The Prettiest Watercolor Colors That Will Betray You Over TIme

Let’s talk about the heartbreak colors. You know the ones. They’re vibrant. They glow. They make your palette feel alive. And they are absolute menaces in sunlight. These are the ones you’re in situationships in the dark with, but they keep trying to sneal their way into your originals that you intend to sell. For me, the ones that I have to keep blocked from my palette are:

• Opera Pink

• Extra fun granulating colors

• Indigo from that Japanese brand

• Certain Alizarin Crimsons

• Bright violets and neon-like reds

They’re not bad paints. I just know they’re going to ghost me over time (specifically when exposed to UV light).

Why they fade

Many of these colors rely on dyes or historically unstable pigments. UV light breaks them down faster than more earthy, mineral-based pigments.

Translation: they will disappear faster than your ex when you asked him about where he saw your relationship in a year.

Should you stop using them?

Absolutely not. Maybe. Probably? It’s really up to you. If they make your heart sing, then by all means, keep using them, but maybe keep them restricted to your sketchbook or for trying out new techniques. Or maybe just use them for items you’ll be turning into prints or prodcuts. Think: a “welcome new baby” card with a cute Opera Pink bow. You might paint the original in a fugutive color, but the card reproduction will be printed with a different color/pigment.

Just be sure to keep them far away from your originals or commissions that’ll hang in a sunny room for 30-50 years.

If you want to know which pigments are divas and which are ride-or-dies, you can check them here: