About Lisilinka — Handmade Metallic Watercolors from Germany with extreme sparkle

Who I am, where we come from, and how our watercolors are made.

Meet Lisi — The Founder Behind Lisilinka Metallic Watercolors

My name is Lisi, and I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. My first pictures were made at the tender age of three, and ever since, the world of plants, animals, and the endless details of nature has been my greatest source of inspiration.

Although my background is in psychology — my parents were both math teachers, and I pursued a science-focused education — I always kept one foot in the art world. Watercolors became my creative home during my studies, and that love has stayed with me ever since. I find that the more delicate the textures are, the more meditative the process of painting becomes.

Since 2011, I have been sharing my artwork on Instagram under the name Lisilinka — a nickname that simply stuck, and eventually became the name of everything I do.

How I Discovered Metallic Watercolors

About ten years ago, I discovered metallic watercolors — and something clicked immediately. The combination of soft, flowing watercolor layers and the intense sparkle of metallic pigments felt like exactly what my paintings had been missing. Over time, working with metallic watercolors became my artistic trademark.

But I always felt that something was still not quite right. The metallic watercolor brands I had used until then lacked the intensity I was looking for. I wanted a glitter — not just a shimmer. A sparkle that truly catches the light and makes a painting come alive from across the room. So I started developing my own.

Developing Our Own Metallic Watercolors — Almost a Year in the Making

After almost a year of research and development, my first own metallic watercolors were finally ready. The focus throughout was on three things: an extreme, pronounced sparkle that truly catches the light, a very high pigment density that delivers full opacity even with a single brushstroke, and a formula that remains fast to activate and easy to handle — with brushes and calligraphy nibs alike.

The colors come in our characteristic hexagon pan format — alongside mini pans and our custom pan sizes — giving you the flexibility to build a collection that works for how you paint.

In 2022, I officially founded Lisilinka as a brand, built around those colors. Today, I use only our own Lisilinka watercolors for my paintings and commissioned work — and I am genuinely proud of what they have become.

Handcrafted in Small Batches Near Hanover, Germany

We are based near Hanover, Germany, and every single pan of color is cast by us directly — by hand, in small batches. This is not something we outsource, and it is one of the reasons I can stand behind the quality of every set that leaves our studio. We do our best to ship every order by the next business day at the latest, because I know that waiting for something you are excited about is not much fun.

Every set is carefully put together, every color is chosen with intention. I care deeply about the quality of the pigments, the consistency of the paint, and the experience of painting with them — because these are the colors I paint with myself, every day.

From a Personal Search to a Community of Watercolor Artists

What started as a personal search for the perfect sparkle has grown into something I never quite expected. Lisilinka has become a community of artists at all levels who share a love of detail, shimmer, and the meditative process of watercolor painting. The tutorial series and booklets we have developed are a direct extension of that — a way to share not just the colors, but everything I have learned about using them.

If you are new to metallic watercolors and want to start where I started, you might enjoy reading the story behind Metallic Prism — our original set. It is the set that began everything.

Whether you are an experienced artist or just beginning your creative journey — I am glad you found your way here.

Time to get started. ✦

Your Team Lisilinka

Behind Lisilinka there is a small, dedicated team based near Hanover that takes care of everything from production and quality control to packing, shipping, and keeping our community connected. We are a small operation, and we like it that way — it means we can pay attention to every detail, from the first pour of paint to the moment your order arrives at your door.

If you ever have a question, we are always happy to hear from you.

Lisi & Team Lisilinka