One thing I've noticed about art materials in general is that you can work for a long time with student grade with no problems but once you go professional going back to student grade becomes a chore, you fight more often against the materials instead of working along them because they stop doing what you want them to unlike professional ones.

I know you'll be happy with the WN Pro line, but it might be an adjustment going between them. You'll really notice the difference when layering the paints, WNP is so luminous when layered, there's a reason why WNP is the choice of so many botanical artists. But the Cotman series is fine for most illustrative styles, and some of their colors are quite nice. I'm a huge Daniel Smith fan, but I use Winsor & Newton for a few colors because they just have a nice glow--Winsor Yellow, Cerulean Blue, Potter's Pink and Winsor Violet. Some WN colors dry pretty hard in the palette, but a drop of glycerine helps with that. Enjoy your new palette, thanks for sharing it with us!

I started out with the Cottman and up-graded to W&N Pro but have now moved on to Sennelier and Daniel Smith. They don't dry in the pallet as they are honey based (I also switched from those plastic pan/pallets to a metal and half-pan/full-pan set up). Sennelier and Daniel Smith are soooo creamy and pigmented. I still stick with six or seven basic colors so dollar for dollar I'm not breaking the bank or wasting my professional and expensive hot and cold pressed paper.

(and YAY for music back in your video!) Was tons of fun to watch you get SOOO excited and breathless at this exciting assortment of colors! You deserve it, Emma! You're more beloved than you know. :)

Yay!! Have fun with your new paints! I so appreciate that you consider not all viewers can afford to upgrade our supplies. You are amazing!!

yesss difference is noticeable! I am so excited for you, I think you're going to love them! I'd love to see a floral bouquet comparison side by side to see how a full painting looks... enjoy them! well deserved!!🤗🤗

I’m so happy you finally upgraded to professional! It is much better. I use Daniel Smith and Schminke and love them both!

I'm so glad you made this video. You can tell the difference between the Cotman and professional. Prof is so pigmented you don't have us as much paint! Ya! I'm so happy for you. You deserve to use pro paint, your work is so beautiful. I can't wait till you do a floral with them. God bless the person who gave those paints to you. Well happy painting 😊😎 FL.

Always good to reinforce color pallet. I am always looking for such good reinforcement! It’s a large professional pallet, and I’m trying to find my favorites. Thank you, Karen Dirmish

This was fun to watch you swatch and compare the pigments. That Brown Madder looks gorgeous, I'd like to see you use that in some of your tutorials.

The pigment, re-wet-ability and the way it spreads wet on wet are the things I most notice from student grade to professional. Obviously lightfastness is the great deal but the way it works with you is amazing

Yay for you, Emma. As beautifully as you paint, you deserve these paints! I hope I can get good enough someday to justify them for myself!

I just found your videos as I finished my first watercolor class. The new expensive paints are gorgeous! I hope to work up to that one day! Just a tip from my class that I think would serve newbies as well as pros is if you want to save yourself some $$$ on paper towel and do reusable you could purchase a padded microfiber cloth/sponge. They are amazing at soaking up excess water, drips and for drying. You can wash and re-use over and over again. I love mine! You can usually find them at the dollar store or liquidation store. Mine are called thirsty coasters but really any padded microfiber object would do. The padding can soak up soooo much water and the microfiber soaks up the color so well too.

I'm so happy for you! You're art work is amazing and I have followed you for about a year now. I really appreciate you being so transparent and being such an encourager for the beginner artist. It is hard to invest in professional grade products when you first start out so giving options is really nice. Thanks!

I upgrade last year to the professional but I’m still using my cotman palettes during a painters class. The different is huge & so much easier to use. Whenever I need something from my artstore I like to buy a new color to add to a new palette like ‘terre verte’ my new favorite shade of green 😍

Hooray for you! I'm so glad you've switched to the artist watercolors. Once you said, "You don't need these unless you want your paintings to last for decades." I was thinking "I want your paintings to last for decades; maybe your son would like that too." I'm thrilled you have a new palette!

How fun! You deserve to work with pro paints--so happy to see you have a full palette.

You are always such a bright spot. I was kind of grumpy before watching, and now I’m feeling inspired to go play with some paint. Thank You.

Can not wait to see you paint with them, rich and beautiful

I feel so satisfying when you fill the palette with watercolor......😌😌

WOW!! Those professional grade colors are VIBRANT!! Can’t wait to see your art work using these!

Congratulations Emma! I’m certain you will continue to make beautiful things with your new paints!!🥰

Loved it. I will stick to my student grades for now but thank you for that and how simply you set up your palette. Loved it.

Oh now. Those are some yummy colors. The professional ops do look richer and so velvety. Thanks for sharing this, Emma. Happy painting!

Thank you for sharing....the vibrancy of the pigments....wow!

These paints look yummy😍. Thank you for the therapeutic swatching at the end, I really needed that 😁

So happy for . I know you'll love experimenting with them. They are all such rich colors!

Loved the video. It was interesting seeing the difference between the two types of watercolour 💜

Happy for you that you received your Pro WN paints. Always Enjoy all of your tutorials. Thank you.

I'm so excited for you!!! I can't wait to see what you do with these

Wow! I never realised just how different these paints are compared to the Cotman range. Thanks for sharing. I’ve just splashed out and bought a few and will add to them over time until I have a set and will then set up a paint pallet of professional colours too. I’m sure they will last a long time so worth it. Thank you

From the few I have there is a big difference. Cotman are great for sketching, but the upgrade is needed for selling work. Good luck.

Congrats, the paints will look amazing in your artwork. Hope you show us some. Congrats on reaching almost 100k also!

Luscious colors. Glad you have these wonderful paints. Love your work and videos.

I am so happy for you 🥳 You really deserve that and I hope you will get a lot of fun with these great colours 🥰

Love your teaching- the Fall florals are my favorite

Congratulations on the upgrade!!! Excited to see your art journey over time :)

Yay Emma! Isn't it so exciting and satisfying to fill a new palette?! The whole process is exhilarating for me... planning out the colors, picking them out at the store, deciding on placement, squeezing them into their new home, and swatching your new palette and/or paints. I am really excited for you to play with the WNP watercolors and get to know them. A little warning, however: you may like the professional line so much that you start to dislike the Cotmans. That is what happened to me when I upgraded. I ended up gifting my Cotman palette to my stepson because it was only collecting dust (and that is just SAD, student-grade, professional, or even chalky children's paints). Have fun Emma! Oh, I almost forgot the most important message! Thank you for creating and sharing your content!!! You have been such an inspiration and have taught me so much in a very "approachable" way. (Is that the word I'm looking for? Whatever the opposite of intimidating is!) 🙂💖👍

You won't regret going to pro w&n. In fact it will be such a joy to use them. I'd like to see you do your tutorials with them as the ease and colours just far superior.

Congrats! I have a mixed pallet of professional M Graham, Turner and Sennelier but I keep some colors in cotman because I prefer them. Burnt sienna, raw sienna, Burnt umber, Payne's grey and turquoise. So 5 out of my 18 color pallet will stay Cotman. But Sennelier is the fastest to wear down. Not because I use it more, it's the nature of the paint. It is honey based but so is M Graham and M Graham lasts and lasts. Each brand has different properties. You have to find which ones work for you. Congrats again.👍

Thank you this was untimely as I am setting up my WN PROFESSIONAL pallet as I watch your video The colours are not all the same however very close as you say there is no right or wrong way it’s all about preference 👍

Hi Emma, Winsor Newton Professional also offers 37 ml tubes in many of their colors which tends to be more economical via cost per ml. Enjoy!

Hi Emma. Your videos are such a pleasure to watch. Thank you for all your wonderful work and your insight. 🥰🎨

You deserve it!! You’re incredible at watercolor 🎨💕

Love this ❤️ happy for you

Awesome demonstration! Glad you got your first set professional set of paints.

This was not just interesting but really informative. I found similar issues when I started using pro acrylics in my fluid paintings. I’m not near ready for that in my watercolours though! Congrats on moving into pro paints - your work is great & deserves that ‘step up’!!! 🌸💜✨

I'm so thrilled for you! You are going to really love the translucency that the professional paints bring! Really just so excited! You have so much talent and this will bring it to a new level. Yup! So excited for you!!!! :) :) :)

I always use my Cotman tubes fresh when I paint with them, it's a bit easier to get vibrant colors and I don't have to worry about how difficult they can be to rewet. Plus, it just feels really decadent and special to squeeze out fresh paint for a painting. I like their professional in a palette since they are so much easier to rewet!

How exciting 🎉 all new paint pallet the colours are beautiful 😍

Congrats on 100K subbies! You deserve it and more. Also, congrats on your new paints. They are beautiful. Hugs!

Omg the Violet!! 😍 gorgeus! I have just upgraded from cotman to Daniel Smith, love it! I really see the difference and it is so much more fun and satisfying to paint with artistgrade paint!

Oh wow! Ya you can definitely tell a difference. They are a lot more pigmented and vibrant. Thanks for the comparison.

The colours are so much better even I can see that from a very senior just learning Thankyou

Thank you. This time I took notes, and subscribed!

Excellent comparison ! Thank you so much I am learning so much from you! You are the best!

What a difference, very interested tutorial and very clear from your side.... thank you

Amazing color!

Your new palette looks GREAT, Emma! Beautiful! Not sure this would help you, but I always cut the end of my tubes when empty, take a wc brush, and get EVERY single drop of those colors! My thing, but it helps a LOT. As for the palette, I was taught immediately to use a Mr. Muscle Magic Eraser over the mixing areas. Bam! No more beading. But this looks FANTASTIC! Way to go! Frances Turano Denver, CO

Whoa! Congratulations on getting your professional watercolors! Plus any minute you are going to hit 100,000 subscibers!!!! 💜💜💜 🎉🎊🎉🎆✨🎊🎉🎊

interesting. i love the vibrance of the professional

Emma, they are beautiful. I have been 'collecting' the WN prof paints the last 3 months by going to Hobby Lobby & using their 40% off coupon. I now see I need a magenta & cadmium lemon. Thank you for sharing. Can't wait to start my painting journey. Blessings. :)

music and time lapse!! love it!!

This was pretty satisfying to watch and I like the music :)

Great job Emma!

Miền trung trời mưa mà có nồi cari với bánh mì ngồi ăn chung với gia đình thì quá tuyệt vời.❤️

Beautiful pigmentation!

This was really interesting. Thank you!

Opera Pink is a FUGITIVE colour. It rapidly deteriorates compared to other colours but it is available for illustrations that will be reproduced then discarded and other short term uses. It must not be used for professional display paintings. Opera Pink is nearest to Primary Magenta an mixes with yellow to make brilliant oranges and reds. It mixes with Cyan to make brilliant purples but Winsor Blue is as close as one gets to a primary Cyan. In some brands Thalocyanine Blue is closest to Cyan and if added in small amounts to yellow it makes brilliant greens, (choose a neutral or lemon yellow).

Congratulations on hitting 100k!!! 👍👏

Love it. Makes me want to switch off to professional. Thank you!

Loved this video, thank you!

If you ever get the urge to try a new color...try Smalt it is the most beautiful violet blue...and the Quin Gold is very nice too makes everything glow.

Awsome, Thank you for sharing, Happy Painting :)

What a great idea! Trade work for art supplies. I am down for that

I love my professional Winsor & Newton. The colors are vivid yet beautifully translucent. I prefer pans as I tend to use far too much paint otherwise. I got my original pan set from Jackson’s in the UK. They had a clearance sale last May for the lightweight sketchers 24 pan set. If it were not Jackson’s I would have thought the deal was too good to be true. And I don’t recall the shipping to be that bad. Just took forever to get.

So nice! Enjoy!!!

Great great video!!! Please when you buy more colors, make another video. I’m trying to build my WN palette

wow, I'm so glad you did this video.. the sap green I never liked or achieved it with the brands I am using unless I mix it but I know that's what it's supposed to look like. I've done a lot of oil and acrylics and see the difference and how it's supposed to look. I'm sorry I had to comment right away on that bc I'm so excited as well seeing it in watercolor ...btw your rants are awesome since we learn so much from you so please don't ever stop being you... Ommmmgggg I really hope you do a video using these colors it was exciting to watch how they flow so vibrant I'm anxious to see how they look on one of your art pieces .ita important for me see .can you also advise on where I could get the best deals

congratulations to 100,000 subscribers👏

Congratulations! 100K!

Thé best feeling in thé world! De have the same empty palette hihi

I have one tube of cotman, and that’s mauve. The rest of my tubes are a mix of shinhan pwc, mission gold, sennelier, Daniel Smith, m Graham, winsor and Newton, and a white nights palette.

I did the same as you went from WN COTMAN to WN PRO. I also now use some DS colors. They are pro. and very affordable. I found I do not spent as much over all now because the pro colors go farther. Concentrated pigments require more water for dilution. I no longer use cotman for this reason. WN in general is one of the more expensive brands but imo is worth the color pay off. One color I would suggest Is potters pink for florals. I just added it to my pan . 💖

Hey Emma I’m so happy for you and your upgrade! I am wondering what palette you are using as I would like to purchase a new one that has a lid and that looks like it has good wells and good mixing surfaces.

The smile all over your face 😊.

Indigo looks a lot different between cotman and professional lines too. They almost look like different colors. One is more on the black/gray side, the pro one is closer to Prussian blue. I was shocked when i tried them out! Do you see that too?

Very enjoyable video

Thanks great ideas.

Hello :) i just want to warn you, the opera pink and the alizarin crimson are not lightfast in the professional range.. unfortunately they are made with fluo dye (opera) and the original fugitive pigment (alizarin). I really like video :3 thank you for sharing your palette

When you’re torn between supporting the artist by letting ads play but you’re too excited to see the new palette so you hit skip ads 😭😂

Way to go Emma! Love the upgrade! Funny, I just bought a whole bunch of new Cotman watercolor tubes. And I am loving your watercolor guide I bought on Etsy. I'm learning so much! Thank you for putting that guide together! I think I need to practice more and get better before I can justify spending the money on professional. YOU are professional grade! 😊

Winsor & Newton make pan colours to remix with water. They benefit from pre-wetting with a spray and/or a swipe with a wet brush and waiting a minute or so for the water to soak into the paint in the pan. The paint in W&N tubes is a different formula, designed not to go hard in the tubes. The shelf life of W&N tube colour is amazing. I have tubes 40 years old where only about 10% are too hard, solid and un-useable. This length of storage is clearly not recommended. Winsor and Newton do not recommend refilling pans from tubes for re-use in the future. Some paint manufacturers use the same formula in tubes and pans, but the tubes may go hard. I had one Daniel Smith tube of Green Apatite Genuine go hard in the tube within 2 years of purchase. As a professional artist I only put out colours I am about to use and wash my palette clean when finished for the day. Yes, paint goes down the drain and at the price of paint it hurts. I really don't waste much paint. I do this because I need fresh tube paint to mix quickly to full intensity. I bought a set of W&N large pans 29 colours in total, to which I added 6 tubes for big washes. I have pan palette boxes with fold out palettes. I find they are too slow to remix and the pan size is too small. Used them once and didn't like them. Okay for very small paintings with small brushes, up to A4 size where time is less critical. The W&N Pan colours still remix and are fully useable 9 years later! That is artist quality W&N pan W/Cs! My 2 Watercolour palettes that I use with Professional large tube W/Cs each have 12 semi-spherical wells of 35mm capacity and I usually squeeze my colour outside of the wells to control the intensity of my washes. I am a plein air painter currently painting in Thailand where temperatures in the shade reach 40°C. Rapid paint drying is a constant challenge. I avoid additives to slow drying times. I have had mould develop on paintings after 35 years and I blame the additive, probably egg. My advice, read the manufacturer's instructions and only add water. I tend to use 9 colours, but carry about 36 at a time. The 9 colours will vary according to the subject, so laying out colours on the palette would really waste a lot of paint. I bunch together: Yellows, Warm colours (Oranges, Reds, to nearest to Primary Magenta) Cool colours(Blues to nearest to Primary Cyan) Deep colours (Purples Thalocyanine blue and Green, Vandyke Brown) Earth colours (Chromatically impure colours) Raw Sienna Burnt Sienna, Van Dyke Brown, Neutral Tint and Black. I can manage with a travel set of 24 colours, painting the way I do. I'm an Australian with a four year Diploma of Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

A great way to get cheaper paints to have more pigment is to let the water from your brush sit on the paint for about a minute. This thickens the consistency but allows more pigment to pool. This is something I started doing after buying some homemade watercolors, and it works well with inexpensive paints!

Excellent thanks 😊

Thank you so much for this! I was always curious on if it was worth the investment eventually. I currently am using the Michael's brand water colors as they get the job done and I'm still learning. I can only imagine your excitement over this big step

Great video! I would love to use the professional windsor and newton watercolor, but I just find that is too expensive for me.

I’ve got a watercolour tube paint set it has 25 colours I’ve only used it once

I’m bummed that you won’t use artist grade paint for your tutorials

So happy you have some new supplies to ply with, those colors are beautiful! One note I wanted to offer since I did an obsessive amount of research before buying my own paints is that some pigments aren’t very lightfast, like those used in a lot of opera rose and alizarin crimson paints. In Liquid Color and Oto Kano both have channels with lots of pigment info if you’re interested. I would just really hate for any finished paintings you sell to fade! Which I’m keeping an eye out for, I really love your florals.