A. Gallo watercolours come from Assisi, Italy. This is a honey-based range, created to be highly lightfast and free of mercury, lead, arsenic, cobalt and cadmium. I originally tried the full range in September 2021. As of 2022, these hand-made colours are available in individual half pans in 86 colours, or a range of interesting sets.
The Signature set from 2021 is shown below. There are also various collections and some lovely wooden palettes as part of a limited edition range. This is a range created with passion. A new brick and mortar shop has opened in Assisi for those travelling. They are also available from Jacksonsart (affiliate link) who ship world-wide.
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| Signature set of 24, 2021 |
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| Dot card from September 2021 |
The pans were wrapped in watercolour paper with the colour sample brushed over it and the presentation is gorgeous. The website was very clear and the printouts in the colour chart were so well done that I almost felt I didn't need to add the swatches here. There were some lovely primary colours and interesting purple mixes. Interestingly, about half the range was made up of realistic greens and earth colours. I updated these swatches to include the new colours added, and removed those that have been discontinued.
Update August 2024: the range has grown to 110 colours, with a couple discontinued and a couple of extra sample colours as well. I'll gradually update this blog post, including the new colours where I have them and the swatches with the details for those I don't have. Many thanks to Anish for the extra colours 🙂
A.Gallo watercolours: Buff Titanium, Titanium Yellow Hue (new 2024 not shown), Lemon Yellow PY3 (not shown),
Lemon Yellow Permanent, Azo Yellow gold, Royal Yellow
A.Gallo watercolours: Indian yellow, Arancione, Hokkaido Orange, Pyrrole Orange (new 2024, not shown),
Vermilion Red, Cinabro Hue (new 2024)
| A.Gallo watercolours: Medici Red, Scarlet Red, Ruby Red, Alizarin Crimson Hue, Permanent Carmine, Quinacridone Magenta (previously Opera. Note - this is now made with PR202. It was originally PR122). |
Not many companies include genuine Rose Madder. This is an earthy coral-pink version. Dragon's Blood looks a little like Perylene Maroon but with loads of granulation. It was quite difficult to activate from the half pan.
A.Gallo watercolours: Ultramarine Pink, Pietra Rosa, Potter's Pink, Rose Madder, Dragon's Blood, Lilac (new 2024)
It's nice to see a good range of single pigment purples, along with the gorgeous granulating Han Purple added in 2024. I generally mix purples with a rose and a blue, but for special effects, gorgeous granulation or gentle pigment triads or studies these purples can be a real treat.
A.Gallo watercolours: Quinacridone Violet, Mineral Violet, Tyrian Purple, Han Purple (new 2024),
Ultramarine Violet, Dioxazine Violet.
As this range contains no cobalts of cadmiums, there isn't an option of a single pigment cerulean, but there are two cerulean hues. 'Transparent Cerulean' made with PB15:3 is basically Phthalo Blue Green Shade, though perhaps a less staining version?
A.Gallo watercolours: Notturno, Zirconium Blue, Azurite Blue (new 2024)
Cerulean Hue (not shown), Translucent Cerulean, Azzurro.
Cerulean Hue (not shown), Translucent Cerulean, Azzurro.
A.Gallo watercolours: Phthalo Blue Red Shade (new 2024), YInMn Blue, Lapis Lazuli, Ultramarine Blue (not shown), Ultramarine Blue Dark, Periwinkle,
Most of these are mixes but they are pretty colours.
A.Gallo watercolours: Midnight Blue, Indanthrone Blue, Copper Blue, Teal Blue, Aquamarine, Harbor Blue
I enjoy using the lovely green earth pigments in stone and pebble studies.
A.Gallo watercolours: Dar Forest (not shown), Perylene Green, Forest Green, Green Earth Cool,
Deep Sea Green, Ultramarine Turquoise (not shown)
A.Gallo watercolours: Viridian Hue, Malachite Hue (new 2024), Spring Green (not shown), Sap Green,
Phthalo Green Light (not shown), Fig Green.
| A.Gallo watercolours: Victoria Green, Chromium Oxide, Green Earth Warm, Olive Green Deep, Indigo Green (new 2024), Verdaccio |
| A.Gallo watercolours: Green Umber, Buckthorn Berry Green (new 2024), Green Gold, French Ochre Sahara, Jarosite, Still de Grain Light (new 2024) |
Update in progress. Come back soon!
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| A.Gallo watercolours: French Ochre Sahara, Verdaccio, Green Umber, Jarosite, Gold Ochre, Moroccan Yellow Ochre. |
I found some colours were best used in a very liquid state - painting with a 'cream' consistency lost some of the glow.
I've added all these painted swatches to my website, arranged by colour and pigment.
Happy painting!
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| A.Gallo watercolours: Raw Sienna, Raw Sienna Badia, Yellow Ochre - Burgundy (not shown), Quinacridone Gold, Transparent Red Oxide (not shown), Castile Orange. |
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| A.Gallo watercolours: Ercolano Red, Burnt Sienna, Sartorio Red, Venetian Red, Hematite, Morellone. |
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| A.Gallo watercolours: Perylene Maroon (not shown), Quinacridone Chestnut, Burnt Umber - Cyprus, Burnt Umber - Brownish, Chromite Brown, Burnt Umber - Dark. |
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| A.Gallo watercolours: Sepia, Indigo, Payne's Gray, Roman Black Earth, Ivory Black, Slate Gray. |
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| A.Gallo watercolours: Titanium White, Antique Gold, Buckthorn Green (discontinued), Quinacridone Red Gold (discontinued). |
I've added all these painted swatches to my website, arranged by colour and pigment.
Happy painting!
I was intrigued and thought of ordering some to try.. but their choice of sales method is a real turn off. I understand they produce a limited amount of product but who has time to wait for a single day of availability and jump on a purchase while fighting a ton of other customers for the same product? Not me. They really should release product as it becomes available.
ReplyDeleteI waited and it was worth it. They are lovely paints. They also sell out so I don’t think they have issues here.
DeleteIf they were to release products as they become available, you would find yourself doing what you don't want to do in the first place, but instead of doing it once a month, you'd be doing it every time they'd release a product or a new batch of one colour. I think the way they go about it fine. I've bought a few palettes from them, and I missed out on a few; at least, they are not limited editions, so there is always the next time. What kills me is the shipping and then the customs et al. My pans are brand new now, but eventually, I'll run out of a pan or two, and paying 30 euros for 9 or 18 euros worth of paint, well, ouch!
DeleteThat's a really gorgeous spread of swatches Jane, thank you for your diligence and for sharing! It's settled, I'm going back to Italy.
ReplyDeleteBecause of your blog plus the amazing swatches, I am anxiously awaiting delivery of the 48 half pan set plus a half pan of Notturno. I reached out to the company and was so pleased with their swift & very kind response. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane I just received my signature 2 and cherry wood palatte. Can’t wait to try them urban sketching..the brushes seem nice too.
ReplyDeleteThank Jane you for all the wonderful swatches. These paints are just fabulous to work with and handled / packed / designed so thoughtful, bought mine in Italy on my holiday. And to be honest, for me the wait is actually quite nice and a reminder, we are so used to instantly be able to buy what we see and want, the once in a month availablity makes it extra special and you really can ponder about what you want and why. : )
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane for this swatching of the A.Gallo range of artist watercolor paints. I discovered them after a trip to Italy in 2019 and was intrigued. I now have many of their paints and accessories, all of which are superb to use! Their presentation is a wonderful bonus! Can't wait for the next release - and If you get on their mailing list you will be sent an email of when their next release is to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane for this swatching of the A.Gallo range of artist watercolor paints. I discovered them after a trip to Italy in 2019 and was intrigued. I now have many of their paints and accessories, all of which are superb to use! Their presentation is a wonderful bonus! Can't wait for the next release - and If you get on their mailing list you will be sent an email of when their next release is to be.
ReplyDeleteI got lucky and ordered some as a Christmas present for ME. Didn't get all of the colors I wanted (carmine was sold out as was ultramarine) but I got a palette and five additional half pans that should see me through. I already had the Tintoretto wooden palette from a previous purchase when it first came out but since it was empty I've been waiting for something special to put in it. A. Gallo fits the bill. Merry Christmas to ME!
ReplyDeleteDepending on how they work out, I may or may not try for the few colors that were sold out that I was hoping for. As for availability, that is how it is with hand made artisan watercolors. I've been buying Greenleaf and Blueberry for a few years now and that is just how it is. I can also buy a tube for the price of a half pan but again, hand made artisan watercolors.
They are now sold at Jackson’s Art Supply in England as well
ReplyDeleteI am rather new to watercolor, and read in a comment on the A Gallo Instagram that these are too granular and do not layer well. Has that been your experience?
ReplyDeleteI haven’t not found them to be granular at all, and they layer like the diff. pro watercolors I’ve used. They wet easily and have lots of pigment. They are a joy to paint with and I have found myself using them a lot more than some of my other brands. @rosieinsd
DeleteI love this whole range, not least of all because they smell like rosemary. They are pure pleasure to paint with. I only wish they came in tubes. I hope they continue to grow.
ReplyDeleteHow do I get the the wrapper off of the pans in a new palettes?
ReplyDeleteIt would be really interesting to know your 12-colour watercolour palette suggestion with this brand. Could you share your choices with us?
ReplyDeleteNice
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