Whatever you do do not add water to the white ink. I made the mistake of adding a few drops of distilled water to mine because it had thickened up to the point where it was slightly difficult to use. It coagulated the ink and I ended up with a lovely bottle of cottage cheese.

i have all 3 sets and love them worth every penny

Ive been tattooing and using acrylics layered with colored pencil for years but I lost my eyesight regained it thru surgery and had other life changing events happen so I thought Id try a different medium. I start out thinking I wanted radiants. Ive never used watercolors and Im after bright colors. Well Ive spent the lastmonth looking into pan and tube watercolors ect. Just this past weekend I spent 2 12hr days watching swatch videos. yes!!!! i did. now Ive seen this and Im all the way back around to dr ph. just the hydrus instead. Boy what a long journey to get there. lol thank you. best review on it ive seen. i prefer all of your reviews really.

Just bought set 1 and fell in love with them immediately. So much that I ordered sets 2 and 3. You are so right about these as they are AMAZING!

I watched this video and a few others because I wasn't sure if I wanted these or the Radiants. It just made more since to get these because I might want to display a painting or give one as a gift. I was so fortunate to find an incredible deal. I bought the Hydraus 1oz set for about $55 Thanks for your videos, they are extremely helpful.

Now I am tempted to get these and try them out. Thanks for yet another amazing review!

Thanks for reviewing these Marty, I've been so curious about them. ;)

Definetly one of the best teachers here on KZfaq! Love how humble you are despite great talent and looking forward for more videos/recommendations!

Your channel is full of new and useful supplies, advices and tips. Oh my God! It seems I'm gonna spend the whole day on your videos. Thanks a lot.

Loving the new intro! I'm sold on these hydrus watercolors! I've been wanting these for so long and I'm so glad to see you are impressed with them!

I watched your tutorial and was amazed at the colors - so vibrant! Loved your entire video and your painting. I'm going to order her 1st book and get back to learning!! You're so inspiring and talented. I thank you so much.

Just got the hydros set #2 can’t wait to try..thank you for the inspiration

Marty. Great reviews. Love the video in a video

Thanks Marty going to get some of these! Thanks for the sketch book idea as well!

When I first watched this video several months ago, I was already playing around with the idea of buying these. This video made me realize these paints were the number one thing I wanted for Christmas. They are already under my tree, and I am anxiously waiting for Christmas to play! Thank you Marty for your super informative reviews. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!

Daisies are my favorite flower and you did an amazing job at painting one! I LOVE it !

Thank you for showing how these work. They are really pretty colors:-)

I've been watching your channel since it started and I'm glad to see how is growing into a great review site. I buy my supplies online most of the time and having the chance of seeing them in action is really helpful. I hope you even get free samples!

Glad I found you! I was on Amazon...saw the paints..looked you up on KZfaq....thanks again Marty!

Thank you again .... loving the 'happy daisy' .... I am getting these for my birthday ... squeal

hi got my holbeins at long last .love them.thanks to your channel i found the watercolour that suits me.still be watching you and every video you make.would like to see more of your painting pictures.thankyou

You sparked my interest.......must try!

I love how you put the colors on to paper as opposed to just talking about it. I just bought this watercolor set the other day. I like that you demonstrated the watercolors in a painting, not only that but I'm going to get that book. I would love to learn how to learn how to draw items realistically.

I was already sold on these thanks to your review, but when you said, "I like a happy flower," I was even more sold. The book sounds terrific too. I may just have to treat myself. :)

By the way, great product review.Very worthwhile.

I was looking for a review about this and decided to search your channel first and here I am! You have everythig man! :D LOL Great review Marty! Thanks a lot!

Thanks Marty. I've wondered about these for a while and it was great to get your take on them. I am considering treating myself to these to play with for my birthday. Your info was really helpful as always....appreciate it.

Gosh, I'm trying to resist buying these things and it's only getting tougher! I have a few bottles of the Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay India inks and they are very beautiful.

Thanks for this!

Very nice show and tell! Thanks for sharing!

back to back product reviews from the same company! lol I love your channel Marty!

I had watched this video when you first published it but that was before I had decided to purchase my Dr. Ph. Martin's watercolors. They arrived this morning and I'm wanting to refresh my memory before I open them up and start my first project with them. I always enjoy watching your videos and truly you are inspiring. Thanks again Marty!

I have set 1 as well and I love the colors they're so vibrant. They're gorgeous I really love to use these to do mixed media for really bright backgrounds. Great review Marty, I love your painting!

When you posted the other last night I was looking forward to this one because you said you were reviewing the lightfast ones as well. These do look super saturated. Even more than like a Daniel Smith or WN. I don't know though, there is just a joy in the ritual for me, grinding the brush in the paint blob on the palette and the whole mixing process. I may get a couple of these just to try though. There are several here on YT that loves these paints. I would like to see trying something like a flat wash. Good review Marty!

My paintings always seem so pale because I am so hesitant, so these hydrus paints are going to be great because I'll have to go out of my way to make my work look washed out!Thanks for the review, kind sir.

Thank-you so much for this review Marty! Excellent as always! I've been eyeing these for a while but in my country (Canada) they are a bit more expensive, and I wasn't sure if I'd like them, so I went with the Bombay India Ink set that they have. I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet as I have not been well, but when I do use them I'll let you know how they are if you'd like my 2 cents. Now that I've seen a well rounded review about these, I will save up for them and will totally be buying these in the near future. I'm currently enjoying my new (first) watercolor set, a W & N Cotman Deluxe Studio Set, I'm going to save up for some M. Graham watercolors or another better artist quality watercolor paints as I do plan on selling my art when I feel confidant enough in my evermore developing abilities. Thanks again, as always I come back to you because I trust your word and appreciate your ethics and all you do. Take care.

I thank Cinnamon Cooney for letting us know about you and your channel. Will be going all the way to the beginning to watch. Thanks!

I subscribed some time ago, but was looking for KZfaqS about craft mediums like Ken Oliver's ColorBurst. When I started watching, I was mesmerized and couldn't stop. I am not an artist in the terms most people think of art, but I do enjoy using alcohol inks and other forms of color that move and make my heart happy.

Thank you so much for these reviews! liked and subscrubed! I've been meaning to buy Dr.Ph Martin's water colour inks but dont know which to get (the radiant or Hydrus) your two review videos really helped me to gain more insight. I'm still on the fence though

The full line of Hydrus has always been on my wish list for art supplies I'd like to be able to add to my collection. Personally, I definitely put these under (concentrated liquid) watercolors as marketed because they are (mostly) archival due to them being made with pigments and not dyes. I consider the Radiant line to be more of a water-soluble ink since they are dye-based. I like the Hydrus as it is marketed more towards fine artists vs Radiant or their other lines which are marketed more towards commercial artists who's work will probably be turned into a digital form at some stage. Was fun seeing you enjoy these concentrated paints and glad you stressed the "little goes a long way." I've seen too many people pick these up and use up an entire dropper for half of painting! You will probably be interested in their Bombay line (colored inks) as I believe it's also lightfast but permanent when dry and half the price. I love the Hydrus though for their color load and transparency.

Just received these for my birthday and can't wait to use them. Your tutorial was most helpful, and the daisy is beautiful! Just curious, what paper did you use for the daisy?

Lightfast? Well the facts are getting Martin's to release pigment information is like pulling hens teeth. Some colors they refuse to submit information stating their proprietary secret blend. We have been discussing the Hydros line for years on WetCanvas and other forums. Your modest. You know plenty on color theory! Your videos are extremely important to the community. I have relied on several of your videos in order to make more informed purchasing decisions. You have saved me money and headaches and I thank you.

I have this set of hydrus watercolours & I really like the vibrancy. The only disadvantage I have found is they do not rehydrate well once they have dried on the paper, unlike other watercolour paints.

Very nice review! I got Set #3 for Christmas and I adore these paints. I was wondering if you'd do a review on Holbein watercolors? Also if you'd try gouache could you do a review on their primary mixing set?

I have an old set of Luma concentrated watercolors I bought in art school in the mid-80s. These look like a good replacement for those. It's too bad Luma is no longer made. Luma made outstanding liquid watercolors.

thanks for this!

I like those ☺☺☺

Marty been a while since we've spoken but found this video while searching for a tutorial on how to use these amazing new toys I just got for Christmas. Thankfully it was you who I found because you know I trust your tutorials 110% over many others. Now my question is is this: If I start a palette for these vibrant colors will I be able to reactivate them with water once they dry on the palette? Please let me know because I don't want to waste any product if at all possible. Happy new Year my friend. I've missed watching your videos.

As always, fantastic review. I have the Ph. Martin Bombay inks , so nice. Now you are going to make me get these too?! I just splurged on the Van Gogh water colors! I curse you!! :p

amazing colours so beautiful, sorry for bombarding you with questions but as I mentioned before I'm loving your channel and reviews and unlike some other great you tubers you actually get the time to answer people's questions. I noticed that you said you picked these up online and I'm wondering if you know of any sites that ship to Canada at a resonable cost. I have only purchased from Joanne's and amazon amazon is awesome because they ship to Canada free for orders over a certain amount and Joanne's shipping is high but they include taxes and duty into there shipping but I have been doing a lot of window shopping at Jerry's Artarama there shipping is a bit iffy as they have a flat rate to canada of about $38 US even if it was only one sheet of paper but once you start ordering really a thing your hit with the $38 flat rate and goes up quiet high based on weight but there prices are so low that it just about equals out compared to what we pay I canada for these items that about 98% of them we can't buy here anyway but the main problem is that there are no taxes and no duty added on like at Joanne's that means they may come over the boarded for nothing or a massive bill that you can not find out until your order is waiting to be picked up at the post office and it will sit there until you pay what ever amount they come up with. So do you have any suggestions or know of any online sites like jerrys with a good selection of painting supply's with resonable Canadian shipping and with out the worry of a possible huge bill for tax and duty after I paid jerrys so much to ship it in the first place. I can do all the shipping research but I'm hearing of so many sites from you tubers places I have never heard of I canada and just happen to hear like in this video about wet paint. com. There are so many US sites and I only find out about them if the person happens to mention where they found the item there demoing and a lot just don't think to mention it I assume because you lucky America's just don't think to mention the site because you have so many any suggestions would be super helpful thanks again for everything.

Thanks....l would like to try it...can you pls recommend theor cool RGB?

I am so happy to see this demo. I was given these Hydrus as a gift sometime ago and hesitated to try them. Was your W/C paper wet at the time you painted? Thanks for the demo. Pat

What about spraying the Radiant line of colors with fixative to make them light fast? Would this solve the problem?

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. the paint almost looks like acrylic, it has such beautiful pigment. I live in Australia, does your friendly art store package and post o/s without mentioning "dangerous goods" on the package ?

Thank you Marty for this and all your excellent reviews! Beautiful daisy:) I received Set A in the post yesterday and had fun making a colour chart and mixing colours today. I can't wait to use them for a painting. They are such beautiful colours. I'm so glad I got them.

I have these and love how vibrant the color is. the problem I run into all the time is, you can't rewet them. also, I find that there is a ton of settlement. sometimes I have to shake them up so much, and I still get bits of grainy color.

Very informative demo.. Thx.. Do they lift well too?

Beautiful flower Marty. Thanks for this review. What kind of paintbrush are you using?

Thanks for the great review. ??time. Do these dry in a palette or do they remain wet?? Thanks.

Hello you really answered my questions in this video I want to try these..( and everything to do with watercolor). what's your favorite paper to use. Thank you!

Hi Marty, I learned about you on the "Ask the Artist" Q&A just the other night, with Lindsay, Steve, Cinnamon, and Lisa. So I've just subbed to your channel. I'm very happy to see your artwork, and views on different materials. This set seems like a dream come true! I was wondering, if you have paint left over, can it still be reactivated? Say like on your palette, like regular watercolors. I usually use the pan sets of watercolor, so wondering if I had these and they were dried, how they would respond. I just ordered a set of Inktense Blocks, so it'll be awhile before I will be able to splurge on anything else for a while. :) TFS Alice

Can these be left to dry on a palette and rewetted to use just like tube watercolors? They are so vibrant. Wow!

They look wonderful, do they offer any smaller sizes like a sample size? I'd love to get those once I get better 😊 thank you for the review marty.

I have some Koh-l-Noor Rapidograph pens...I was wondering if this product would work in them. Mixing watercolor and filling the pens is a chore...this looks quick and simple. Then would the Bombay inks be a better choice than the watercolor for the pens. I don't like cleaning up some of them...but when you want a metallic gold...it works.

These do look fantastic, but can you lift the color once it is dry? I find lifting absolutely necessary to render 3d forms, and this looks like it would stain the paper and not be "liftable". Can you use masking fluid with it?

As with normal watercolors, can you leave the drop there, and wet it later on again, when dry? Do you also know the Rohrer Klingner ink/watercolor - is it similar to Dr Ph. Martin?

Great review, Marty! Is there any reason you would want to get both the Radiant and the Hydrous sets? I would think you would always want the lighfast. Also, can you set up a little palette of these and allow to dry and rewet them for a travel kit? I see some people have used ice cube trays with sealing lids for storage - Komax on Amazon. Love the daisy you painted! Thanks, Paula in Florida

G'day Marty, thought about these in the past. Love the vibrant colours. Since viewing your review, I'm going to buy these. Unfortunately, can't find them in Australia, so will have to source these inks in the US. Do you know anything about the Dr PH Martin's Bombay Inks?

Hi Marty, Could you do a review about Sakura poster paint

Excellent informative review Marty! I was wondering about the book you recommend in this product review, ie "Sketch". What are your thoughts on someone who does not freehand images to be painted? Do you feel that one can learn to draw or that it is a talent one is born with? Do you recommend any books for the beginner and do you feel that this book is a good start or would it be better to purchase a different book focussed more on "the first steps to drawing"? I am obsessed with watching painting tutorials and this obsession started about 2 yrs ago. Since then, whenever I look at anything I am now thinking about shading, angles, etc. and try to imagine how to take a 3D image and turn it into a painting. I have even found out that "squinting my eyes" helps me to visualize this. Am I crazy LOL! Thanks Marty for sharing your talent with us and please know that I always respect your opinions and advice!

thank you, wonderful...xoxoxoxoshray

I liked your tutorial on alcohol inks. But I could not see a thing you wanted us to see. I hope this is helpful.

Do these reactivate if you add water after they've dried, as traditional watercolors do?

How well do these blend together

Marty, are the hydrus colours permanent when dry on the paper? Do they re activate when re wetted? Thanks! Rose Ann

Does the left-over paint rehydrate easily?

SPS. Forgot to say it was the things in the book that were not visible. Hope this is helpful as .i found you video.

Hi Best Wishes for the New Year, What brushes would you recommend for use with india inks. I believe that these inks damage traditional natural hair fibers because of the shellac content in them. Will this ink work with a Princeton Neptune Quill which is a synthetic squirrel, da Vinci Watercolor Series 5898 Casaneo Paint Brush a "wavy" synthetic fiber developed by da Vinci",Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Brushes an advanced synthetic brush and Princeton Series 4050 Synthetic Sable Watercolor brush. Can these brushes be cross used with india inks and standard watercolor? Also can India inks be layered? and do you find that the under layer shifts once dry?

Can these be reactivated to lift or move once dried?

My set had "waterproof" on the description... Why would watercolor be waterproof? Does that mean layers won't re-wet?

Hey...... I bought a ph Martin set which says Bombay dying ink.....how is it different from ph Martin watercolours? I ordered these set by mistake....wanted to order watercolours

Are they liftable? Do they activate after they have dried? On paper and on the palette)

I am new to art and watercolor. Are these beginner friendly?

Thank you for all of the information! Where can I find the boo you referred to by Francie Van Stone?

Do you prefer these watercolors over the Dr. Ph. Martin's India Ink?

idk i think these are too contrasty for me, and, they aren't opaque enough... i like my watercolors to remind me of gouache straight from the tube, and i want them to have the ability to act as a fine watercolor when water is added.. where-as with these, i feel as if they are just way too thinned out to be opaque and they are way too vibrant to create realistic paintings. i mean ive seen artists do realism with these, but it always seems just a bit too contrast driven for my tastes. for a long time i thought these would be perfect for illustration/manga/anime/etc but idk... i prefer regular watercolor paint i think.

I’m wondering couldn’t you put these in a water brush?

Are these vagen?

mmmmm yummy i want please :} Shannon

Also, you called these expensive a few times throughout this video. I don't think they are, compared to other artist-grade watercolors. You cannot buy an artist watercolor tube for less than $8.99 most places, where-as you can purchase a bottle of these for 6.50 to 6.99! You can't find a 5 color set of artist-grade paints for less than 50-60 dollars. Where-as you're getting 12 colors in this set, and this set usually retails for around 75 dollars. That means your getting 12 colors, in a set of these paints, for 10-20 dollars more than most artist-grade 5 color sets. thats 7 colors for 10-20 bucks! so idk how ya think these are expensive... especially when you then factor in how long a drop of these will last!!! these come in 1oz glass dripper bottles (the size that i've been referencing throughout this post) 1oz = 30ml which is 15ml MORE than most 14ml artist watercolor tubes... so you're getting 2x the color on top of paying over 2 times less than the cheapest artist watercolor paint sets and 2 dollars less per bottle than the cheapest 8.99 artist-grade paint tubes, which are few & far between!! :P these are CHEAP! lol

They're not "concentrated". That's the wrong word, because basically all artist grade paints are already as concentrated as possible. What they are is strong, intense. That property is achieved partly by selecting strong, intense pigments. Since these seems to technically be naturally suspended, the pigments are also very finely milled and dispersed. This also increases tinting strength. Making strong colors is actually not particularly hard. And not an objective measure of quality. Making them lightfast is another matter. And these are not lightfast. Not absolutely. Lightfastness is mostly a matter of degree. Since they are mostly composed from synthetic organic pigments, they will fade eventually. Milling them so finely will definitely hurt the inherent lightfastness of the pigments in comparison to normal watercolors. But the chosen pigments have originally very good permanence. How lightfast these paints really are remains to be discovered. Lightfast "enough"? is really always the question, regardless what paints are being considered, since very, very few paints are really completely lightfast. Testing just for hours is IMO not a revealing test. Use the whole summer.