DANIEL SMITH currently offers 48 15ml tube watercolours in the Luminescent range.
Miniscule particles of titanium-coated mica are the secret to this unique range.
Based on 28 reviews
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Write a reviewSome of the colours are outstanding but one is totally different from the colour swatch provided by Daniel Smith.
Duochrome Violet Fantasy - shows nothing that could even remotely be called violet even when held in a variety of orientations. On the other hand, Duochrome Arctic Fire shows a beautiful pinkish/firey colour when tilted.
Most of the tubes were full of paint but several had to be squeezed flat at the bottom before any paint came out. Looking down the tube showed the paint to be substantially below the top of the tube, although I am sure that they all contained 15ml of paint, it was just annoying to have to start folling up the tube so early on.
Some colours contain a colourless 'oil' which proved impossible to mix with the paint meaning that results were patchy and had to be painted more than once which resulted in a loss of spontaneity.
E.g. Duochrome Hibiscus and Duochrome Mauve but others as well.
Duochrome Turquoise was wonderful to apply, responsive and high-chroma.
I assume these variations are acceptable because these are high quality paints made from naturally obtained pigments and of course will vary in many features.
My intention is to develop an 'expertise' and adapt to the more problematic colours because all the paints seem to be worth the effort. To have such iridescent and duo-effect colours in watercolour as opposed to acrylic paint, is wonderful and some are immediately stunning and I am sure they all will be with effort on my part. I don't resent having to develop my technique.
My comments are less criticisms and more providing information to prevent disappointment. The exception is Duochrome Violet Fantasy, which should have its name changed to Fantasy, then no one would resent the absence of violet!
always fancied trying these watercolours and when these new colours came along - I could resist no longer
and you know what? they are so intense that you don't need that much - they do NOT work out as hideously expensive, just regard them as a year's supply in one tube
If used sparingly, offers electricity where one requires it, especially when adding Gum Arabic.