Sennelier Limited Edition Watercolor Nature–Testing a Vintage Set
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I found a mint condition, brand new Sennelier limited edition watercolor set “Nature” (6 tubes). It was unopened, untouched, and waiting for someone to finally use it. Naturally, that someone had to be me.
The set is called “Nature,” and the colors are exactly what you would expect—muted, earthy, and calm. Lots of orange-brownish tones that feel perfect for botanicals, especially the quieter, more subtle kind. All the pigments are “Natural” pigments.
I filmed the whole experiment. You can watch me open it, swatch it, and react in real time.
The Colors
This was my first time trying this set, and honestly, it was a fun experiment. The colors look beautiful on paper—no chalkiness at all, not even a hint. Everything stayed rich and smooth, which was a relief.
But not everything was perfect. Two colors had binder separation, which I expected with old paint. The Black Ivory was the worst—slick, oily, and messy (at the end of the day a third of the tube actually leaked out the binder).
The green was my least favorite. It was slippery and slimy in a way that just did not feel right. Not a binder issue, just… not a great texture. Definitely not a color I would reach for again. In addition, the color intensity was not there either.
What Surprised Me
I usually like using paint straight from the tube, but when I left some of the colors out after the testing they were harder to rewet than my other paints. It took more effort to get it going. The binder is probably honey-based, like Sennelier’s modern sets, but my M. Graham colors are much easier to get going and they are honey based as well. Another surprise: the colors do not flow… at all. That’s a hard disappointment for me personally.
Comparison to another similar flower using M.Graham Watercolor Paints
That said, the colors themselves were gorgeous. Muted, but pigmented (except Green), calm, and beautifully settled on paper. If you like subtle botanicals and landscapes, this palette would be pretty nice.
Should You Buy This Set?
You cannot buy this exact set anymore—it is a limited edition (and 30 years old at least!) that is no longer in production. But Sennelier still makes excellent watercolors, and their modern tube sets are a solid choice.
If you want to try Sennelier watercolors, I recommend this set: Sennelier Watercolor 12 tubes in metal
Final Thoughts on Vintage Watercolor
This was a fun experiment. Not every color was a winner, but the set itself was beautiful and gave me a deeper appreciation for modern watercolor formulas.
But now I am curious about you.
Have you ever come across this Sennelier Limited Edition Watercolor set? Do you own it? Do you know the exact date of manufacturing? I would love to hear how you like it and whether it is your preferred set.
Let me know in the comments. I am genuinely curious.
