Key Takeaways
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Grabie watercolors suit beginners and hobbyists with strong color payoff and easy blending, though the pigments fall short of the purity and lightfastness professional-grade paints require.
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The 100-color set with brush lists around $49.99, with Amazon prices often dropping lower during promotions, while pocket and 50-color sets cost less.
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Reviewers praise the vibrant colors and value, but note muddy mixing at heavy saturation, a few weak extras, missing lightfastness data, and occasional shipping or support issues.
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit suits beginners who want a complete setup with no extra shopping, Sakura Koi suits portable everyday sketching, and Paul Rubens suits painters ready for artist-grade pigment.
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For anyone who wants to skip the setup entirely, Tobio's Watercolor Kit packs 12 watercolor paints, a cotton paper sketchbook, a walnut wood palette, a travel water brush, an absorbent wristband, and a guide into one compact, travel-ready box that's beginner-friendly and ready the moment it arrives.
Is the Grabie Watercolor Set Good?
Yes, the Grabie Watercolor Set works well for beginners and hobbyists looking for an affordable way to start painting. Most first-time buyers judge a set by color count alone, since that's the number printed on the box. That's the wrong measure, because two sets with the same number of colors can behave very differently once water hits the pan.
Pigment quality shows up when you layer or glaze, not the moment the paint first goes down wet. Grabie's modern pigments blend easily and reactivate fast, which is exactly why beginners like them, but that same ease can turn heavy mixes muddy under repeated washes. Knowing this before you buy helps you decide whether you need artist-grade purity yet, or whether an easy, forgiving set is the better starting point.
For anyone who would rather skip picking out individual supplies, Tobio's Watercolor Kit bundles paint, paper, palette, and brush into one ready-to-use box built around a first-timer's exact needs.
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.
What Comes in the Grabie Watercolor Sets?
Grabie offers several different sets, each designed with a specific type of painter in mind. Here's a breakdown of what's available across their main product lines:
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Grabie Watercolor Pocket Set (12 Colors): This set is available in themed palettes such as Landscape, Ocean, and Forest. Compact and travel-friendly, each set comes with improved packaging and a curated selection of shades inspired by nature.
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Grabie Watercolor Paint Set (50 Colors): It is a mid-range option in their All-In-One Premium line. It includes 50 colors alongside a set of accessories, which Grabie describes as artist-grade.
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Grabie Watercolor Set of 100 With Brush: A popular choice on Amazon, this set includes 100 colors, three water-brush pens, a 140-lb watercolor paper pad with a swatch sheet, and a waterproof fineliner pen, making it a functional all-in-one starter kit.
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Grabie All-In-One Premium Watercolor Set (100 Colors): This kit combines 100 colors with a fuller suite of tools, which Grabie describes as professional-grade, including brushes and palette options.
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Grabie 168-Color Watercolor Set: Their most expansive set, packed with a wide variety of shades plus tools, designed for painters who want maximum color variety.
Each set is designed to give you a functional, ready-to-use experience right out of the box. The pocket sets are appealing for outdoor painters and travelers, while the larger 100- and 168-color sets run heavier and bulkier, closer to something you would leave at home on a desk than carry around all day. Tobio's kit is built to stay pocket-sized no matter what, which is where it holds its edge over Grabie's bigger sets.
Grabie Watercolor Set Price
Pricing varies depending on the set size, but Grabie stays in the budget-to-mid-range category. The 100-color set with brush, one of their most popular listings, carries a list price of around $49.99.
Amazon prices dip below that during promotions, so it's worth checking the current listing before buying. The pocket sets and 50-color options generally fall below the 100-color price point, while the 168-color set costs more.
Grabie 100-color set is split into 50 essential, 35 metallic, 10 pastel, and 5 neon colors, giving users plenty of range without mixing their own shades. (Image source: Grabie)
Grabie Watercolor Set Customer Reviews
Customer feedback on Grabie watercolor sets is mostly positive. Reviewers frequently point to the vibrant color payoff, the ease of blending, and the number of colors included at an accessible price. The 100-color set with brush draws consistent praise on Amazon for arriving as a complete, ready-to-use kit that doesn't require extra purchases to start painting.
The critical feedback tends to cluster around a few points. Some reviewers note that colors can turn chalky or muddy when mixed heavily. A few of the extra inclusions, such as the sponge and sharpener, are less useful in practice. The non-standard color names also make it harder to follow traditional mixing charts.
On the paint itself, experienced painters point out that the pigments lack the lightfastness and single-pigment purity of professional-grade watercolors, which matters for anyone focused on archival or gallery-ready work. Separately, a portion of reviews mention shipping delays and difficulty with customer service.
Buyers often echo the same feedback for the Grabie watercolor set: attractive, smooth colors with a few muddy tones. (Image source: Amazon)
3 Alternatives to the Grabie Watercolor Set
1. Tobios Watercolor Kits
Our Watercolor Kit is built around one idea: you should be able to open the box and start painting. It comes with 12 tube watercolors made with student-grade pigments, a travel waterbrush, a cotton paper notebook, a walnut wood palette, an absorbent wristband, and an illustrated guide, all packed into a compact case that travels easily. The kit sits in the beginner to intermediate range, and the focus is on giving you a complete setup rather than paint alone.
That completeness is the point. Instead of buying colors and then working out which paper, palette, and brush to pair with them, you get pieces chosen to work together, along with a guide that walks you through the basics like washes, blending, layering, and water control.
For anyone who finds the gear side of watercolor the most intimidating part, having everything in one box removes the barrier and lets you get straight to painting. Our kit is also built to be carried, so the waterbrush holds its own water, and there is no need for a cup or a sink nearby, which makes painting away from home practical.
2. Sakura Koi Watercolor Field Sketch Set
The Sakura Koi Watercolor Field Sketch Set comes from a long-established name in the watercolor space. Sakura's Koi line uses water-soluble pigments that deliver smooth, consistent blending and reliable mixing, which is why they tend to appeal to intermediate painters and art students.
The field sketch sets come in several sizes, including 12, 24, and 48 colors, and each includes a water brush, so they stay portable without giving up paint quality. They are at a higher price point than Grabie, which reflects Koi's long track record and reliable results.
3. Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor Paint Set
Paul Rubens is closer to the professional end of the range than Grabie. They offer richly pigmented watercolors. The current artist-grade line is rated good to excellent for lightfastness and is built mostly on single pigments, which helps keep color mixes cleaner.
Their sets are noted for deep color and smooth layering, qualities that matter more as technique develops. For painters who have moved past beginner sets and want paint that behaves more like traditional artist-grade material, Paul Rubens offers that step up at a lower price than professional brands.
Grabie Watercolor Set vs Alternatives: Comparison Table
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Kit |
Colors |
What's Included |
Portability |
Best for |
Price |
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit |
12 |
12 tube watercolors, a waterbrush, a cotton paper notebook, a walnut wood palette, an absorbent wristband, and an illustrated guide |
Compact all-in-one; the waterbrush stores its own water, so no cup or sink is needed |
Beginners to intermediate, and gift-givers |
$34 |
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Grabie Watercolor Set |
12, 50, 100, 168 |
Colors, three water brush pens, a paper pad, a swatch sheet, and a fineliner (contents vary by set) |
Pocket sets are compact, but larger sets such as the 100-color run bulkier at around 15 oz and are less practical to carry daily |
Beginners and hobbyists |
100-color set about $40 to $50, often less on sale |
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Sakura Koi Field Sketch Set |
12, 24, 48 (up to 72) |
Half-pan colors, a water brush, a built-in palette, and a sponge (no paper included) |
Compact clamshell case, pocket-friendly |
Beginners to intermediate, and students |
Around $28 to $59 by size |
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Paul Rubens Artist Grade Set |
24, 36, 48 |
Solid pans in a metal box with a mixing palette inside the lid; some sets add cotton paper (most sets do not include a brush) |
Portable metal box |
Intermediate to advanced |
Around $36 to $73 by set |
Grabie Covers Color Count, Tobio's Kits Delivers the Complete Setup
Everything needed to paint a finished piece comes in one box, so you can start without sourcing supplies separately.
Grabie's sets deliver strong color and easy blending at a price that makes sense for beginners and hobbyists, even if the pigments won't satisfy painters chasing archival quality. The real decision comes down to what matters most to you: color range, portability, or having every supply sorted before you start.
Our Watercolor Kit was built for the person who wants to open one box and start painting without sourcing anything else. It brings together 12 tube watercolors, a travel waterbrush, a cotton paper notebook, an absorbent wristband, a walnut wood palette, and an illustrated guide, all compact enough to travel with and simple enough for a first-timer. If you want a complete, portable setup that removes the guesswork from getting started, shop Tobio's Watercolor Kit and take your painting wherever you go.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Grabie Watercolor Set good for professional artists?
Grabie watercolors are best suited for beginners, hobbyists, and students rather than professional artists. The pigments offer good color saturation and blendability, but they lack the single-pigment purity and lightfastness that professionals typically require for archival or gallery-quality work. If you're a professional or serious intermediate painter, sets like Paul Rubens or other professional artist-grade brands would be a better investment.
How many brushes come with the Grabie Watercolor Set?
The number of brushes varies by set. The Grabie Watercolor Set of 100 With Brush includes three water brush pens, while the All-In-One Premium sets come with a broader range of tools. Always check the specific product listing on Amazon or the Grabie website for an exact breakdown of what's included.
Are Grabie watercolors safe for children to use?
Grabie markets many of their sets as suitable for hobbyists of all ages, though their age guidance is not always consistent across products. Some listings note age restrictions, so it's best to check the specific product packaging for safety certifications and age recommendations before buying. As a general point, adult supervision is sensible whenever children are using art materials.
Can Grabie watercolors be reactivated after they dry out in the pan?
Yes, dried pan watercolors, including Grabie's, can be reactivated by adding a few drops of water and waiting a moment before painting. This makes pan sets more forgiving and longer-lasting than tubes that harden and become difficult to use once dried. It also makes them convenient for travel, since there's no risk of a tube cracking or leaking.
Where can I buy the Tobio's Watercolor Set?
Our Watercolor Kit is available directly from our website at tobioskits.com, where you can order the complete kit and have it shipped to you. Ordering from us means you receive the full set exactly as intended. This all-in-one approach is what makes the kit a practical starting point for beginners, who can start painting straight away without working out what else to buy.
*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.