I am so glad you posted this video! In a way, with so much innovation and hype in the art supply world since UA-cam took off, I think that art supplies almost became a version of fast fashion or makeup on those beauty channels!! And the good ones are so expensive, but are so shiny and pretty and enticing - it’s so hard to say no! So I do see this video as a cautionary tale. The thing that really drove it home for me is those DS grays which I’ve been salivating over ever since you made a video about them but never went ahead and got them, and now watching this - I am glad I didn’t! And the thing about watercolor paper, you are so right! I almost never pay full price for Arches, which I am not going to lie - I love - but it is sooo expensive even on sale ans easy to use up… so for experiments and just play time, I do feel I need to open my mind to possibilities. I’ve seen non 100% cotton paper varieties mentioned in a couple of other watercolor channels/books, but not a lot of people are talking about it and should be. Those Rosemary and Co. brushes… do you know that I still think about buying them at least once a month? But I have so many other brushes, and honestly I have just kind of stuck to my 2-3 favorites which behave predictably. So I don’t need them and, like you, I probably would be too scared to use them. Anyway, I 100% echo your sentiment. I thought you made thoughtful choices, and it was a great video to post around the holidays when so many people will be making their wish lists.
So glad you enjoyed! Yeah I also have a never ending list of goodies I'd love to have... It never ends... But I refuse to try out everything, especially all the cheaper stuff that might be OK but in no way better than what I already have. I am really trying to focus on quality and buying what I need and love... With partial success... I shifted some of my shopping issues over to yarn 😉
@@phillipstroll7385 I have to disagree with the last part of your statement. A lot of you tubers are wonderful artists. Teoh y chi has really great content on urban sketching and is, in my opinion, partially responsible for the proliferation of makers of 100% cotton sketchbooks, which did everyone in the watercolor painting community a favor. I do agree, that there has been too much focus on supplies over content, but that kind of has a lot to do with what people want to watch, as well. Supply reviews tend to get watched more.
Fascinating, your candor is appreciated. I regret buying overpriced natural brushes. Synthetic fibres are so good nowadays -- it's just not worth it -- especially with big hairy mops.
If you find yourself not using cotton papers, please use them, because the sizing goes bad, and you won't be able to use those cotton papers as intended. it's kind of a waste of money. :(
I am not sure abt sizing going wrong. I have researched quite a bit and they say if stored flat, good temp, away from sunlight, in the storage box or wrap it comes in, they r good to go for more than 30 yrs..that aside using them up is a good idea🤗
I enjoyed your video and I see that I'm not the only one who gets excited and then falls back to earth. For me it was the Kurtake Gansai Tambi that everyone loves and that I could never control. Schmincke's Aqua drops that don't behave at all like watercolor as advertised and stain a lot in the paper. And then all the famous bright pearlescent and duochrome, irridescent paints of all kinds I thought would be fun for highlights here and there but I never use them. And finally the Derwent Drawing pencils that I thought were watercolorable because of a bad product description and I find them too greasy.
Great video! I wish more artists would give a "didn't work for me" review. As a mixed media artist, I rarely choose 100% cotton paper, even though I work primarily in watercolor. Inks and pencils tend to work better for me on cellulose, and like you, I'm not layering one medium. I had to smile at the Polychromos opinion, too. My favorite pencils are the super inexpensive Col-erase. Their sheer, dry formula holds a super sharp point and doesn't repel watercolor. My much more expensive Derwent Drawing set in muted colors is gorgeous, but more challenging to use in my process.
What a wonderful video! Thanks a lot. I tried to switch to cotton paper a few times, but I always came back to my beloved Hahnemühle papers. And I can understand all your other regrets too:)
After learning colour theory, I realised I didn't have much mixing power because I was missing key colours and had multiples of others (like several reddish yellows and no green yellows). I wish I had started with a 12 professional set and stuck to that.
I so agree with you on the paper issue especially. I find I am not one for heavy washes and that's probably the main strength of 100% cotton paper for some artists. My favorite (right now) is a Fabriano with only 25% cotton because it suits my style.
👌 Your advice to just try a small selection from an art supply rather than a few set is perfect. I wish I’d learned it earlier. I absolutely agree about Arches, expensive papers, brushes, etc. I got the Portable Painter too, but I don’t use it. I found it clever but cumbersome. Several years ago, after watching videos, I did spring for some sable rounds and dagger brushes from Rosemary’s. It cost a lot to import them to my country. But honestly, though they are lovely, I don’t really use them. I reach for the same firm pointed synthetics and small square brushes that suit how I work. I have a less expensive size 12 sable that I bought thirty ago - it holds a lot of paint and is still great for loose passages, large skies, etc. Otherwise, I strongly prefer the spring of synthetics. I imported several hardback Stillman & Burn sketchbooks. They’re nice, but are too heavy to take outside, so I don’t use them very much. I use Strathmore hardbacks, which are much lighter, and have better paper. I should use the S&B at home for practicing and quick skethes, but they look too serious for play, and were expensive to import… I also imported a batch of M Graham paints several years ago. The colours are nice, but I really dislike the honey formula - it stays goopy in the palette and runs into the other colours. It may be the maritime climate I live in, but seven later, the pans I filled have never hardened. Plus, I kept attracting bees when I took them out to do landscapes. Lol, I still fall for way too many new supplies, but really, every artist is different. And the supplies need to match how you personally work.
This was the kindest regrets video I think I’ve seen. :-) Diplomats could take lessons from you. And thank you for the Lebenzon discount - just used it. :-)
I disagree on a few points. Woodpulp paper is harder as a beginner to get a good result on because you have to have excellent awareness of water control and content. Cotton paper is much more forgiving and open painting time is longer. Affordable options are to buy sample packs and cut the sheets into smaller pieces of 8x10 or 6x9 inches or smaller 5x7. That way you get more to practice on and you can even flip it over and use the back side for another painting. After you establish good water control and understand how papers are different then woodpulp is no longer an issue. I love my portable painter. A split primary and a couple earth tone and specialty colors are more than adequate if you master mixing first. M Graham is not a paint for traveling as it does not dry down hard. But it is a beautiful easy to pick up paint in the studio. I don't use their full range but have select colors on my pallet. I have a mixed brand pallet in the studio. Van Gogh is a beautiful student paint. Love the dusk pink and violet and the pinks are lovely. I prefer Van Gogh pinks over other brands. I'm not a huge fan of Daniel smith over all. I have 16 of their colors and don't use them a lot. I love Rembrandt's earth tones. Such a glowing quality. It takes a while to try and find the paints that appeal to us as individuals. Depends on what you like to paint as well. I do like synthetic hair over natural hair brushes. Except for goat hair Hake brushes. Animals are not harmed for these as long hair goats are sheared like sheep. Always good to hear what other artists likes and dislikes are. Especially since we've been so isolated the past couple of years.
Also some papers do not showcase gorgeous colors as well. I’m currently painting the same little flowers on many different papers using Holbein paints and there is such a difference with some.
I wasn’t aware the difference between 100% cotton paper and pulp when I started class because my professor didn’t know or tell us, he mindlessly told us arches is good paper.😕 I refused to buy it so I used woodpulp. My watercolor paintings were trash, but I have pretty good water control now. Water control is more important in harder levels and harder content and practicing with patience is invaluable. I mostly now just like watercolor notebooks and am struggling to find them with 100% cotton paper so I get what I get. I have to accommodate so it is how it is.
I think that's the "Anniversary Edition" paper you're liking from Hahnemuhle. Wish we could get that stuff cheaper over here in the US, I'm pretty sure they make the best cellulose paper out there.
@@iritlandgraf I wish we could get Hahnemuhle cellulose paper and Bockingford paper over here. The only way to get those things in the US is to order from Europe and pay crazy shipping, which defeats the purpose of using cellulose. In the USA we have Strathmore cellulose paper, which I hate! It's so heavily sized, paint and water never soak in and just evaporate. So I feel over here we have terrible options for cellulose, which might be why some people are so insistent on using 100% cotton. I think I will finally try the 25% and 50% cotton from Fabriano as practice paper.
Thank you for making this video. I am a fairly new artist ( about 11 months) but I came over from the adult colouring book world and the ‘must own every single pencil in existence craze is quite overwhelming. So its refreshing to see an amazing artist recommending and not recommending certain supplies and giving reasons is so helpful. I actually agree with you about the polychromes and prismacolours. I like both but if I had to invest in a whole set it would be the prismas premiers ( even with them breaking all the time) because I find the polychromes hurt my hands.
I have a few, but all the wrong aquisitions helped me start to understand my favorite medias and tecniques. One that I've instantly regretted but was pleasently surprised by was himi gouache. I guess I love gouache 🤷♀️, might get professional ones in the future. Another was a set of 100 pencils that, altough I didn't like working with so many, forced me to get a giant pencil case that I will use for my real favorite professional pencils in the future. So, every bad or good or surprising purchase was useful in some way for me, but I was the lucky one. Now I think more before buying, in case I run out of luck
Gasp! Your 5 year old gets to use pencils that I literally spent my lunch money on one day when i found some colors open stock on clearance (chipped points, etc). I was in college. Worth it! I love my Polychromos. I do wish I had a good red though….
this was extremely informative. i love that you prefaced with the preference issue and i completely agree. thank you so much for sharing this with us :D
I picked up the Polychromos in a 24 set and I could live without them. I find the oil base to be to hard for my liking and even though I have experienced a constant breaking Prismacolor pencil I still prefer them for their creaminess and color range.
I like both (I prefer the watercolor pencils because they’re easier for me) and can live with them, but I bought markers and I regret it.😭 I hate markers! I wish however, that I just didn’t buy the full pack of pencils. I don’t want 12, but 150 is an overkill. I feel entitled to use them all but most companies like those are open stock. Why?😭
Mixed media is such a great name. I love watercolors but I try other art supplies. I regretted markers, never could get them to work for me so I boxed them up and gave them away. Nice gift and they are being used.
Great video. I find myself gravitating to using my tube paints, that I put into my palettes. Except A Gallo, I love them. But of course they are handmade and freshly poured. Finding ourselves. It’s a fun journey.
I got the Portable Painter Palette to paint in the canoe/kayak during long lazy days but somehow I haven't been on the water much at all the last couple years. So I guess I just need to make that a priority, starting 6 months from now.
I took a few palettes on a recent road trip. First time pleine air. I found a water brush was fine. I wasn’t trying to paint a masterpiece just wanted to enjoy painting the southwestern landscapes while husband drove. I bring lots of old towels as we travel with our little dogs and I just used one to wipe the paint before dipping in the next color. Easy peasy and super fun 🤩
I also have some regrets about buying expensive art supplies. I just really really enjoy Rembrandt line of products (watercolors, oil, and soft pastel). I can buy them all from local shops in Slovenia. The quality is great, prices also are really great. I was really surprised by their van Gogh line of watercolors!
HI! and thank's for your honnest personnal opinions! I like using Fabriano 100% cotton paper for nicier stuff, but for everyday painting exercices I use a Montmartre sketch book, all cellulose, 150 gsm witch I find acting very similarly to cotton in term of absorption, not buckling, somewhat resistant and very affordable: letter size, 70 sheets slightly offwhite, hard cover for 6 cad$. And not to suffer from the white page syndrome, I begin from the last page...so the better studies will be on top one day! wish you the best in those days of re-confinement in Austria.
Most of the paintings that i do i end up gifting (i do not sell art so) this is why if i expect that this i might be giving to someone i don't use arches. For selected few important paintings i use arches.
My favorite budget paper is Ohuhu watercolor blocks from Amazon. It almost behaves like cotton but its not. You get 2 36 sheet pads for around $17 dollars! I still like Arches too but for playing around its Ohuhu all the way. Beats all the other budget paper I've tried.
My absolute favorite brush is a Langnickel Sunburst filbert. I've had it for over 20 years. It's beat up and has been left in a cup of water overnight on multiple occasions (horrible, I know) over the years. The ferrule broke off, and I superglued it back. The lacquer on the handle has long flaked off, revealing the wood underneath. But I will not throw her away. 😅
What you say about all those greys is really true. I found only two had really unique properties: the Grey Titanium & Alvero’s Caliente Grey. But my all-time favorite of their greys is one that came out shortly before they really redid their grey line & that is Payne’s Blue Gray. Very close to Jane’s Grey but since I found this first, it’s my go to. I think their neutral tint would be good too, I’ve just never got in the habit of using it so🤷♀️
Thanks for sharing Sandy! I LOVE their neutral tint, my favorite from all brands by far. Yes I think I picked up Payne's blue grey at the time and enjoyed it a lot before getting into other darks that were purple or pink and not blue :)
I have the precious mentality also.as I'm in a really limited budget..I did buy five grays of daniel smith also cause I live around alot of stone buildings so I wanted to do grays studys I do gravitate toward the grays more also than anything I told my art friends its cause my soul feels so gray due to my country's political situation I'm in begining stages of art journey three years into learning I found my brain does not like to retain the memory of mix colors as my brain cant remb all the colors theory mixtures I have cheat sheet tho of colors mixture but I still am in the convenient stage so I can learn more techniques .. theres so much art I want to try but such limited time to do research and learning how to do it then somehow trying to use what i have...mikelle art mom 👩🎨✍🎨
Good video! I agree with the main idea of buying some of these. Of these supplies as far as Watercolor paper is still love Arches 100% cotton paper best but I also use Boahong Academy 100% cotton which is half the price and behaves comparably. I live in the high desert climate so M. Graham watercolor paint works well for me and I can travel with it. The colors are wonderful. These supplies also depend on your technique and process.
Great video, Irit! Two weeks ago I bought an art supply which I really regret I did buy. The schmincke Akademie icy colors set... The white nights pastel colors are sooo much better. Second regret are the white nights pencils too. I bought them two years ago and I never use them. Maybe I should give them to my daughter, that's a good idea of you. I really love all my white nights watercolors, they're my all-time favorites 😍 but these pencils are disappointing. Also very disappointing: Daniel Smith cobalt violet as I use my paint out of pans and this color hardly is rewet-able.
i never buy whole sets of pencils, there are so many colours that never get used so end up being a waste of money. still wouldnt mind a whole set of polys lol
8/6/22 3:53 pm. Thank you for this video. I started out with Ed Ames color theory book and 3 tubes of wc. Still using those and mixing. On limited income. I did but Arches...have one block...would like more. Cut to smaller sizes and make cards.
Thank you for this. I'm really sad to hear White Nights pencils made your list. I had hoped to pick up a set one day, like I need more colored pencils haha. Maybe I'll get a small set cuz, who know? I might like them.. 💕&✌ y'all
I love Prismacolor so much more than my faber castellated set too. FC is my travel set now. Colors are way better than der went too if you like bright floral beachy colors. Prismacolor is way creamier snd less waxy IMO. So I call bull-- on possible marketing nonsense…..
I really appreciate your experience and your sharing of it. I have had many supplies I wish I hadn't bought but I do know what I don't want now. I gift my grandkids with all my oops. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Hello Irit! Who do you follow on UA-cam, or who would you recommend to watch? I follow Natasha Newton, Sandi Hester and Keren Tamir, Karen Campbell, and the Mind of Watercolour, Beginners Mind Art Mind, and I'm looking for more artists to follow. Thank you for doing these 2 videos about what you'd recommend and what you won't recommend, I think it's needed and I admire your honesty. I have my own UA-cam channel, and I'm learning along the way. Anyway, take care!
Hi Michele! I have to say, I do not follow many artists on UA-cam these days... I feel like I have gotten so specific with how I paint that I just don't find many artists doing things like I enjoy. I do LOVE Sandi Hester and just got a large sketchbook after watching one of her videos, but she's probably the only one I currently watch, love her free style and use of color. I highly recommend Angela Fehr if you're not yet familiar and Jean Haines. Have fun!
I regret buying the basic set of M. Graham I don't like the consistency and I find the colors very blah, feels like there is no life to them. I also regret investing in QOR. My swatch sheet is never in the sun but the colors have faded very badly. Faded on my pictures too...not a brand I would recommend.
Really? I thought they were supposed to be super lightfast, Golden actually is very transparent about their testing. I wonder if it's a weird interaction with your paper.
I don't know if it was hyped, but there's a tiny tin for travel made by Royal Talens. I generally like their products for sketchbook stuff, but wow, what a hot mess this thing is so far. The color selection is a bit meh as it is, plus the internal packaging with the color names stuck to the little tiles of paint, sealing them in what may as well be plastic in spots on the top. One is a full dud and zero color comes off of it unless I take it out and draw with it. I think it must have been missing an ingredient, because other people had the same complaint about that color. Flipping them is not much help either. I may just pop all of them out and gift them to a friend who likes to experiment with anything and everything. The tin is worth refilling though. The lid stays put, it's very compact and thin, and it has a good mixing space.
Cant find the video youre refering to... the Daniel Smith ultimate .... something.... 😂 u know the one u suggest not to buy... Could you share the link with me, pretty please?
If you don't find actually using your fine sable brushes to be a joyful experience, sell them. Doesn't matter if they last a lifetime if you never used them. If you do love using them, use them! Take them out and noodle around with each one. Do you love the way they feel? If yes, use them. You've already paid for them so if you're not going to use them, all you're doing is storing them. Until what, when? If you don't love them, sell them or give them to another artist who will use them. They're not museum pieces, they're meant to be used. IF you love the way they handle.
@@iritlandgraf Oh good, I'm happy to hear you use them! There are so many really good synthetics these days, IMO there's little point in paying so much money for sable.
Yup, agreed! Mostly I want other people not to make the mistakes I made! I try to purge and donate everything I really don't like so others can enjoy, it's a great point you made, no point in keeping things unused when others would love them!
@@iritlandgraf I'm with you! I've also now gotten in the habit of purging and either giving what I don't use and want to artist friends, or donating. It feels so good, and having all your supplies organised, knowing exactly what you have, where it is, and that you'll use what you have is the best. I didn't always do this, so know the other side of it.
Pentalic watercolor sketchbooks. Definitely avoid. Poorly made product. The glue got all over in the manufacturing process and didn't stay in the binding, so when you would open the sketchbook the pages would rip a bit right in the center and you would see a line of glue. After my book came that way, I checked around and it turns out a lot of them do and its a pretty common experience. I also personally just didn't like the navy blue color and the very serious accountant ledger look. Although that was just a matter of taste and not quality.
I am so glad you posted this video! In a way, with so much innovation and hype in the art supply world since UA-cam took off, I think that art supplies almost became a version of fast fashion or makeup on those beauty channels!! And the good ones are so expensive, but are so shiny and pretty and enticing - it’s so hard to say no! So I do see this video as a cautionary tale. The thing that really drove it home for me is those DS grays which I’ve been salivating over ever since you made a video about them but never went ahead and got them, and now watching this - I am glad I didn’t! And the thing about watercolor paper, you are so right! I almost never pay full price for Arches, which I am not going to lie - I love - but it is sooo expensive even on sale ans easy to use up… so for experiments and just play time, I do feel I need to open my mind to possibilities. I’ve seen non 100% cotton paper varieties mentioned in a couple of other watercolor channels/books, but not a lot of people are talking about it and should be. Those Rosemary and Co. brushes… do you know that I still think about buying them at least once a month? But I have so many other brushes, and honestly I have just kind of stuck to my 2-3 favorites which behave predictably. So I don’t need them and, like you, I probably would be too scared to use them. Anyway, I 100% echo your sentiment. I thought you made thoughtful choices, and it was a great video to post around the holidays when so many people will be making their wish lists.
So glad you enjoyed! Yeah I also have a never ending list of goodies I'd love to have... It never ends... But I refuse to try out everything, especially all the cheaper stuff that might be OK but in no way better than what I already have. I am really trying to focus on quality and buying what I need and love... With partial success... I shifted some of my shopping issues over to yarn 😉
@@phillipstroll7385 I have to disagree with the last part of your statement. A lot of you tubers are wonderful artists. Teoh y chi has really great content on urban sketching and is, in my opinion, partially responsible for the proliferation of makers of 100% cotton sketchbooks, which did everyone in the watercolor painting community a favor. I do agree, that there has been too much focus on supplies over content, but that kind of has a lot to do with what people want to watch, as well. Supply reviews tend to get watched more.
Fascinating, your candor is appreciated. I regret buying overpriced natural brushes. Synthetic fibres are so good nowadays -- it's just not worth it -- especially with big hairy mops.
Totally agree Peter!
I mostly use them too but when glazing for me nothing compares to my Raphael it’s just glorious.
If you find yourself not using cotton papers, please use them, because the sizing goes bad, and you won't be able to use those cotton papers as intended. it's kind of a waste of money. :(
I know, I have only a few sheets left and I'm making an intentional effort to use them up.
I am not sure abt sizing going wrong. I have researched quite a bit and they say if stored flat, good temp, away from sunlight, in the storage box or wrap it comes in, they r good to go for more than 30 yrs..that aside using them up is a good idea🤗
I like arches, but I just got and love the fabriano 25% cotton paper. It is thick and bright white and the paint moves nicely on it.
Good to know! I will check it out!
This is my favourite paper actually
I enjoyed your video and I see that I'm not the only one who gets excited and then falls back to earth. For me it was the Kurtake Gansai Tambi that everyone loves and that I could never control. Schmincke's Aqua drops that don't behave at all like watercolor as advertised and stain a lot in the paper. And then all the famous bright pearlescent and duochrome, irridescent paints of all kinds I thought would be fun for highlights here and there but I never use them. And finally the Derwent Drawing pencils that I thought were watercolorable because of a bad product description and I find them too greasy.
Yup, I feel the same about the Schmincke aqua...
Great video! I wish more artists would give a "didn't work for me" review. As a mixed media artist, I rarely choose 100% cotton paper, even though I work primarily in watercolor. Inks and pencils tend to work better for me on cellulose, and like you, I'm not layering one medium. I had to smile at the Polychromos opinion, too. My favorite pencils are the super inexpensive Col-erase. Their sheer, dry formula holds a super sharp point and doesn't repel watercolor. My much more expensive Derwent Drawing set in muted colors is gorgeous, but more challenging to use in my process.
Thanks for sharing! I totally agree, I would love to know also what doesn't work and why!
So sad Prismacolor will no longer sell open stock of Col-erase
What a wonderful video! Thanks a lot. I tried to switch to cotton paper a few times, but I always came back to my beloved Hahnemühle papers. And I can understand all your other regrets too:)
So glad you enjoyed! Hahnemühle know what they are doing, guess making papers for like 500 years does that 😉
After learning colour theory, I realised I didn't have much mixing power because I was missing key colours and had multiples of others (like several reddish yellows and no green yellows). I wish I had started with a 12 professional set and stuck to that.
I totally understand!
I so agree with you on the paper issue especially. I find I am not one for heavy washes and that's probably the main strength of 100% cotton paper for some artists. My favorite (right now) is a Fabriano with only 25% cotton because it suits my style.
That's awesome that you found something that works for you!
👌 Your advice to just try a small selection from an art supply rather than a few set is perfect. I wish I’d learned it earlier. I absolutely agree about Arches, expensive papers, brushes, etc. I got the Portable Painter too, but I don’t use it. I found it clever but cumbersome. Several years ago, after watching videos, I did spring for some sable rounds and dagger brushes from Rosemary’s. It cost a lot to import them to my country. But honestly, though they are lovely, I don’t really use them. I reach for the same firm pointed synthetics and small square brushes that suit how I work. I have a less expensive size 12 sable that I bought thirty ago - it holds a lot of paint and is still great for loose passages, large skies, etc. Otherwise, I strongly prefer the spring of synthetics. I imported several hardback Stillman & Burn sketchbooks. They’re nice, but are too heavy to take outside, so I don’t use them very much. I use Strathmore hardbacks, which are much lighter, and have better paper. I should use the S&B at home for practicing and quick skethes, but they look too serious for play, and were expensive to import… I also imported a batch of M Graham paints several years ago. The colours are nice, but I really dislike the honey formula - it stays goopy in the palette and runs into the other colours. It may be the maritime climate I live in, but seven later, the pans I filled have never hardened. Plus, I kept attracting bees when I took them out to do landscapes. Lol, I still fall for way too many new supplies, but really, every artist is different. And the supplies need to match how you personally work.
Thank you for sharing! I think many of us make the same mistakes, but some are just part of the journey and cannot be avoided 🤷♀️
Absolutely - exploring new supplies is a lovely part of the adventure.
This was the kindest regrets video I think I’ve seen. :-) Diplomats could take lessons from you. And thank you for the Lebenzon discount - just used it. :-)
Haha love it! Thanks so much! I did my best ;) Enjoy the brushes, I love mine!
I disagree on a few points. Woodpulp paper is harder as a beginner to get a good result on because you have to have excellent awareness of water control and content. Cotton paper is much more forgiving and open painting time is longer. Affordable options are to buy sample packs and cut the sheets into smaller pieces of 8x10 or 6x9 inches or smaller 5x7. That way you get more to practice on and you can even flip it over and use the back side for another painting. After you establish good water control and understand how papers are different then woodpulp is no longer an issue. I love my portable painter. A split primary and a couple earth tone and specialty colors are more than adequate if you master mixing first. M Graham is not a paint for traveling as it does not dry down hard. But it is a beautiful easy to pick up paint in the studio. I don't use their full range but have select colors on my pallet. I have a mixed brand pallet in the studio. Van Gogh is a beautiful student paint. Love the dusk pink and violet and the pinks are lovely. I prefer Van Gogh pinks over other brands. I'm not a huge fan of Daniel smith over all. I have 16 of their colors and don't use them a lot. I love Rembrandt's earth tones. Such a glowing quality. It takes a while to try and find the paints that appeal to us as individuals. Depends on what you like to paint as well. I do like synthetic hair over natural hair brushes. Except for goat hair Hake brushes. Animals are not harmed for these as long hair goats are sheared like sheep. Always good to hear what other artists likes and dislikes are. Especially since we've been so isolated the past couple of years.
Also some papers do not showcase gorgeous colors as well. I’m currently painting the same little flowers on many different papers using Holbein paints and there is such a difference with some.
I wasn’t aware the difference between 100% cotton paper and pulp when I started class because my professor didn’t know or tell us, he mindlessly told us arches is good paper.😕 I refused to buy it so I used woodpulp. My watercolor paintings were trash, but I have pretty good water control now. Water control is more important in harder levels and harder content and practicing with patience is invaluable.
I mostly now just like watercolor notebooks and am struggling to find them with 100% cotton paper so I get what I get. I have to accommodate so it is how it is.
I agree with many. Too many artists on YT always recommend the most expensive products. Everyone's needs are different. Use what makes you happy.
absolutely!
I think that's the "Anniversary Edition" paper you're liking from Hahnemuhle. Wish we could get that stuff cheaper over here in the US, I'm pretty sure they make the best cellulose paper out there.
Maybe, it has no info on it😕 it is fabulous cellulose paper IMO, also I love the fact they make super heavy versions of it
@@iritlandgraf I wish we could get Hahnemuhle cellulose paper and Bockingford paper over here. The only way to get those things in the US is to order from Europe and pay crazy shipping, which defeats the purpose of using cellulose. In the USA we have Strathmore cellulose paper, which I hate! It's so heavily sized, paint and water never soak in and just evaporate. So I feel over here we have terrible options for cellulose, which might be why some people are so insistent on using 100% cotton.
I think I will finally try the 25% and 50% cotton from Fabriano as practice paper.
Sorry for missing this comment, I don't get notified on responses to older comments, only new comments :/ Let me know how you like the Fabriano paper!
Thank you for making this video. I am a fairly new artist ( about 11 months) but I came over from the adult colouring book world and the ‘must own every single pencil in existence craze is quite overwhelming. So its refreshing to see an amazing artist recommending and not recommending certain supplies and giving reasons is so helpful. I actually agree with you about the polychromes and prismacolours. I like both but if I had to invest in a whole set it would be the prismas premiers ( even with them breaking all the time) because I find the polychromes hurt my hands.
Glad you found this helpful and that other people also love Prisma like I do 😉
I have a few, but all the wrong aquisitions helped me start to understand my favorite medias and tecniques. One that I've instantly regretted but was pleasently surprised by was himi gouache. I guess I love gouache 🤷♀️, might get professional ones in the future. Another was a set of 100 pencils that, altough I didn't like working with so many, forced me to get a giant pencil case that I will use for my real favorite professional pencils in the future. So, every bad or good or surprising purchase was useful in some way for me, but I was the lucky one. Now I think more before buying, in case I run out of luck
Gasp! Your 5 year old gets to use pencils that I literally spent my lunch money on one day when i found some colors open stock on clearance (chipped points, etc). I was in college. Worth it! I love my Polychromos. I do wish I had a good red though….
I am a fan of trying a few pencils etc at first then adding as and when. I agree with what you say.
Yup, that's definitely the way to go before buying a full set!
this was extremely informative. i love that you prefaced with the preference issue and i completely agree. thank you so much for sharing this with us :D
Glad it was helpful!
I do find the Daniel Smith Jane’s Grey very useful..it can be tweaked by adding a little blue or brown.
Yes it's a very nice grey indeed!
I picked up the Polychromos in a 24 set and I could live without them. I find the oil base to be to hard for my liking and even though I have experienced a constant breaking Prismacolor pencil I still prefer them for their creaminess and color range.
Thanks for sharing! Glad I'm not the only one😉
I like both (I prefer the watercolor pencils because they’re easier for me) and can live with them, but I bought markers and I regret it.😭 I hate markers! I wish however, that I just didn’t buy the full pack of pencils. I don’t want 12, but 150 is an overkill. I feel entitled to use them all but most companies like those are open stock. Why?😭
Mixed media is such a great name. I love watercolors but I try other art supplies. I regretted markers, never could get them to work for me so I boxed them up and gave them away. Nice gift and they are being used.
I totally agree!
I feel you. Me too.😩 A waste.
Great video. I find myself gravitating to using my tube paints, that I put into my palettes. Except A Gallo, I love them. But of course they are handmade and freshly poured. Finding ourselves. It’s a fun journey.
It is indeed Pam! Glad you enjoyed! Yup, at the end of the day, tube paints all the way!
I got the Portable Painter Palette to paint in the canoe/kayak during long lazy days but somehow I haven't been on the water much at all the last couple years. So I guess I just need to make that a priority, starting 6 months from now.
Guess so😉
I took a few palettes on a recent road trip. First time pleine air. I found a water brush was fine. I wasn’t trying to paint a masterpiece just wanted to enjoy painting the southwestern landscapes while husband drove. I bring lots of old towels as we travel with our little dogs and I just used one to wipe the paint before dipping in the next color. Easy peasy and super fun 🤩
I also have some regrets about buying expensive art supplies. I just really really enjoy Rembrandt line of products (watercolors, oil, and soft pastel). I can buy them all from local shops in Slovenia. The quality is great, prices also are really great. I was really surprised by their van Gogh line of watercolors!
I totally agree! Rembradnt is fantastic and Van Gogh has some great options in general and when on a budget in particular.
Always make my Friday better with Irit..!!
Yay! That's what I'm here for :)
HI! and thank's for your honnest personnal opinions! I like using Fabriano 100% cotton paper for nicier stuff, but for everyday painting exercices I use a Montmartre sketch book, all cellulose, 150 gsm witch I find acting very similarly to cotton in term of absorption, not buckling, somewhat resistant and very affordable: letter size, 70 sheets slightly offwhite, hard cover for 6 cad$. And not to suffer from the white page syndrome, I begin from the last page...so the better studies will be on top one day! wish you the best in those days of re-confinement in Austria.
Thank you! Yes, things are bad here unfortunately.
I love the idea of starting at the end! Thanks for sharing, I enjoy Fabriano paper too😀❤️
Most of the paintings that i do i end up gifting (i do not sell art so) this is why if i expect that this i might be giving to someone i don't use arches. For selected few important paintings i use arches.
My favorite budget paper is Ohuhu watercolor blocks from Amazon. It almost behaves like cotton but its not. You get 2 36 sheet pads for around $17 dollars! I still like Arches too but for playing around its Ohuhu all the way. Beats all the other budget paper I've tried.
Thanks for sharing Kiki!
My absolute favorite brush is a Langnickel Sunburst filbert. I've had it for over 20 years. It's beat up and has been left in a cup of water overnight on multiple occasions (horrible, I know) over the years. The ferrule broke off, and I superglued it back. The lacquer on the handle has long flaked off, revealing the wood underneath. But I will not throw her away. 😅
That's true love!!!
What you say about all those greys is really true. I found only two had really unique properties: the Grey Titanium & Alvero’s Caliente Grey. But my all-time favorite of their greys is one that came out shortly before they really redid their grey line & that is Payne’s Blue Gray. Very close to Jane’s Grey but since I found this first, it’s my go to. I think their neutral tint would be good too, I’ve just never got in the habit of using it so🤷♀️
Thanks for sharing Sandy! I LOVE their neutral tint, my favorite from all brands by far. Yes I think I picked up Payne's blue grey at the time and enjoyed it a lot before getting into other darks that were purple or pink and not blue :)
@@iritlandgraf - I really love Moonglow! What other pink/purple colors are you talking about?
I have the precious mentality also.as I'm in a really limited budget..I did buy five grays of daniel smith also cause I live around alot of stone buildings so I wanted to do grays studys I do gravitate toward the grays more also than anything I told my art friends its cause my soul feels so gray due to my country's political situation I'm in begining stages of art journey three years into learning I found my brain does not like to retain the memory of mix colors as my brain cant remb all the colors theory mixtures I have cheat sheet tho of colors mixture but I still am in the convenient stage so I can learn more techniques .. theres so much art I want to try but such limited time to do research and learning how to do it then somehow trying to use what i have...mikelle art mom 👩🎨✍🎨
Good video! I agree with the main idea of buying some of these. Of these supplies as far as Watercolor paper is still love Arches 100% cotton paper best but I also use Boahong Academy 100% cotton which is half the price and behaves comparably. I live in the high desert climate so M. Graham watercolor paint works well for me and I can travel with it. The colors are wonderful. These supplies also depend on your technique and process.
Great video, Irit!
Two weeks ago I bought an art supply which I really regret I did buy.
The schmincke Akademie icy colors set... The white nights pastel colors are sooo much better.
Second regret are the white nights pencils too. I bought them two years ago and I never use them. Maybe I should give them to my daughter, that's a good idea of you.
I really love all my white nights watercolors, they're my all-time favorites 😍 but these pencils are disappointing.
Also very disappointing: Daniel Smith cobalt violet as I use my paint out of pans and this color hardly is rewet-able.
I love white nights watercolor too... Thank you for sharing❤️😀
i never buy whole sets of pencils, there are so many colours that never get used so end up being a waste of money. still wouldnt mind a whole set of polys lol
Haha yes and oh yes!
8/6/22 3:53 pm. Thank you for this video.
I started out with Ed Ames color theory book and 3 tubes of wc. Still using those and mixing.
On limited income. I did but Arches...have one block...would like more. Cut to smaller sizes and make cards.
Thank you for this. I'm really sad to hear White Nights pencils made your list. I had hoped to pick up a set one day, like I need more colored pencils haha. Maybe I'll get a small set cuz, who know? I might like them.. 💕&✌ y'all
Hey maybe they would work for someone else, but honestly, there are many much better watercolor pencils out there... Anyway, glad you enjoyed!
I love Prismacolor so much more than my faber castellated set too. FC is my travel set now. Colors are way better than der went too if you like bright floral beachy colors. Prismacolor is way creamier snd less waxy IMO. So I call bull-- on possible marketing nonsense…..
Thanks for sharing!
I really appreciate your experience and your sharing of it. I have had many supplies I wish I hadn't bought but I do know what I don't want now. I gift my grandkids with all my oops. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Haha yup, my kids also have an art supplies store in the house, lucky lucky ;) Glad you enjoyed Deborah!
Hello Irit! Who do you follow on UA-cam, or who would you recommend to watch? I follow Natasha Newton, Sandi Hester and Keren Tamir, Karen Campbell, and the Mind of Watercolour, Beginners Mind Art Mind, and I'm looking for more artists to follow. Thank you for doing these 2 videos about what you'd recommend and what you won't recommend, I think it's needed and I admire your honesty. I have my own UA-cam channel, and I'm learning along the way. Anyway, take care!
Hi Michele! I have to say, I do not follow many artists on UA-cam these days... I feel like I have gotten so specific with how I paint that I just don't find many artists doing things like I enjoy. I do LOVE Sandi Hester and just got a large sketchbook after watching one of her videos, but she's probably the only one I currently watch, love her free style and use of color. I highly recommend Angela Fehr if you're not yet familiar and Jean Haines. Have fun!
Horay! You got it ( moonglow )...I was about ready to scream because I just bookmarked that color yesterday...
Ha ha ha ha ha!!!
lol yup, finally brain started to work ;)
I regret buying the basic set of M. Graham I don't like the consistency and I find the colors very blah, feels like there is no life to them. I also regret investing in QOR. My swatch sheet is never in the sun but the colors have faded very badly. Faded on my pictures too...not a brand I would recommend.
Thanks for sharing!
Really? I thought they were supposed to be super lightfast, Golden actually is very transparent about their testing. I wonder if it's a weird interaction with your paper.
I agree about qor! They dry so dull. It helps to layer but I won’t buy again after I use them up.
@@jennw6809 I will test on another paper. They dried dull for me
@@LCLandkinda glad to see it’s not only me. they paint so beautifully vibrant when they dry it’s like aww what happeneddd
I prefer Polys to Prisma(nice but waxy) use them both tho…thanks for Van Gogh tip, not an artist so not buying pricey D.S.soon 😬
My pleasure!
I don't know if it was hyped, but there's a tiny tin for travel made by Royal Talens. I generally like their products for sketchbook stuff, but wow, what a hot mess this thing is so far. The color selection is a bit meh as it is, plus the internal packaging with the color names stuck to the little tiles of paint, sealing them in what may as well be plastic in spots on the top. One is a full dud and zero color comes off of it unless I take it out and draw with it. I think it must have been missing an ingredient, because other people had the same complaint about that color. Flipping them is not much help either. I may just pop all of them out and gift them to a friend who likes to experiment with anything and everything. The tin is worth refilling though. The lid stays put, it's very compact and thin, and it has a good mixing space.
Thanks for sharing! Sounds super annoying!
Very helpful!
Glad you think so!
28:48... That epiphany moment! Lol
Glad to know I'm not the only one that has done some of the same things! 😆
Haha we've all been there 😉
Yes, I love Prismacolors over other brands. Never had a breakage issue.
Glad to hear Renee😀❤️
Mine tend to break when I sharpen them if I am not careful!
Great video! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed!
Cant find the video youre refering to... the Daniel Smith ultimate .... something.... 😂 u know the one u suggest not to buy...
Could you share the link with me, pretty please?
Hi! I can't find the link right now but it's the Daniel Smith ultimate mixing set 😊
@@iritlandgraf I get that, but I wanted to see your review. 🤷🏽♀️
If you don't find actually using your fine sable brushes to be a joyful experience, sell them. Doesn't matter if they last a lifetime if you never used them. If you do love using them, use them! Take them out and noodle around with each one. Do you love the way they feel? If yes, use them. You've already paid for them so if you're not going to use them, all you're doing is storing them. Until what, when? If you don't love them, sell them or give them to another artist who will use them. They're not museum pieces, they're meant to be used. IF you love the way they handle.
Absolutely I use them. I just don't think they were worth the money I spent on them. But you're right, that money is already spent.
@@iritlandgraf Oh good, I'm happy to hear you use them! There are so many really good synthetics these days, IMO there's little point in paying so much money for sable.
Yup, agreed! Mostly I want other people not to make the mistakes I made! I try to purge and donate everything I really don't like so others can enjoy, it's a great point you made, no point in keeping things unused when others would love them!
@@iritlandgraf I'm with you! I've also now gotten in the habit of purging and either giving what I don't use and want to artist friends, or donating. It feels so good, and having all your supplies organised, knowing exactly what you have, where it is, and that you'll use what you have is the best. I didn't always do this, so know the other side of it.
Pentalic watercolor sketchbooks. Definitely avoid. Poorly made product. The glue got all over in the manufacturing process and didn't stay in the binding, so when you would open the sketchbook the pages would rip a bit right in the center and you would see a line of glue. After my book came that way, I checked around and it turns out a lot of them do and its a pretty common experience. I also personally just didn't like the navy blue color and the very serious accountant ledger look. Although that was just a matter of taste and not quality.
oh oh do I see yarn????? 🙃
Lots and lots 😍😍
Me too
אחרי כמה שנות מעקב, יש לך חדר של יוטיובריות בשמה האחרונה
חחח תודה, אולי רק פינה אחת אבל...
Prisma over Poly? Pastel over Natural.