Comments about Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pan Sets:

This is my second one (lost the first at the airport). Many people are searching for the perfect travel box for carrying in your pocket or purse. This is it. It's not fancy. It doesn't have little water cups or foldout palettes or a thumb hole. But it's all you need really. Three spots in the lid for mixing colors, comfortably sized. A spot to hold a travel brush (it comes with a Cotman, sz 3). Twelve colors, cool and warm of each primary, plus the usual earth tones amd a green. It measures approx 5in x 2in x .5in

Changes/additions: I would replace the travel brush with a larger, better quality one. I'm not a huge fan of Cotman brushes. Or even better, carry a water brush. I replaced some of the colors with personal favorites. Eventually they will all be replaced with artist quality. Also a rubberband to hold the lid closed. I haven't had accidents yet, but the lid doesn't close tightly.

I spent a lot of time browsing, trying to find an awesome pocket box. I finally realized that the one I have is one of the best there is. I'm buying a second one as backup, just in case!

Comments about Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pan Sets:

This nifty little box is the ultimate in travel simplicity: 12 watercolor pans, room for some color mixing inside the lid, and a nice little travel brush. I also have the Cotman Field Box, which I like, but it seems a bit too large and fiddly next to this one.

The three changes I'd make aren't enough to take away from the five star rating. They are: 1) substitute another color for cobalt blue hue, which is almost identical to ultramarine, 2) substitute something else entirely for the Chinese white, and 3) include a larger travel brush. If you have any other watercolor supplies at home these are easy changes to make. If not, order a couple of tubes or half pans of artist grade paints with this kit.

Here's how I did it as a rank amateur: For the color substitutions, I used tube paint to fill one half pan with Payne's gray and the other with phthalo blue, green shade. Then I cut a couple of inches off the handle of an old brush to replace the slightly skimpy travel brush.

In this box, the half pans fit into little wells, so the actual pans aren't even needed. You can save them for another project!

Comments about Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pan Sets:

It comes in a small compact case, perfect for outdoor sketches. The watercolours have great consistency and pigmentation and the small detachable brush is a very usefull aid. Artists' quality product. Another thing to point out regarding this purchase is the packing. My package had to travel a great deal of kilometers and it arrived in perfect condition. Everything came very well protected. I definitely recommend Blick Art to world wide customers.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pan Sets:

This is a very nice set - it comes with a small nylon bag with plenty of compartments and space for everything I want to take with me when I sketch outdoors. I wouldn't call this a roomy bag, but there are places to tuck in a few extra items.

I love the paints - they are bright and very easy to use. I'm very happy I ordered this!

You might want to buy more brushes as the set comes with only one.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pan Sets:

I have been using these paints for years and they never seem to come up short. I really like the small travel painters boxes with pan paints, excellent for out in the field.