I've been using Daniel Smith watercolours since 1995 - just two years after they were first produced. They started with just 18 colours, including quinacridone gold, sap green, new gamboge, yellow ochre and the raw and burnt siennas that I still love today. Over the years I managed to try pretty much every colour they have ever produced, and in 2015 and again in 2017 I went over and visited the factory, taught a number of workshops and met up with many of the wonderful Daniel Smith people. I've met up with the CEO and the Vice President frequently over the years, and have worked with the company exploring ideas and colours.
I continue to test out watercolours from all over the world and there are some fabulous brands to be found. But I still use Daniel Smith myself because they work so well for me in the way I like to paint. That means that even though they don't cantina honey, they dry well in the palette, rewet with ease and are richly pigmented. They also have extraordinary granulation, which I love. I am proud to be one of their international team of Brand Ambassadors. Please note that this isn't a paid position, but a recognition of our loyalty to this brand.
The original range expanded to a massive 252 colours, including the fascinating Primateks and also the 48 luminescent, pearlescent and interference colours that I won't include here. The following charts are arranged based on the two colour charts I have - the newest and a previous one. Colour reproduction is not bad, but not perfect.
January 2023 - the range is currently 266 colours, with some having been discontinued and new ones added. I'll be gradually updating this blog post with individually colour-matched scans of each swatch. I'll order them the same as the current colour chart.
Of course you don't need all these colours and nor have I bought them all. I've bought many of them, collected others as free samples and been sent a few by fellow artists and the Daniel Smith the company - including the 8 new colours added in 2017 and another 8 new colours in 2019. But many have been tested only from the wonderful dot cards that Daniel Smith were the first to produce, such as the Mayan Yellow and many of the other Mayan and earth colours.
I can talk about colours for ever, especially these ones. However I will just include a few comments here about the colours I particularly like or use or recommend a lot. The choices are vast :-)
I love Buff Titanium - think of it as an unbleached white. Lovely granulation and perfect for beaches and sandstone, snow gums and marble. There are quite a few great lemon and mid yellows to enjoy.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Buff Titanium, Nickel Titanate Yellow, Bismuth Vandate Yellow, Hansa Yellow Light, Azo Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Light (discontinued 2007-8)
|
Daniel Smith moved away from cadmiums many years ago but I've included some just for comparison with the cadmium hues. Cadmium colours are very lightfast and fun to use when a more opaque effect is needed, but I generally prefer more transparent watercolours for the yellows and reds. I particularly like Hansa Yellow Medium - a lovely mid yellow.
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Cadmium Yellow Light Hue, Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue, Aureolin (Cobalt Yellow),
Cadmium Yellow Deep (discontinued 2010), Cadmium Yellow Deep Hue (not shown), Hansa Yellow Medium.
Indian Yellow has changed formulation but I haven't tried the new version. It is made with useful pigments though.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Mayan Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Indian Yellow (discontinued), Indian Yellow (I haven't tried the new mix), Naples Yellow, Quinaphthalone Yellow
Hansa Yellow Deep is another excellent single pigment warm yellow option, that works very nicely as a pair with Hansa Yellow Light or Quinaphthalone Yellow for those wanting a cool and a warm yellow. New Gamboge has also changed formula, since PY153 is not longer available. It's a shame as it's a gorgeous warm yellow pigment so grab any you happen to find if you like the original version. PY110 is very difficult to capture as a scan or a photograph - it is a rich yellow on the cusp of orange. Aussie Red Gold was added in 2017 and is a lovely bright golden orange yellow. It mixes great greens with a range of blues.
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Hansa Yellow Deep, New Gamboge (discontinued), New Gamboge (the new hue),
Isindoline Yellow, Permanent Yellow Deep, Aussie Red Gold (new 2017).
I love orange, but don't tend to have it in my palette since it is easy to mix. In spite of my efforts, it is all difficult to show oranges totally accurately, though these are close. I've included the PR108 as a comparison with the Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Pyrrol Orange, Permanent Orange, Cadmium Orange Hue, Perinone Orange, Cadmium Scarlet (discontinued 2010), Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue.
Shown here is the old version of Transparent Pyrrol Orange, which is what I use personally as a warm red. It has changed to a gorgeous mid-orange that is the perfect neutralising opposite for Ultramarine, shown second. Quinacridone Coral is always difficult to capture, so I've used a photo here - it is a true coral colour. Pyrrol Scarlet is my recommended pigment for a warm red.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Transparent Pyrrol Orange (old version), Transparent Pyrrol Orange, Organic Vermilion, Mayan Orange, Quinacridone Coral, Pyrrol Scarlet.
There are many reds to choose from - some brighter, some more dull. While I don't have one in my palette, my choice for a mid fire-engine red would be Pyrrol Red.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Perylene Scarlet, Anthraquinoid Scarlet, Cadmium Red (discontinued 2010),
Cadmium Red Medium Hue, Pyrrol Red, Perylene Red
Quinacridone Red is very like Quinacridone Rose though slightly richer. I have only tried Mayan Red from a DS dot so this may not be a fair indication of its true character.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Red, Permanent Red Deep,
Quinacridone Red, Anthraquinoid Red, Mayan Red.
While I don't use the fugitive Alizarin Crimson, I am glad we can still buy it to see what all the fuss is about. Rhodonite starts more of a rose when freshly painted but becomes more magenta with exposure to oxygen. I rather like Carmine as a great 'primary' red, though I tend to use Quinacridone Rose more often. NR9 is a fugitive pigment, now only available from Winsor & Newton. The new Rose Madder Permanent is closer to the original Rose Madder pink, but it won't fade. I know many love Opera Rose, but it will fade.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Alizarin Crimson, Rhodonite Genuine, Carmine, Rose Madder Genuine (discontinued 2017), Rose Madder Permanent (new 2017), Opera Pink.
|
The gentle Potter's Pink has gorgeous granulation and can be used as part of an earth triad. Many of the Daniel Smith quinacridone colours are quite similar. I particularly love Quinacridone Rose as a gorgeous rose pink but also to mix amazing purples. The newer Quinacridone Lilac (called Quin Magenta in many other ranges) is also excellent for this purpose, and as a primary red. Pyrrol Crimson is a palette basic for me.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Potter's Pink, Quinacridone Pink, Quinacridone Rose, Quinacridone Lilac (new 2017), Quinacridone Magenta, Pyrrol Crimson. |
Mayan Violet wast painted from a small dot and may not represent the actual qualities of this paint.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Quinacridone Fuchsia, Mayan Violet, Bordeaux, Permanent Violet (old version), Permanent Violet new version - a mix of PB29 + PR202 not shown), Quinacridone Violet. |
I tend to mix my own purples, but there are some lovely granulating pigments that can add texture to your paintings. PV49, PV14 and PV15 are never powerful colours, but have interesting granulation. Mixing Ultramarine with PV19 creates fabulous strong and granulating purples.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Perylene Violet, Cobalt Violet, Wisteria (new 2027), Cobalt Violet Deep, Ultramarine Red, Rose of Ultramarine.
The photograph doesn't capture the beauty of the Amethyst, which, like many of the Primateks, has a touch of sparkle. It's a powerful but slightly neutralised deep purple. |






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Quinacridone Purple, Imperial Purple, Purpurite Genuine (#164), Ultramarine Violet,
Amethyst Genuine, Carbazole Violet.
I love the crazy granulation of the three-pigment Moonglow - the rose floats, the viridian speckles and the ultramarine granulates - it is rather fun to play with. Shadow Violet is similar but cooler.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Cobalt Blue Violet, Moonglow, Shadow Violet, Sugilite Genuine,
Kyanite Genuine, Indigo
There are so many gorgeous blue pigments! I love the richness of Indanthrone blue and the granulation of Sodalite. It can be used as a great shadow colour, or for fabulous stormy skies. Ultramarine and French Ultramarine look very similar. I use Ultramarine as I prefer the way it mixes with Burnt Sienna.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Mayan Dark Blue, Indanthrone Blue, Sodalite Genuine, Lapis Lazuli Genuine,
French Ultramarine, Ultramarine Blue.
Cobalt blue a beautiful mid blue - neither warm nor cool. Phthalo Blue Green and Red Shades behave in a similar manner - you can see here that the Red Shade is definitely warmer. I generally suggest the Green Shade if you want it to be your cool blue.
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Cobalt Blue, Phthalo Blue Red Shade, Lavender (new 2017), Lapis Lazuli Genuine,
King's royal blue (new 2022, not shown), Verditer Blue, Phthalo Blue Green Shade.
Cerulean Chromium is one of my favourites, mixed with ultramarine for skies. Great anywhere in the world :-) It is more powerful and slightly cooler than Cerulean. Phthalo Blue Turquoise was released more recently and is the lovely PB16 turquoise pigment.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Prussian Blue, Mayan Blue Genuine, Cerulean Blue, Cerulean Blue Chromium, Manganese Blue Hue, Phthalo Blue Turquoise (new 2018?)
Cobalt turquoise is wonderful mixed with a little yellow when you want to create the look of oxidised copper! It's also lovely for seascapes, as are all the cool blues. Phthalo colours will be staining and non-granulating whereas the Primateks and cobalt colours will have granulation.






Daniel Smith Watercolours - Cobalt Teal Blue, Phthalo Turquoise, Ultramarine Turquoise, Natural Kingman Turquoise Genuine,
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Genuine, Cobalt Turquoise.
I am updating all swatches...in progress. I am gradually replacing each of the photographs of 6 swatches with individually scanned and colour corrected swatches.
I love the granulation of Blue Apatite Genuine and Lunar Blue (so many lovely blues!)
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, Genuine, Cobalt Turquoise, Amazonite Genuine, Blue Apatite Genuine, Lunar Blue, Fuchsite Genuine. |
Phthalo Green Blue Shade is another of my basic colours. I doubt I've ever used it alone, but it's great for mixing. Viridian is very similar in colour but much less powerful and less staining and has lovely granulation.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Cobalt Green Pale, Natural Kingman Turquoise Genuine, Phthalo Green Blue Shade, Viridian, Malachite Genuine (discontinued 2017) Cascade Green. |
Jadeite is a lovely alternative for those who don't want to use the often overpowering phthalo green. As a cool green, it mixes in a similar way, but with granulating and a bit more of a realistic look.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Diopside Genuine, Jadeite Genuine, Cobalt Green, Spring Green, Permanent Green Light, Phthalo Yellow Green |
In 2015, PO49 was replaced in DS mixes with the hue made from PO48+PY150. The new version of Sap Green is shown below. I love Serpentine Genuine - not just because it also comes from Australia, but because it creates a grassy meadow in one wash :-)
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Permanent Green, Phthalo Green yellow shade, Hooker's Green (new formula 2015 not shown), Sap Green (original formula - discontinued 2015), Serpentine Genuine, Chromium Green Oxide. |
Green Apatite Genuine is a remarkable paint as it will create soft greens, grassy greens and deep olive greens depending how thickly is it applied - excellent in a limited or plein air palette. Perylene green is fabulous - another of my basic palette colours.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Green Apatite Genuine, Terre Verte, Sap Green Deep, Perylene Green, Prussian Green, Rare Green Earth |
Sap Green, Undersea Green, Perylene Green and, for mixing, Phthalo Green work really well for me, but I love the amazing range of realistic greens available.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Sap Green (new formula 2015), Undersea Green (new formula 2015), Undersea Green (discontinued formula), Ziosite Genuine, Olive Green, Green Gold. |
There are a lot of yellow earth options. I'm not quite sure what the difference is between some of them. I like to use Raw Sienna, Yellow Ochre and Goethite. Mont Amiata Natural Sienna is very pretty. I quite like Mars Yellow too :-) I haven't explored the new Raw Sienna Light much yet...
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Rich Green Gold, Nickel Azo Yellow, Bronzite Genuine, Verona Gold Ochre, French Ochre, Raw Sienna Light (new 2017) |
I love Raw Sienna for the glow of sunsets in the sky. It's also useful for skin tones. I tend to have Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Gold and Goethite in my palette. Quinacridone Gold was one of the first Daniel Smith watercolours I bought back in 1995. I still love it. As this pigment is no longer available, the new hue has been produced (see below).
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Burnt Bronzite Genuine, Burgundy Yellow Ochre, Yellow Ochre, Mars Yellow, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Gold. |
The Quinacridone Gold hue that is used in mix many of the DS colours now is very close to the genuine PO49. I love earthy colours. I especially love the unique Goethite for its amazing granulation.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Quinacridone Gold (hue), Transparent Yellow Oxide, Mont Amiata Natural Sienna, Hemetite Burnt Scarlet, Environmentally Friendly Yellow Iron Oxide, Goethite. |
Lunar Earth is one of the most incredible granulating colours. Granulation is something Daniel Smith does so well :-)
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Quinacridone Gold Deep (original formula - now PO48+PY150 not shown), Italian Deep Ochre, Lunar Earth, Burnt Yellow Ochre, Garnet Genuine |
I love the earth colours. I tend to have a yellow earth, an orange earth and a red earth at least in my palette, and I love the most opaque of watercolours Indian Red as a red earth.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - burgundy Red Ochre, Indian Red, Venetian Red, Italian Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Quinacridone Sienna (original mix, now made with PO48+PY150 +PR209) |
Minnesota Pipestone has a lovely subtle dusty pink.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Pompeii Red, Red Fuchsite Genuine, Terre Ercolano, Minnesota Pipestone, Italian Venetian Red, English Red Earth. |
So many amazing colours...Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet is also known as brown madder.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet, Perylene Maroon, Sedona Genuine, Deep Scarlet, Napthalmide Maroon, Lunar Red Rock. |
Piemontite is another favourite 'extra' colour. It is a bit like an Indian Red but has a gorgeous dusty rose undertone. The primateks are so interesting.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Piemontite Genuine, Tiger's Eye Genuine, Burnt Tiger's Eye Genuine, Hematite Genuine, German Green Raw Umber, Hematite Violet Genuine.
|
Transparent Red Oxide is one of my absolute favourite watercolours - the perfect colour for rust, which I love to paint, or as an alternative for Burnt Sienna. Though I tend to have both. Permanent Brown is also an interesting non-granulating red-brown.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Mummy Bauxite, Permanent Brown, Raw Umber Violet, Transparent Brown Oxide, Transparent Red Oxide, Environmentally Friendly Red Iron Oxide. |
Burnt Sienna as a palette staple and I love this version - PBr7 rather than the common PR101 burnt orange version. Burnt Umber is a lovely classic watercolour - a rich warm brown. I love the granulation of the Enviro-friendly watercolours. The EF Brown Iron Oxide is excellent as a really granulating burnt umber option.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Fired Gold Ochre, Burnt Sienna Light (new 2017, originally a limited release as part of the Alvaro set but now readily available), English Red Ochre, Burnt Umber, Environmentally Friendly Brown Iron Oxide. |
Raw Umber is a colour I use a lot as a cool dark brown, and I usually include it in a palette of 12 or more as it is not an easy cool dark brown to mix on the fly.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Raw Umber, Sepia, Sickerite Genuine, Van Dyck Brown, Bloodstone Genuine, Lunar Violet. |
And now for some darks. I don't tend to use black in watercolours but the Graphite Gray is like working with liquid pencil - lovely! I make my own Jane's Black and Jane's Grey (added to the range in 2019 - see below) for my darks.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Neutral Tint, Payne's Blue Gray (new 2017), Graphite Grey, Payne's Grey, Lamp Black, Black Tourmaline Genuine. |
I thought Yavapai Genuine might have been discontinued as it was missing from the previous colour chart but it's on the new one and here it is - out of order! Lunar Black makes me break all my not-using-black rules, (it's an extra colour I have fun with), just as Buff titanium puts a white pigment in my palette :-) Titanium white is whiter and more opaque than Chinese White I think.
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Yavapai Genuine, Ivory Black, Lunar Black (sorry - miss-spelt), Chinese White, Titanium White. |
Update March 2019.
Eight new colours have just been added to the DS range - another Primatek, six Signature mixes and a new single pigment grey. I've written more about them
here. Though of course I am particularly delighted with my signature series colour Jane's Grey :-)
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Jane's Grey, Red Jasper Genuine (Primatek), Gray Titanium. |
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Alvaro's Fresco Grey, Alvaro's Caliente Grey. |
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Joseph Z's Neutral Grey, Joseph Z's Cool Grey, Joseph Z's Warm Grey. |
2022/2023 update: Five new colours have been added to the range. Here is the
colour chart with 266 colours. I'll add the extra colours once I have them :-) by then I will also have done a full update of every swatch to colour check them more carefully.
 |
New colours 2022/2023 - Jane's Black (Blue/Orange), Chrome Titanate Yellow, Iridescent Vibrant Raspberry, King's Royal Blue, Jane's Black (Red/Green) |
I'll finish with a few that have been discontinued some time ago but I'll show them anyway as it's rather nice to know what they looked like...
 |
Daniel Smith Watercolours - Cote d'Azur Violet (discontinued), Bohemian Green Earth (Discontinued), Vivianite Blue Ochre (discontinued), Hot Mulled Cider (limited seasonal release)
|
As always, if you notice any errors, do let me know.
Happy painting :-)
Search for more watercolour ranges in the search bar.