watercolor half pan refill | winsor & newton

Cotman Water Colours are a range of water colours that are made to Winsor & Newton's normal high quality standards but costs are kept to an economical level by replacing some of the more costly pigments with less expensive alternatives. 

COLOUR RANGE

The range of 40 colours are chosen according to mass tone (colour from tube), undertone (bias of colour when in a thin film), colour strength, relative opacity and the character of the pigment itself. The resultant colour spectrum ensures the largest number of colours can be mixed.

The Cotman Water Colour range has a more uniform consistency than the Professional Water Colour range and this benefits beginners as there is less to learn about each individual pigment. The Cotman Water Colour range also relates to the Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour range, e.g. Burnt Sienna in both ranges has the same hue.  This enables artists to use colours from both ranges with minimal adjustment to their technique.

TRANSPARENCY

As water colour films are so thin all colours appear more or less transparent when painted onto paper. The pigments used in Cotman are also predominantly transparent.

GRANULATION

As a general statement the traditional pigments granulate, e.g. earths, ultramarine. The modern organic pigments do not, e.g. Cotman hue colours. If you wish to avoid granulation in your painting, the use of distilled water can reduce it, particularly in very hard water areas.

STAINING

The modern organic pigments, e.g. Cotman hue colours, are made of very fine particles which cause them to stain the paper. The traditional colours e.g. earths, tend to lift from the paper more easily.

PERMANENCE

In Cotman Water Colour, AA and A are regarded as permanent for artists' use. To be sure of the permanence of any colour, please refer to the ratings on the colour chart or Cotman tube/pan labels.


MIXING COLOURS

Both Cotman and Artists' Water Colours can be freely intermixed. If long term permanence is required with Cotman, use only colours rated AA or A which are recommended as permanent for artists' use. The three primary colours in Cotman Water Colour are Lemon Yellow Hue, Ultramarine and Permanent Rose. If using a six colour mixing system we would recommend Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue, Ultramarine, Intense Blue, Permanent Rose and Cadmium Red Hue.