I absolutely LOVE Prodigal Sons watercolors and pigments. He makes some of the best handmade watercolors I've ever worked with! You literally won't find a more saturated beautiful lapis lazuli at his price! Not to mention all the discontinued, extinct pigments he sells...I mean I literally cannot so enough about Prodigal Sons! Basically if you like unique, historical, and/or anything pigment you will LOVE Prodigal Sons! I recommend of course the Genuine Manganese Blue and his Lapis Lazuli, Azurite paints but I recommend his beautifully saturated and granulating cobalt violets and greens! Uh-May-Zing!!! Lol So conclusion if you love handmade watercolors (which are very different than commercially made paints- so be aware that handmade paints are very different than commercially made paints) that you will love Prodigal Sons paints- I absolutely recommend 100/10 😍
Whew 😮💨 I bought a bunch of pigments and colors by him. Absolutely amazing quality. I don’t know his recipe, but it’s amazing. 🥺 I love how his pigments work on my sheets.
@@keepyourshoesathedoor Can't wait to get mine. I've waited for months for his shop to reopen, then took me like a week to decide what to order. In the meantime he got busy again and now I've waited 2 weeks and my order still hasn't shipped. It is saying it might take another 2. I understand he's usually speedy about shipping, so I guess I drew the short straw. I'm a little confused cause it seems like his vehicle is working again, but he says he's busy cleaning and making more paint? Not sure why he can't just ship the orders he already has before making MORE paint, but I hear it is worth the wait....
I have a few of his paints, and they are quite nice. I don't have them in front of me, so I can't remember which ones in particular, but favorites include a dark cadmium red that is highly granulating and a more pleasing tone than Schmincke's volcano red. Also a gorgeous deep Earth green, which I'm a sucker for. I might have to get the goethite... I've got DS, RS, and Poems About You, and would like to compare. Keep in mind that like other handmade watercolors, some will have heavy sedimentation, such as smalt and chrysocolla. Roman Szmal also has a malachite, and it is quite pretty, though difficult to find a use for. You have to be careful with it, though, because malachite can oxidize and turn yellowish. I've still got my tube of DS PO49, and I'm so precious with it. I wish I had known back then to get a spare!
I'm betting you got the cadmium maroon or maybe the cadmium red purple? They both look lovely, thanks for the recommendation! Also, interestingly, Gregory now has PO 47?!?!?! Which he calls Quinacradone Orange. I hadn't even heard of that one!
They are all so beautiful! I love my Prodigal Son's pans. ❤️ I didn't notice any drying shift; if anything, the Lapis Lazuli may have dried darker? Just oh so pretty!
I stumbled on Prodigal Sons last year when I was looking out for the original PO49 and have been so impressed with their line! Glad you enjoyed the colors you picked up too! :) I would also recommend their potter's pink, if you haven't tried it. It is lovely and rewets readily!
The Lapis Lazuli looks a lot like a PB74. The Lapis Lazuli has impurities in it hence the slightly muted tone. Personally, I think that gives it a lot of charm.
Kim Crick has tested a lot of lapis pigments including this one, her review of Prodigal Sons is really detailed and very favorable :) Check it out if you haven't already, on her web site and her youtube channel.
Ah you got some of the rare pigment, the manganese blue looks similar to cerulean like color, the genuine lapis lazuli looks like a cobat blue deep PB74 on camera anyway, malachite said to easily yellow and I’m not the biggest fan of the “mint” color. And the quin gold is just so beautiful. I want to try some of the prodigal son’s to but since dollar exchange has been pretty high i kinda don’t want to buy anything in dollar yet.
manganese blue does look like cerulean blue with brightener because it's so much more vibrant! i'm not much of a green person either but i do sometimes like pastels so mint can be nice depending on my mood LOL ohhh yeahh, wait for the exchange rate to be better~
I’ve been trying to make a purchase from this store (it’s really just one guy. His shop is on Etsy) for a while, but the store had been temporarily closed for months! I have a PB 33 from Dan Barrett, and I would say, it’s a LOT more vibrant than cerulean. Than any other blue. It’s absolutely heartbreaking it’s discontinued! Ultramarine was a cheaper replacement for Lapis Lazuli, so it’s utterly fair to say it’s like a weaker ultramarine. That Lapis though, is the best Lapis watercolor I have EVER seen BY FAR!! Lapis and Malachte both are semi precious stones and yes they are ground up rocks. (Look them up, you have seen them before I promise). I have a malachite from Dan Barrett that’s a dirty brown with flecks of green. Have you seen the DS Lapis? It’s similar to that as well. Prodigal Sons specializes in historic pigments, so this version of Goethite is PBr6, a natural earth pigment rather than the ochre pigments big companies use. This is real pigment nerding stuff, you’re absolutely right that nobody needs these pigments. Some of us just WANT them. The Lapis and Malachite are like the Primatek paints, but FOR REAL. Well, the DS Lapis is real, but that’s why it sucks. This is definitely the place to go for the real deal historic pigments - you’ve got to check out his shop just to see it.
@@petiteflower5259 You're right, I agree that there's nothing that compares to the real PB 33! It's so bright, it's the closest thing there was to a neon blue.
@@TracyIndy I don't hold that against him at all - any smart businessperson would be trying to stock up for the holiday shopping season. He did have a few items for sale but he had written that his shop was closed in the description so I hated to bother him. Most of what I wanted was not available so I've been waiting excitedly :)
YESSS~ love everything you said here! great testimonial for his shop ;P and yeah, i didn't want to put out a video hyping these and making beginners think they neeeed to have these. it's definitely for someone who has the budget to spend and for pigment nerds like all of us ;P
i think you should really contact him Jenn. i believe he has some in the making as well so if you hit him up then you might be able to shop in one go instead of waiting for them to be listed.
Also purchase from this Etsy store regularly and always happy with the paints I receive! I do use Malachite Hue from A Gallo if you are looking for an alternative to the genuine pigment. Manganese Blue PB33 has been my fave from this shop. What are folks impressions of their PO49 compared to the major brands former versions? I also like Prodigal Sons Cobalt Violet a lot.
The Goethite is my favorite - it looks amazing! It would be perfect for painting scenes in the American SouthWest. The granulation would be like rocks, mountains, etc. that paint themselves! 😊 I just love it!! If possible, please do a video on comparisons to Goethite. Also, do you have the pigment number for it? Thanks so much Vee! ♥️💐♥️
You know, we should really ask Gregory, because his listing says PBr6 but Kim Crick's swatch pictures and his own pan label said PY43. So he may have changed it at some point?
yes!!! this is my favourite goethite so far! im not sure about the pigment, on his etsy it says PY43. but has jenn said, i think u should check with him to make sure. i’ll note that down but i dont think i can make a comparison vid anytime soon so dont wait up on me. it’ll be at least another month before i can film 😅
I can't find the comment where we were discussing the correct pigment number - it sounds like it's hard to tell on the vintage pigments he sources sometimes because they (probably) aren't labeled! He says, he's going with PY43 since that's what he put on the label 😅 It took a minute but I made my order (I hurried more once I realized I missed out on the PB33 full pans LOL)
@@PaintinHiding PS I got DaVinci's new color Seaglass and it's very pleasing, I want to compare to Holbein Marine Blue! I'm sure it doesn't go quite as deep in value but I was so surprised how deep it goes, much deeper than the swatches. Also pleased because the other phthalos from DaVinci are rather weak - I am presuming this is on purpose for those who find phthalos too strong - but I love them strong so I'm into the new one 🤣
That was pretty much my reaction when I swatched out the mang blue from PS...and probably every time I've painted with it since, it's just amazing. I would actually suggest not comparing it side by side with any ceruleans because it will make you sad :) I also have cobalt violet deep and potters pink from this shop and both are the best versions of those pigments I've seen. There are a few other paints I'd like to pick up but quality + rarity = $$$ so have to wait for when I have some extra lying around :)
riiiight?! it's insane! i still can't get over the immediate granulation~ and i completely understand~ i saw his prices and can't help but be mindblown. then again, as you said, they are rare and he puts out quality stuff.
@@PaintinHiding I ended up totally losing my resolve and ordering several paints I've been eyeing for months...it helps that shipping is free because he's actually in the same state as me, just a couple of hours away.
Made my own PB33 from Gregory-my first time mulling! It’s my favorite blue now! I just got some PB31 a few days ago, Egyptian Blue, in a pan. It’s NOT Gregory’s fault-it’s a low-tinting, very gritty paint. It’s just not my favorite, but added to my collection. Next month, I want to get either malachite, Han blue or vermillion… decisions decisions! 😂
You all may already know this, but the famous painter Maxfield Parrish actually ground up Lapis Lazuli into his paint to achieve his characteristic "Maxfield Parrish Blue." I love his work!
@@awatercolourist I haven’t seen Vee swatch it myself - but I do have it, from Dan Barrett. It’s rather weak and disappointing, but is supposed to be significantly less toxic than cobalt pigments. Mine is practically identical to PB 35 and is quite low tinting, but it’s otherwise a pleasant pigment. I honestly haven’t painted with it much.
@@jennw6809 Hi Jenn 👋🏼. Nice to see you again! I’m surprised that PB71 is lacklustre . I expect it to be as weak tinting as a cerulean, but not weaker. It’s one of the pigments at the top of my paint wish-list, especially the version by A Gallo.
@@awatercolourist Ah, well, I should say then that my opinion is changed after perusing the Prodigal Sons Etsy shop again last night, now that he's restocked and reopened. Not surprisingly, Gregory's PB71 is highly rated by reviewers and looks much more pigmented than my version. I haven't seen the A. Gallo swatched - well, actually, I must have, but I don't remember specifically. I'll have to go back and check Oto's video. I do love my Dan Barrett watercolors and the PB 33 and the PO 49 I got from him are glorious, as well as his potter's pink, PR 259 Ultramarine Rose, his PR 264 which he calls Ruby Red, his ultramarine called Dan's Blue - these are all so lovely. But they are inconsistent as I don't believe he works on the individual formulas to perfect them the way Gregory does. So, a few haven't been that great like the PB 71 and the malachite and one of the green earths I got. That's kind of par for the course I figure. (I should give full disclosure and say I don't have any PS paints yet! All my comments are based on swatches and videos. [Although surely I'd have already bought some, had his shop been open in the last several months.] I'd thought I wouldn't buy more handmade watercolors - trying not to go down that rabbithole - but this brand seems exceptional.)
@@awatercolourist You’re absolutely right, he’s “just” a guy on Etsy. Who just happens to be an excellent handmade watercolor maker. I’ve been trying to buy from him for months but he’s been closed making stock. Vee, you REALLY have to look at his store. I mean, really. It’ll blow your mind! I could spend $500 there in a heartbeat, though, the stuff is VERY expensive. But obviously, totally worth it.
I absolutely LOVE Prodigal Sons watercolors and pigments. He makes some of the best handmade watercolors I've ever worked with! You literally won't find a more saturated beautiful lapis lazuli at his price! Not to mention all the discontinued, extinct pigments he sells...I mean I literally cannot so enough about Prodigal Sons! Basically if you like unique, historical, and/or anything pigment you will LOVE Prodigal Sons! I recommend of course the Genuine Manganese Blue and his Lapis Lazuli, Azurite paints but I recommend his beautifully saturated and granulating cobalt violets and greens! Uh-May-Zing!!! Lol So conclusion if you love handmade watercolors (which are very different than commercially made paints- so be aware that handmade paints are very different than commercially made paints) that you will love Prodigal Sons paints- I absolutely recommend 100/10 😍
Your comment raised my purchase another $250 right there 🤣
Whew 😮💨 I bought a bunch of pigments and colors by him. Absolutely amazing quality. I don’t know his recipe, but it’s amazing. 🥺 I love how his pigments work on my sheets.
@@keepyourshoesathedoor Can't wait to get mine. I've waited for months for his shop to reopen, then took me like a week to decide what to order. In the meantime he got busy again and now I've waited 2 weeks and my order still hasn't shipped. It is saying it might take another 2. I understand he's usually speedy about shipping, so I guess I drew the short straw. I'm a little confused cause it seems like his vehicle is working again, but he says he's busy cleaning and making more paint? Not sure why he can't just ship the orders he already has before making MORE paint, but I hear it is worth the wait....
what a sweet watercolor fairy. I have been eyeing their etsy shop for a while.
These are so nice! I especially love the manganese blue. Thanks for sharing 🙏
I have a few of his paints, and they are quite nice. I don't have them in front of me, so I can't remember which ones in particular, but favorites include a dark cadmium red that is highly granulating and a more pleasing tone than Schmincke's volcano red. Also a gorgeous deep Earth green, which I'm a sucker for. I might have to get the goethite... I've got DS, RS, and Poems About You, and would like to compare. Keep in mind that like other handmade watercolors, some will have heavy sedimentation, such as smalt and chrysocolla.
Roman Szmal also has a malachite, and it is quite pretty, though difficult to find a use for. You have to be careful with it, though, because malachite can oxidize and turn yellowish.
I've still got my tube of DS PO49, and I'm so precious with it. I wish I had known back then to get a spare!
I'm betting you got the cadmium maroon or maybe the cadmium red purple? They both look lovely, thanks for the recommendation! Also, interestingly, Gregory now has PO 47?!?!?! Which he calls Quinacradone Orange. I hadn't even heard of that one!
They are all so beautiful! I love my Prodigal Son's pans. ❤️ I didn't notice any drying shift; if anything, the Lapis Lazuli may have dried darker? Just oh so pretty!
you’re right! great observation~ very little to no drying shift at all. and yes, i think the lapis lazuli did dry a tad darker. 👍🏻
Lovely! That Manganese is beautiful!
it is! i love the immediate granulation~ 😆
All beautiful colours. I love both the blues. I hope you get their other rare colours like the yellows. Their Potter's Pink is also very saturated.
I stumbled on Prodigal Sons last year when I was looking out for the original PO49 and have been so impressed with their line! Glad you enjoyed the colors you picked up too! :) I would also recommend their potter's pink, if you haven't tried it. It is lovely and rewets readily!
The Lapis Lazuli looks a lot like a PB74. The Lapis Lazuli has impurities in it hence the slightly muted tone. Personally, I think that gives it a lot of charm.
this version by prodigal sons is definitely the most saturated i've seen so far~
@@PaintinHiding I’d love to try it one day together with A. Gallo’s version and Zecchi’s.
Kim Crick has tested a lot of lapis pigments including this one, her review of Prodigal Sons is really detailed and very favorable :) Check it out if you haven't already, on her web site and her youtube channel.
@@petiteflower5259 I think I’ve seen it before, but a refresher won’t harm. Any excuse to binge watch TH-cam 😂
I love their paints, so saturated and easy to rewet!
agree!
Very nice video and beautiful colours! Thank you!
Ah you got some of the rare pigment, the manganese blue looks similar to cerulean like color, the genuine lapis lazuli looks like a cobat blue deep PB74 on camera anyway, malachite said to easily yellow and I’m not the biggest fan of the “mint” color. And the quin gold is just so beautiful. I want to try some of the prodigal son’s to but since dollar exchange has been pretty high i kinda don’t want to buy anything in dollar yet.
manganese blue does look like cerulean blue with brightener because it's so much more vibrant! i'm not much of a green person either but i do sometimes like pastels so mint can be nice depending on my mood LOL ohhh yeahh, wait for the exchange rate to be better~
@@PaintinHiding I’ll probably get the manganese blue next year if it’s still available if not, im just as content with my holbein cerulean blue.
I am excited for you! Wonderful paints! Could you please try to recreate Manganese Blue hue and its behavior with more common pigments like cobalts?
interesting idea! i'll put that on the list! someone also mentioned comparing to other ceruleans so i'll try to come up with something ;D
People have been trying to do that since the pigment was discontinued and some of them are decent but still not as good as the real thing 😊
I’ve been trying to make a purchase from this store (it’s really just one guy. His shop is on Etsy) for a while, but the store had been temporarily closed for months! I have a PB 33 from Dan Barrett, and I would say, it’s a LOT more vibrant than cerulean. Than any other blue. It’s absolutely heartbreaking it’s discontinued!
Ultramarine was a cheaper replacement for Lapis Lazuli, so it’s utterly fair to say it’s like a weaker ultramarine. That Lapis though, is the best Lapis watercolor I have EVER seen BY FAR!! Lapis and Malachte both are semi precious stones and yes they are ground up rocks. (Look them up, you have seen them before I promise). I have a malachite from Dan Barrett that’s a dirty brown with flecks of green. Have you seen the DS Lapis? It’s similar to that as well.
Prodigal Sons specializes in historic pigments, so this version of Goethite is PBr6, a natural earth pigment rather than the ochre pigments big companies use.
This is real pigment nerding stuff, you’re absolutely right that nobody needs these pigments. Some of us just WANT them. The Lapis and Malachite are like the Primatek paints, but FOR REAL. Well, the DS Lapis is real, but that’s why it sucks. This is definitely the place to go for the real deal historic pigments - you’ve got to check out his shop just to see it.
I might argue that mang blue genuine is a need, there's really nothing else that matches it. At least as much as any other paint is a need :)
@@petiteflower5259 You're right, I agree that there's nothing that compares to the real PB 33! It's so bright, it's the closest thing there was to a neon blue.
@@TracyIndy I don't hold that against him at all - any smart businessperson would be trying to stock up for the holiday shopping season. He did have a few items for sale but he had written that his shop was closed in the description so I hated to bother him. Most of what I wanted was not available so I've been waiting excitedly :)
YESSS~ love everything you said here! great testimonial for his shop ;P and yeah, i didn't want to put out a video hyping these and making beginners think they neeeed to have these. it's definitely for someone who has the budget to spend and for pigment nerds like all of us ;P
i think you should really contact him Jenn. i believe he has some in the making as well so if you hit him up then you might be able to shop in one go instead of waiting for them to be listed.
Also purchase from this Etsy store regularly and always happy with the paints I receive! I do use Malachite Hue from A Gallo if you are looking for an alternative to the genuine pigment. Manganese Blue PB33 has been my fave from this shop. What are folks impressions of their PO49 compared to the major brands former versions? I also like Prodigal Sons Cobalt Violet a lot.
The Goethite is my favorite - it looks amazing! It would be perfect for painting scenes in the American SouthWest. The granulation would be like rocks, mountains, etc. that paint themselves! 😊 I just love it!! If possible, please do a video on comparisons to Goethite. Also, do you have the pigment number for it? Thanks so much Vee! ♥️💐♥️
You know, we should really ask Gregory, because his listing says PBr6 but Kim Crick's swatch pictures and his own pan label said PY43. So he may have changed it at some point?
@@jennw6809 Oh thanks Jenn! I really love that swatch, and may have to splurge and buy some. It dried so lovely also! ♥️
yes!!! this is my favourite goethite so far! im not sure about the pigment, on his etsy it says PY43. but has jenn said, i think u should check with him to make sure. i’ll note that down but i dont think i can make a comparison vid anytime soon so dont wait up on me. it’ll be at least another month before i can film 😅
@@PaintinHiding It says PY 43 in the picture that Kim Crick took of the swatch, but in the description it says PBr6!
@@PaintinHiding No rush on the comparison. Thank you!
I can't find the comment where we were discussing the correct pigment number - it sounds like it's hard to tell on the vintage pigments he sources sometimes because they (probably) aren't labeled! He says, he's going with PY43 since that's what he put on the label 😅 It took a minute but I made my order (I hurried more once I realized I missed out on the PB33 full pans LOL)
haha im glad u ordered some nee paints~ fun times ahead! 😆😆🥳🥳
@@PaintinHiding It's been 11 days, still not shipped, I know he's moving but I am so excited to get them!!! Hope he ships them soon
@@PaintinHiding PS I got DaVinci's new color Seaglass and it's very pleasing, I want to compare to Holbein Marine Blue! I'm sure it doesn't go quite as deep in value but I was so surprised how deep it goes, much deeper than the swatches. Also pleased because the other phthalos from DaVinci are rather weak - I am presuming this is on purpose for those who find phthalos too strong - but I love them strong so I'm into the new one 🤣
That was pretty much my reaction when I swatched out the mang blue from PS...and probably every time I've painted with it since, it's just amazing. I would actually suggest not comparing it side by side with any ceruleans because it will make you sad :) I also have cobalt violet deep and potters pink from this shop and both are the best versions of those pigments I've seen. There are a few other paints I'd like to pick up but quality + rarity = $$$ so have to wait for when I have some extra lying around :)
riiiight?! it's insane! i still can't get over the immediate granulation~ and i completely understand~ i saw his prices and can't help but be mindblown. then again, as you said, they are rare and he puts out quality stuff.
@@PaintinHiding I ended up totally losing my resolve and ordering several paints I've been eyeing for months...it helps that shipping is free because he's actually in the same state as me, just a couple of hours away.
Made my own PB33 from Gregory-my first time mulling! It’s my favorite blue now! I just got some PB31 a few days ago, Egyptian Blue, in a pan. It’s NOT Gregory’s fault-it’s a low-tinting, very gritty paint. It’s just not my favorite, but added to my collection. Next month, I want to get either malachite, Han blue or vermillion… decisions decisions! 😂
You all may already know this, but the famous painter Maxfield Parrish actually ground up Lapis Lazuli into his paint to achieve his characteristic "Maxfield Parrish Blue." I love his work!
I did NOT know that and I loved Maxfield Parrish as a teen. Had not looked into how he worked. Thanks!
@@jennw6809 I love Maxfield Parrish also, and own an old framed lithograph of "Daybreak," which I treasure.
@@OneTrueWord1988 Wow amazing!!!! What a cool heirloom.
Not first 😢 and an important video too
it's okay~!
@@PaintinHiding Always cheering us up 🤗
Ooh, ooh, compare PB33 to PB71, PB35 and PB36.
hmmm i'm not sure i have PB71. but i'll definitely put that on my list to compare to other cerulean-y colours ;D
@@PaintinHiding Really 😳🤔. I always thought I saw you swatch it 😂. PB71 is Zirconium Blue. Are you sure you don’t have it?
@@awatercolourist I haven’t seen Vee swatch it myself - but I do have it, from Dan Barrett. It’s rather weak and disappointing, but is supposed to be significantly less toxic than cobalt pigments. Mine is practically identical to PB 35 and is quite low tinting, but it’s otherwise a pleasant pigment. I honestly haven’t painted with it much.
@@jennw6809 Hi Jenn 👋🏼. Nice to see you again! I’m surprised that PB71 is lacklustre . I expect it to be as weak tinting as a cerulean, but not weaker. It’s one of the pigments at the top of my paint wish-list, especially the version by A Gallo.
@@awatercolourist Ah, well, I should say then that my opinion is changed after perusing the Prodigal Sons Etsy shop again last night, now that he's restocked and reopened. Not surprisingly, Gregory's PB71 is highly rated by reviewers and looks much more pigmented than my version. I haven't seen the A. Gallo swatched - well, actually, I must have, but I don't remember specifically. I'll have to go back and check Oto's video.
I do love my Dan Barrett watercolors and the PB 33 and the PO 49 I got from him are glorious, as well as his potter's pink, PR 259 Ultramarine Rose, his PR 264 which he calls Ruby Red, his ultramarine called Dan's Blue - these are all so lovely. But they are inconsistent as I don't believe he works on the individual formulas to perfect them the way Gregory does. So, a few haven't been that great like the PB 71 and the malachite and one of the green earths I got. That's kind of par for the course I figure.
(I should give full disclosure and say I don't have any PS paints yet! All my comments are based on swatches and videos. [Although surely I'd have already bought some, had his shop been open in the last several months.] I'd thought I wouldn't buy more handmade watercolors - trying not to go down that rabbithole - but this brand seems exceptional.)
I believe Prodigal Sons is a one man show, but not sure.
ohhh?!🤯
@@PaintinHiding I think so. Ask him on Instagram, he’s a very nice guy.
@@awatercolourist You’re absolutely right, he’s “just” a guy on Etsy. Who just happens to be an excellent handmade watercolor maker. I’ve been trying to buy from him for months but he’s been closed making stock. Vee, you REALLY have to look at his store. I mean, really. It’ll blow your mind! I could spend $500 there in a heartbeat, though, the stuff is VERY expensive. But obviously, totally worth it.