10 Best Metallic Watercolor Paints 2025 in the United States

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Metallic Watercolor Paint Set offers 8 shimmering half pans in colors like Iridescent Blue, Yellow Gold, Bronze, and Silver. These paints use fine art pigments rather than dyes, which means the colors are more vibrant and reliable. They have high lightfastness, so your artwork won’t fade quickly when exposed to light. The paints are transparent with a satin finish, allowing for beautiful layering and delicate metallic effects that are especially good for adding highlights or accents. The set comes in a compact, travel-friendly box with a small brush included, making it easy to paint on the go or try metallic watercolors for the first time. There’s space to add four more colors if you want to expand your palette. However, these paints are not waterproof once dry, so finished pieces need careful handling to avoid smudging.

While the color range covers popular metallic tones, it’s somewhat limited to just eight shades. This makes the set perfect for hobbyists or artists exploring metallic watercolors but might feel restrictive for those wanting a broader spectrum. The paints are solid and easy to control, giving a smooth gradient even on softer watercolor papers, and they can be reactivated with water after drying. This set is ideal if you’re looking for quality metallic watercolor paints in a convenient size with trustworthy pigment quality and lasting color. Just keep in mind the non-waterproof finish and limited color variety when planning your projects.

The MozArt Supplies Komorebi Professional Metallic Watercolor Set offers 24 vibrant metallic colors, making it suitable for both beginner and advanced artists. The pigments are infused with a shimmering quality, providing a unique liquid-metal finish that many artists will find appealing. The watercolors are non-toxic and easily blendable, which enhances their usability for various art and craft projects on surfaces like canvas, paper, wood, and metal. The product is highly portable due to its compact metal box with a safety lock and detachable pans, allowing for easy customization and transport.

This makes it convenient for on-the-go artists and students alike. The product's lightfastness ensures that the colors remain vivid over time, which is essential for long-lasting artwork. The set is also praised as a perfect gift option for various occasions. However, while the set is user-friendly and easy to activate with minimal water, some users may find the opacity to be less than ideal for certain projects.

Additionally, it may not meet the needs of professional artists looking for the highest quality pigment and binder combination. This set is a solid choice for hobbyists, students, and casual artists looking for a versatile and portable metallic watercolor set.

The CraftyManor Mini Forestry Shifting Watercolor Painting Set offers a unique and visually stunning pearlescent finish due to its premium mica powder formulation. The set includes 20 metallic-shimmering colors that are fade-resistant, ensuring your artwork maintains its vibrancy over time. These watercolors provide smooth strokes without clumping, and they don't powder off after drying, making them ideal for creating long-lasting artwork on various surfaces like paper and wood.

The colors can be used both for transparent washes and for opaque coverage, offering versatility for different artistic techniques. Additionally, they are multi-purpose, suitable for activities ranging from nail art to decorating clay models, which appeals to a wide range of users from beginners to professional artists. However, the solid color blocks may crack during drying due to their formulation, though this does not impact their usability. On the downside, the set's non-water-resistant nature means it may not be suitable for projects exposed to moisture.

The packaging is compact and easy to store, but given the small volume of each paint (0.08 ounces per color), users may find the product runs out quickly if used frequently. Despite these minor drawbacks, the CraftyManor set stands out for its exceptional shimmer and versatility, making it a great choice for artists who enjoy adding a metallic sheen to their creations.