Schmincke Watercolors The motto of the founders of the Schmincke Company was "Meliora Cogito" (I strive for the best). 120 years later we find today's owner continues to strive for the best products to meet the demands of today's artists. Schmincke watercolors contain the best raw materials such as rare gums water soluble resins and the finest quality artists' pigments in the highest possible concentrations. Schmincke quality control is very exacting. For instance Kordofan Gum Arabic from the Southern Sahara region is a principal ingredient. Like most natural products quality differs from year to year - like good wine. To maintain consistent quality Schmincke's laboratory conducts extensive tests and selects only the best crop of the respective year. Schmincke watercolors are available in full and half pans as well as 5ml and 15ml tubes. They are our best selling watercolor line.