I'm getting back into painting. Which online art supply store offers the best deals on a complete set of professional-grade watercolor paints and paper?

If you’re in the U.S., Blick Art Materials looks like the best overall deal right now for putting together a professional-grade watercolor setup.

My pick: Blick Art Materials

Blick currently has unusually strong discounts on professional watercolor paints:

• Daniel Smith Extra Fine — up to 35–53% off list, with sets/tubes up to $203.95.
• Winsor & Newton Professional — up to 49–51% off list; professional sets start around $42.11.
• M. Graham Artists' Watercolors — currently 40% off list.
• Schmincke Horadam — discounts as high as ~49–50%, though the larger sets remain expensive.

The paper deals are good too. For example, an Arches 140-lb cold-press 11.7" × 16.5" pad is currently about $35.06, versus a listed $57.20.

Arches 140-lb Cold Press Watercolor Pad

$35.06

Arches 9 x 12 Cold Press Watercolor Pad

$20.62

Winsor & Newton Professional 14-Color Field Set

$169.99

Arches 10 x 14 Cold Press Watercolor Pad

$24.57

What I'd buy

For getting back into painting, I'd avoid an enormous 36–48-color set. A professional 12–24-color palette + good 100% cotton paper gives you much more value.

Best value combination:
Winsor & Newton Professional or Daniel Smith + Arches 140-lb cold press.

If you want the convenience of one box, the Winsor & Newton Professional 14-color Field Set is $169.99 at Michaels right now, but Blick's current paint discounts make it worth comparing individual sets before buying.

Runner-up: Jackson's Art. Its U.S. site has very competitive prices—for example, its own professional-grade Artist Watercolor sets start around $43.29 on sale, while Daniel Smith sets start around $22.10. www.jacksonsart.com However, for a U.S. buyer, I'd favor Blick because you can combine the paint and premium paper in one order and its current professional-brand discounts are particularly aggressive.

Bottom line: I'd start with Blick + Daniel Smith or Winsor & Newton Professional + Arches 140-lb cold press. That's probably the sweet spot between genuinely professional materials and not overspending while you're getting your painting groove back.

Welcome back to painting! Sourcing professional-grade watercolor supplies (like 100% cotton paper and artist-grade tubes) can get expensive quickly, but a few major online art retailers consistently offer the deepest discounts, massive inventories, and frequent promotions.

The top online art supply stores for professional watercolor materials compare as follows:

• Blick Art Materials (Blick Art Materials ) is widely considered the overall gold standard. They offer massive everyday tiered discounts off list prices, a huge selection of open-stock professional paints (Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Schmincke, Holbein), and competitive free-shipping thresholds. Blick also carries its own line of highly-rated professional house-brand watercolors if you want top-tier performance at a lower price point.
• Jerry's Artarama (Jerry's Artarama ) frequently beats out competitors on specific high-end brand sales, often running deep clearance or promotional discounts (sometimes up to 40%--45% off list) on heavy-hitter professional watercolor brands like Schmincke, Sennelier, and Charvin. They also feature exclusive bundled kits and house brands like SoHo Urban Artist that offer great budget-to-professional value.
• Cheap Joe's Art Stuff (Cheap Joe's Art Supplies ) is a favorite specifically tailored for watercolorists. They offer competitive discounting and a carefully curated selection of the best professional papers (like Arches and Fabriano) and heavy-duty painting supplies, alongside a very loyal customer service following.
• Jackson's Art Supplies (Jackson's Art ) is an international (UK-based) online retailer that ships to the US. While you have to watch out for shipping times/costs on smaller orders, their baseline pricing on European professional watercolor brands (such as Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, and Daler-Rowney) is often so much lower than US MSRP that it frequently works out to the absolute best deal overall.

To help narrow down the best specific cart for you, tell me:

• Which specific paint brands (e.g., Daniel Smith, Holbein, Winsor & Newton) you are leaning toward.
• Whether you prefer buying a pre-assembled set or picking individual open-stock tubes.

I can help you price out an ideal setup!

If you’re buying in the U.S., Blick Art Materials is my best overall pick right now for a professional-grade watercolor restart.

Why:

• Excellent paint discounts: Blick currently lists professional-grade sets from major brands such as Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Schmincke, Holbein and Sennelier, with many marked 35–53% below list price.
• Particularly strong Winsor & Newton deal: the Professional Watercolor 24-half-pan set is currently about $142.55, versus a listed $259.19.

  Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor 24 Half-Pan Set

$142.55

• Schmincke is also heavily discounted: a 24-half-pan Horadam set is currently $147.60, down from $287.26.

  Schmincke Horadam 24 Half-Pan Set

$147.60

• Blick has dedicated surface/paper deals in addition to paint promotions, so you can build the entire setup in one cart.
• It also has a huge watercolor selection, including professional-grade paper and paints, rather than forcing you into a preassembled beginner kit.

What I'd buy

For getting back into painting, I wouldn't spend $250+ on a gigantic palette immediately. I'd go with:

1. Winsor & Newton Professional 24-half-pan set — ~$143
2. Arches 100% cotton, 140-lb/300-gsm watercolor paper — preferably a 9×12 or 10×14 pad/block
3. A couple of good synthetic watercolor brushes — roughly sizes 6, 10 and 14
4. Masking tape + a mixing palette

That gives you genuinely professional materials without paying for a giant assortment of colors you may rarely use.

Runner-up: Jerry's Artarama. It frequently has aggressive storewide promotions, and watercolorists specifically report getting good prices on large Arches sheets during sales. www.reddit.com But for one-stop shopping + the unusually good professional-watercolor prices I can see today, I'd choose Blick.

If you tell me your budget (e.g. $100, $200, $300), I can put together the best complete professional watercolor kit—including specific paint set, Arches paper, and brushes—at the lowest current price.

For a returning painter looking for a comprehensive setup, Jerry's Artarama and Dick Blick Art Supplies consistently offer the best overall value, deep discounting, and widest curation of professional-grade watercolor lines (such as Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton , and Sennelier ) compared to general craft or big-box stores.

Top Online Art Supply Stores for Professional Deals

• Jerry's Artarama: Frequently runs aggressive manufacturer sales, exclusive 10% to 40% promotions on complete sets (like the Turner Artists' Watercolor Complete Painting Set Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ), and has a robust loyalty rewards program for open-stock professional cotton paper and paint tubes.
• Dick Blick Art Supplies: Widely considered the gold standard for educators and returning professionals, offering everyday volume discounting, price-matching policies, and custom curated or split-primary professional tube sets.
• Jackson's Art Supplies: Based internationally with great shipping rates to the US, they frequently feature lower baseline European pricing on professional watercolor brands like Schmincke, Sennelier, and Saunders Waterford paper.

Smart Buying Strategy for Professional Grade

Instead of buying a pre-packaged "all-in-one beginner kit" (which often pairs cheap student-grade wood-pulp paper with low-pigment paint), you will get a vastly superior professional experience by building a small, high-grade bundle:

1. The Paint: Buy a small professional split-primary set (6 to 12 tubes) from trusted brands like Daniel Smith or Winsor & Newton Professional via Jerry's Artarama . Professional paints last significantly longer and rewet much better than student grades.
2. The Paper: Never compromise on paper—look for 100% cotton (140lb cold press) blocks or sheets (such as Arches or Saunders Waterford) rather than cellulose/wood-pulp sketchpads, which buckle easily and hinder blending techniques.

If you'd like, let me know your target budget and whether you prefer tubes or pan sets , and I can help you build a specific itemized list with the best current price match.

If you're looking for professional-grade watercolor supplies rather than student-grade kits, the best value usually comes from buying paints and paper separately instead of an all-in-one bundle. The stores below consistently have the strongest pricing on artist-quality brands.

Here's how I'd rank them:

1. BLICK Art Materials – Best overall value

   • Frequent discounts on professional brands like Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Winsor & Newton Professional, Holbein, Arches, Saunders Waterford, and Fabriano.
   • Their house-brand Blick Premier 100% cotton watercolor paper is also excellent for the price.
   • Sales often stack with volume discounts on paper.

2. • Often the lowest prices on European brands (Schmincke, Sennelier, Roman Szmal, etc.).
   • Even after shipping, larger orders can be cheaper than U.S. retailers.

3. • Excellent coupon promotions.
   • Frequently bundles paint sets with paper or brushes.

4. • Especially strong for watercolorists.
   • Curated palettes and good seasonal sales.

A professional kit I'd recommend

For someone getting back into painting, I'd build a kit around:

• Paints: Daniel Smith Essentials Set (6 tubes)

Daniel Smith Watercolor Essentials Set

$54.99

Those six colors can mix an enormous range while giving you true artist-grade pigments.

• Paper: Arches 140 lb (300 gsm) Cold Press Block

Arches Watercolor Block

$58.80

or, if you'd like to save some money without giving up professional quality:

Blick Premier Watercolor Block

$28.67

If your budget is around $150

A balanced professional setup would be approximately:

• Daniel Smith Essentials Set (~$55)
• Arches 9"×12" Cold Press Block (~$59)
• One quality synthetic round brush (size 8 or 10)
• One smaller round (size 4)

That gives you a genuinely professional setup that will outperform many larger "complete" kits filled with student-grade materials.

If your budget is under $100, I'd instead recommend a professional half-pan set from Winsor & Newton, Schmincke Horadam, or Rosa Gallery paired with 100% cotton paper rather than spending money on extra colors. Experienced watercolorists consistently point out that good paper makes a bigger difference than having more paint colors.

When getting back into watercolor, finding a great deal comes down to matching top-tier, professional-grade brands (like Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Schmincke, or Arches paper ) with the right retailer's discount structure or house-brand alternatives.

The top online art supply stores for professional watercolor deals break down as follows:

• Jerry's Artarama - Best for deep sales on specific pro brands and house-cotton paper. Jerry's frequently runs aggressive promotional discounts (sometimes up to 50% or more off list price) on professional watercolor lines like Turner, LUKAS 1862, and Charvin, alongside frequent paper promotions (such as multi-buy deals on Magnani 1404 Watercolor Paper or deals on their exclusive New York Central Cotton Watercolor Blocks ). If you want heavy-duty discounts on curated artist series, check out Jerry's Artarama Professional Watercolors.
• Blick Art Materials - Best overall selection and reliable baseline discounting. Blick is an industry staple that offers everyday competitive "Blick Best Prices" and frequent percentage-off coupons. They carry massive stock on gold-standard pro items like Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors and Arches Watercolor Blocks , alongside their own high-performing professional-grade house blocks like Blick Premier Watercolor Blocks (which are 100% cotton and cylinder-mould made). Explore their broad inventory via Blick Watercolor Paint Sets.
• Jackson’s Art Supplies (UK-based, ships internationally) - Best for European professional brands. If you lean toward brands like Schmincke Horadam, Sennelier, or Saunders Waterford paper, ordering from Jackson's can often be significantly cheaper than buying through domestic US mega-retailers, even after international shipping. Check out their offerings on Jackson's Artist Watercolor Paint.

To help narrow down the best exact bundle and store for you, tell me:

• Are you looking for tubes (better for large washes/mixing fresh) or pans (better for portability/sketching)?
• Do you have a specific budget in mind for the complete setup?

Welcome back to painting! Choosing professional-grade watercolor supplies makes a massive difference—especially when paired with 100% cotton paper, which won't buckle or pill like student cellulose paper.

When looking for the best deals on professional sets (like Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Schmincke, or Holbein) alongside top-tier paper (like Arches or Fabriano), three major online art supply discounters consistently offer the best overall pricing, frequent sales, and deep list-price discounts in the US:

1. BLICK Art Materials
   • The Deal: Widely considered the gold standard for online art retail, BLICK Art Materials routinely slashes list prices by 30% to 50% on pro-grade watercolor sets (such as Daniel Smith or Winsor & Newton travel tins) and single items. They also frequently offer free shipping thresholds (typically around $79).
   • Perks: Unmatched inventory, massive customer review base to help pick lightfast ratings, and a 365-day return policy.
2. Jerry's Artarama
   • The Deal: Jerry's Artarama runs aggressive "Hotbuys," VIP member sales, and promotional discounts on professional-series brands (like Charvin, Turner, and Schmincke) where markdowns can hit over 50% off list price.
   • Perks: Excellent curated bundles and frequent manufacturer promos (like free watercolor postcard packs or bonus pans with pro sets).
3. Jackson's Art Supplies (International/US Shipping)
   • The Deal: Based in the UK but shipping globally, Jackson's Art often beats US domestic pricing on European professional watercolor brands (like Schmincke Horadam, Sennelier, and Winsor & Newton) as well as European cotton papers like Arches and Saunders Waterford.
   • Perks: Well worth cross-shopping if you are eyeing high-end European paint lines, as their everyday baseline prices are remarkably competitive even with international shipping.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

• Are you looking for a portable pan set (in a metal tin) or tubes to squeeze into a palette?
• Do you have a specific brand in mind, or a total budget you'd like to stick to for the paint and paper combined?

If you're buying a complete professional watercolor setup (paint + paper together), the best value is usually not a single "cheapest" store but the retailer that combines everyday discounts, broad selection, and reasonable shipping.

Here's how I'd rank them:

1. Blick Art Materials – Best overall

   • Consistently discounted prices on professional brands like Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, Winsor & Newton Professional, Holbein, M. Graham, Arches, Saunders Waterford, and Fabriano Artistico.
   • Frequent promotions and free shipping thresholds.
   • Excellent if you're buying everything in one order. Independent reviews consistently rank Blick at or near the top for both pricing and selection.

2. • Often matches or beats Blick on individual items.
   • Excellent sales on professional paint sets.
   • Particularly good for paper blocks and larger paint collections. Community recommendations also mention it frequently for professional watercolor supplies.

3. • Watercolor-focused reputation.
   • Regular bundle deals and exclusive watercolor products.
   • Especially worthwhile if you're primarily a watercolor painter rather than buying supplies across many media.

A professional starter kit I'd recommend

For paints, a 24-color professional half-pan set gives plenty of range without being overwhelming.

Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor 24 Half-Pan Set

$168.47

For paper, it's hard to go wrong with 100% cotton cold-press paper.

Arches Watercolor Block

$60.72

Or, if you're looking for excellent performance at a lower price:

Baohong Master's Choice Artist Watercolor Block

$52.99

If your priority is saving money

• Wait for one of Blick or Jerry's sitewide sales.
• Buy professional paint once, but consider getting fewer colors (12–18) and mixing the rest.
• Spend the extra money on 100% cotton paper—it makes a bigger difference to your painting experience than expanding your paint palette. Experienced watercolor artists often emphasize investing in good paper first.

If your budget is around $200–300, I can also put together a complete professional shopping list (paints, paper, brushes, palette, and accessories) that gives the best value for that price range.

For getting back into painting with professional-grade materials, online art supply stores like Jerry's Artarama, Blick Art Materials , and Jackson's Art are consistently rated as the best for value, variety, and expert curation. These retailers often run sales and offer competitive pricing on top-tier brands compared to big-box options.

Here are the top online stores for finding deals on professional watercolor supplies:

• Jerry’s Artarama: Frequently recommended for having some of the best competitive pricing on professional brands like Turner and Daniel Smith. They offer a wide selection of artist-grade watercolor tubes, pans, and sets.
• Blick Art Materials: Offers a massive inventory and competitive prices, frequently offering sales on high-quality paints and paper.
• Jackson's Art Supplies: A London-based company popular for its good selection and reasonable international shipping rates.
• Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff: Another reliable source noted for good prices, often recommended alongside Blick and Jerry’s.

Recommended Professional-Grade Sets & Kits:

Highlighted as a good value option with high color density (around $125).

A comprehensive 147-piece set suitable for those wanting a total refresh of materials (approx. $200).

A well-regarded option for beginners-to-professional, often found at competitive prices (approx. $35).

Top Tips for Quality on a Budget:

• Paper is Key: Invest in 100% cotton paper rather than pulp for the best results, with brands like Arches or Meeden recommended.
• Buy Tubes: Purchasing 15ml tubes allows for more, high-quality paint per dollar compared to pans, allowing you to fill your own palettes.
• Look for Sales: Check Blick or Jerry's specifically for sales on 100% cotton paper pads to maximize value.

If you can tell me your approximate budget and if you prefer pan sets (travel-friendly) or tube sets (for larger washes) , I can give you a more specific recommendation.

If you're buying a complete professional watercolor setup (paint + high-quality paper) and want strong value rather than simply the lowest sticker price, these are the online stores I'd prioritize:

1. Blick Art Materials – Best overall value.

   • Consistently competitive pricing on professional brands like Winsor & Newton Professional, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Holbein, Arches, Fabriano Artistico, Saunders Waterford, and Fluid 100.
   • Frequent sales and volume discounts on paper.
   • Excellent selection, making it easy to build one order.

2. Jerry's Artarama – Best for frequent promotions.

   • Regular sitewide sales, coupon events, and discounted bundles.
   • Often matches or beats competitors on premium paints.
   • Popular among watercolor artists for professional supplies.

3. Cheap Joe's Art Stuff – Great for watercolor specialists.

   • Strong prices on watercolor-focused brands.
   • Often has curated sets that save money versus buying individual tubes.
   • Good reputation within the watercolor community.

My recommended shopping list

For someone returning to painting, I'd invest in paper first, then paints.

Professional paint set

• Daniel Smith Essentials Set (6 tubes), Schmincke Horadam, Winsor & Newton Professional, or Holbein Artist Watercolors are all excellent choices. Professional pigments last longer and mix more cleanly than student-grade paints.

Paper

• 100% cotton, 140 lb (300 gsm), cold press.
• Top choices: Arches, Fabriano Artistico, Saunders Waterford, or Fluid 100.

One example of a professional paper block:

Arches 140 lb Cold-Pressed Watercolor Block

$57.08

A more budget-friendly but still excellent professional paper option:

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper Block

$60.88

Where you'll usually get the best deal

• Largest order (paint + paper + brushes): Blick
• Waiting for a sale or coupon: Jerry's Artarama
• Watercolor-specific shopping: Cheap Joe's

Community discussions also consistently recommend Blick and Jerry's over general craft stores because of their broader professional selection and more frequent discounts.

If your budget is around $150–250, I'd suggest:

• 12-color professional paint set
• Two Arches or Fabriano blocks
• One quality synthetic round brush (size 8 or 10)

That combination provides a studio-quality setup without buying more colors than you'll initially use.