Ken Bromley Art Supplies

User reviews of this item:

Great watercolour in convenient size

"This is my favorite WC brand and the 37ml tubes are both economical in the long run and convenient at home. Hope that W&N will increase the options in this size ..."

Good value

"The 37 ml tubes represent good value and are long overdue but I found the quinacridone gold is very watery."

Problem of "watery" paint

"I haven't used the big tubes yet, but I use the medium and small tubes, and I have found this same problem of "watery" paint. It is not actually water, of course; it is the binder (gum arabic) which has evidently separated from the pigment. I have always assumed that it occured because the shop had kept the tubes for too long - and so I took them back, and the shop returned them to Winsor and Newton.

It would be interesting to have an authoratitive comment or explanation of this "wateriness" from W and N...

I have never had this problem with paints supplied by Ken Bromley."

Ken Bromley's replies: We have spoken to Winsor & Newton technical department and following is the explanation to this issue. The binder in watercolour paint is made from gum arabic, water and glycerine, which are mixed with the pigment. These ingredients are generally naturally occurring products and because of that, there are variations in their characteristics from batch to batch. Occasionally there is a separation of binder from the pigment. In the last 12 months Winsor and Newton have been reformulating the entire range of watercolour paints to overcome this problem. If you find the pigment has separated out, the paint can be mixed with the binder fluid and the paint will perform well without any problems.

Generally the best watercolour paints for me

"Generally the best watercolour paints for me. However I wish they did light red in 37 ml tubes for economy.

Raw Sienna can be a bit watery from the tube, suggesting economy on the part of the manufacturer."

Excellent (Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolours 37ml Tube French Ultramarine)

"Excellent quality paint and good value to buy this size. Good strength of colour at the first hit on the paper. I have tried other brands, but W&N are the best!"

Product problem

"Service excellent but poblems with previous large (37) tube of W&N Artist's Raw Sienna from KBAS, which is un-useable due to major separation of pigment from watery/oily gum arabic."

Ken Bromley's replies: Occasionally, with certain colours, the paint can separate out a bit from the gum arabic, but it shouldn't be a problem if you squeeze out the top bit of gum. The paint should be ok underneath. However, if the amount of gum arabic seems excessive you can return the paint to us for testing.

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