My new Viviva Colorsheets arrived this week and I am so excited about them! The set I bought is a limited edition available through etchrlab.com.
Super compact and lightweight, this paper booklet of sixteen watercolors is only seven by thirteen and a half centimeters (roughly three by five inches) and fits in the back pocket of Etchr’s smallest sketchbook. Traveling artists can pop these in a pocket and have quality watercolor supplies available on the go.
Each card of vibrant colors is supposed to be equal to a half pan of paint. I’ve never seen anything like this before. While it seems to have a potential disaster factor, I’m generally a pretty tidy painter. Still, I think I’ll keep them in a plastic bag in case of … rain? A water spill? General paranoia?
A sheet of water-repellant vellum separates each sheet and keeps any damp pages from sticking, but the manufacturers recommend allowing the color sheets to dry before closing the booklet. Even with the booklet closed, it’s easy to access your color of choice by referring to staggered swatch tabs at the bottom.
An Innovative Take on a Once Messy Medium
This watercolor set is yet another innovative product that was initially crowdfunded. I do love these gutsy grassroots efforts at improving on traditional art supplies.
Viviva watercolors are the brainchild of a med school student yearning for portable watercolors without the mess. His initial idea was inspired by a diagnostic technique involving picking a colored substrate off paper. And as I experimented with the paint chips, they did give a fun scientific vibe. What color will this paint card produce? How will it change when it hits the paper? When it is mixed with another?
A Variety of Gorgeous Colors
The colors are made in India with an intensity reminiscent of the Holi Festival of Colors. Now I can enjoy the vibrant colors of spring as I head into winter: crimson, brick red, vermillion, dusk orange, sunflower yellow, gold ochre, burnt umber, burnt sienna, forest green, sap green, viridian, peacock blue, Persian blue, violet, magenta and slate black. These supersaturated colors really do seem like a celebration of color.
Swatch them out first because some of the dried pigment chips appear quite different than they do painted out—wildly different in some cases. I was especially intrigued by the transformation of the Viridian and Peacock Blue. Look at the paints on the card and the swatched colors. It’s almost magical. While all the colors are fun, I think these two are my favorites. The magenta and violet shades are also great.
Sunflower yellow is another intriguing color. Dry on the card, it could pass for a smear of dijon mustard. Activate it with water and flecks of red and green pigment appear. What is this wizardry? On paper, it melds into a soft yellow with hints of green. What about this process is not fascinating??
The only thing I’d wish for in this set is a greater variety of color. The reds, yellows, and oranges were a bit too similar—and I’d love to see a darker blue, but it can be mixed with the provided black. There are colors close enough to primary to mix other shades. So I really can’t complain.
Minimalist Portability at its Finest
A slick folded mixing sheet is provided at the back. Just wipe and use again. This sleek little pack is the ultimate in minimalist travel watercolor.
Full retail price is $24 US dollars, which makes me cringe slightly for a paper booklet—however, shipping is included in that price, and if these colors are truly the equivalent of sixteen half pans, I’d call that a bargain. I bought them using a $5 off coupon, so I feel like I got a great deal on a truly unique product.
These watercolor sets are also available directly from Viviva with a slight variation in colors and optional laser-etched personalization on a lovely wooden case.
Get them while they’re on sale today at vivivacolors.com. Use coupon code ‘VIVIVABLACKFRIDAY25’ at checkout for 25% OFF (through 12/2/19).
I do prefer the Etchr edition color selection. They are also on sale today on Etchr.com (Use discount code BFCM19 for 10% off).
By the way, I have no sponsorship or affiliate relationship with Etchr or Viviva. I just enjoy and recommend their products.
Safe to Use
The paints are listed as non-toxic which is important to me with chronic health issues and allergies, but the instructions advise users not to ingest them and to wash hands with soap after use. That’s standard protocol for art supplies in my book, and I wouldn’t consider giving these to a small child anyway, so I’m not concerned.
Just For Fun
Here’s a cool little bonus: paint the envelope it arrives in, then share on social media using the #vivivaetchr hashtag for a chance to win a $50 art voucher.
Add the Sketchbook to Your Order
Interested in the little sketchbook shown with the paints. I also acquired this product through Etchr. The paper is amazing—thick, thirsty, and beautifully textured. Read my detailed review of Etchr’s watercolor sketchbooks here:
Just pop the paint set in the back pocket of the sketchbook, take along a water brush and you’re good to go!
A New Travel Favorite
Something about this product tweaks the play area in my brain. Sometimes art supplies can seem too prestigious or professional to elicit the kind of abandon that makes art exciting. There are certain professional-grade brands that I am devoted to, but trying a little something new on the side just gives a little thrill.
If you’re taking suggestions, Etchr and Viviva: I think these sets would be great in one long fold-out card where you can see all the colors at once (and for ease of drying for clean-up) — or on a pin where they can fan out like a Pantone swatch guide — or even loose in a box like a deck of cards? Or on a ring that can be opened to have them loose as an option (yes, I do believe I might try that option on my own).
Just as they are, these Viviva watercolors will be a go-to supply when a minimal profile and lack of mess is important. I would definitely order this paint set again and I hope they come up with other color combinations to collect!
© Lauren Lynch and artofrv.com, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lauren Lynch and artofrv.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
