Bought for decorating and my art sketchbook. I'm an amateur, but my artist granny taught me quality. These paints are super pigmented, great for mixing colors. A little goes a long way. Might experiment with water. Not sure about "sheerness," but colors are vibrant. I got it for £5.86, a great value. Pros: pigmented, mix well, dries nicely, can use water, comes with 3 brushes. A bargain!