
Dake |
Golly I thought Lex had come back, sad to see the date. I miss him. If you were selling your work, why the heck would you use student grade paints? You'd have no guarantee of permanence for a start. They're chalky and insipid in most comparisons to artist grade. Just forget it! | ||
Eugene |
Perhaps I'm not fussy enough. But frankly I can't tell much difference between professional and student grade watercolors. I use a lot of van gogh brand and find them quite satisfactory. One exception. I think w/n raw umber is better than all others. Most student grades are as permanent as the professionals. It's a fact that the great teacher Ed Whitney used student grade! | ||
leese |
Hi, I'm new to this and new to watercolor as well. I have read a lot of forums and websites of artist's and the student grade watercolors are not well reccomended, but as money is a big factor I was planning to purchase w&n but to much right now, even the cotman series is a bit above what I can do now, so I am choosing to use van gogh watercolors and they say they are permanent and that is more what i'm after now. How would any of you rate them, any other brands just as reasonable and what one is a alternate of al.crm. | ||
Lex |
Vaguely interesting update: my local art supply dealer (stockist, to our English counterparts) got two sets of Sakura's Impellist line of watercolors in recently. Impellist is, presumably, their pro-quality watercolor and is slightly higher priced than the Sakura Koi, tho' still quite inexpensive. I believe in kit form the per-tube price was less than $3/ea. I considered buying a kit but procrastinated since I've been painting long enough now to realize I simply don't need another tube of any kind of black or white (my single tube of lamp black should last a lifetime as will my tube of Chinese white, presumably zinc, and a bottle of Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus titanium white, which I bought mostly for use with egg tempera). And I'm at the point where I want to try a few tubes of artist quality paint from each of the major manufacturers. Also many of the paints were of the "hue" variety and contained blends rather than single pigments. Nothing necessarily wrong with that but I haven't yet memorized enough info about substitutes for cadmium, cobalt, etc., to make a sound decision. Apparently, tho', the Sakura line still has more fans besides myself. Both kits were gone a couple of days later. | ||
Lex |
A local store that used to carry Koi does stock Van Gogh paints, priced about the same, and I picked up a tube of green the other day to play with. Very similar consistency so it may be a satisfactory substitute for me. | ||
pat c |
I haven't tried the Koi watercolors, but have found Van Gogh paints are inexpensive and very good quality. I compared them with "professional" quality paints in Hilary Paige's "Guide to Watercolor Paints" and the Van Gogh paints consistently are rated with three or four stars (four being the most desirable). I, too, enjoy the American Journey and Da Vinci paints. Both are a good value. I like the Winsor Newton and Daler Rowney paints, but I simply can't afford them. Another good quality paint that is relatively inexpensive is the Lukas whole pan paints. I've been using these for years, and I'm in love with them. | ||
RAZ |
I was really paranoid when I first used some of Cheap Joe's American Journey paints... I did some color tests comparing them to just about about every other brand I had (I am a junkie when it comes to paints... I have many, many brands...) and I was surprised at their brilliance, blending etc. etc. No to mention their price! I would highly recommend them. P.S. -I am not an employee at Cheap Joe's nor do I play one on T.V. | ||
piper |
I bought American Joourney w/c paint on my last order and each I have tried so far works just fine for me! Good prices and the catalog lists all the specifics about them so I knew what I was getting. | ||
Lex |
Kukana, thanks so much for your recommendation. That's the kind of advice I was looking for. I talked with the folks at my local retailer today and they confirmed that Koi is available only in sets by special order. However they can order Sakura Impellist paints by single tubes. But I'll keep your suggestions in mind for my next order. Thanks! | ||
Kukana |
Hey Lex, have you tried the American Journey Paints tha CJAS puts out. They are cheap, and wonderful paint. I really can't tell the difference in quality from WN or Holbin or DS. Of course like all paints colors differ from one manufacturer to another but you should give them a try. I have used Koi paints but I was not as impressed with themas American Journey or Divinci or any other.Try em...youmay like em! | ||
feather |
I don't think that it is a plug. She/he stated that they have no financial interest. He/she said that they just didn't want to see it disappear because they love it, that's all. | ||
Geeky2 |
Thank you for asking. I think it is called friendly exchange of information.......Someone likes these watercolors. Anyone else like them? | ||
drollere |
ok, so what question is this topic supposed to address? or is it just a plug for koi, even though the claim is it's not? | ||
Geeky2 |
I bought a small set of Sakura watercolors probably ten years ago, before I even started trying watercolor seriously. They are still just as soft and good as the day I bought them. I have some expensive watercolors that are already getting stiff in the tube. Jean | ||
Lex |
I've been using Koi watercolors for several years because they're an excellent value - even better than Winsor & Newton Cotman - with generally more uniform consistency from tube to tube. What concerns me is that these very affordable, excellent quality paints may be on the verge of being discontinued. Supply has gone from availability in single tubes to kits only (not very practical for most of us) to being unavailable through my local stores. A Sakura rep told me via e-mail that Koi paints are not among their bestsellers, but that my concerns would be forwarded to marketing. These truly are great student and hobbyist paints, far better than anything else sold under that category. Most have a buttery texture, other than VanDyke Brown and Ultramarine. All reconstitute beautifully in water. What I particularly appreciate about them is the brilliant color that can be toned down if desired through thin applications or blending with appropriate colors (or opaque white). Since I tend to paint heavily, more in the fashion of an oil painter, I love the way Koi handles rewetting and overpainting. One can achieve the classic transparent watercolor effect or a gouache effect simply by varying the degree of overpainting or thickness. Sorry if this sounds like a plug for Sakura - I really don't work for them or own their stock. ;) But I'd hate to see this paint discontinued - I just haven't found anything else for the hobbiest on a budget that compares. |
