Daniel Smith Watercolor Lightfast Testing Reviews Demo Painting Videos

Daniel Smith lightfast testing 1 year results find out which colors are fugitive and fade with UV sun light. In depth reviews for tube colors, sets and new 2019 half pan travel sets. Video painting tutorials, color charts and swatch cards by Kimberly Crick.

Daniel Smith watercolor review recommendation for beginner artists and granulating paint basics

This painting of a Florida Panther with foliage is a good example of how I love to use Daniel Smith's granulating watercolors. I used Undersea Green for background texture and the animal's eyes:

 Daniel Smith Undersea Green Watercolor Paint texture Granulating foliage botanical art animal eyes

 Hematite and Hematite Burnt Scarlet Genuine for the fur: Daniel Smith Hematite Genuine Watercolor Primatek Granulating Animal Painting portrait art

You can find the colors I used for this painting below. I am not affiliated with Daniel Smith or sell their products directly, and my opinions are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Daniel Smith color chart 238 dot card LIGHTFAST TEST fugitive colors results 1 year in sun

The 238 color chart shown above was created using the dot card chart, which is a great way to pick out your favorite colors! I will be showing a large close up swatch of each of these older colors, plus about 20 of the newer colors, towards the bottom of this page.

 

The following colors are majorly fugitive with signs of fading starting within one month. Lightfast colors last for a year or more of daily light exposure, and I will expand on which colors faded by the 1 year mark below.

Daniel Smith watercolor fugitive prussian blue green fading lightfast test interference sapphire

The small 5ml tube kits are ideal for beginners and artists on a budget, allowing you to get a good mixing color set at a lower cost than their larger 15ml tubes. The primatek set is a wonderful way to try out their granulating colors, especially for those who haven't decided if they enjoy texture in their artwork yet. The 5ml tubes can fill a half pan (standard tray size for travel palettes) more than a couple times, giving you plenty of paint to create dozens of small paintings (like artist trading cards or 5x7s) or a few larger pieces.

 

 

One year lightfast test results Daniel Smith Watercolors Moonglow Shadow Violet Aureolin Sickerlite fading fugitive colors

 

 

One of the most amazing color separating paints I own is Cascade Green. Check out this detailed swatch card:

 

Daniel Smith Cascade Green Watercolor Swatch Card Color Chart

 

Swatch cards:

PB27 Daniel Smith Watercolor Prussian Blue Swatch Card PB27 daniel smith deep sap green watercolor swatch prussian blue lightfast test

-------------------------------More swatch cards displaying the handling properties of each Daniel Smith watercolor coming soon. I am currently working on their entire selection (over 250 colors!!!) As these are completed, I will be copying them into the pigment database, where you can compare each color side by side with other brands. --------------------

 

Until then, you can see my many video reviews and demonstration paintings for Daniel Smith colors on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/kimberlycrick