Key Takeaways
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Tobio, Cotman, and Aquafine travel kits differ mainly in completeness: Tobio's includes everything you need to paint, Cotman includes paint and brushes only, and Aquafine offers a small, Turner-inspired six-color set.
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit packs 12 color tubes, a cotton-paper sketchbook, a travel water brush, and a walnut palette in a compact box.
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The Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set holds 12 student-grade half pans, a travel brush, and a lid palette, but no paper or workbook, so you buy paper separately.
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The Aquafine Turner Tate Set offers six Turner-inspired watercolors, three brushes, and a postcard pad, though its small color range limits you beyond warm, atmospheric painting.
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For travel, Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the best pick because it ships ready to paint, and the walnut palette clips to the sketchbook for a stable setup anywhere. A 30-illustration Beginner Workbook is also available separately and bundles with the kit at a lower price.
What to Look for in a Watercolor Travel Kit
A good watercolor travel kit is one you can open and paint from on the spot. On location, what matters most is having usable colors, water-ready paper, and a brush that needs no cup or table.
The Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set handles colors and a brush well, with 12 student-grade half pans and a travel brush, but it comes with no paper, so you buy that yourself. The Aquafine Turner Tate Set includes a postcard pad and three brushes, though its six Turner-inspired colors give you a narrow range for anything beyond warm, atmospheric work.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit meets all three needs at once. It includes 12 pigment tubes, a thick cotton-paper sketchbook, a travel water brush, and a walnut palette that clips to the sketchbook, so you can paint anywhere without a table.
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.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit
Tobio’s Watercolor Kit was designed to be compact and travel-friendly.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit is designed from the ground up for artists who want a complete, frustration-free experience. At the center of the kit is a pocket-size watercolor palette loaded with richly pigmented paints that are easy to control and blend, even if you've never picked up a brush before. The palette is compact enough to carry anywhere, but generous enough to give you a full working color range.
Paired with a premium watercolor notebook featuring thick, beginner-friendly paper that handles water beautifully, a travel water brush that requires no extra setup, 12 vibrant watercolor tubes, and a compact case, it's a genuinely complete kit.
Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set
The Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set is a recognized name in affordable travel watercolor. It contains 12 Cotman Watercolor half pans made with quality fine art pigments, offering excellent tinting strength at a student-grade price point.
The set is specifically designed for outdoor watercolor painting, with a curated palette that works for beginners and experienced artists alike. It also includes a travel brush, making it a good option straight out of the box. Previously sold under the name Sketchers' Pocket Box, the Cotman line spans 40 colors available individually, so expanding your palette later is straightforward.
Aquafine Turner Tate Set
The Daler-Rowney Aquafine Turner Tate Set takes a more artistic and thematic approach. Inspired by the atmospheric warmth of J.M.W. Turner's painting The Scarlet Sunset, this set includes six finely milled watercolors, three complementary brushes, and a smooth postcard-size pad. The colors are specifically chosen to recreate Turner's signature glowing tonal shifts, soft washes, and expressive detail work.
It's a beautiful introductory set for artists drawn to impressionistic, light-driven painting, but the limited six-color range means you'll hit its ceiling fairly quickly if you're looking to explore beyond a specific style.
With the right watercolor travel kit, you can make your painting setup simple and convenient.
Cotman vs Aquafine vs Tobio's: Side-by-Side Comparison Table
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Feature |
Tobio's Watercolor Kit |
Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set |
Aquafine Turner Tate Set |
|
Colors |
12 tubes |
12 half pans |
6 watercolors |
|
Paper |
Cotton notebook |
No |
Postcard pad |
|
Brushes |
1 travel water brush |
1 travel brush |
3 brushes |
|
Carrying Case |
Yes |
Pocket box |
No |
|
Palette |
Walnut wood, clips to sketchbook |
Built into lid |
No |
|
Best For |
Beginners wanting one grab-and-go kit |
Outdoor painters wanting a student-grade staple |
Artists focused on warm, impressionistic tones |
Why Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the Best Travel Kit
You can conveniently bring and use the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit in any travel.
All three kits have a clear strength: the Cotman set gives you a trusted 12-color palette built for outdoor sessions; the Aquafine set delivers a curated, Turner-inspired tonal range for warm, atmospheric work. But only one kit puts paints, paper, brushes, and structured guidance in the same box.
We built Tobio's Watercolor Kit, so you never have to piece a setup together yourself. Everything ships ready to paint, from the walnut wood palette and cotton paper sketchbook to the travel water brush that needs no cup or table. Pair it with the Beginner Workbook, available separately at a bundled discount, and you get 30 pre-sketched illustrations that walk you through your first strokes. Grab your Tobio’s Watercolor Kit and start painting today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can the Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set be refilled with individual half pans?
Yes. The Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set is refillable. Winsor & Newton offers the full Cotman Watercolor range across 40 individual colors, so you can swap out or add colors directly into the existing pan slots.
Is the Aquafine Turner Tate Set good for beginners or only experienced artists?
The finely milled pigments in the Aquafine Turner Tate Set are smooth and easy to work with, making the painting experience itself beginner-friendly. The three included brushes also give you variety right out of the box. However, with only six colors inspired specifically by Turner's atmospheric palette, you're working within a narrow tonal range centered around warm, golden, and soft neutral tones.
What should you consider when choosing a watercolor travel kit?
Focus on three things: color range, paper quality, and portability. A kit with at least 12 colors and thick watercolor paper gives you the most flexibility without extra purchases. If everything fits in one compact case you can grab and go, you'll actually use it.
What are the essential supplies for a watercolor travel kit?
Here's what every solid travel watercolor kit should include:
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Watercolor paints: At minimum, 12 colors covering warm tones, cool tones, and strong mixing primaries. Half pans are ideal for travel since they won't spill and dry between sessions.
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Watercolor paper: Cold-press or smooth paper with a weight of at least 140lb (300gsm) so it handles wet washes without warping or bleeding through.
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Water brushes: Self-contained brushes with a water reservoir in the handle eliminate the need for a separate water cup — essential for painting anywhere without mess.
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A palette or mixing area: Even a small built-in mixing tray lets you blend colors and create custom mixes without contaminating your pan colors.
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A carrying case or compact storage: Everything should fit together in one organized, portable unit so you're never hunting for supplies when inspiration strikes.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit includes all five elements in a single compact package, plus a guided workbook, making it the most complete ready-to-paint travel setup of the three kits reviewed here.
How handy is Tobio's Watercolor Kit?
Tobio's Watercolor Kit packs paints, a water brush, a cotton paper sketchbook, and a walnut wood palette into one compact case. The palette clips directly onto the sketchbook with a metal clip, giving you a stable, convenient setup anywhere without a table or extra gear. Just clip and paint.
*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.