From the Schmincke Vault

Our friends at Schmincke sometimes offer us the last of a one-off production run: perhaps it's something that came in a box that's no longer available, or a special color from a past limited-edition set. These items aren't part of the regular Schmincke catalog, so you won't be able to get them again later.

For this Autumn 2023 Schmincke Vault release, we have a random three-pack of pastel colors from the Schmincke Akademie watercolor line. We're offering these paints for more than 40% off their list price, so it's a perfect way to infuse some new color into your watercolor palette.

The possible colors are blueberry, lavender, pistachio, cherry, vanilla, and chocolate. Each three-pack is guaranteed to contain three different colors, but multiple packs will likely have duplicates.

Made in Germany.

About Schmincke Akademie Watercolor:

For its entire 140-year history, the Schmincke brand has meant the finest colors for artists, made to professional standards and used by the most demanding painters. On each package, the blue Schmincke owl holds a banner that reads "I strive for the best" in Latin. So you won't be surprised to hear that the company was hesitant to produce a more affordable watercolor for art students and beginners. It would have to appeal to artists on a budget but still adhere to the basic standards of the historic German color house.

Akademie Aquarell is Schmincke's answer to this challenge, and we recommend it strongly to any watercolorist who isn't ready to invest in a set of Horadam paints. It is the best student-grade watercolor we have ever carried; frankly, it outperforms many paints that call themselves artist grade. The colors are clear and vibrant, and it's easy to make mixed colors that are just as beautiful. A majority of Akademie colors are single-pigment, and the multi-pigment colors are carefully chosen to allow further mixing without muddiness. Intense, high-chroma colors are included alongside rich, organic earth colors, so you can make paintings in any style with Akademie.