Old Holland Classic Watercolors

Old Holland has been making artist colors since 1664, making it one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the art supplies industry. The company is known for uncompromising adherence to traditional techniques and standards. All color making is done by hand, and all processes are controlled by artists. Pigments are ground in stone rather than metal rollers, and colors are packaged in lead tubes rather than the more modern aluminum alloy tubes, which eventually oxidize and decay.

Old Holland Watercolors contain up to twice as much pigmentation as some other "Artist" grade colors. To qualify for the status of "Classic," the greatest possible amount of each pigment is ground in the purest binders. This heavy pigmentation load makes Old Holland the richest and thickest of watercolor paints, and colors have a heavy consistency.

Although Old Holland formulas are very traditional, modern pigments that are more lightfast or less toxic have been substituted for older pigments such as Alizarin Crimson (less lightfast) and Vermilion (which formerly contained mercury). These modern colors are indicated by the word "extra" in the color's name.

Transparent glazing colors are indicated by the word "lake" in the color name. (In other watercolor lines, a "lake" color is a dye that requires an extra vehicle in its binder.)

Old Holland Classic Watercolors come in .20 oz (6 ml) tubes.