Key Takeaways
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The ArtMate Nomad Artist Kit costs $74.99 and includes a 24-grid Winsor & Newton Cotman palette, three brushes, a brush-washing pot, and 20 A7 sheets of 300 gsm paper.
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It holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating. Buyers note its usefulness for travel painting and that a label card would be a good addition to it.
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The A7 paper format in the Nomad Artist Kit works best for small-scale work like travel journaling, quick studies, and pocket-size sketches.
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The three main alternatives to consider are Tobio's Watercolor Kit, the Pagather Travel Watercolor Set, and the Fuumuui Travel Portable Watercolor Set.
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit includes 12 pigments, a cotton paper sketchbook, a walnut palette, a water brush, and a digital guide, designed for first-time painters and backed by a 60-day guarantee.
Is the Nomad Artist Watercolor Kit Good for Beginners?
It depends on what kind of beginner. The ArtMate Nomad Artist Kit is a well-made travel set with Winsor & Newton Cotman paints, three brushes, and 300 gsm paper in a leather-bound case, but it assumes the person opening it already knows how to mix colors, control water, and build a wash. It offers no instructions, color guide, or structure for someone painting for the first time.
That makes it a better fit for a painter with some experience who wants a premium portable setup, and a worse fit for someone who has never held a water brush. The 24 unlabeled paint pans compound the problem for true beginners, since identifying pigments by sight takes familiarity most new painters do not have yet.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit approaches the same moment differently, packaging 12 pigments with a cotton paper sketchbook, a digital guide, and supplies that were selected specifically for a first-time painter rather than a traveling one.
Tobio's Kits: Everything You Need to Start Painting, In One Box
Complete Starter Kit | Ages 6+ | No Art Experience Needed
Tobio's portable watercolor kit puts everything in one compact box (pans, paper, and a wooden palette) so you can start painting right away, whether you're at home or on the go. No separate shopping, no guesswork. Just open the box and paint.
✓ A truly portable all-in-one kit, not just the wooden palette (unlike cheaper lookalikes)
✓ Pre-sketched Beginner Workbook with 30 guided illustrations, so no drawing required
✓ Curated supplies that work together, designed for beginners without the overwhelm
✓ Great for ages 6+ and thoughtful gift-givers who want to give something meaningful
Creativity should feel welcoming, not overwhelming.
The ArtMate Nomad Artist Kit ($74.99, originally $106.99)
ArtMate positions the Nomad Artist Kit as a travel-first watercolor system, and the design clearly reflects that. The kit centers on a leather-bound case format, giving it a cohesive, carry-ready feel that sets it apart from typical plastic-case travel sets. At its current price of $74.99, down from $106.99, it's roughly 30% off and sits at a mid-range price point for what it includes.
The Winsor & Newton Cotman paint fill is one of the kit's stronger selling points. Winsor & Newton Cotman is a well-established watercolor brand, and seeing it on the product page adds transparency. That said, ArtMate doesn't publish pigment numbers, lightfastness ratings, or pan volume details, so buyers seeking that level of detail will need to follow up directly.
What's Included
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A leather-bound case with a 24-grid watercolor palette filled with Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor paint
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Three watercolor brushes in sizes 2, 4, and 6
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A brush-washing pot
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20 refillable A7 sheets of 300 gsm watercolor paper
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A gift box
The 300 gsm paper weight suits watercolor work and holds up to wet washes without excessive buckling. The A7 format, however, measures roughly 2.9 × 4.1 inches, which is intentionally compact. That size works well for quick studies, botanical sketches, travel journaling, and postcard-style paintings, but it is not suited to larger compositions or broad layered washes.
Reviews
The Nomad Artist Kit has a 4.9-out-of-5-star rating. One notable review described the kit as useful for painting while traveling. Another said the kit would be better with a label card for the colors.
Users find the kit good for painting while traveling. (Image Source: Artmate)
What Are the Best Alternatives to the Nomad Artist Kit?
Tobio's Watercolor Kit
Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the only option in this comparison built specifically around the first-time painter's experience. While most travel kits assume some baseline familiarity with watercolor, Tobio's starts from zero. The full kit includes 12 watercolor pigments, a cotton paper sketchbook, a walnut wood palette, a travel water brush, an absorbent wristband, a metal art clip, and a digital painting guide. A Beginner Workbook is sold separately but bundles with the kit at a lower price for painters who want structured exercises alongside the supplies.
The digital guide walks new painters through their first session, the 12 pigments are chosen to teach color mixing without overwhelming, and the cotton paper sketchbook clips directly to the walnut wood palette, so setup takes seconds anywhere.
With a 4.8 rating, buyers consistently highlight two things: having everything needed to start painting in one box, and the beginner-first design that removes the guesswork of sourcing supplies separately. The kit comes with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, so first-time painters can test whether watercolor suits them before the purchase becomes permanent.
Users find the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit very beginner-friendly, having all the needed supplies to get started with watercolor painting.
Pagather Travel Watercolor Set
The Pagather Travel Watercolor Set is a portable option aimed at painters who want a well-equipped kit for outdoor or on-the-go use. It includes a magnetic walnut case holding 24 solid watercolor pans, a refillable water brush and a detail brush, an acrylic mixing palette, a collapsible water cup, a sponge, a spray bottle, a sketchbook, a clip, and a zippered storage bag.
Buyers often highlight the kit's portability and ease of use outdoors. Painters who use it for quick sessions away from home praise its compact format. Some users note that the build quality isn't the best, saying the tray and palette don’t close properly and the collapsible cup is finicky.
Users find that the Pagather set has all that’s needed for painting on the go, though its quality isn’t the strongest. (Image Source: Amazon)
Fuumuui Travel Portable Watercolor Set (Assorted Colors Pocket Kit)
The Fuumuui Travel Portable Watercolor Set is a pocket-sized kit designed for painters who prioritize a minimal, lightweight setup. It comes in an assorted-color configuration and is built around usable watercolor supplies that fit in a bag.
Some reviewers point out that the pocket format works best for short sessions rather than extended painting. The assorted color range is noted as sufficient for quick studies and travel sketching. Some users also find the paint troublesome because it has to dry fully before the case can be closed.
Some users find that the Fuumuui set is not ideal for quick sketches as paint has to dry before one can close them. (Image Source: Amazon)
ArtMate Nomad vs. Alternatives: Comparison Table
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Kit |
What’s included |
Best for |
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Tobio’s Watercolor Kit |
12 pigments, cotton-paper sketchbook, walnut palette, water brush, clip, wristband, digital guide; optional workbook |
First-time painters wanting clear guidance and a complete starter kit |
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ArtMate Nomad Artist Kit |
24-grid Winsor & Newton Cotman palette, leather sketchbook, three brushes, washing pot, 20 A7 300 gsm sheets |
Travel journaling, miniature paintings, and premium all-in-one portability |
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Pagather Travel Set |
Magnetic walnut case with 24 pans, refillable water brush, detail brush, mixing palette, collapsible water cup, sponge, spray bottle, sketchbook, clip, storage bag |
Painters wanting most tools packed into one bag for short outdoor or travel sessions |
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Fuumuui Pocket Kit |
Assorted-color pocket palette and refillable water brush |
Minimalist painters who already have watercolor paper |
Tobio's Watercolor Kit Gives First-Time & Returning Painters a Complete Start.
Tobio’s Watercolor Kit has all that beginners need to get started with watercolor painting.
Choosing a first watercolor kit comes down to one honest question: does this set actually help someone who has never painted before, or does it just look the part? The ArtMate Nomad Artist Kit is well-made, but it doesn't solve the real beginner problem: knowing what to do with the supplies once you have them.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit was built to fill that gap. It is designed from the ground up for beginners, and the 60-day satisfaction guarantee means a first-time painter can try it without committing blindly. Order the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What supplies do beginners need for watercolor?
At minimum, a beginner needs watercolor paint, at least one brush, watercolor paper, and a container for water. A mixing palette is also useful. Beyond that, the supplies depend on what kind of painting you want to do.
What paper does the Nomad Artist Kit include?
The Nomad Artist Kit includes 20 refillable A7 sheets of 300 gsm watercolor paper. Painters who want a larger format will need to source additional watercolor paper separately.
What is the trick to watercolor painting?
Watercolor rewards patience more than precision. Learning to wait, and understanding how much water to use relative to pigment, makes a bigger difference than any single technique. Starting with simple washes and building up layers gradually gives you far more control than trying to get everything right immediately.
Does Tobio's Watercolor Kit suit people who have never painted before?
Tobio's Watercolor Kit was designed specifically for beginners, making it one of the more deliberate starting points in this category. The kit includes a digital guide and is backed by a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Unlike travel-focused kits that assume some baseline familiarity with painting, Tobio's is structured around the first-time painter's experience from the start.
*Disclaimer: Tobio's Kits watercolor supplies are designed for ages 6 and above. As with all art materials, paints are not food-safe and should be kept away from the mouth. Best suited for beginner-to-intermediate painters. Visit Tobio's Kits to explore our full range of art kits and find the right set for you.