Actually, I think these might be 2nds…

Hi friends! A couple of weeks ago I came across some watercolors by the company O.win. Owin (AKA Aowin) is the same company that makes Pretty Excellent and Paul Rubens watercolors so I was intrigued. They had cute square pans that were a tad larger than typical half pans and come in oversized metal tins. The price was right too (I got the 36 set in a yellow tin for $22! The funny thing was that the 24 sets of paint were the same price. The other thing I noticed is that they used the same exact color numbers as the Pretty Excellent paint set which is my budget pick for watercolors. The only downside to the PE set is that all of the paint come in one molded flimsy plastic tray instead of removable half pans that you can rearrange if you like. I love a good art supply mystery so I ordered a set to review!

As you will see in the video the tin did not latch securely when I got it. I was able to fix that. The lid was warped and a bit annoying to use for mixing as it bounced around but later I pressed down firmly on the lid when it was closed and it seemed to flatten it out so it wasn’t as wonky so I’d try that if you had that issue. A viewer through they might be factory 2nds or tins that didn’t pass quality control and I think she is absolutely right because I looked up this brand on Ali Express and the 36 pan set in the exact same tin and packaging was going for $62.90 and the 24 set was $45. So I really feel like I got a great deal! Also, the listing on Amazon no longer has the 36 set or a restock date so it makes me think it’s a one-and-done type of sale.

Check out the video to see an unboxing, art samples and a comparison to the Pretty Excellent set you hear me recommend so often.

Pros:

• Very transparent (except for the lavender and yellow ocher colors)

• Good color payout

• Great color selection Activated instantly

• All colors in their own individual half pans that can be rearranged if desired *the half pas are wider than standard but do fit standard tins as the height is the same.

• Tin has a large mixing space

• Comes with a waterbrush

• Includes swatch card and postcards to paint on

• Lightfast info included (although not sure if accurate on purples)

Cons:

• The tin is larger than normal and the lid was a bit warped

• White is a warm-toned translucent mixing white (as opposed to Pretty Exellent’s cool and opaque white)

So what would I pick between the Pretty Excellent and the Owin? Well, the paint is identical except for the white. It comes down to your preferences in the tin. the smaller footprint of the pretty excellent set appeals to me more in practical use but having each color in it’s own half pan is very appealing for making smaller travel sets. I think the Aowin set is a better value (if the price remains the same between the two sets) but you should really go for the layout that will meet your needs best. I also like the separate half pans as they are more durable so once the paint is used up I can refill them with tubes paints and use them in other palettes as needed. The bottom line is I like them both and I recommend them to anyone who wants a basic set of watercolors for a good price!

I will post a tutorial of the goldfish painting I showed in the review soon. the 36 set of the Owin watercolors already sold out so I apologize for that but the Pretty Excellent set is always available and often goes on sale. Affiliate links were used in this post, Happy crafting!