For its entire 140-year history, the Schmincke brand has meant the finest colors for artists, made to professional standards and used by the most demanding painters. On each package, the blue Schmincke owl holds a banner that reads “I strive for the best” in Latin. So you won’t be surprised to hear that the company was hesitant to produce a more affordable watercolor for art students and beginners. It would have to appeal to artists on a budget but still adhere to the basic standards of the historic German color house.

Akademie Aquarell is Schmincke’s answer to this challenge, and we recommend it strongly to any watercolorist who isn’t ready to invest in a set of Horadam paints. It is the best student-grade watercolor we have ever carried; frankly, it outperforms many paints that call themselves artist grade. The colors are clear and vibrant, and it’s easy to make mixed colors that are just as beautiful. A majority of Akademie colors are single-pigment, and the multi-pigment colors are carefully chosen to allow further mixing without muddiness. Intense, high-chroma colors are included alongside rich, organic earth colors, so you can make paintings in any style with Akademie.

This listing is for one half pan in the pictured color. You can also browse our travel sets of Schmincke Akademie watercolor. And of course, we carry empty watercolor tins that fit these half pans.

Made in Germany.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Trying to decide between Akademie and Horadam, the professional-grade line from Schmincke? The manufacturer would like you to know that there are several important differences between the two lines.

Color range
Akademie is available in 24 colors, selected to be versatile, bright, and reasonably priced. Horadam is available in an incredible 140 colors, including rare pigments, intense cadmium and cobalt colors, and advanced modern pigments like our favorites, the perylene colors.
Pigmentation
Horadam has the maximum possible pigment load, while Akademie has less pigment per mL of gum arabic.
Production process
Horadam half pans are poured in four or five shallow layers, drying completely between layers, to ensure perfect consistency, a process that takes months. Akademie is produced with an industry-standard three pours per pan.
We think you will like both Akademie and Horadam, and in fact they are not mutually exclusive. Many beginners like to start with an Akademie set and replenish their tin with exciting new Horadam colors as the original colors run out.