Key Takeaways
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The Pocket Art Toolkit is a carrying cover sewn in Seattle from 1000 denier nylon, sold either bare or with a water brush, fine-tip pen, ruler, refill syringe, and watercolor album.
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Neither version includes a palette or paint, so the $45 cover and the $75 With Tools option both need a separate palette purchase before you can paint.
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Owners rate the build well, praising the nylon construction, YKK zipper, and pockets that hold two Pocket or Demi Palettes, though the price draws criticism once you add the palette cost.
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The best alternatives are Tobio's Watercolor Kit, Pagather, Fuumuui, and SeamiArt, all of which include paint, though Fuumuui ships without paper and SeamiArt includes only a few sheets.
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit pairs a walnut palette of 12 pigments with cotton paper and a self-feeding water brush, so a beginner can open it and paint in under a minute without a cup or sink.
Is the Pocket Art Toolkit Worth It for Beginners?
The Pocket Art Toolkit is a well-made carrying cover, and painters who already own palettes and paper tend to be glad they bought it. Whether it works as a beginner's very first purchase is a different question, and worth thinking through before you order.
That difference comes down to what a beginner needs on day one: paint, paper, a brush, and water, all in one purchase. The Toolkit organizes supplies rather than supplying them, so the box you open starts a shopping list instead of ending one.
So the real question is not whether the case is good, but whether a beginner should spend their first $45 to $75 on the part that holds everything else. Tobio's Watercolor Kit bundles the palette, pigments, cotton paper, and water brush together for $36, which is less than either version of the cover.
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.
Pocket Art Toolkit
The Pocket Art Toolkit comes in two selections: Cover-only and With Tools. (Image Source: Art Toolkit)
The Pocket Art Toolkit is made by Art Toolkit, which makes minimalist watercolor carrying systems aimed at plein air painters and urban sketchers. The Pocket Art Toolkit is their smaller format option, positioned as "a smaller carry for smaller sketchbooks."
What's Included
The Pocket Art Toolkit does not include a watercolor palette. It is sold as either cover-only or as a with-tools option that comes pre-filled with a starter set of sketching supplies.
The with-tools option adds a water brush, fine-tip pen, ruler, refill syringe, and a Moleskine watercolor album, plus a 20% discount on a paint palette. Paint is still a separate purchase.
The cover itself is well organized. Two side pockets fit Pocket or Demi Palettes, while the roomy main pocket holds a sketchbook, loose-leaf paper, or a Folio Palette. It comes in nine colors, including the Duotone Forest and Duotone Desert editions, in a compact form sized for smaller sketchbooks.
Real User Reviews
Capacity draws the most praise. One five-star verified buyer called it small but roomy, saying it takes the right size and fits a lot inside, with well-designed pockets. Other reviewers describe the same thing in practice, fitting a sketchbook, a palette, and their tools into a case that still slips into a bag.
The gear loops and zipper hold up under regular outdoor use, which is why painters who already own Art Toolkit palettes tend to keep using it.
Users find the cover handy and well-designed, but its cost and inclusions make it more expensive.
The Best Alternatives to the Pocket Art Toolkit
1. Tobio's Watercolor Kit
Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the most beginner-friendly all-in-one option on this list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from nearly 7000 verified reviews. Available for $36 (originally $80), it bundles a pocket-size walnut wood palette, 12 high-quality pigments, a travel water brush, a cotton paper sketchbook, a digital guide, a metal clip, and a soft wristband, so there is nothing left to research or buy.
Setup takes seconds, which matters most when you are still building the habit. The palette is smaller than a phone when closed, and the full kit fits in one hand while you paint. The clip keeps pages flat outdoors, and the water brush skips the water cup, so a beginner can start painting anywhere without a setup ritual.
2. Pagather Travel Watercolor Set
The Pagather Travel Watercolor Set is a 24-color kit built around a magnetic walnut wood case with solid pans. It also comes with a refillable water brush, a detail paintbrush, an acrylic mixing palette, a collapsible water cup, a sponge, a spray bottle, a watercolor sketchbook, a heart-shaped clip, and a storage bag.
Everything packs into a zippered fabric bag measuring roughly 5.35 by 8.15 inches, with interior elastic straps holding each piece in place. The 24-pan layout gives a wider color range than most pocket sets, though the case is larger than palettes designed to fit in a jacket pocket.
3. Fuumuui Travel Watercolor Set
The Fuumuui Travel Watercolor Set is a 12-color kit housed in a metal tin measuring 12 by 6.5 cm. It includes 12 assorted watercolors, a natural Kolinsky sable travel brush, and a built-in metal mixing palette, and it is listed at $34.99, down from $38.99.
A metal ring under the case gives you something to grip while painting, and the built-in mixing space means you don't need a separate palette. The tin is compact enough for outdoor sketching, though the kit does not include paper. Beginners will need to buy a watercolor sketchbook or pad separately before they can start.
4. SeamiArt 12/24 Colors Artist Travel Watercolor Paint Set
The SeamiArt Artist Travel Watercolor Paint Set comes in 12-color and 24-color versions, both housed in a natural walnut wood palette box. Each set includes solid watercolor cakes, detachable travel brushes, and watercolor paper, so you get the basics in one purchase.
The case uses magnetic anchor points to hold the paper in place, and you can switch the paper between landscape and portrait orientation. The 24-color version offers a wider spectrum for mixing, while the 12-color version keeps the palette smaller. Paper quantity is limited, so you'll need refills once the included sheets run out.
Pocket Art Toolkit vs. Alternatives: Comparison Table
|
Kit |
Price |
Paint |
Paper |
Brush |
Case |
Best For |
|
Tobio's Watercolor Kit |
$36 (originally $80) |
12 pigments |
Cotton sketchbook |
Water brush |
Walnut palette case |
Total beginners |
|
Pocket Art Toolkit |
$45 or $75 |
Not included |
With Tools only |
With Tools only |
Nylon cover |
Painters who own palettes and paint |
|
Pagather Travel Set |
$17.98 at Amazon |
24 pans |
Sketchbook |
Water and detail brush |
Walnut case + fabric bag |
Wider color range |
|
Fuumuui Travel Set |
$34.99 (originally $38.99) |
12 colors |
Not included |
Sable travel brush |
Metal tin |
Hobbyists with paper |
|
SeamiArt Travel Set |
From $23.19 |
12 or 24 cakes |
Limited sheets |
Detachable brushes |
Walnut box |
Plein air sketching |
Why Tobio's Watercolor Kit Is Better for Beginners
Tobio’s Watercolor Kit bundles everything that beginners need to get started.
The choice really comes down to timing. A carrying case rewards painters who already have their supplies sorted, while a first-time painter is still deciding what to buy. Every extra decision between opening a box and making a first mark is one more chance the hobby never starts.
Our Watercolor Kit removes those decisions. The palette, 12 pigments, cotton paper, and water brush arrive together, so nothing is missing and nothing needs researching. No cup, no sink, no setup ritual. Order Tobio's Watercolor Kit and paint your first piece this week.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the Pocket Art Toolkit come with paint?
No, the Pocket Art Toolkit does not come with paint. It is a carrying case designed to hold Art Toolkit palettes (sold separately). When purchased as "With Tools," Art Toolkit does offer a 20% discount on a paint palette, but the palette itself is still an additional cost on top of the $75 With Tools price.
What supplies do beginners need for watercolor?
At a minimum, you need four things to start painting with watercolor: paint, paper, a brush, and water. Beyond the basics, a small palette for mixing colors and a compact carrying case make the experience significantly smoother, especially if you want to paint outdoors or on the go. An all-in-one kit like Tobio's Watercolor Kit bundles all of these together, removing the guesswork and getting you painting faster.
What should I watercolor as a beginner?
Start with simple, forgiving subjects: loose florals, basic landscapes, or abstract washes. Early on, comfort matters more than precision. Flowers are especially great for beginners because their organic shapes mean small imperfections actually add character rather than looking like mistakes.
What do you paint first in watercolor?
In watercolor, you always work light to dark. Unlike oil or acrylic, you can't paint a light color over a dark one effectively, because watercolor's transparency means layering works in only one direction. Starting with your lightest values and building depth gradually gives you the most control over the final result.
What is the best watercolor kit for a beginner?
For most beginners, Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the best starting point because it packs the palette, 12 pigments, thick cotton paper, a water brush, and a carrying case into one box. The kit features a walnut wood palette and cotton paper that stays smooth, and the water brush holds its own water, so you don't need a cup or sink. Setup takes about a minute.
*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.