DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolour Stick — Indanthrone Blue 12ml, Highly Pigmented Rewettable Washes

DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolour Stick in Indanthrone Blue is a portable, pigmented watercolour stick that produces rich, rewettable washes and vivid dry textures for sketching and finished work.

This 12ml stick delivers the same highly concentrated pigment performance that artists expect from Daniel Smith’s Extra Fine Watercolours, packaged as a convenient stick for direct application or rewetting with a brush. Indanthrone Blue is a deep, cool blue known for strong tinting strength and transparent clarity. The stick format is ideal for outdoor studies, mixed-media pieces, and quick value-mapping before committing to larger washes.

How does this watercolour stick behave when wet versus dry?

Applied dry, the stick lays down a bold, velvety mark that can be left for textured effects or softened with blending. When rewet with a brush or sponge the pigment releases easily into a smooth, strongly pigmented wash that maintains transparency and intensity without grit.

• Dry: directly sketch or rub for textured strokes and bold lines.
• Rewet: dissolves into even, richly coloured washes with water.
• Consistency: creamy, highly responsive pigment — no gritty granulation.
• Transparency: preserves luminous layering and glazing techniques.

What makes Indanthrone Blue a useful colour in a palette?

Indanthrone Blue is a deep, cool blue with strong tinting power that mixes predictably and holds chromatic depth in layers. It works well for darkening without muddying, deep skies, evening water, and for creating cool, saturated shadow passages.

• Tinting strength: high — a little goes a long way in mixes.
• Mixing: combines cleanly with warm and neutral colours for rich secondary tones.
• Optics: transparent nature maintains underlying layers and luminosity.
• Use cases: landscapes, seascapes, portraits with cool shadows, and abstract work.

Is this stick durable and lightfast for long-term work?

The pigment has an ASTM lightfastness rating of Excellent and is made in the USA, so it’s suitable for artworks intended to last. The medium is classified as medium staining and non-granulating, offering stable, predictable results across applications.

• Lightfastness: ASTM Excellent — good archival stability.
• Staining: medium — allows some reworking while retaining permanence.
• Granulation: non-granulating for smooth washes and mixes.
• Origin: manufactured in the USA to consistent quality standards.

How practical is the stick format for travel and studio use?

The 12ml stick is compact and mess-reducing compared with tubes or pans, making it convenient for plein air sessions, sketchbooks, and urban sketching kits. It fits easily into a pencil roll, zipper pouch, or sketchbox and lets you draw directly onto paper for immediate marks.

• Portability: slim, solid form for quick access on location.
• Application: use directly or create washes by lifting pigment with water.
• Storage: reseal or cap in a small container to protect edges between sessions.
• Versatility: comfortable for both detail work and large-area rubbing.

Who is this for: Artists who want a professional-grade, deeply pigmented blue in a portable format—ideal for illustrators, plein air painters, mixed-media artists, and students seeking reliable, highly reactive watercolour that performs both as a sketched mark-maker and a rewettable wash. This stick complements a studio palette as much as a travel kit for creatives who value intense colour, archival properties, and straightforward handling.

Product details:

• Brand: DANIEL SMITH
• Colour: Indanthrone Blue
• Volume: 12ml stick
• Attributes: Made in the USA, ASTM lightfastness: Excellent, medium staining, non-granulating, transparent