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Derivan Watercolours | The Best Quality Watercolour Paints

Quality Watercolour Paints

Made in Australia

Are you looking for the best quality watercolour paint? Choose Derivan Watercolour. We have Single tubes, paint sets, watercolour brushes, watercolour pencils and watercolour pads

NEW WATERCOLOUR GROUND

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WATERCOLOUR GROUND

Why Buy Derivan Watercolour Paint?

DOWNLOAD WATERCOLOUR CHART   OR GO TO COLOUR SWATCHES

We are glad you asked,  When you Buy Derivan watercolour you are safe in the knowledge that our watercolours are hand made and filled in Sydney, Australia. Using traditional methods, we carefully stone mill to enhance and retain the luminous nature of each pigment selected, Derivan Watercolours are available in 24 brilliant colours, covering the full-colour spectrum. Each colour in the range has been tested for granulation, transparency, staining and permanence. 

When Derivan set out to create our first watercolour range, we wanted to create a quality product that understood both the role of water in using watercolour and the play of Australian light on colour. While many watercolours have their genesis in Europe, we looked at the colours around us. Australian light is unique in its clarity, and the colours we see around us exemplify this quality. Our final range of 24 colours is testimony to our awareness of light colours' interplay and our desire to create products developed and manufactured in Australia.

Derivan Watercolours are the result of precisely selected pigments dispersed in a fluid solution of pure Gum Arabic and the addition, in some cases, of Oxgall, which ensures optimal flow off the brush of the Derivan watercolours.  

Watercolours

WATERCOLOURS TUBES

It is the pigments we start with to reach our aim of having the best quality watercolours.  We experimented with pigments from around the world to create colours that blend perfectly when added to water. The pigments used in Derivan Watercolours are of the highest quality, selected for their superior performance in the strength of colour and exceptional brilliance, which have the highest permanence ratings. Our colours are classified as ASTM I or ASTM II, an internationally recognized classification of art materials given by ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials). These two levels indicate that Derivan Watercolours have strong fade resistance (lightfastness) that will ensure their colours remain strong and clear. 

Single pigments are used in the range anywhere possible, to make certain the pigment characteristics within the watercolour medium is maintained, such as hue, tint, transparency, brilliance. When a mixture is used, this has been carefully considered when permanency is of utmost importance. 

The additional fillers used in other products are kept to a necessary minimum in order to let the pigment take centre stage and work beautifully with water. The particle size and quality of the pigments play a strong role in the behaviour of watercolour products. Transparency refers to how opaque the colour is. Most watercolour colours, but not all, are transparent and allow the texture of the paper to peek through. This quality must also be taken into account when layering, as the colour and texture below any watercolour layer can be affected by any additional applications.

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Watercolours

Available in 24 Brilliant Colours

WATERCOLOUR PRIMARY SET

WATERCOLOUR PRIMARY SET

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WATERCOLOUR LANDSCAPE SET

WATERCOLOUR LANDSCAPE SET

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 WATERCOLOUR GROUND

WATERCOLOUR GROUND

​WHAT IS WATERCOLOUR GROUND?

WATERCOLOUR GROUND | PAPER-LIKE | ABSORBENT GROUND

Why limit yourself to traditional surfaces? With Derivan watercolour ground, you can paint on anything from paper to canvas. This ground is perfect for creating a paper-like surface that's highly absorbent.

Are you looking to add a beautiful new medium to your arsenal? Derivan watercolour ground is the perfect way to turn almost any surface into a watercolour-friendly surface! Now you can do all of the fantastic techniques you've always wanted to try on canvas, board, mixed media papers and more.

This is YOUR chance to learn how to paint with watercolour! Discover the many benefits of using a watercolour ground and how to apply it best.

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WATERCOLOUR GROUND
WATERCOLOUR GROUND

Watercolour Ground
Key Feature’s

  • Absorbent watercolour ground
  • Works on multiple surfaces
  • Archival and acid-free
  • Excellent surface for watercolour 
  • Thin viscosity for easy application
  • Use on glass, metal, fabric, plastic, plaster, perspex, ceramic, wood


BUY WATERCOLOUR GROUND 250ml

Watercolour Ground
Perfect For 

  • Watercolour techniques
  • Mixed media applications
  • watercolour on canvas
  • repairing and altering watercolour works
  • Frame without glass 
  • Unusual substrates 


How To Use Watercolour Ground

Be sure to get your surface clean and dry before applying. This includes wood, metal, or plastic surfaces. If it is a wooden surface you are working with, then you should sand the surface with fine-grain sandpaper before applying the watercolour ground. You can choose between a soft hair brush or foam roller for a smooth finish or a hog hair or pallet knife for a textured finish.

If you are applying it to rescue or alter a watercolour painting, we recommend using 10% water to the ground and a soft brush to blend the area.

Apply no more than three coats to get maximum absorbency to allow each coat to cure 24 hours between coats.

Once your surface has completely cured, you can work with watercolour, thinned acrylics, acrylic inks or liquid pencil. It is important to note if your work is in watercolour, the surface will still be water-soluble, so you will need to finish the artwork with a spray varnish.

*It is advised to do individual testing with your substrate, especially if you have chosen a non-porous surface as glass or plastic.

WATERCOLOUR GROUND

How to paint with watercolour absorbent ground on Stretched canvas

Painting with watercolours is a lot of fun. But with most canvases, it's difficult for the watercolour to stay on the surface. The Derivan watercolour Ground will help your colours stay put so you can enjoy your painting!

Ready to start painting? First, you'll need to prepare your canvas with Derivan Gesso. This critical step will help the Derivan watercolour Absorbent Ground adhere correctly to the canvas. Apply one coat of Derivan gesso and leave it to dry for 24 hours before starting your masterpiece!

After the gesso has dried, use a thin layer of Derivan Watercolour Ground to create a more durable surface that's less likely to crack.

The more coats of Derivan Absorbent Ground you add, the more absorbent the surface will become. To protect against watercolours, apply up to 3 coats of the absorbent ground, allowing each coat to dry before applying another.

You can now paint with watercolours—give your project 24 hours after the ground has thoroughly dried to ensure that it's dry enough. Derivan watercolour ground will give the canvas a paper-like quality that watercolours can easily stick to. Once applied, be careful about accidentally spilling or spraying water onto the surface of the canvas.

WATERCOLOUR GROUND

HOW TO USE WATERCOLOUR GROUND ON PAPER

Derivan Watercolour Ground is the perfect painting surface for any artist. With this ground, you can create new work on any surface, save flawed paintings, and frame without glass.

The results are incredible and there's really no end to what can be done! The next time you want to save a watercolour painting that would have been tossed, you'll know what to do.

Why ruin a perfect piece of work with a mistake? Derivan Absorbent Ground can be used on watercolour paper to block out unwanted marks or mistakes. Apply the properly diluted ground evenly to the desired area in thin layers until the area is sufficiently covered. Allow the coats to completely dry, and paint over in the desired manner.

In this example here we have primed mixed media paper.  The example on the left is primed with two thin coats of watercolour ground, leaving to dry for 24 hours between coats.

WATERCOLOUR GROUND

How to use Watercolour Ground on a wooden panel.

Lets get started with our Derivan painting panel. First we're going to lightly sand it, this will help with adhesion. Apply the watercolour ground even and thin with a soft brush to the whole board. Don't forget the sides!

Once you let your board dry for 24 hours, all you have to do is sand it lightly and then coat it with another thin layer. Do this 3 times, and your surface is ready to create your masterpiece!


With the Gesso derma, you'll notice as soon as you start using it that the surface is a whole lot different than a traditional gesso that watercolours can easily stick to, and it gives the board a paper-like quality. You're no longer limited to just watercolour paper! 


 

 WATERCOLOUR PENCILS

WATERCOLOUR PENCILS

Derivan Pencils and Pastels Sets have been specifically selected to enhance your artistic needs. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced artist, our sets supply a basic rendering range of quality products that will help turn your creative ideas into reality.

Derivan Watercolour pencils have been designed for artists of all ages. Each set has been assembled to give you both quality and value. All pencils and pastels are securely presented in a tin case; a convenient way to carry your drawing utensils while on the go. Start your creative journey today!

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WATERCOLOUR PENCILS


 

WATERCOLOUR SETS

WATERCOLOUR SETS

It's never too late to pick up a paintbrush! Derivan has created these project-based kit that will have you painting eye-catching artwork with everything supplied, all you need to do is sit down relax and paint following the easy to follow steps.

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WATERCOLOUR SETS


 

 WATERCOLOUR BRUSHES

WATERCOLOUR BRUSHES

Check our range of watercolour brushes available in natural sable which ahs a natural springiness and durability or our refillable brushes that are perfect to use with watercolour pencils 

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WATERCOLOUR BRUSHES


 

 WATERCOLOUR PALETTES

WATERCOLOUR 

WATERCOLOUR PALETTES

The Derivan Leakproof Watercolour Palette Travel Paint Trays are perfect for beginners and professionals alike. They have multiple mixing areas so that you can paint with watercolours or Gouache.

The Derivan palettes keep your paint fresh as this paint tray palette has an airtight silicone seal on the lid, which is excellent for keeping the colour pans moist and easy to clean. 

 Keep your colours tidy and organized, great for Plein air travelling trips..

Available in 16 wells, 18 wells and the jumbo 33 wells 

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WATERCOLOUR PALETTES


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