Starting watercolor is intimidating enough without a shopping list that reads like an art store inventory. The right beginner set hands you paint, brushes, paper, and a bit of guidance in one box, so your first session is about painting rather than hunting supplies. This roundup covers seven options built for different starting points, from guided workbooks to full studio kits. Each one earns its place by removing a specific barrier between you and your first wash of color.
The Picks In Brief
CHROMATEK Watercolor Paint Set 62 Piece Kit
Taotree 100 Colors Watercolor Paint Set
ARTISTRO Deluxe Watercolor Paint Set with Palette & Brush Pens
ARTISTRO x HANNAH M.P Professional Watercolor Paint Set (Bamboo Box)
Terself Watercolor Workbook 16 Colors (Animals)
Tobios Mini Travel Watercolor Kit with 12 Colors
Joyask Watercolor Workbook 50 Colors (Bouquets)
More On The Choices That Made The List
Most starter kits hand you paint and wish you luck. CHROMATEK takes a different route, pairing 26 tubes of 12ml paint with a video tutorial course, so the first blank page comes with instruction attached. That structure matters more than any single supply when you’re learning how much water to load onto a brush.
The tube format is worth understanding here: unlike hard pans, tubes let you squeeze out fresh, creamy paint and dilute it to whatever consistency the technique demands. Alongside the tubes you get a sketch pad, eight brushes, an aquapen (a brush with a water reservoir in its handle), a palette, and masking tape. It’s a lot of gear, which cuts both ways.
What Stands Out
- The included video course walks you through technique instead of leaving you guessing at the palette.
- 26 tubes give you far more paint volume than pan sets, so you won’t run dry mid-project.
- Creamy, easily diluted paint blends smoothly, which makes wet-on-wet practice less frustrating.
- Aquapen plus eight brushes covers everything from broad washes to fine detail work.
- Sketch pad means you can start painting the day the box arrives.
Things To Consider
- Tubes require a bit more cleanup than pans; owners commonly report wiping down the palette after every session.
- The sheer piece count can feel overwhelming if you’d rather start minimal.
Key Specs
Who Will Love This
Adults picking up watercolor from zero who want structured guidance bundled with a genuinely complete supply list.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
If a guided workbook appeals more than video lessons, the Terself Watercolor Workbook offers printed step-by-step pages that some learners find easier to follow alongside their painting.
Where the CHROMATEK kit teaches you fundamentals, the Taotree set hands you a playground. One hundred colors split into 50 standard shades, 35 metallics, 10 macaron pastels, and 5 fluorescents live in a portable tin, and the whole package totals 110 pieces. For anyone who learns by experimenting rather than following lessons, that range is the draw.
Metallic and fluorescent pigments behave differently from regular watercolors, so having them side by side lets you discover those quirks early. The tin closes up neatly for painting at a café table or park bench, though you may find the small pans encourage heavy dipping once you fall in love with a particular shade.
Advantages To Know
- Four distinct color families in one case make blending experiments genuinely fun.
- Three water brush pens mean quick color changes without rinsing cups.
- The included swatch chart helps you map all 100 shades before committing to paper.
- Transparent palette and art sponge round out the mixing workflow.
Small Caveats
- With this many pans in one tin, individual wells run shallow; frequent painters may exhaust favorite metallics faster than expected.
- Beginners chasing pure traditional technique might find specialty colors distracting at first.
At A Glance
Right Fit For
Hobbyists who want maximum color variety for sketching, layering, and playful experimentation in one portable case.
Consider Something Else When
For a more curated professional palette, the ARTISTRO x HANNAH M.P set trades quantity for quality with its 24 high-pigment XL pans.
This one is built for painters whose studio is wherever they happen to be sitting. ARTISTRO packs 100 colors, brush pens, and a built-in mixing palette into a compact travel case designed to look good enough to gift straight out of the box. Compared with the Taotree’s tin, the presentation here leans polished rather than utilitarian.
The paints themselves are described as creamy and high-pigment, meaning strong color payoff with less scrubbing at the pan. Everything stores in one place, so packing up after a park session takes seconds rather than minutes. The honest trade-off is that source details on exact pan sizes and accessory counts are thin, so check the listing closely before ordering if specific contents matter to you.
The Practical Payoff
- One compact case holds paint, brush pens, and mixing space, eliminating loose supplies.
- Gift-ready styling makes it an easy present for a creative friend.
- Creamy, blendable paint supports smooth gradients right out of the pan.
Worth Noting
- Detailed component specs aren’t prominently listed, so confirm contents on the product page.
- Travel cases this slim typically hold smaller pans than desktop kits.
Made For
Commuters, travelers, and journaling enthusiasts who want a stylish, self-contained kit that slips into a bag.
Another Choice May Suit
Anyone prioritizing raw color variety over portability will get more pans per dollar from the Taotree 100 Colors set.
Collaboration sets can be marketing fluff, but this one has substance behind the name. Professional landscape artist Hannah M.P. helped shape a 24-color palette aimed at people who already know they’re committed to watercolor. The bamboo wooden box signals the intent immediately: this is furniture-grade storage, not a disposable plastic tray.
The standout spec is the pan size. At 6ml each, these are XL pans, roughly double what many budget sets offer, which translates to months of regular painting before replacement becomes a thought. Rich pigments mix cleanly, and the bundle includes two brushes, watercolor paper, and a mixing tray, so the only thing left to buy is time.
Points In Its Favor
- XL 6ml pans last substantially longer than standard half-pans under daily use.
- Bamboo box doubles as a permanent desk organizer once the paint runs low.
- Curated 24-color palette forces useful mixing skills instead of color hoarding.
- Paper and mixing tray included, closing the last gaps in a starter setup.
Trade Offs To Consider
- Only 24 colors; painters who love variety will miss the breadth of the Taotree or ARTISTRO Deluxe sets.
- The wooden box adds weight, making it a desk kit rather than a pocket kit.
Quick Facts
Best Suited To
Intermediate hobbyists and returning artists ready to invest in a set that grows with their skills rather than being outgrown.
Swap It Out When
True first-timers still testing their interest will find better value in the Joyask workbook set before committing to premium pans.
Blank paper paralyzes a surprising number of beginners. The Terself workbook removes that problem entirely by printing gently outlined sketches directly onto the page, then walking you through 15 animal-themed paintings step by step. You fill in the color while the book handles composition, which builds confidence fast.
Sixteen colors come included, along with color-mixing tips covering gradients and textures, so even the theory happens inside the same binding. Note that no palette ships with this one, a deliberate omission given the guided format. In our view, that’s the right call for a true first experience, though it does mean a second purchase eventually.
Positive Points
- Pre-outlined sketches eliminate the hardest part of starting: deciding what to paint.
- Step-by-step instructions teach technique in context rather than abstractly.
- Mixing tips build real skills you’ll carry to freehand work later.
Points To Keep In Mind
- No palette included, so plan on improvising with a plate until you upgrade.
- Once the 15 paintings are done, the book is finished; it’s a course, not a lasting supply.
Who Should Grab It
Complete novices, including kids and adults, who want a zero-pressure introduction with every decision made for them.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Flower lovers should look at the Joyask Bouquets workbook, which pairs similar guided pages with a larger 50-color palette.
Twelve colors sounds limiting until you remember most paintings use four or five. Tobios leans into that reality with a mini kit built around essentials: 12 watercolor tubes, a wooden mixing palette, a refillable water brush, a plain cotton sketchbook, a clip, and even a wristband. Nothing here is filler.
The refillable water brush deserves a mention for newcomers unfamiliar with the design: squeeze the barrel to release water through the bristles, no jar required. That single feature makes this kit genuinely usable on trains, in waiting rooms, or propped against a knee outdoors. Setup takes under a minute, which is exactly the point of a kit this size.
The Helpful Details
- Genuinely complete: sketchbook, palette, and brush are all in the box.
- Refillable water brush enables painting anywhere without a water cup.
- Tube format gives fresher paint than dried pans in a kit this small.
- Clip secures pages while working outdoors in light wind.
Less Ideal Details
- Twelve tubes cap your color range; complex subjects demand mixing patience.
- The plain cotton sketchbook suits practice, not finished display pieces.
Core Details
The Right Fit
Journal keepers and urban sketchers who value a grab-and-go kit over color abundance.
Not Your Match When
Home-based learners wanting a fuller palette and lesson content will get more mileage from the CHROMATEK 62-piece kit.
The Joyask workbook splits the difference between the Terself’s guided approach and a standalone paint set. Twelve original bouquet designs come pre-printed with step-by-step instructions, while the accompanying 50-color palette dwarfs the Terself’s 16 shades. For the price bracket, that combination is hard to argue with.
The color breakdown includes 38 regular shades, 8 metallic or pearlescent tones, and 4 fluorescents, giving floral subjects plenty of range. Accessories cover the practical bases too: a water brush pen, a standard brush, sketching pencil, eraser, sharpener, color chart, and sponge. Unlike the Terself, a palette is included, so nothing extra is needed beyond water and a table.
Useful Touches
- 50-color palette offers room to grow beyond the guided designs.
- Full accessory set means zero additional purchases to start.
- Bouquet themes suit gift-making and seasonal decorating projects.
- Color chart simplifies finding the right shade quickly.
A Few Limitations
- Twelve designs go quickly for enthusiastic painters; expect to finish within weeks of regular sessions.
- Guided formats limit creative freedom compared with open sketchbooks like the Tobios cotton pad.
Feature Snapshot
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Budget-minded beginners who want both structure and a generous palette, especially fans of botanical subjects.
Look Elsewhere When
Animal lovers will prefer the Terself workbook’s themed sketches, while committed painters should step up to the ARTISTRO bamboo box set.
What Actually Matters Before You Buy
Paint Format: Tubes Versus Pans
Tubes deliver fresh, concentrated paint you dilute yourself, which suits larger washes and consistent color across long sessions. Pans dry into solid cakes that activate with a wet brush, trading a little vibrancy for near-zero cleanup. Beginners practicing several times a week often prefer pans for convenience, while detail-oriented painters lean toward tubes.
Guidance Level
Workbooks like the Terself and Joyask print outlines and instructions directly on the page, ideal for absolute first-timers. Video courses, such as the one bundled with CHROMATEK, teach broader techniques transferable to any paper. Self-directed learners with some drawing background can skip instruction entirely and save money.
Included Surfaces And Tools
Watercolor behaves badly on ordinary printer paper, buckling under washes, so a kit containing proper paper saves a frustrating discovery. Check whether brushes, palettes, and sponges are listed; filling those gaps separately often costs more than choosing a fuller bundle upfront.
Portability Needs
Desk painters can ignore size and prioritize pan capacity. Anyone painting in cafés, parks, or on commutes should weigh the case, and water brush pens remove the need for a rinse jar entirely.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Traps First Timers Fall Into
The most common mistake is buying a huge color count and never learning to mix. Twenty-four well-chosen shades teach more than 100 used straight from the pan. Another slip: skipping the paper question entirely, then blaming the paint when cheap sheets warp.
What Separates Premium From Basic
Higher-tier sets spend money where it shows: pigment density, pan volume, and durable cases. The ARTISTRO bamboo box illustrates the pattern, with 6ml XL pans that outlast budget equivalents several times over. Pay up once your habit is established, not before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do beginner watercolor sets include enough paint to actually learn?
Yes, for the first few months of regular practice. Pan-based sets reward gentle loading habits, while tube kits like CHROMATEK’s provide generous volume from day one.
Are workbooks or open kits better for a total newcomer?
Workbooks remove decision fatigue and guarantee early wins, which keeps motivation alive. Open kits suit anyone who already draws and wants freedom immediately.
Can I use regular paper with these sets?
You can, but thin paper buckles and pills under wet washes. Kits that include watercolor paper, such as the ARTISTRO bamboo set, spare you that frustration.
How do I clean and store a watercolor set?
Rinse brushes until water runs clear and let pans air-dry with the lid open briefly. Store tins and boxes flat, away from direct heat, to prevent warping.
Is a 12-color set really enough?
For learning to mix, twelve is arguably ideal since it forces skill over convenience. Expand later once you know which hues you reach for constantly.
Bottom Line
Your best entry point depends on how you like to learn. Guided painters should start with the Terself or Joyask workbooks, structured learners will thrive with CHROMATEK’s video course, and experimenters belong with the Taotree’s hundred shades. Committed hobbyists get lasting value from the ARTISTRO bamboo box, while travelers will appreciate the Tobios mini kit. Whichever direction fits, the important part is opening the box this week and putting brush to paper.
