Clear Sienna Sahara - No. 8

Clear Sienna Sahara is basically the watercolor version of “put a little warmth on it and suddenly everything works.” It’s a transparent golden sienna that brings realism to a painting almost instantly.

In a light wash it’s sandy and soft, like sun on paper. Push it and it turns into a rich golden brown that still stays clean and see through, so it never gets heavy or muddy. It’s made for glazing. One layer and a boring background suddenly looks like it has lived a life.

This is the color for stone, wood, skin warmth, old walls, fields, dry grass, and all those “why does this look flat” moments. And it mixes like a menace. Add blue and you get instant natural greens and shadow neutrals. Add red and you’re in terracotta land. Add it to almost anything and it works.

If you only want one earthy yellow brown that behaves, this is the one.

Lightfastness: 6/6 (Excellent)