Cody Casey
When it comes to watercolours, artists are often faced with a choice between pan watercolours and tube watercolours. This decision can depend on various factors, including the scale of the artwork, the intensity of colours desired, portability, and the artist's unique style of painting. While some artists prefer the convenience and portability of pan watercolours, especially for painting outdoors or when travelling, others might opt for tube watercolours for their ease of use and the ability to create highly saturated mixes with less effort. Ultimately, the choice between pan and tube watercolours is a matter of personal preference, and both options have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Characteristics and Values of Watercolour Pans and Tubes
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Pans are easy to use, compact, and portable, making them ideal for outdoor painting. |
| Storage | Tubes are bulky and take up more space than pans. |
| Travel | Pans are lightweight and ideal for travel, especially when flying, as they are not considered a liquid. |
| Colour Intensity | Tubes provide maximum colour intensity without adding water. Pans can achieve the same intensity but require more effort to create a fully saturated mix. |
| Waste | Tubes can lead to more wasted paint due to difficulty in judging the required amount. Pans allow users to moisten the paint with a wet brush, using only what is needed. |
| Mixing | Tubes are better suited for mixing large quantities of paint, especially for thick mixes or large paintings. |
| Brushes | Pans can be harder on brushes, requiring more effort to pick up paint. Tube paints are easier on soft watercolour brushes. |
| Customisation | Pans can be purchased individually and customised to the user's desired colours. |
| Range of Colours | Tubes offer a more extensive range of colours. |
| Rewetting | Pans with high pigment concentration may be more difficult to rewet. |
| Value | The value comparison depends on the amount of pigment and should not be based solely on size. |
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What You'll Learn
- Pans are more compact and portable, making them ideal for painting outdoors
- Tubes are bulky and take up more space, but they offer a wider range of colours
- Pans are easier to mix in small quantities, while tubes are better for large quantities
- Tubes can be wasteful as paint can dry in the lid or get stuck in the tube, but pans can be hard on brushes
- The colour intensity is the same, but tubes are easier to pick up from, so mixing is faster
Pans are more compact and portable, making them ideal for painting outdoors
When it comes to choosing between pan watercolours and tube watercolours, there are several factors to consider. One of the most significant advantages of pan watercolours is their compactness and portability, making them ideal for painting outdoors or away from the studio.
Pan watercolours are known for their convenience and ease of use, especially when painting outdoors or "en plein air". Their small size and lightweight design make them highly portable, eliminating the need to carry multiple tubes of paint and a separate mixing tray. This makes them a preferred choice for artists who enjoy painting on the go, as they can simply moisten the pan with a wet brush and begin painting without any hassle.
In terms of storage, pan watercolours are far more compact and space-efficient than tubes. They are easy to store and transport, allowing artists to carry a wide range of colours in a single palette. This is especially beneficial for artists who travel frequently or have limited workspace, as pan watercolours take up minimal space and can be easily organised to find the desired colours quickly.
Additionally, pan watercolours offer a more economical option. With tubes, it is common to waste paint due to over-squeezing or paint drying in the tube. In contrast, pan watercolours allow artists to use up all the paint without any problems. The ability to customise palettes with single pans of desired colours further enhances the cost-effectiveness and convenience of pan watercolours.
While tube watercolours may offer certain advantages for specific painting techniques and styles, pan watercolours excel in their portability and ease of use. They are perfect for artists who enjoy painting outdoors and require quick access to a range of colours without the bulk and waste often associated with tube watercolours.
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Tubes are bulky and take up more space, but they offer a wider range of colours
When it comes to watercolour paints, artists are often faced with the dilemma of choosing between tubes and pans. While both formats have their advantages and disadvantages, one noticeable difference is that tubes are bulkier and take up more space than pans.
Tubes of watercolour paint are typically larger and more cumbersome than the compact and lightweight pans. This can be a significant consideration when it comes to storage and transport. If you have limited space in your art studio or need to carry your paints with you when painting outdoors, the size and weight of tubes can be a disadvantage. They can be challenging to organise and locate specific colours, especially if you have a wide range of colours in your collection.
On the other hand, tubes offer a more extensive range of colours to choose from. Artists can find a broader selection of shades and hues in tube form, allowing for greater flexibility and creativity in their work. This variety of colours available in tubes can be advantageous for artists who work on diverse projects requiring specific colour palettes.
While tubes may be bulkier, it is worth noting that they can be used to create customised pans. Artists can squeeze the paint from the tubes into empty pans, allowing them to create their own unique sets of colours. This method combines the convenience of pans with the expanded colour options offered by tubes.
Ultimately, the choice between tubes and pans depends on the artist's preferences, the type of artwork they create, and their storage and transportation needs. While tubes may be more bulky and space-consuming, they offer a wider range of colours and the opportunity to create customised pan sets, providing a versatile option for artists.
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Pans are easier to mix in small quantities, while tubes are better for large quantities
When it comes to watercolour painting, artists have to choose between two primary formats: dried pans or moist tubes. While there is no clear winner, each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on the artist's unique style of painting.
Pans are easier to mix in small quantities. They are compact, lightweight, and easy to store and carry. Pans are ideal for painting outdoors or en plein air as they can be easily transported and used without the need for a mixing tray. To use pans, simply moisten them with a wet brush, and you're ready to paint. This reduces the preparation time and the amount of wasted paint, as you only use what you need. Additionally, pans are more cost-effective and allow artists to mix colours and save money by not buying specialty colours.
On the other hand, tubes are better for mixing large quantities of paint, especially for thick mixes. If you're working on a large scale or covering a large area with a single colour or colour mix, tube paint will be easier to work with. Pans can be hard on soft watercolour brushes, and you may need to scrub harder to pick up the paint, which can damage the bristles. Tube paints offer a more extensive range of colours and are ideal for landscapes, loose watercolour, or still life paintings.
It's worth noting that tube paints can be wasteful, as it's challenging to judge how much paint to squeeze out, and paint can be wasted in the lids or if the tubes crack or burst. Tube paints are also bulkier and take up more storage space.
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Tubes can be wasteful as paint can dry in the lid or get stuck in the tube, but pans can be hard on brushes
When it comes to watercolour paints, artists have to choose between tubes and pans. While there are no clear winners, there are some differences between the two that might make one more suitable for your needs.
Tubes can be wasteful as paint can dry in the lid, and it can be challenging to get all the paint out of the tube. This can lead to wasted paint and money. Paint can also dry on your palette, and some colours can be difficult to rewet. To avoid this, you can add a small amount of glycerin to them when you squeeze them out.
On the other hand, pans are compact and easy to store and transport. They are ideal for painting outdoors or away from your studio as you only need to moisten the pan with a wet brush to start painting. However, pans can be harder on brushes, especially if you are not careful when using them. You may be tempted to scrub at the pan with your brush to pick up paint, which can damage the bristles. This is especially true for soft watercolour brushes, which are very delicate.
To avoid brush damage, it is important to thoroughly dampen the paints before dipping your brush and using a light touch when moving the bristles across the surface of the paint. Alternatively, you can use a cheap synthetic acrylic brush to initially rewet and soften the pans before switching to more expensive brushes.
Ultimately, the decision between tubes and pans depends on your unique style of painting and your specific needs as an artist.
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The colour intensity is the same, but tubes are easier to pick up from, so mixing is faster
When it comes to colour intensity, both pan watercolours and tube watercolours offer the same level of quality. However, the tube format has the advantage of being easier to pick up from, which makes the mixing process faster compared to the dry paint in pans. This is especially true if you require thick mixes or are working on a large scale, as it can be challenging to mix large quantities of paint with pans. The ease of use with tubes can also help prevent damage to soft watercolour brushes, as you are less likely to need to scrub at the pan to pick up paint.
While tube watercolours may offer convenience in mixing, pan watercolours have their own set of advantages. Pans are compact, lightweight, and easy to store, making them highly portable and ideal for outdoor painting or painting away from your studio. With pans, there is less waste as you only use what you need, and they are also convenient for travel, especially on planes, as they are not considered a liquid.
The choice between pan and tube watercolours ultimately depends on your unique style of painting and specific requirements. If you require intense colours and thick mixes, tubes might be the better option. On the other hand, if you work with small amounts of paint or need portability, pans could be the more suitable choice.
It is worth noting that some artists create their own pan watercolours by squeezing paint from tubes into empty pans, allowing them to customise their palette and create their own "cakes" of paint. This approach combines the convenience of tubes with the portability of pans, offering the best of both worlds.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, pans are far more portable than tubes, making them ideal for painting outdoors or away from your studio. They are lightweight and compact, so you can simply moisten the pan with a wet brush and start painting.
No, the amount of pigment in each type of watercolour depends on the format. While tubes have a higher liquid content, watercolour cakes or pans are more highly concentrated in pigments.
It depends on the brand and the quantity. Full pans are a far more economical way to buy compressed watercolour paint as they have more capacity. However, tubes may be more affordable if you need a large quantity of paint or if you want to cover a large area with a single colour.
