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Watercolor Tubes vs. Watercolor Pans

This is my experience with watercolor tubes and pans. 




When I first started exploring watercolor painting, I discovered that choosing between tubes and pans wasn’t simply a matter of which one was better. They each offered a different painting experience.

Watercolor pans are wonderfully convenient. The paint is already dry and arranged in individual compartments. A little water activates the pigment, making pans particularly useful for quick sketches, small illustrations, and painting away from a dedicated workspace.

I also appreciate how easy they are to put away. There’s no need to squeeze out fresh paint, and a compact palette doesn’t take up much room.



Watercolor tubes, on the other hand, give me the option of working with freshly squeezed paint. I can prepare larger amounts of a particular color, adjust the consistency, and mix shades directly on my palette.



One thing worth knowing is that tube paint doesn’t necessarily have to be used immediately. Many watercolor paints can be left to dry in a palette and reactivated with water later, although how well they rewet depends on the formulation.


My son and I joke that we have free paint whenever I open my palette and there are lots of dry paint all over. I love using those. 


I’ve also learned that the format alone doesn’t determine quality. A good pan watercolor can perform beautifully, while a disappointing tube paint won’t suddenly become wonderful just because it came out of a tube. Pigment, formulation, and paper all affect the results.

I’ve talked about this before. And I feel like it’s really up to the artist to decide whether a brand or set of paints is good for him or her. 

This particular Mont Marte is a student level set, but I really liked it. 

For me, the choice often comes down to what I’m painting and how much preparation I feel like doing.

And the feel. I cannot describe it, but different watercolor brands feel different to me. I choose paints depending on my mood, the emotion I want my painting to evoke, and ease of use for a particular subject. 

If I want a compact, ready-to-use setup, pans make sense. If I want to mix a generous amount of color or work with fresh paint, tubes are useful.

And there’s no rule saying I have to choose just one. You all know that I’m a mixed media artist. 

Sometimes the best art supplies are simply the ones that make me want to sit down and paint.



With elegance and quiet fire,


Lady E
Founder, Glow by Lady E
An editorial space for stories, art, and intentional living


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