You've been very busy today! Thanks for the "Yarka" Warning, I'll steer clear. The wine looks good enough to drink and the conference looks like every conference i've ever been a part of. I've always loved how you use color.

(Thank you for yesterday.) Big Harry

I like the Bohemian version.

Is there any particular reason why you do not want to continue using Grumbacher (transparent) watercolor? Just curious. Thanks and good luck with the watercolor hunting. Cheers.

Hmmm. Tough artistic dilemma. I do like your second go at the round table illustration though.
I'll tell you what I like to use. I've been painting with water-colours for much longer than my 23 years would imply, so by now I've made it through a few variations. Right now I'm using Daler Rowney designers gouache in the process colours. Just six little tubes in magenta, cyan, yellow, black, white and burnt umber. It works really well for me for a variety of reasons. Firstly, they can be used opaquely, but I have been using them transparently (and they look beautiful). Secondly, if you have true, deep process colours you don't need pans and pans of colour, as all the colours in the rainbow can be made with just yellow, magenta cyan and black (just like in printing). Thirdly, they seem to be much less gummy than many of the supposedly "better quality" paints, and therefore, it actually works really well to let them dry out on your palette, and go back to them and wet them later - therefore transforming them into dry pans.
I would try those out first, they're not cheap if you're buying huge quantities of colours, but for 4 or 5 or 6 colours, it's incredibly affordable. Plus they smell a little bit like the poster paint I used as a kid, which is a bonus. I don't yet know how badly they fade, but I find with illustration it's better to have something rough and ready, rather than something that lasts the decades. Water-colours traditionally not meant to last anyway.
Other than that, all I can recommend is the Windsor and Newton travel palette. There are a couple variations (student, pro, 12 pan, 24 pan), which can cost over 100 dollars, but I have one which cost me 20 on sale. It is so tiny, it's positively cute. 12 pans of your classic warm colours/cool colours variations (which can be tricky if you're not used to it, but again, is all you really need). It's absolutely perfect for travel. It literally fit's in a pocket. Best of all, the pans are replaceable, so when you run out of a colour, you can just buy more. The paintbrush that comes with it kinda sucks, so until I discovered the waterbrush, I just sawed off a size 6 Windsor and Newton synthetic.
Hope all that helps!

Just a comment about the Yarka...st pete's.
Thebox they come in is the pits...but
I have tried them and have found because
they are
rather soft that they work up very quickly
for plein aire painting...I have gotten
some very nice results with them. I got
them on sale and do find that they can
have some wonderful color effects.

Just my thoughts...Carole Joy

The Peanut writing is some of the best you've written. Way to go!
Sorry to hear about your Yarka experience. I used them on a recent 10 day trip to Nevada and after getting used to my first-ever waterbrush I decided that they were sufficient for field work on a small scale.
Frank in CA

Hi Danny,
I'm a friend of Roz. There are no better watercolors than Daniel Smith. Give them a try...I think you'll like them. Oh, I love your stuff. Your writing is excellent, and your drawings are full of life.
Janice

They told me at Pearls that the Winsor Newton -"pan" colors are the best. We used the Cotman pan colors at the Art Students League( a student grade version) I still find the W/N the best. You can only buy the half -pan size here. I am told you can get the full pan size in London. They are expensive. Schmincke also make a full-pan size. Their colors are very "bright" I buy emty metal watercolor boxes and fill up with a variety of pan colors . If you use a good watercolor tube paint --you can refill the pans with more colors as you use them,