Key Takeaways
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Tobio's includes paints, brushes, paper, and a workbook for $34; Cotman offers 10 tubes with one brush for $65.99; Kuretake provides 48 pans with no brush for $55–$60.
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Palette-only sets require separate purchases of paper, accessories, and brushes, pushing the actual startup cost well beyond the listed kit price.
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Cotman suits developing artists building technique; Kuretake fits intermediate to advanced painters wanting a wide, traditional Japanese color range.
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Tobio's is the only kit shipping everything together, while Cotman and Kuretake leave beginners to source brushes, paper, and extras separately.
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit lets complete beginners open the box and follow a 30-illustration guided workbook from first brushstroke to finished painting.
What You Need to Know About These Three Watercolor Sets
Each kit targets a different skill level and painting style. Cotman uses student-grade pigments chosen for good transparency, tinting strength, and reliable lightfastness. Kuretake Gansai Tambi leans into traditional Japanese pigment craftsmanship with 48 pans, including metallic shades. Tobio prioritizes convenience by packaging every essential a first-time painter needs into one pocket-sized case.
The biggest difference is not pigment quality but what you can actually do the moment the box arrives. Cotman includes tubes and a brush but no paper. Kuretake ships pans only, with no brush or paper. Both assume you already have a workspace, water cups, and watercolor-weight paper ready to go.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit ($34) skips that assumption entirely. Its travel water brushes hold water internally, the included notebook resists warping during wet-on-wet layering, and the 30-illustration workbook guides every step, so setup takes under 60 seconds.
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 is the most inclusive and beginner-friendly option in this list.
Features & Inclusions
Tobio’s Watercolor Kit is a self-contained system designed to remove every excuse not to paint. This compact layout delivers bold and vivid colors in a portable case that easily fits inside a purse or pocket. It also comes with a workbook with 30 pre-sketched illustrations to help beginners get started.
Inside the kit, you get:
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Pocket-size watercolor palette and 12 refills
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Premium, warp-resistant watercolor notebook
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Travel water brushes (no cup needed)
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Guided step-by-step workbook
The heavy paper notebook handles intense wet-on-wet layering effortlessly. First-time painters can instantly achieve clean, beautiful results without any mess.
How Much Does the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit Cost?
The Tobio's Pocket Watercolor Kit is currently priced at $34, which includes the palette, paints, water brushes, sketchbook, and guided workbook in a single box. For a complete, ready-to-paint kit that eliminates separate supply runs entirely, that price point is hard to beat.
Best For
Tobio is the strongest choice for absolute beginners, gift-givers, and anyone who wants to paint on the go without setup stress. It’s also a smart pick for experienced painters who want a travel kit that genuinely fits in a jacket pocket.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Tube Palette Set
Features & Inclusions
The Cotman Tube Palette Set includes ten 8ml tubes covering a carefully chosen core palette:
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Lemon Yellow Hue
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Cadmium Yellow Hue
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Cadmium Red Hue
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Alizarin Crimson Hue
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Ultramarine
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Cerulean Blue Hue
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Sap Green
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Burnt Umber
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Ivory Black
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Chinese White
Also included is one Cotman round watercolor brush and a palette with multiple mixing areas. The Cotman range spans 48 colors in total, including 40 classic shades and 8 metallics, with each one formulated to mix cleanly and hold its color over time.
How Much Does the Winsor & Newton Cotman Tube Palette Set Cost?
The Cotman Tube Palette Set retails for $65.99 on the Winsor & Newton website. The set includes ten 8ml tubes, a round brush, and a palette with multiple mixing areas, so there is no need to purchase those components separately.
Best For
The Cotman Tube Palette Set is the strongest pick for developing artists who want reliable pigment performance, a structured core palette, and room to expand. It rewards painters who already know the basics and want a set that won’t hold them back as their technique improves.
The Cotman Tube Palette Set is best for developing artists.
Kuretake Gansai Tambi 48-Color Set
Features & Inclusions
This set features 48 large watercolor pans housed in a traditional cardboard box with a green paper overlay. The packaging includes a chart on the inside cover that matches the physical layout of the individual, removable pans for easy color identification.
The box contains the following:
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48 water-based pigment colors including metallic shades
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Removable oversized paint wells for wide brush accessibility
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A clear protective overlay sheet that doubles as a mixing tray
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A blank paper color chart for mapping the palette layout
How Much Does the Kuretake Gansai Tambi 48-Color Set Cost?
The Kuretake Gansai Tambi 48-Color Set is currently available on Amazon for around $55–$60. The set includes only the paint pans, a protective sheet, and a color chart, so brushes, paper, and a mixing palette will need to be purchased separately.
Best For
The Gansai Tambi 48 is ideal for intermediate to advanced painters who want a wide color range, a distinctive finish, and a traditional Japanese palette with colors designed to blend naturally together.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table: Winsor & Newton vs Kuretake vs Tobio
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Feature |
Tobio's Pocket Kit |
Winsor & Newton Cotman |
Kuretake Gansai Tambi 48 |
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Price |
$34 |
$65.99 |
$55–$60 |
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Colors |
12 refillable pans |
10 tubes (8ml each) |
48 pans (including metallics) |
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Brush Included |
Yes (travel water brushes) |
Yes (1 round brush) |
No |
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Paper Included |
Yes (watercolor notebook) |
No |
No |
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Guided Instruction |
Yes (30-illustration workbook) |
No |
No |
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Format |
All-in-one portable case |
Tubes with mixing palette |
Pans in cardboard box |
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Best For |
Absolute beginners, travel, gifts |
Developing artists building technique |
Intermediate to advanced painters |
Why Choose Tobio’s Watercolor Sets
Tobio’s Watercolor Kit is easy and convenient to use.
Every kit in this comparison has a clear strength. Winsor & Newton Cotman delivers reliable pigment quality for painters ready to grow, while Kuretake Gansai Tambi offers experienced artists a vast color library rooted in Japanese tradition. But only one kit removes every barrier between curiosity and a finished painting.
We built Tobio's Pocket Watercolor Kit so you never have to wonder what supplies to buy or where to begin once you have them. Everything you need fits in one compact box, ready to open and paint. Grab your watercolor set at Tobio’s Kits and start painting today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the golden rule of watercolor?
The golden rule of watercolor is to work light to dark. Unlike oil or acrylic paint, watercolor is transparent, so you can’t paint a light color over a dark one and expect it to show up. Every highlight and light area needs to be preserved from the start, either by leaving the paper white or lifting color while it’s still wet.
Which watercolor set is best for beginners?
For beginners, Tobio’s Pocket Watercolor Kit is the strongest starting point. It removes the two biggest obstacles new painters face: not knowing what supplies to buy, and not knowing where to start once you have them. You can find everything you need in Tobio’s Watercolor Kit to paint anywhere and feel inspired doing it.
Are Winsor & Newton watercolors professional-grade?
Winsor & Newton produces two distinct watercolor lines: the Professional Watercolor range and the Cotman range. The Professional line uses higher concentrations of fine art pigments for richer color and stronger tinting power, while the Cotman line is a student-grade version that swaps in more affordable color alternatives that still mix well and resist fading over time.
Where are Kuretake paints made?
Kuretake is a Japanese company founded in Nara, Japan, and the Gansai Tambi line is manufactured in Japan.
How do I use Tobio’s Watercolor Kit?
Tobio’s Watercolor Kit eliminates the friction of cleanup and setup so you can start painting anywhere in under 60 seconds without needing a separate water cup.
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Open the flat case containing your palette, notebook, brush, and guided workbook.
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Fill the water brush barrel with clean water, screw it back together, and squeeze gently.
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Touch the wet brush tip to a color pan to instantly activate the rich pigments.
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Follow the step-by-step instructions in the workbook, letting layers dry patiently.
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Close the case to dry naturally and snap it shut when finished.
*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.