All of the handmade watercolours below are made by myself. When you're buying a handmade watercolour you're buying something unique. You're also buying something that may be very limited in quantity (some pigments are difficult to get). Pigments vary in price so these half pans of watercolour reflect that. Some pigments are also way more difficult to mix but don't worry, that's not reflected in the price. It may be reflected in never offering them again, though, so act soon! Paints are poured in several layers and allowed to dry. However, sometimes after they are wrapped and ready for shipping they may sink back into their little half pan homes a bit. Sorry about that, it's just their nature. The aim is to get them as full as possible.
​
You'll find an assortment of paints - some with one pure pigment, others a mixture of pigments and some are not even natural pigments (these usually put the fun in funky - check out Mink).
​
I began making watercolour when I lived in Hamilton for a few years so the steel city was a bit of an inspiration for the palette with a nod to the industrial heritage contrasting with the beauty of the Royal Botanical gardens and trails nearby.
​
But there's been a relocation back to my hometown of Toronto so we now have ot.to - Old Town Toronto handmade watercolour! Get ready to see more colour inspiration from my new neighbourhood near the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market.
​
Want to order? Send me a request via email and I'll send you an invoice with postage options. Pickup in Toronto is also available.
​
​
​
Peach Hibiscus
Is this a made up name? Yes, yes it is. But you expect that from a handmade watercolour. You won’t find this anywhere else except here. Floral - check. Portrait - sure depending on skin tone. Sunset - okay.
Transparent as a wash, more opaque at full strength
Non-staining
Pigment PW18 PR101 PY42 PW6
$10
Dark Steel
They say around these parts that art is the new steel. Here you get a blending of that. It's dark, it's moody. It has a steely gaze.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PBk10
$10
Clay Brick
Yeah it’s a colour. And it harkens back to not that long ago in Hamilton when bricks used to be made here and they came proudly stamped with HAMILTON written on them. Although don’t worry, the houses there don’t have Hamilton written all over them. That would be crazy! Or genius… Anyway, this is a subtle, earthy colour unlike the non-subtle getting hit by a brick. Don’t try that.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PBk11 PR101
Copper
Ah another metal you say? Well yes, because I live in a very metal (not meta) city. It’s not called Steel City for nothing. Okay, I know Copper isn’t steel, it’s better! Add a bit of shimmer. You don’t even have to bust in anywhere to steal it. You do have to pay for it, though. Mama needs a new pair of shoes.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
$10
Quinacridone Violet
Yeah that’s a long word before the word violet. According to Wikipedia quinacridone colours are high performance. Like that sports car you dream about. Violet sounds meek and mild but this colour is certainly not. It is in your face. And making it is a pain and looked like a Violet bloodbath so I'm saving you from all of that! You're welcome.
Semi-ransparent
partially staining
Pigment PV19
$13
Nicosia Terre Verte
Again I’m saving you an airline ticket. This green has Cyprus written all over it. An earthy, muted green it works wonders for foliage, of course it does. It has earth in its name si vous parlez francais. This colour is shy at first, you’ll have to coax it out a bit (basically work at it with your wet brush if you want more colour).
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PG17 PW18
Dusky Rose
You will barely have to do anything to create the most wonderful rose with this colour. Try it and see. 1. Put some water on the paper 2. drop some paint in. 3. call that a rose. It shrieks rose like you would shriek if you came upon a rose bush's thorns.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PW6 PR101
$10
Mauve
Quinacridone Violet too punchy for you or you just want its counterpart (here's an idea - buy both!)? Here is that same pigment but now with white. It still has its street cred, though even if it is at home in an English country garden. And guess what? Pronounce it any way you want.
Transparent as a wash, more opaque at full strength
Non-staining
Pigment PW6 PV19
$10
Periwinkle
What a lovely name. What a lovely flower. What an awesome handmade watercolour! Sure use it in floral paintings, that’s how it got its name afterall, or punch up that sky. Yeah, there you go!
Transparent as a wash, more opaque at full strength
Non-staining
Pigment PB29 PW6 PR101
$10
$10
Rose Gold
Yes it’s fashionable and on trend but do you know why? Because it’s lovely, that’s why. And wait until you see what it does on black paper, if you’re into that sort of thing. Pure gold, baby! On white paper - serene, elegant, pretty. Add some of it to punch up florals and add a little shimmer to your work. Mix it with other colours to really make them truly unique. It likes mixing things up.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Red Gold
And you thought rose gold couldn’t get any better. Mark my words, you’ll be buying red gold everything this time next year. This is a truly amazing, shimmery colour. Another great paint to add to other colours for a kick.
Transparent as a wash, more opaque at full strength
Semi-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Green Umber
Okay, okay, this is the ugly kid in the palette. It doesn’t have gold in the name, for instance. It’s not a rich kid, it’s a down-to-earth fella. But this is a workhorse colour for your landscape works. Enough said. It’s a useful colour. It’s just waiting to be asked out to play.
Transparent as a wash, more opaque at full strength
Semi-staining
Pigment PBr7
$10
Van Dyck Brown
Or Van Dyke brown or just very dark brown. Whatever you want to call it, it’s like walking in the forest. You said you would go for a hike but you didn’t. Been there. That’s ok, paint a forest scene instead with this beauty!
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PBr9
$10
Prussian Blue
Now another, insert place name, blue. It’s like going around the world in 80 days around here. This is a killer blue not unlike the Franco-Prussian war that got all fighty. However, this blue is a lover not a fighter. But it’s an intense lover, in a good way. Make me not regret ordering this pigment and justify more purchases.
Semi-transparent
Staining
Pigment PB27
Soft Orange
Who wants to deal with a hard orange anyway?! Not this kid! Be more subtle and announce yourself with a whisper - I’m orange and I’m here for florals or anything else you have in mind. I might look bold on the outside but I'm soft, when you add water.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PW4 PY108
$10
Chromium Oxide Green Deep
You all seemed to like Chromium Oxide Green. It is now gone. Well not gone, gone, but just too expensive to re-stock. Instead I believe this replacement is even better and the pigment is from a Canadian company. Great, eh?
Semi-Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PG17
$12
$12
Spanish Gold
Not just any gold (see others on show). Okay this one isn’t shimmery. Instead it has an earthy glow about it. Think Arizona desert and then buy me a ticket for the winter.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PY42h
$10
Aluminum
Or aluminium as my relatives say. It’s another metal colour inspired by my former Steel City home. Again, I know it’s not steel but it is certainly a metal that you use for loads of stuff. And you can use it loads as a watercolour. It can even, if asked nicely, take the place of silver at the fraction of the cost of real silver. Let it shine, shiny side up.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Mink
This is one of those fancy duochrome colours, fancy like a mink coat (although we are against real fur!). On white paper it’s a gorgeous shimmery earthy terracotta-y with just a hint of something more when it catches the light. You’ll discover the more if you use it on black paper, like all the cool kids. There it turns into a shiny green. Business on white, party on black.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Grey Ochre
Can you have too much grey? Well maybe in regards to weather but not in painting! Mix it in with a colour to add to shadows. The shadow knows! Well this grey does. It likes gritty, urban scenes to hang out in.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Duo Blue-Green
This is one of those colours with two personalities - blue in some light, green in others. And definitely green on dark paper. So it’s a two for one colour! Hurrah!
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Deep Gold
Marigold and Spanish Gold not enough for you? Well hold onto your hats for Deep Gold. It’s got depth. It’s like a rust colour and an ochre had a baby. This is certainly rich, like if you had a backyard full of buried gold (like Ron Swanson).
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PY42
$10
Marigold
What’s in a name? Well in this case it’s a flower but this yellow is so much more. It’s earthy yet stunningly a rich yellow. Not wishy washy here (although it likes being used as a wash) but still subtle and delicate like a flower.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PY24h PW6
$10
Garnet Mica
Like our Mink colour? Well this is close but has its own unique features whether on white or dark paper. Very groovy.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Ivory Black
This ivory black is a true black. Is this black, Jerry? (Parks and Rec reference, sorry). Yes, Tom it is black but ivory black.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PBk9
$10
Buff Titanium
So this isn’t a titanium that’s gone to the gym all year for a 6 pack. Actually this is white that is off-white or cream or not bleached out. It is a great little mixer with other colours.
Semi-opaque
Non-staining
Pigment PW6
$10
Grey Lavender
This is a beautiful, shimmery mauve. Let it dance on white or dark paper. Use it for calligraphy and watch it catch the light.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Caput Mortuum
Okay let’s get the name thing out of the way. Translated it means dead head or worthless remains. But this colour is in no way dead or worthless. It is such a great earthy colour. It is also not made of bodies. NO PEOPLE WERE HARMED. Only my arm from mulling this colour for you. You’re welcome. It’s purply. It’s red. It’s brown. It’s great!
Semi-Transparent
Partial staining
Pigment PBr101
$10
Lapis Lazuli Standard
So no I didn’t go and dig up real Lapis. That is très expensive. Like gold expensive. Heck even gold is cheaper. However this blue does not disappoint. I like to think of it like the denim of your favourite jeans. So much depth
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PB29
$12
Cobalt Turquoise
Confession I am nuts about this colour. It is the colour of our front door and other accents so to make a watercolour colour with this pigment is a dream come true.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PB36
$12
Mars Orange
Remember Matt Damon shuffling about on Mars planting his potatoes? Remember that orange landscape? Well this is very close to that but much closer to home. I’m sure Matt would’ve liked a real orange after so many potatoes. That sort of diet would give you scurvy. True fact and I love potatoes! Just balance, that’s all.
Semi-transparent
Partially staining
Pigment PY42 PR101
Crown Point Purple
A colour with a nod to a ‘hood in Hamilton. Think Crown Royal purple velvet bag went out on an evening and is all shimmer-y. Okay it has little to do with the neighbourhood there.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment n/a
$10
Cadmium Vermillion
Now this is a strong red with orange tones. I would almost call it poppy red and I did use it for a commission piece involving that particular flora. It’s bold and lovely.
Semi-transparent
Staining
Pigment PR108
$12
$10
Eileen’s Grey
Like Payne’s grey but with a steely blue quality. Nothing to do with Eileen Gray, the designer, although I love her work. Have you seen her side table? Mwah! But the Eileen part here is me, all ME! And I love grey.
Transparent
Partially staining
Pigment PBk9 PB27
$10
Valentine Red (Lithol Rubine)
Right, so Lithol Rubine wasn’t a sexy enough name for this red? I get it. It’s both cool but with a little bit of fire. Layer it up for a real richness. Go on, I dare you!
Transparent
Partially staining
Pigment PR 57:1
$12
Ultramarine Pink
It’s pink with a whisper of purple. It’s got depth and looks fab layered up. This is no Barbie pink. It’s a sophisticated pink to add to your palette.
Transparent
Partially staining
Pigment PR259
$12
Fog Grey
Did I mention how much I love grey? This one is my own creation. It’s a neutral grey because those are handy - neither too cool or too warm. Neutral, like Switzerland. And unlike Switzerland, very affordable.
Semi-Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PW6 PBk9 PBr7
$10
French Burnt Sienna
What’s better than burnt sienna as a colour? A FRENCH burnt sienna! Think of Provence and Roussillon. A French twist makes all the difference. A certain je ne sais quoi! Cheesy? Yes, like a good brie. Closer to Toronto? Think Distillery District brick and cobbles.
Transparent
Non-staining
Pigment PR102