DANIEL SMITH Extra-Fine Watercolour Paint — Indian Red 15ml, Granulating & Lightfast

DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolour, 15ml tube in Indian Red, is a professional-grade, granulating earth tone pigment prized for opaque, lightfast washes and textured effects.

Indian Red from DANIEL SMITH is an artist-quality 15ml watercolour made with high pigment load and pure gum arabic binder for clean mixing, dependable handling and lasting colour. Formulated to meet rigorous industry standards and tested for permanence, this colour offers an earthy, slightly muted red-brown that sits comfortably in landscape palettes, architectural studies and historical subject matter. The tube contains a stable PR 101 pigment with opacity and medium staining strength, designed to produce the granular textures many watercolourists seek.

What visual effects does Indian Red produce on paper?

Indian Red yields a matte, granulating surface with subtle particle separation, creating organic texture as washes dry. It tends to sit on the paper surface and break into mottled patterns when reactivated or used with uneven water application, making it excellent for rustic surfaces and gritty details.

• Granulates to form textured, earthlike patterns in washes
• Dries to a matte, opaque finish useful for weathered surfaces
• Reacts predictably to lifting and layering for controlled texture

How does Indian Red mix with other colours?

This pigment blends cleanly into a range of muted browns, olives and slate tones; combine with yellow ochre and cerulean for classic landscape greys. Because it is somewhat opaque and medium-staining, Indian Red gives weight to mixtures without muddying when used thoughtfully.

• Mix with Yellow Ochre for warm, earthy neutrals
• Add Cerulean or Ultramarine for cooler, grayed mixtures
• Use sparingly with transparent pigments to retain granulation

Is this watercolour durable and safe for professional work?

DANIEL SMITH watercolours are manufactured to strict quality controls and meet ASTM standards for art materials, ensuring lightfastness and permanence for studio and archival work. The Indian Red tube uses PR 101 pigment and conforms to ASTM D4236 and D5067, giving artists confidence in colour stability over time when used and stored properly.

• Conforms to ASTM D4236 and D5067 for safety and permanence
• High pigment concentration with pure gum arabic binder, no fillers
• Made in the USA in small batches and tested for consistency

How should I handle and apply Indian Red for best results?

Apply Indian Red in single decisive strokes for uniform opaque passages or use diluted layers to reveal granulation slowly. Because the colour can be medium-staining and opaque, try a light touch or pre-wet the paper for softer blends; lifting and glazing will reveal different textures and depths.

• Use wet-on-dry for opaque, textured marks; wet-on-wet for softer blends
• Try single-coat application for even, grayed earth areas—"hit it once and walk away"
• Lift with clean water and a brush to soften edges or create highlights

Who is this for? DANIEL SMITH Indian Red 15ml is aimed at watercolour artists who want a reliable, artist-grade earth pigment offering granulation and opacity—ideal for landscape painters, architectural renderers, illustrators working with historical palettes, and any artist seeking a durable, characterful red-brown. Whether you're a professional building an archival palette or a dedicated student exploring texture, this tube delivers consistent performance, high pigment purity and predictable mixing behavior as part of DANIEL SMITH’s extensive colour range.