My Sennelier Watercolor Review: Are They Worth It? (2023)

watercolor miracle

If you've been playing with color for a while, you might already know that watercolors are the norm. They create totally unique effects that no other type of ink can replicate. And using watercolors on the page? So dreamy! But whether you've been painting for a while or just dipping your toes, one thing's for sure: the choice and cost of watercolor can be a little overwhelming. I've tried a few different types of watercolors over the years and there's one I want to share with you today to talk about its merits. So get your brushes ready for my Sennelier watercolor review!

My Sennelier Watercolor Review

For a long time, my main watercolor brand was Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydras Watercolors. They're great and served my needs well for years, but there were some downsides. About the time I started mineAquarelplaner, I decided to research and have a new experience with watercolor. I delved into the wild world of watercolor in search of something that met some of my needs. That's when I discovered Sennelier's watercolors. After some hesitation, I finally bought it. And boy, were they unlike anything I'd ever worn before?

Where to find Sennelier watercolors

While I'm sure there's a shop somewhere in the world selling Sennelier watercolors, I've never seen this French brand here in America, at least not in person. However, it appears to be readily available on Amazon. I found my Sennelier watercolor palette on Amazon. The type of palette I bought is the Sennelier artist colors, not to be confused with the student colors. While I'm sure student paints are beautiful, student paints often lack quality ingredients and therefore behave differently when used. So keep that in mind when choosing this brand! All links below go to artist quality inks, just so you know.

I bought the set of 12 tubes with a sturdy metal paddle, but Sennelier offers several different paddle options. The palette I'm reviewing contains tubes, so any other palette that contains tubes of paint should look very similar. However, it should be noted that I haven't tried Sennelier's bread paints, which are simply watercolor paints that you let dry in a cake pan. I've listed a few palettes of tube and tray options below if you'd like to check them out.

• Set of 12 metal tubes(what I have)

• Travel set with 8 tubes

• 12 half pots in a metal box

• 18 half pans in metallic palette

• 48 half pans in metallic palette

the professionals

What makes Sennelier watercolors better than a cheaper paint kit? Let me tell you a little about how these watercolors rocked my world.

excellent grain

One of the best things about Sennelier watercolors is the incredible granularity you can achieve. Grain is when the pigment takes on that grainy, textured look as it dries, which is usually a sign that the paint was made with quality ingredients. Grain is a feature that many artists look for, but it's not a feature that all artists like. I personally love it! I wanted to add a little more grain and character to my art with the grain and Sennelier's watercolors did an amazing job.

elasticity

Another feature I looked for in my watercolors was the ability to wet and reuse them over and over again. I wanted to know that once I get the paint out of the tube I can count on it for many painting sessions. In the past, some watercolors have failed me and refused to reactivate after drying on my palette. Sennelier's watercolors, on the other hand, are masters of rewetting. The colors are made with honey, making them buttery and responding perfectly to the brush, time after time.

saturated colors

As you would expect from tubular ink, the colors are intense and saturated. The twelve paintings I own are simply stunning. There are several color variations that offer a wide variety of colors for your artwork.

miscibility

Since my set of Sennelier watercolor paints only contained twelve colors, I have to mix them to get all the colors I want. I'm happy to report that these watercolors blend effortlessly and create beautiful blends without fuss.

tube longevity

Sennelier's watercolors are the most expensive paints I've ever purchased, so I was very concerned about getting my money's worth. I didn't want to run out of color too quickly and have to buy new ones. Fortunately, because tubes of paint are so concentrated, a little goes a long way. I've been using my Sennelier watercolors for over a year now and I'm nowhere near halfway through the tubes. I'm sure I'll have these colors for a long time!

solid metal blade

One thing I like a lot more than I expected is the metal palette. I've only owned plastic pallets before, so something as tough and dense as a metal pallet feels extremely luxurious to me. It's not heavy, but feels good in the hand.

metal tubes

Sometimes paint tubes are plastic, but these Sennelier tubes are metal. Why is this important, you ask? Well, as soon as you start using paint, you can be sure that the metal tubes will keep their shape as you roll them. The plastic tubes retract, allowing paint to flow back to the end of the tube. When you squeeze the end of a metal tube to get paint out, the metal stays where you squeezed it, allowing you to squeeze out as much paint as possible. You will also get your money's worth with Sennelier watercolors.

portability

The metal palette my colors are written on isn't particularly small, but it's compact enough that I can easily throw it in my backpack when I travel. It folds up nicely on itself, and as long as you don't have paint soaking through it, everything should stay in place. If I decide to travel with a smaller palette, I just push the color to the other palette. So I can always have these high-quality colors with me when I travel.

The disadvantages

While I love these watercolors, there is one glaring issue that needs to be pointed out.

the costs

The only downside I can find with Sennelier watercolors is how expensive they are. These are not watercolors for children: Sennelier watercolors are artistic quality, which means they are suitable for professionals. And the price reflects that. If you're new to watercolors, you might want to think twice about getting this Sennelier watercolor set. Or, if you want to try this color first, buy a single tube and see if you like it. Whether you're an avid amateur, a professional artist, or just don't mind the cost, I can't recommend these fabulous watercolors highly enough. For me they were definitely worth every penny.

Watercolors will never be the same

After playing with watercolors for years and often becoming frustrated with their wild nature, Sennelier's watercolors made me feel right at home. Watercolors can never be fully tamed, but with Sennelier watercolors you can be sure your medium won't get in the way of your work. These colors have been an incredibly flexible tool in helping me achieve the artistic effects I want and it's nice to have a color brand that can really do it all. When you buy a Sennelier watercolor set, you can be sure you are getting powerful color that won't let you down.

Hope you found this Sennelier watercolor review helpful! Let me know which product I should review next in the comments section and go for it.my stuff pageto see some of my other favorite stuff!