Woomer 9 Colors Watercolor Paint Set – A Comprehensive Review

When it comes to watercolor painting, choosing the right set of paints can make a world of difference. The Woomer 9 Colors Watercolor Paint Set is one such product that promises both quality and affordability. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting your watercolor journey, this set offers an appealing combination of vibrant hues and convenience. But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s dive into the details.

Woomer watercolor set

You can watch the unboxing, full review and painting demo on YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/5nq3mFuQ8BQ

Packaging and Presentation

The Woomer 9 Colors Watercolor Paint Set comes in a compact, lightweight plastic box that is easy to carry and store. The individual pans are securely held in place, which is a plus for preventing them from becoming damaged or mixing during transport. The set is well-organized, with each color clearly labeled, making it easy to identify the shades at a glance. The overall design is sleek and user-friendly, making it ideal for both studio use and plein air painting.

Color Range

As the name suggests, the set includes 9 colors, which may seem minimal compared to larger sets, but it’s a well-curated selection. The colors included are:

1. Lemon Yellow

2. Cadmium Red

3. Cobalt Blue

4. Viridian Green

5. Cerulean Blue

6. Burnt Sienna

7. Ivory Black

8. Titanium White

9. Alizarin Crimson

While the color selection is on the modest side, it provides a solid foundation for a wide range of paintings. The warm and cool shades balance each other out, and the inclusion of primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) allows for versatile mixing. However, if you prefer working with a larger palette of colors, this set might feel limiting.

Quality of Paints

The Woomer watercolor paints have a rich, smooth consistency that makes them easy to activate with water. The pigmentation is impressive, especially for a set in this price range. The colors are vibrant, and they blend well, providing seamless transitions between hues. The set’s colors hold up well to dilution, allowing artists to achieve both intense and delicate washes.

One of the standout features of the Woomer set is the transparency of the pigments, which is a hallmark of high-quality watercolors. When used correctly, the colors have a luminous, glowing quality, making them suitable for both detailed work and large washes.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Woomer watercolor set impresses. The pigments dissolve easily with water and don’t require excessive re-wetting. The colors are versatile enough for both beginners and more advanced artists. On paper, the set performs well across a variety of surfaces, though it’s best suited to watercolor paper with a good texture and weight. When used on lower-quality paper, some bleeding and feathering can occur.

One downside to note is that the paints tend to dry relatively quickly on the palette, so it’s recommended to work in a somewhat fast-paced manner or keep a damp brush handy to reactivate the paint. This could be a potential issue for those who prefer a slower pace of painting or need more time to work on blending colors.

Durability and Longevity

Given the price point, the Woomer watercolor set offers good durability. The pans are generously sized, and the amount of paint in each is enough to last through multiple projects. The paints do not dry out too quickly, even when exposed to air, as long as the lid is securely closed after use.

Affordability

One of the main selling points of the Woomer 9 Colors Watercolor Paint Set is its affordability. It offers a solid watercolor experience at a price point that is accessible for beginners or hobbyists. While professional artists might prefer more specialized or high-end paints, this set is perfect for those just starting their watercolor practice or for artists who need a convenient set for travel or quick studies.

You can buy this palette on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM26Y488

Pros:

• Vibrant, rich colors that perform well on most watercolor papers.

• Affordable price, making it accessible to a broad range of artists.

• Compact and portable packaging for on-the-go painting.

• Good transparency and blending qualities for watercolor techniques.

• Ideal for beginners or those who need a travel-friendly set.

Cons:

• Limited color selection (only 9 colors), which may not be enough for some artists.

• Quick drying on the palette, which might not suit slower painters.

• Some bleeding or feathering may occur on lower-quality paper.

Conclusion

Overall, the Woomer 9 Colors Watercolor Paint Set is a fantastic option for beginners, hobbyists, and those seeking an affordable, portable watercolor option. While it may not replace professional-grade sets, it offers excellent value for money, with vibrant pigments, good performance, and ease of use. The limited color range is a trade-off for its affordability, but with some mixing, it’s more than capable of producing a wide array of effects. If you're looking for an introductory set or a reliable option for plein air painting, the Woomer set is definitely worth considering.

The Lady on The Rock, Dublin

I finally got my hands on a statuette of the Lady on The Rock, and this inspired me some deeper research on the meaning of this ubiquitous statue that is such part of Dublin inner city culture, and here's what I found.

The Lady on the Rock

From Wikipedia:

The Lady On The Rock, also referred to as the White Lady, is a well-known plaster statue commonly seen in the windows of numerous homes in Dublin city. Its popularity has sparked various theories regarding its meaning and significance.

The statue depicts a reclining woman draped in fabric. Initially created as a clay model by artist Harold Gardiner around 1993, it was later cast in fiberglass by Edward Loughman of RPM Supplies. Gardiner had the mold made to gift the statue to friends and family. After Gardiner passed away in 1995, Loughman cleared out Gardiner's workshop at the request of his widow and took the cast of the Lady. Loughman then sold the cast to Vincent Doran of Dublin Mouldings. Since then, the statue has been produced and sold by Dublin Mouldings, a shop and workshop located on Parnell Street.

You can check out their website here, but unfortunately they do not offer online sale or shipping...so give them a visit if you'd like to buy your own: https://www.dublinmouldings.ie/

The statue's popularity has given rise to numerous theories about the Lady's significance. She is most commonly found on the north side of the city and in areas like the Liberties. A home may often display several statues, one in each window.[3] Some suggest that the statue in a window indicates a brothel, the availability of drugs for sale, or that the resident has paid protection money. Others believe she symbolizes Molly Malone. There is also speculation that she might represent the Virgin Mary or Mary Magdalene.

But who's she, like really?

On my quest to buy one of this statuette I got as well to talk to many people, all with a different opinion on who the statue represents: she's a beautiful lady, she reveals the full length of a leg, gracefully bent at the knee. A wrap slips from her shoulders, cascading down her chest and between her upper leg. She gazes out, alluring yet distant, from the windowsills of numerous Dublin homes.

She’s a white plaster statuette often referred to as The Lady on the Rock.

Once you notice her, you'll see her everywhere.

Who is she? Why is she so prevalent in Dublin?

The Lady on the Rock is known by many names. Some call her the White Lady or the Lady in the Window. Some associate her with specific neighborhoods, like the Lady of Cabra or Crumlin, north and south, respectively, of the River Liffey, which divides the city. Others claim her for a broader area: Our Lady of the Northside. Many locals don’t know she has a name, but they recognize her as a phenomenon rarely seen outside Dublin.

A bit of a legend?

The statuette began appearing in the working-class areas of Dublin, such as Cabra and Crumlin, in the late 1990s. As she became more prevalent over the 2000s, so did the legends surrounding her.

One story describes a shipwreck off the west coast of Ireland, where all perished except for a woman who washed ashore, unclothed.

Another tale offers a contemporary maritime narrative: a freighter lost a crate of the statuettes, allegedly mass-produced in China, to the Irish Sea, and they were later sold in discount stores. Catholic imaginations have speculated whether she could represent the Virgin Mary or Mary Magdalene. Or perhaps she is Molly Malone, a 17th-century beauty wrapped in myth, celebrated as a fishmonger but defamed as a courtesan.

The presence of the Lady on the Rock in inner-city working-class neighborhoods has led to some dubious and sarcastic suspicions. Urban legends suggest she serves as a covert signal indicating the availability of drugs or sex at her location. One taxi driver expanded on this idea: only if she is facing the left does it imply drugs can be purchased there. In certain homes, she can be seen on every possible windowsill. The more statues in the windows? Well, that implies more women in the brothel.

However, the Lady on the Rock has much less sensational beginnings, as Jessie Ward O’Sullivan revealed in her 2010 short documentary, The Lady on the Rock. Local artist Harold Gardiner came up with the concept in the early 1990s, with craftsman Edward Loughman assisting in creating her plaster mold. Gardiner sold the statues to a few friends before his death, and she might have been forgotten if Vincent Doran, a professional plasterer, hadn’t purchased her from Loughman while clearing out Gardiner’s workshop.

Doran’s shop, Dublin Mouldings, displays busts of Shakespeare and Elvis next to the Lady on the Rock. Doran and his son create her from silicon fiberglass using a two-piece mold in just a few hours. They tidy up her seams and sell her for 20 quid. Occasionally, a painter will add some color to her. “People enjoy seeing them in the windows. They look good,” Doran comments.

A person buys one, some neighbors fancy their own, others want to fit in, a trend emerges. I visited some houses with Ladies in their windows; all declined to talk, my curiosity, perhaps, seeming as suspect as others have viewed their taste in interior design.

In the 1960s, Dublin saw a similar trend where families placed white horse statues in fanlights above Georgian doors. According to O’Neill, these families were affluent and Protestant. The Lady on the Rock might be the working-class and Irish Catholic response to this trend.

For some, the identity of the Lady on the Rock will ultimately be just that: a trend. “She’s a real-life meme,” says Ruth Keating, who sells O’Neill’s ornaments at a local gallery. “An interesting thread in Dublin’s day-to-day,” but ultimately a short-lived icon.

However, for O’Neill, the Lady on the Rock is “a real symbol of Dublin,” and an appropriate one at that: A simple white plaster mould, reshaped and colored by Dublin’s many stories and identities.

Now, after being so fascinated about the Lady on The Rock statue, I had to give her my personal tribute. As a new Irish citizen, adopted Dubliner, I feel I want to be part of its wonderful culture, so I decided to paint a portrait of the Lady, in oils on canvas.

The Lady on The Rock

You can find the portrait on my webshop: https://www.irishfarmart.com/product-page/the-lady-on-the-rock-dublin

And see the making process on my latest Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO8Ea4Ddrh0

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