About BestWatercolorKit
BestWatercolorKit is an independent review site. I'm Sarah Chen, and I've been painting with watercolors since 2014. What started as a stress-relief hobby during grad school turned into something I'm genuinely obsessed with. I still paint almost every day, usually in the morning before work.
I started this site because I kept getting the same question from friends and family: "I want to try watercolor, what should I buy?" Every time, I'd end up writing a long text message comparing three or four kits. Eventually I figured I should just put it on a website.
How I test
Every kit reviewed on this site was purchased with my own money. I don't accept free products from brands. If a company sends me something unsolicited, I send it back or donate it. This policy means I probably miss some products, but it also means you can trust that my reviews aren't influenced by who sends the nicest PR package.
I test every kit the same way: I paint three standard subjects (a landscape wash, a botanical detail study, and a color mixing chart), then evaluate pigment quality, mixability, portability, included extras, and value for money. This takes about a week per kit, sometimes longer if I want to test durability.
What I paint with
My daily painting setup is a custom palette with Daniel Smith and Schmincke Horadam paints, Princeton brushes, and Arches cold-pressed paper. But I regularly go back to less expensive kits for reviews and for casual outdoor painting. Good paint is nice. Being precious about your materials is not.
Get in touch
If you have questions about a specific kit or want me to test something, you can reach me at sarah@bestwatercolorkit.com.
How this site makes money
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn't affect which products I recommend or how I score them.