Daniel Smith Essentials Review: A Real Watercolor Upgrade?
Six small tubes of artist grade watercolor, a warm and a cool version of each primary. A lesson in color mixing from a maker with more than 240 watercolors.
Yes, for watercolorists ready to move up from student paint. The six tubes are three warm and three cool primaries that mix secondary oranges, greens and violets [1]. Skip it for a total beginner, since 5 ml tubes of artist paint are small and precious to learn on [1].
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated November 3, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Tubes | 6 x 5 ml [1] |
| Grade | Extra Fine artist watercolor [1] |
| Cool primaries | Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue (GS) [1] |
| Warm primaries | New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet, French Ultramarine [1] |
| Total paint | 30 ml [1] |
| Range | Maker offers 240+ colors [1] |
| Testing | Every batch tested, per Daniel Smith [1] |
Pros and cons
- 5 ml tubes are small [1]
- No earth colors like burnt sienna in the box
- Needs a palette, the set has no mixing tray
Six tubes that mix almost anything
The Essentials set is built around one idea: a warm and a cool version of each primary [1]. The cool trio is Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose and Phthalo Blue (GS); the warm trio is New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet and French Ultramarine [1].
With those six, Daniel Smith says a painter can mix a huge range of colors, including the secondary oranges, greens and violets [1].
Why artist watercolor feels different
Student watercolors use fillers and cheaper pigment substitutes, so they dry paler than they look wet. Daniel Smith Extra Fine paint is formulated to meet and exceed the highest industry standards for artist paint, and every batch is tested [1].
The result is color that stays strong on the paper and glazes cleanly over earlier layers.
Small tubes and a short list
Each tube holds 5 ml [1]. That is enough for many small paintings, but a beginner scrubbing big washes would empty them fast. There are no earth colors either, so painters mix their browns from the primaries.
There is no palette in the box. A painter squeezes the tubes into their own palette and lets them dry, then rewets as needed.
The paper this paint deserves
Artist paint on cheap paper wastes the upgrade. The Arches cold press block in this guide is the paper that matches this paint, and the two together make a strong watercolor gift.
For a smaller budget, pair the set with the U.S. Art Supply sketch board. James Gurney's Color and Light adds the theory behind warm and cool mixing.
FAQ
Is the Daniel Smith Essentials set good for beginners?
It suits a beginner who already knows the basics. The Daniel Smith Extra Fine Essentials set has six artist grade 5 ml tubes [1], great for learning to mix from primaries [1]. A brand new painter may prefer a cheaper pan set first, then move up to Daniel Smith after a few months [1]
What colors are in the Daniel Smith Essentials set?
The Daniel Smith Essentials set has three cool primaries, Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose and Phthalo Blue (GS), and three warm primaries, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet and French Ultramarine [1]. Together they mix a wide range of secondary colors [1]
Daniel Smith or Winsor & Newton Cotman: which watercolor should I give?
Give Daniel Smith Extra Fine Essentials to a painter who wants better paint, because it is artist grade [1]. Give the Winsor & Newton Cotman pocket set to a beginner or a traveler, because it is student paint in a box with a brush and palette [1]. Different people, different gifts [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for the Daniel Smith Extra Fine Essentials Introductory Watercolor Set
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on November 3, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
As an Amazon Associate, GiftX earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change, so check Amazon for the current price.