Art Snacks Unboxing Review: Honest Watercolor Supplies Test
content: Testing Art Snacks Watercolor Supplies: A Painter's Real Experience
Opening a mystery art box brings excitement and uncertainty. When I received my Art Snacks package, the purple Rembrandt watercolor and teal Caran d'Ache pencil hinted at creative potential. But would these premium supplies deliver? Through hands-on testing, I discovered surprising truths about paper compatibility, pigment behavior, and workflow adaptation that every watercolor artist should know.
Unboxed Materials and Initial Observations
The Art Snacks package contained several noteworthy items:
- Rembrandt Extra-Fine Watercolor (Purple): A professional-grade pigment priced around $14
- Caran d'Ache Water-Soluble Pencil: Smooth, vibrant blue-green pigment
- Royal Talens Pencils: Non-water-soluble set in red, orange, yellow, green
- Princeton Velouch #8 Round Brush & Angle Brush: Different application purposes
- Grumbacher Cold Press Watercolor Paper**: 7x10" textured surface
- Water-Based Brush Pen: Marked as "waterproof when dry"
Immediately, the Rembrandt watercolor's texture raised questions. Despite its premium price point, the pigment separated oddly on the paper. As I noted during testing: "You see how weird and speckly these watercolors are? I only ever see that with my cheap watercolors." This suggested potential compatibility issues.
Performance Challenges and Workarounds
Testing revealed three critical material interactions:
Paper Quality Limitations: The cold press paper underperformed despite its branding. Washes lifted unpredictably and pigments appeared grainy. This significantly impacts color vibrancy - a crucial consideration when using expensive paints.
Watercolor Pencil Advantages: The Caran d'Ache pencil became my MVP. When activated with water, it produced richer saturation than the tube watercolor. As demonstrated: "Ooh! Look how much more saturated that is. Wow, that's a really nice watercolor pencil." It also worked beautifully for line art over washes.
"Waterproof" Ink Reality: The brush pen's waterproof claim proved unreliable before full curing. Testing showed: "You can definitely smudge it around before it dries." This demands careful timing in layered pieces.
| Supply | Expected Performance | Actual Result | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rembrandt Watercolor | Professional smooth washes | Speckled, uneven application | Limited to small accents |
| Caran d'Ache Pencil | Standard watercolor pencil | Excellent saturation and blending | Line art, details, washes |
| Royal Talens Pencils | Basic coloring pencils | Minimal water reactivity | Sketching underlayers |
| Grumbacher Paper | Professional absorbency | Pigment lifting and texture issues | Practice pieces only |
Creative Adaptation in Action
Faced with these material behaviors, I developed a new approach:
Color-Limited Strategy: Using primarily the blue pencil and purple watercolor created unexpected harmony. The restricted palette forced creative problem-solving.
Layering Solution: Applying pencil over dried watercolor hid sketch lines while adding depth. As shown on the character's hoodie: "Add some ... Basically, just kind of layering it up, shading, adding line art, all in one go."
Textural Recovery: When background washes turned streaky, I transformed mistakes into organic patterns. This improvisation created dynamic movement around the figure.
The figure's final rendering demonstrated how limitations can spark innovation. Despite initial struggles, the blue-purple palette gave the athletic character cool, energetic vibes. The hoodie's fabric folds showed successful pencil-over-wash texture building.
Key Insights for Watercolor Artists
This test yielded valuable professional takeaways:
Paper Dictates Results: Even premium paints underperform on incompatible paper. Always test materials first - a lesson reinforced when $14 paint behaved like student-grade.
Pencils Outperform Paints: Water-soluble pencils offered greater control and vibrancy than tube watercolors in this scenario. Their versatility makes them ideal for travel kits.
Embrace "Happy Accidents": Background imperfections became swirling energy when reworked with intention. As I reflected: "It might have been messy looking but I liked it better than that earlier mistake."
Immediately Actionable Checklist:
- Test new paper with swatches before starting projects
- Use water-soluble pencils for line art over washes
- Allow 24-hour curing for "waterproof" inks
- Build depth through layered pencil applications
- Transform wash mistakes into intentional textures
Recommended Upgrades:
- Paper: Arches Cold Press ($15/sheet) - superior pigment hold
- Travel Pencils: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer ($25/set) - reliable performance
- Brushes: Da Vinci Maestro Series 10 ($35) - precision spring
What material compatibility issues have you encountered? Share your toughest paper-paint mismatch story below - your experience helps us all avoid costly mistakes.
Final Thought: Premium supplies don't guarantee premium results. True artistry lies in adapting to your materials' real behavior, not their marketed promises. Through testing and flexibility, even problematic supplies can yield compelling artwork.
