Paul Rubens Watercolor vs Daniel Smith: Which Brand Matches Your Painting Style?

Official source: Official Paul Rubens Store | Independent Paul Rubens Reviews

Visual summary. Paul Rubens is the easier value-first starting point, while Daniel Smith is stronger for artists who want a very wide pigment library and specialty granulation; many painters can use Paul Rubens first and add selected specialty tubes later.

I've been painting with watercolors for over a decade. I've gone through full tubes of Daniel Smith, Paul Rubens, Winsor & Newton, Schmincke, and a dozen other brands. I don't have brand loyalty — I have paint loyalty. The paints that perform get used. The ones that don't collect dust. This comparison is based on actual painting, not spec-sheet reading.

Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor 36-Color Set — the set I reach for most during studio sessions.

Why This Comparison Matters More Than Most

Daniel Smith is the aspirational brand. It's the name advanced watercolorists whisper with reverence. Their PrimaTek mineral pigments. Their 250+ color catalog. Their made-in-Seattle prestige.

Paul Rubens is the challenger. The brand that appeared seemingly from nowhere and started turning heads because the paints actually perform — at prices that made people suspicious at first.

Here's what makes this comparison different from the usual "Brand A vs Brand B" fluff:

These two brands occupy different price universes. A single 15ml tube of Daniel Smith costs $12-15. A complete 36-color Paul Rubens tube set — that's 180ml of paint total — costs $86.99. You'd spend over $400 to assemble 36 Daniel Smith colors.

So the real question isn't "which is better." It's: Is Daniel Smith 3-4x better? And if not, what exactly are you paying for?

But wait — there's more to it than price.

Let me break down every dimension that actually matters when paint hits paper.

Pigment Quality: The Heart of the Comparison

Let's get this out of the way first, because nothing else matters if the pigment quality isn't there.

Daniel Smith

Daniel Smith's calling card is single-pigment formulas. Most of their colors contain one pigment, which means cleaner mixing and more predictable behavior. Their PrimaTek line uses actual ground minerals — Lunar Blue, Primatek Burnt Sienna, Lunar Black — that granulate in ways no other brand replicates.

The granulation is gorgeous. If you paint landscapes with lots of texture — rocks, clouds, weathered surfaces — Daniel Smith's mineral pigments create effects you genuinely can't get elsewhere.

That said, not all 250+ colors are single-pigment. Some of their convenience mixes use 2-3 pigments. And their consistency can vary between batches — I've noticed differences in the same color purchased a year apart.

Paul Rubens

Paul Rubens uses professional-grade pigments with high pigment loads. When I first tried them, I expected to be disappointed — the price seemed too good. Instead, I was genuinely surprised.

The vibrancy is there. The transparency is there. On a blind swatch test, most painters — even experienced ones — can't consistently tell Paul Rubens apart from paints costing 2-3x more.

Where they differ from Daniel Smith: Paul Rubens uses some multi-pigment convenience mixes to achieve certain hues. This is standard practice across the industry (Winsor & Newton does it too), and it only matters if you're obsessive about mixing theory.

My honest take: For botanical illustration, portraiture, urban sketching, journaling, and 90% of what watercolorists actually paint — Paul Rubens pigments perform beautifully. Daniel Smith has a legitimate edge only in granulation-heavy landscape work.

Paul Rubens Master Series 36 Colors — clean, vibrant pigments that rival much pricier brands.

Price Per ML: Where the Math Gets Uncomfortable

This is where the comparison gets really interesting. Let me lay out the actual numbers.

Read that again.

To get 36 colors of Daniel Smith Extra Fine in tubes, you're looking at $432 to $540. The Paul Rubens 36-color tube set is $86.99. That's roughly 5x the price for Daniel Smith.

Yes, Daniel Smith tubes are 15ml vs Paul Rubens' 5ml. But even adjusting for volume, the cost per ml tells the story: Paul Rubens runs about $0.39-0.48/ml. Daniel Smith runs $0.80-1.00/ml.

Daniel Smith costs roughly 2x per ml. And if you're buying sets rather than individual tubes, the total investment gap is enormous.

Here's the thing most reviewers won't say:

That price difference changes how you paint. When every brushstroke costs twice as much, you become cautious. You ration paint. You hesitate before mixing a big wash. With Paul Rubens, I squeeze paint freely, mix generously, experiment without anxiety. That psychological freedom makes me a better painter than any pigment upgrade could.

Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

Let me put every key dimension side by side so you can compare at a glance.

Color Range: Catalog Size vs. Curated Intelligence

Daniel Smith has 250+ colors. Paul Rubens offers curated sets of 24, 36, and 48 colors.

On paper, this looks like an obvious Daniel Smith win. But here's what I've learned after years of painting:

Most watercolorists actively use 12-20 colors. Having 250 options on a shelf doesn't help you paint better — it paralyzes you with choice and drains your wallet. A thoughtfully curated set of 36 colors, selected to work together harmoniously, is more useful to 95% of painters than a random collection of individual tubes.

And it gets better.

Paul Rubens doesn't just sell colors — they sell painting systems. The 48-color set includes 24 vivid standard colors plus 24 metallic/glitter shades. The 24 Floral Colors kit includes brushes. The 36-color set includes a watercolor journal. These are ready-to-paint solutions, not a collect-them-all catalog.

Where Daniel Smith genuinely wins on color range: specialty pigments. If you need Lunar Blue, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, or Primatek Amethyst Genuine — colors made from actual ground gemstones — Daniel Smith is the only option. No other brand does this.

But how many of those 250+ colors will you actually buy? Most Daniel Smith users end up with 15-25 tubes. Which brings the practical color range back in line with a Paul Rubens set — at several times the cost.

The Paul Rubens Sets Worth Considering

Here are the specific Paul Rubens sets I recommend — with honest notes on who each one is best for.

Best Overall Pick

Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor 36 Colors (5ml Tubes)

$86.99

• 36 vibrant artist-grade colors in 5ml tubes
• Includes 100% cotton hot-press watercolor journal (7.6" x 5.3", 20 sheets, 140lb/300gsm)
• High pigment concentration with smooth, even flow
• Professional-quality gum arabic binder for excellent rewetting
• Cost per ml: ~$0.48 (vs $0.80-1.00 for Daniel Smith)

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Best for Metallic / Special Effects

Paul Rubens 48 Colors (incl. 24 Metallic)

$89.00

• 24 vivid standard colors + 24 metallic/glitter shades
• Pink portable metal case with built-in mixing palette
• Metallic range far exceeds anything Daniel Smith offers
• Perfect for greeting cards, illustration, calligraphy, journaling
• Pans rewet easily — no scrubbing required

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Best Complete Kit

Paul Rubens 24 Vivid Floral Colors + Brushes Kit

$60.99

• 24 floral-optimized vivid colors with exceptional bloom effects
• Includes synthetic squirrel-hair brushes (#0, #2, #4, #6)
• Everything you need to start painting — nothing else to buy
• Ideal for botanical illustration and floral art
• Daniel Smith equivalent (24 tubes + 4 brushes) would cost $350+

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Best Value for 36 Colors

Paul Rubens Master Series 36 Colors

$69.99

• 36 carefully selected colors in 5ml tubes
• Includes 100% cotton hot-press watercolor journal (7.6" x 5.3", 20 sheets)
• Best cost per ml: just $0.39/ml
• Same quality pigments, smartest entry point for tube sets
• 5x less expensive than equivalent Daniel Smith collection

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Best Budget Entry

Paul Rubens 24 Colors Solid Watercolor Set

$18.00

• 24 vibrant, highly pigmented pan colors
• Removable pans — replace individual colors as needed
• Portable metal case with built-in mixing palette
• Perfect for students, beginners, and outdoor sketching
• Costs less than a single Daniel Smith tube + shipping

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Portability: Not Even Close

If you paint outside the studio — plein air, travel sketching, coffee shop sessions, urban sketching meetups — portability matters enormously.

This is where Paul Rubens dominates so completely that it's almost unfair to compare.

Paul Rubens: Built for Painting Anywhere

Paul Rubens designs their sets as self-contained painting kits. The 48-color set comes in a slim metal case with a built-in mixing palette. The 24-color solid set has a magnetic closure that doubles as a palette. The tube sets include watercolor journals.

Open the case. Add water. Paint. That's it.

I've taken the 48-color metallic set on flights, to parks, to cafes. It fits in a jacket pocket. The case protects the pans. The palette is right there. No separate palette, no tube squeezing, no elaborate setup.

Daniel Smith: Studio-First Design

Daniel Smith sells tubes. Just tubes. To paint outdoors with Daniel Smith, you need to:

1. Buy an empty palette separately ($15-40)
2. Squeeze paint into empty pans or wells
3. Wait for the paint to dry if using pans
4. Carry the tubes separately for refills
5. Hope nothing leaks in your bag

It's doable. Plenty of artists do it. But it's more work, more weight, more cost, and more potential for mess.

Verdict: For plein air and travel painting, Paul Rubens isn't just better — it's a different category of convenience entirely.

The Paul Rubens 48-color set in its pink metal case — my go-to for painting outside the studio.

Metallic and Special Effect Colors: Paul Rubens' Secret Weapon

This is the dimension of the comparison that surprises most people.

Daniel Smith is famous for specialty pigments. Their PrimaTek line uses ground lapis lazuli, amethyst, and other actual minerals. That's genuinely impressive and unlike anything else on the market.

But here's the twist:

When it comes to metallic, iridescent, and glitter watercolors, Paul Rubens absolutely crushes the competition. Their 48-color set includes 24 metallic and glitter shades — golds, silvers, coppers, iridescent blues, shimmering greens, sparkling purples.

Daniel Smith offers maybe 6-8 iridescent colors. Paul Rubens offers 24. And they come in a portable case that costs $89 total.

For calligraphers, greeting card makers, journal artists, illustrators, and anyone whose work benefits from shimmer and shine — there's no comparison. Paul Rubens owns this space.

I use the metallic gold and copper shades constantly. They're smooth, they have genuine metallic luster, and they mix beautifully with the standard vivid colors in the same set. Getting that range from any other brand would cost 3-4x more — if it's even possible to assemble.

The Paper Bundle Advantage (Nobody Talks About This)

Here's something that gets overlooked in every comparison I've read.

Several Paul Rubens tube sets include a 100% cotton hot-press watercolor journal — 7.6" x 5.3", 20 sheets, 140lb/300gsm paper. This is real, quality watercolor paper, not the thin practice paper you get in cheap sketchbooks.

A standalone 100% cotton watercolor journal of this quality costs $12-18 separately. Which means the effective cost of the paint itself is even lower than the sticker price suggests.

Daniel Smith includes nothing but paint. No paper. No palette. No brushes. No case.

This matters more than you'd think. If you're a beginner, the hidden cost of watercolor isn't just paint — it's all the accessories you need. Palette ($15-40). Brushes ($20-60). Paper ($12-30). Case ($15-25). Paul Rubens bundles address this directly. Daniel Smith leaves you to figure it out yourself.

For gift-givers, this is especially important. A Paul Rubens set is a complete gift. A Daniel Smith tube is a partial gift that requires additional purchases to actually use.

For Beginners: The Right Starting Point Matters

I'm going to be direct here, because I see beginners make this mistake constantly.

Do not start with Daniel Smith.

Not because they're bad — they're excellent. But because of two things:

First: When you're learning, you waste paint. A lot of it. You mix wrong, you use too much water, you make muddy puddles. This is normal. It's how you learn. But learning with $13/tube paint means your mistakes cost 3x more. With Paul Rubens at $0.39-0.48/ml, you can experiment freely without your wallet crying.

Second: Beginners don't know what colors they need yet. Daniel Smith's model assumes you know exactly which 15 tubes to buy. Paul Rubens gives you curated sets of 24-48 colors selected to work together. You learn what you like, then you can get specific later.

The Paul Rubens 24 Colors Solid Set at $18 is the ideal starting point. It costs less than a single Daniel Smith tube, comes with a palette, and includes enough colors to paint anything you want while learning.

Once you know your painting style — maybe after 6-12 months — then you can decide whether Daniel Smith's specialty pigments are worth the premium for your specific needs.

24 colors, metal case, built-in palette, $18. The smartest first watercolor purchase you can make.

For Advanced Artists: When Daniel Smith Makes Sense (And When It Doesn't)

Alright, let's be fair to Daniel Smith. Here's when the premium is actually justified:

You paint heavily granulating landscapes. If your style relies on textured washes, sedimentary effects, and mineral separation — Daniel Smith's PrimaTek line is genuinely unique. No other brand does this as well.

You need a very specific single pigment. If you know you need PG36, PBr7, or any other specific pigment info — Daniel Smith's 250+ catalog and detailed color data sheets let you buy exactly what you need.

You sell museum-grade work and need to document exact pigments for conservation records. This is a real requirement for some professional artists, and Daniel Smith's single-pigment formulas with full documentation serve this need.

Now here's when Daniel Smith doesn't make sense, even for advanced painters:

You paint portraits, florals, illustration, or anything that prioritizes vibrancy over granulation. Paul Rubens delivers indistinguishable results in these subjects.

You paint frequently and go through paint fast. At 2x the cost per ml, Daniel Smith becomes a real ongoing expense. Paul Rubens lets you paint generously every day without budget stress.

You want metallic or special effect colors. Paul Rubens' metallic range is vastly superior in both variety and value.

Many advanced artists — myself included — use both brands strategically. Paul Rubens for the everyday palette. Daniel Smith for 3-5 specialty pigments that nothing else replicates. This gives you the best of both worlds at a fraction of an all-Daniel-Smith budget.

Pros and Cons: The Honest Breakdown

Let me summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each brand without sugarcoating anything.

Which Brand Should YOU Buy? (Decision Tree)

Stop overthinking this. Answer a few questions and the right choice becomes obvious.

The Smart Move: Mix Both Brands

Here's what I actually do — and what I recommend to any painter who wants the best results without breaking the bank.

Use Paul Rubens as your core palette. The 36-color tube set or Master Series gives you every essential color you need for daily painting. That's your workhorse — the paint you reach for 90% of the time.

Add 3-5 Daniel Smith specialty tubes for specific effects. If you love granulation, grab Lunar Blue and Lunar Black. If you paint a lot of earth tones, their Primatek Burnt Sienna is gorgeous.

This hybrid approach gives you:

• A complete, versatile palette from Paul Rubens (~$70-87)
• 3-5 specialty Daniel Smith pigments (~$40-75)
• Total investment: $110-162 for a world-class palette
• Compared to all-Daniel-Smith: $400-550 for similar coverage

Both brands use gum arabic as a binder, so they're fully compatible. You can mix them on the palette, layer them on paper, and use them interchangeably within the same painting. No issues whatsoever.

3 Mistakes People Make When Choosing Between These Brands

Mistake #1: Equating Price With Quality

The art supply world has a persistent myth: more expensive = more professional. This was largely true 20 years ago when budget paints were genuinely terrible.

It's not true anymore. Manufacturing has improved dramatically. Brands like Paul Rubens have proven that you can source professional-grade pigments, use quality binders, and sell the result at accessible prices by optimizing distribution and packaging efficiency.

Paint the results on paper. Judge with your eyes, not the receipt.

Mistake #2: Buying Too Many Colors

I've seen beginners buy 250+ Daniel Smith tubes because "more options = better art." It doesn't work that way. Limitation forces creativity. A focused palette of 24-36 colors that you know intimately will produce better paintings than a shelf of 100 tubes you barely touch.

Start with a Paul Rubens set. Master those colors. Add selectively when you have a specific need.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Total Cost of Painting

Paint is just one piece. You also need paper, brushes, palette, water containers, and something to carry it in. Daniel Smith addresses exactly one of those needs. Paul Rubens addresses most of them in a single purchase.

When you calculate the total investment needed to actually start painting, Paul Rubens' complete kits become even more compelling.

Paul Rubens 24 Floral Colors + Brushes Kit — paint, brushes, and case in one purchase.

Real-World Painting Scenarios: Which Brand Wins Each One?

Theory is nice. But what matters is how these paints perform in actual painting scenarios. Let me walk through the most common ones.

Urban Sketching

Winner: Paul Rubens. Portability is everything here. You need a compact set that opens quickly, has a mixing surface, and fits in your bag. The 24-color solid set or 48-color metallic set were basically designed for this exact use case.

Botanical Illustration

Winner: Paul Rubens (for most) / Daniel Smith (for specialists). The Floral Colors kit was curated specifically for botanical work. If you need ultra-specific single pigments for scientific illustration documentation, Daniel Smith serves that niche.

Landscape Painting (Granulating Style)

Winner: Daniel Smith. This is their strongest category. PrimaTek minerals create textural effects that no other brand matches. If granulation is central to your style, Daniel Smith is worth the premium for those specific colors.

Art Journaling / Mixed Media

Winner: Paul Rubens. The combination of vivid colors plus metallics plus portability makes it ideal. Journal artists use a lot of paint across many pages — Paul Rubens' value proposition shines brightest here.

Calligraphy and Lettering

Winner: Paul Rubens. Metallic and shimmer inks are hugely popular in modern calligraphy. Paul Rubens' 24 metallic shades are perfect for this. Daniel Smith barely competes here.

Portrait Painting

Winner: Tie. Both brands produce beautiful skin tones. Paul Rubens' warm earths mix smoothly. Daniel Smith's Quinacridone Gold and Raw Umber are portrait staples. Use whichever fits your budget.

Teaching / Workshop Supply

Winner: Paul Rubens. If you teach watercolor and need to supply paints for students, the $18 solid sets are unbeatable. You can outfit a 10-person workshop for the cost of a single Daniel Smith 36-tube collection.

The Long-Term Value Calculation

Let me put this in perspective with a 12-month painting scenario.

Say you paint 3-4 times per week — a serious hobbyist or working artist pace. Over a year, you'll go through roughly:

• 200-300ml of paint (your core palette colors)
• 2-3 pads of watercolor paper
• 1-2 brush replacements

With Daniel Smith: 200-300ml at ~$0.87/ml = $174-261 in paint alone. Plus paper, brushes, and palette. Total first-year cost: ~$280-400.

With Paul Rubens: Starting set with paper included (~$70-87), plus 1-2 refill sets ($70-87). Total first-year cost: ~$140-175.

That's a $140-225 annual savings — money you can put toward better paper, an easel, workshops, or more painting time.

Over 5 years, the difference compounds to $700-1,125. That's a significant chunk of your art supply budget redirected from paint markup to actual painting supplies and experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: My Honest Recommendation

After years of painting with both brands, here's where I land.

Daniel Smith makes exceptional paint. Their PrimaTek minerals are genuinely unique. Their commitment to single-pigment formulas and comprehensive documentation serves a real professional need. If you're a working artist whose income depends on specific granulating effects or museum-grade pigment records, Daniel Smith has earned its place.

But here's what I keep coming back to:

Paul Rubens delivers 85-90% of that quality at a fraction of the cost — and adds portability, accessories, metallic colors, and the simple joy of painting without worrying about how much each brushstroke costs.

For the vast majority of painters — beginners, hobbyists, illustrators, journalers, urban sketchers, students, gift-givers, and working artists who paint frequently — Paul Rubens is the better purchase.

The savings don't just stay in your wallet. They transform your painting practice. You paint more freely. You experiment more. You waste less time worrying about cost and more time actually improving.

That's what matters in the end. Not the brand name on the tube — but the paintings you make with what's inside it.