Holbein Brilliant Orange Review: PO73, PO62, Blossoms, Staining & Watercolor Test
Holbein Brilliant Orange is a vibrant two-pigment orange watercolor made from PO73 (Transparent Pyrrole Orange) and PO62 (Benzimidazolone Orange). It produces smooth washes, dramatic blossoms, strong color intensity, and excellent staining characteristics, making it an outstanding choice for sunsets, florals, travel sketches, and expressive watercolor painting.
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Holbein Brilliant Orange Review
Holbein’s Brilliant Orange is not just an orange.
It’s Brilliant.
Well… it might be smarter than the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
Unlike many of the colors I’ve reviewed recently, this isn’t a single-pigment paint.
Holbein Brilliant Orange is actually a blend of:
- PO62 – Benzimidazolone Orange
- PO73 – Transparent Pyrrole Orange
Normally, when I see multiple pigments in a tube, I get slightly suspicious. Single-pigment paints tend to mix more predictably and are usually easier to understand.
But every rule has exceptions.
This is one of them.
The first thing you’ll notice is how intense this color is.
Straight from the tube, Brilliant Orange is unapologetically bright. It has significantly more visual punch than many traditional oranges and immediately grabs attention on the palette.
And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Watercolor doesn’t always need to be subtle.
Sometimes it needs to scream.
Politely.
How Does Holbein Brilliant Orange Compare to Winsor & Newton Transparent Orange?
This is probably the comparison most painters will want to make.
After all, Winsor & Newton Transparent Orange is one of my favorite oranges.
The primary difference is that Winsor & Newton Transparent Orange is a highly transparent, single-pigment orange designed for glowing washes and clean mixing.
Holbein Brilliant Orange takes a different approach.
It’s brighter.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
And a little less transparent.
Winsor & Newton Transparent Orange feels like sunlight passing through stained glass.
Holbein Brilliant Orange feels like the stained glass itself.
Both are excellent colors.
They simply excel at different jobs.
If I want maximum transparency and glowing washes, I reach for Winsor & Newton.
If I want something that punches viewers directly in the eyeballs from across the room, Holbein Brilliant Orange starts looking very attractive.
Washes, Staining & Handling
Despite its intensity, this paint behaves surprisingly well.
Creating a smooth graduated wash is easy. The pigment flows nicely and transitions from dark passages into lighter values without becoming excessively streaky.
That’s important because some high-chroma oranges can be difficult to control.
This one isn’t.
Brilliant Orange is also moderately to strongly staining. Once it settles into the paper, it doesn’t have much interest in leaving.
Which is fine.
I generally buy paint because I want it to stay on the paper.
Removing it afterward seems somewhat counterproductive.
Blossoming Ability
Now we get to the fun part.
This color blossoms extremely well.
Drop clean water into a damp wash and you’ll immediately start seeing beautiful backruns and organic textures develop.
The photographs tell the story.
The bloom patterns are dramatic, energetic, and highly visible.
If you’re someone who enjoys letting watercolor create part of the painting for you, this color is worth serious consideration.
Cloud effects.
Abstract passages.
Atmospheric textures.
Experimental painting.
All fair game.
Sometimes watercolor behaves like a carefully controlled medium.
Other times it behaves like a toddler after too much sugar.
Brilliant Orange definitely leans toward the second category.
And that’s part of its charm.
Best Uses for Holbein Brilliant Orange
Holbein Brilliant Orange works especially well for:
- Sunsets and sunrise skies
- Florals and botanical subjects
- Autumn foliage
- Travel sketching
- Architectural highlights
- Expressive watercolor techniques
- Watercolor blossoms and backruns
- Warm reflections
- Tropical scenes
- High-chroma focal points
Who Should Buy Holbein Brilliant Orange?
You should consider this paint if:
- You love vibrant, attention-grabbing colors
- You enjoy watercolor blossoms and backruns
- You paint sunsets frequently
- You enjoy expressive watercolor effects
- You want a brighter alternative to traditional oranges
- You like colors that create immediate visual impact
You may want to skip it if:
- You prefer muted earth tones
- You build minimalist palettes
- You strongly prefer single-pigment paints
- You rarely use bright oranges
- You dislike staining pigments
How Does This Compare?
Compare Holbein Brilliant Orange to:
- Winsor & Newton Transparent Orange – more transparent and cleaner single-pigment orange
- Daniel Smith Perinone Orange – deeper, slightly redder orange with stronger staining
- Daniel Smith Quinacridone Burnt Orange – earthy transparent orange-brown with exceptional versatility
- Holbein Permanent Magenta – creates vibrant warm mixtures and florals
- Winsor & Newton Scarlet Lake – brighter red-orange mixtures and floral applications
- Winsor & Newton Quinacridone Violet – dramatic complementary neutral mixtures
- Daniel Smith Moonglow – atmospheric shadow mixtures when paired with warm oranges
- Holbein Marine Blue – complementary blue-green contrast for seascapes and skies
Some colors quietly support a painting.
Others walk into the room, kick down the door, and demand attention.
Holbein Brilliant Orange definitely belongs in the second category.
And thankfully, unlike certain politicians, it usually improves the situation.
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Ryan Fox AWS, NWS, TWSA
Ryan Fox Painting
(919) 645-8345