Why Everyone’s Obsessed With the Emma's 48-Colour Watercolour
When it comes to watercolour painting, Emma has one message she wants artists of all levels to remember: the best colours in a painting aren’t always the ones straight from the pan — they’re the ones you mix.
And with the EMJ x Craftamo 48-colour watercolour bundle, those mixed hues become even more magical.
This set has been generating excitement across the art community, especially after we revealed some of the wild hidden mixes tucked inside this beautifully curated palette. Here’s a full breakdown of the colours, the mixes, and why this palette might just transform your next painting session.
A Closer Look at the Palette
Crafted in collaboration with Emma, the set features 48 half-pans arranged across a full spectrum — primaries, earth tones, jewel tones, brights, pastels, and neutral mixers.
The standout qualities?
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Artist-grade pigments
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Smooth, immediate rewetting
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Strong saturation with very little paint needed
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Flexible colour stories — warm palettes, cool palettes, nature-inspired palettes, sunset tones, and more
The bundle arrives in Emma’s signature floral packaging along with a sleek tray system to keep everything tidy and accessible during painting.
Swatching the 48 Colours
Instead of revealing the colours one by one, we group them into colour families to show how they behave side by side.
Reds & Pinks
Rich, intense, and perfect for florals and skies. Their undertones differ dramatically, which makes them powerful in mixing.
Earth Tones
The backbone of shadows. The classic Burnt Sienna + Ultramarine mix instantly creates natural, believable shadow hues.
Greens
No green is ever “ready” straight from the pan. We demonstrate how adding warm or cool colours transforms them into natural foliage greens.
Blues
Soft blooming, smooth granulation, and great liftability. The ultramarine in this set offers a beautiful texture.
Purples & Neutrals
A little purple goes a long way in muting overly bright colours without resorting to black.
The Hidden Colours Inside the Palette
This is the part we love the most — the unexpected colour combinations that unlock a completely new painting experience.
1. The Perfect Peachy Skin Mix
Jaune Brilliant Light + Raw Sienna + a touch of Mauve
A warm, soft complexion tone ideal for portraits and delicate floral highlights.
2. Tropical Teal (“The Instagram Teal”)
Phthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + Turquoise
A vibrant blue-green mix that instantly brings energy and brightness to any painting.
3. Dusty Vintage Mauve
Permanent Rose + Indigo
A surprise favourite — muted, moody, and perfect for vintage florals or soft shading.
4. Realistic Leaf Green
Sap Green + Burnt Sienna
A natural, believable green that resembles real foliage and forest tones.
5. Smoky Shadow Purple (Black Replacement)
Dioxazine Violet + Burnt Umber + Ultramarine
Deep, dramatic, and far more interesting than black for shadows.
Mini Paint Demo: Putting the Palette to the Test
To show the palette in action, we paint a small piece using only our top shades and a selection of hidden mixes.
Here are our key tips from the demo:
🌟 Tip 1 — Control Your Water, Not Your Paint
The more water you control, the softer your gradients. The pigment will do its job.
🌟 Tip 2 — Mix at Least 3 Variations of Each Colour
I always mix at least three variations of each colour — it instantly makes the painting feel more professional.
🌟 Tip 3 — Use Complementary Colours for Shadows
And for shadows, I always reach for complementary colours. It keeps everything harmonious without muddying your mixes.
The result is a vibrant, dimensional artwork showcasing how powerful these 48 colours truly are when layered, mixed, and allowed to bloom naturally.
Final Painting
Watch the Full Tutorial on YouTube
🎥 To see every swatch, mix, and painting moment up close, you can watch our complete video review and demo on the Craftamo YouTube channel. The full tutorial breaks everything down step by step for you to explore the palette alongside us.
Watch it here