If you’ve ever wanted to add painterly texture — subtle granulation, speckled particles, mineral magic — to your watercolors in a compact, travel-friendly form, the Granulating Power Watercolor Stick Set is a gem in the DANIEL SMITH lineup. This set pairs four PrimaTek watercolors in stick form known for their granulating character with a rich, granulating black to anchor your compositions — all packaged in a snap-lid storage case.

These colors are ideal for landscapes, plein air work, architectural textures, and anywhere you want visual texture to carry part of the story. The collection was selected by Brand Ambassador Rajat Subhra Bandopadhyay.

Below: a color-by-color tour — what each brings to the palette, how you might use it, and a link to its Color Story for deeper exploration.

Serpentine echt

• Why it stands out: A soft, earthy green with surprising depth and granulation. This PrimaTek watercolor comes from serpentine stone mined in Tasmania.
  
• Behavior & uses: In a wash, Serpentine spreads with a gentle, semi-transparent green tone; in heavier applications, subtle specks of scarlet emerge as it settles — adding complexity and intrigue.
  
• Good for: Mossy ground covers, forest undergrowth, lichen textures, and layered glazes that benefit from movement.
  
• Learn more: Serpentine echt

Echt sodaliet

• Why it stands out: A deep, moody blue with strong granulation that yields visual texture in skies or water.
• Behavior & uses: When diluted, it offers translucent, cool tones; when laid thicker or on rough paper, granulation reveals natural watercolor texture.
• Good for: Atmospheric skies, distant hills, shadows, or moody accents.
• Learn more: Echt sodaliet

Echte Piemontite

• Why it stands out: A warm, earthy red or reddish-brown PrimaTek watercolor that adds richness and grounded tones.
• Behavior & uses: Works beautifully in washes for terra cotta roofs, warm earth, and to tweak yellows or greens with an organic red cast.
• Good for: Terrains, warm shadows in soils, or mixing to “soften” greens.
• Learn more: Echte Piemontite

Hematiet echt

• Why it stands out: A dark, textural watercolor that leans toward gunmetal grays or deep rust, depending on dilution.
• Behavior & uses: In strong applications, Hematite gives a dense, granulating dark with texture. In washes, it can drift toward charcoal or iron-toned undertones.
• Good for: Rocks, shadows, metal surfaces, structural details.
• Learn more: Hematiet echt

maan zwart

• Why it stands out: This black watercolor brings depth, contrast, and the ability to anchor compositions.
• Behavior & uses: Use it in glazes or diluted washes to cool down areas or push back values, or in thicker passages to intensify form.
• Good for: Outlines, structural accents, deep shadows, value anchoring.
• Learn more: maan zwart

• Let the granulation speak: Use textured paper (140 lb cold-press or rough) to allow watercolor particles to settle and reveal texture. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, try them on a hot press paper and watch that granulation dance!
  
• Layer smartly: Build washes slowly; allow earlier layers to dry before adding more paint.
  
• Mix with restraint: These are strong watercolors full of character; pairing them carefully can yield moody, atmospheric grays and earth tones. For example:
  • Serpentine + Piemontite can create muted olive tones
  • Hematite + Sodalite can yield stormy slate grays
  • A touch of Lunar Black can shift any mix to a cooler or more muted value.
• Travel/lightweight use: As sticks, you can hold them in your fingers and use a wet brush to activate; or “draw” color directly into a travel palette or rewet in pans — ideal for plein air or sketch journaling.

The Granulating Power Watercolor Stick Set is more than just a collection of granulating watercolors — it’s a portable toolkit for artists who love to let unique and dramatic pigments contribute to the story. With these five sticks, you can access tonal depth, atmospheric movement, and strong anchoring with fewer travel supplies.

By pairing high-granulation PrimaTek watercolors with a bold black, this set invites you to go boldly into any painting session! Whether you’re capturing a rocky hillside, damp forest floor, or brooding sky, the granulation itself becomes part of your creative expression. Find a retailer HIER!