DANIEL SMITH Ultimate Mixing Hand Poured Watercolor Half Pans - 15

In this review the DANIEL SMITH Ultimate Mixing Hand Poured Watercolor Half Pan set is evaluated for artists who want a compact, professional mixing kit. The bottom line: this set is best for painters who value handcrafted, high pigment paints and mixing versatility because the pans are hand poured for purity and the selected fifteen colors cover a broad range of transparent, opaque and granulating characteristics that make mixing reliable and expressive.

Key Features

• Hand poured pans: Each half pan is hand poured in the USA, offering a traditional, artisanal finish and consistent rewetting performance for professional use.
• High pigment load: The paints are formulated with a high pigment concentration so colors are rich, mix strongly, and maintain vibrancy even when diluted.
• Versatile 15-color palette: The included colors provide transparent, semi-transparent, opaque and granulating options so you can mix a very wide gamut for botanicals, landscapes and portraits.
• Extra empty pans: Fifteen empty half pans let you create a custom palette with other DANIEL SMITH paints while keeping everything organized in the travel cases.
• Travel-ready cases: Two plastic travel cases safely store the 15 filled pans plus the empty pans for on-location painting or compact studio storage.

Who It's For

This set suits intermediate and advanced watercolorists who want a compact, reliable mixing set with professional pigments and the tactile advantage of hand poured pans. It's particularly useful for artists who like to mix from a thoughtfully chosen base palette rather than buying many individual tubes.

Beginners who prefer single-use tubes or who need a larger, premixed range right away might look elsewhere until they are comfortable mixing; likewise, painters requiring non-standard colors not represented in the 15 included pans may need additional singles.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Hand poured, made in the USA pans provide excellent re-wetting and consistent paint behavior.
• Strong pigment quality and variety deliver vibrant mixes and natural granulation effects.
• Includes 15 empty pans and two travel cases for custom palettes and portable storage.

Cons

• Some users may need additional single pigment pans if a specific uncommon hue is required beyond the curated 15.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The DANIEL SMITH Ultimate Mixing set is a strong value for painters who want a compact, professional mixing palette with handmade pans and high pigment load. It saves time selecting colors, travels well in the included cases, and the extra empty pans make it easy to expand a custom palette.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refill the empty pans with other Daniel Smith paints?
Yes. The 15 empty half pans are designed to be filled with other DANIEL SMITH watercolors; label them to keep track of pigments.

Are these pans rewettable for travel use?
Yes. The hand poured pans rewet quickly, making them suitable for on-location painting in the included travel cases.

Do these colors include granulating pigments?
Yes. The set includes granulating earth colors alongside transparent and opaque pigments for varied texture and mixing behavior.