Hey everyone! I hope you'll enjoy this video. I also wanted to add another awesome tip, dot cards! Dot cards are a great way of trying out colors and seeing them next to each other before committing to a full tube or pan. Enjoy the video!
Totally agree. Have to remind myself that watching videos isn't painting... So I have to select ones that teach and inspire rather than encourage me to consume. :) And yes, the dot cards are helpful in limiting purchases.
Irit- this was great. I really agree about being careful when it comes to haul videos. They create this frenzied feeling to buy that is a big turn off for me. I can’t remember if you mentioned it here but along with paper samples- I think dot cards are a fantastic way to explore a brand or some pigments before committing to tube purchases. The schmincke supergranulating dot card helped me to calm down and choose just a couple that I found truly unique and complementary to my taste (some looked like a science experiment once I swatched them😹). I hope this video finds folks who are just starting off because it is a smart way to explore while avoiding confusion and hopefully keeping expenses to a manageable level. Thanks- Irit.🌈
i totally agree on the feeling that expensive paper feels "precious" and still have a large Arches pad sealed. (I found out that I like to use their 7 x 10 for swatching cards for a palette so now I have one of those) I ended up stumbling on the Fabriano fat pad of 60 sheets and 25% cotton and it has given me so much freedom to explore and play and just get a new paint and take a page and draw circles and squiggles and not feel guilty. I like watching youtubers to see how many different color preferences there are, As a beginner i also enjoy learning about pigments but found myself getting obsessed with lightfastness (as if someone will care about my squiggles in 100 years) so I ended up putting together a palette of all these fugitive and questionable colors to release myself of that fear of exploration. :). Right now I've been in the "i need this and I need that" phase but your video has come at the right time as I found myself on Jackson's site telling myself the Schmincke sale will come back around another day! ha.
Love, love, love ❤️ this video. Sorry…my comment is a kind of long one. Such good and practical advice for everyone. I also enjoy watching the haul videos and I’ve watched a LOT. They are definitely CLICK BAIT and I think they get some of the highest number of viewers on any of YT creator channels. The high viewing numbers/hours that channels get for doing hauls is probably the biggest reason we see so many of them. For viewers It’s like being a “voyeur” to someone’s Christmas morning, Hanukkah or birthday party. And then to see all those pretty little square pans of wc being unwrapped….the pretty and dazzling colors being swatched…they look like candy and I’m convinced that’s part of the allure. For the video creators, I wonder…no I know, there’s no way they will ever use many of the sets and colors they’re buying or are GIFTED by a sponsor. But to their credit, many of them DO giveaways and such, so that’s good. I also do part-time vintage reselling and watch a LOT of reselling HAUL videos from thrift stores, estate sales, auctions and the like. They are some of the most watched videos in that genre too. So even with reselling hauls, the temptation to run to the thrift store and buy more stuff after watching a haul video can easily kick-in even when you already have too much stuff on your basement shelves, THAT YOU HAVEN’T SOLD. (that would be me 🤚.) So this issue of buying more than we really need or could ever use can be an issue for all sorts of “consumables.” You give some great tips on how to step back and look at what you may already have, check those pigment numbers for dupes and just a gentle warning not to pile up with all the colors you see on someone’s haul just bc they’re so pretty. I do have lots of watercolors in my stash and some that I’ve seen on haul videos. But I have recently realized that I don’t need anymore typical sets bc there are too many dupes with what I already have. But one thing that’s helped to reduce my spending on paints that may be too expensive for me and not so sure I need, but that I really want to at least try out is to buy dot cards, quarter pan sets (small sets) and other sampler sets. I also now buy one tube or pan color at a time that I don’t have and know I would really use. The cost for many of these sampling/try-out sets is maybe 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of regular size sets. For example, I got a Schmincke Super Granulating set in “Forest” for about $23 from Meow Cafe Watercolors on Etsy. There’s really quite a lot of paint in quarter pans, dots cards & sample sets. It’s just a money saver that I can feel better about, but then I still get the excitement and fun of trying out those pretty and dazzling colors without committing to a much more expensive purchase. Thanks so much Irit!
Thanks Irit - such great advice. The other “value for money” tip I have to remind myself is to shop my stash and use all those treasures I have! I am so excited when I receive them, but if I keep them preserved in a drawer waiting for the “perfect moment” to use them, then it is a complete waste of $. (And for the ones that are truly regrets - a colour I don’t like or a brush that doesn’t perform for my style, then I donate to a local kids Center so some child can discover their creative soul). Have a good summer and vacation! 💕
This was a very helpful video. I am new to watercolor, so all the haul videos can make you want everything you see. I had purchased a couple of lower priced large palettes, and I would always be disappointed that they weren’t exactly what I wanted. After watching you create your own palette, I selected a few colors that I really loved, and I am now building my own. Additionally, I have found a local artist who creates her own little mini palettes, and I occasionally pick up one of her sets. I am resisting the temptation to by every watercolor set out there. I started with the Daniel Smith Jean Haines set because I loved all of those colors, and I have filled in with a couple of Van Gogh, Windsor and Newton, and Schminke colors to create my individual palette. When my husband gets a job, I will go through your class. Until then, I’m playing around with my paints. ❤
Thanks for helping us spend less! I never watch hauls, however, the constant release of products and reviews really influences my buying. I think this is worse in makeup & nail polish (things I've also bought too much of, largely due to UA-cam). But interestingly there are a lot more people talking about doing low or no-buys, panning projects and declutters in makeup then there are in art supplies. Maybe because art supplies "don't expire." Thanks for adding another viewpoint to the mix. Your advice to buy paint manufactured in your country is so smart; it's easy to get entranced with a brand that's expensive to you. There's not much good watercolor paper made here, but paint and brushes from US companies are great! DaVinci is a great family company, economical paints, and a straightforward formula. Great for beginners, although the big surprise to me was the phthalos are weak. I'm also loving Qor and M. Graham, both of which have a ton of personality. I started with DS and of course most of those are great, but I don't like their non-transparency as a company. As for US-made brushes, I love my Princeton brushes, and we also have Silver (Black Velvet and other lines) and Trekell brushes which are wonderful as well. And Rosemary & Co makes super high quality, yet affordable, natural hair brushes that are a big savings, even if you have to pay international shipping.
I'm at that "use what I have" stage. I don't have a lot, but make due with what I do have. I use my cheaper paper to practice and experiment on, saving the better paper for actual projects. I'm creating my own "super granulating" mixes which is so much fun. Some aren't even available to buy, because no one makes them. I'm also making a list of fugitive pigments so I know what to avoid. And yes, I would love to buy your SKETCHBOOK STAMP SET. Hopefully I can get them when they're back in stock. ❤️
Thanks ever so much for sharing your talents and time with us! We all need to spend more time painting vs. watching videos! My wee tip for these type of hauls and informational videos is to listen to them when getting dressed and applying make-up for the day, or folding towels, cooking, etc. I keep my pigments in individual Possum Palette cups with the pigment code marked on them. As you stated, the artists grade colors are all excellent, and I feel one hardly needs 12 open tubes of different brands of PB 15 (Thalo Blue), as the difference for painting purposes is minimal. The few workshops I took the artists used only about 12 colors and a handful of brushes. A famous watercolorist (in the US) Tony Couch always touted the use of synthetic brushes. These workshops were 20 years ago, before the internet (you likely do not remember that time!) when artists collected books, so I have quite the collection of those. eBay can offer some great deals on supplies. A mixed lot can be purchased and the types one cannot use can be donated. Craft and hobby stores (in the US) often have a discount/discontinued bin that can be a great way to try expensive items.
I so appreciate your video. Over the years I’ve found my watercolor palette has shaped up to contain various colors by HWC, DaVinci, Daniel Smith, and Schmincke. All living harmoniously in my palette. Also, I appreciated what you sai about watercolor brushes. It didn’t pay for me to have the 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. Instead, I purchased Escoda 2, 6, and their 3 piece black travel set which contains a Perla - Bright, #12 Perla - Dagger, #1/14in Versatil - Pointed Round, #16 which has allowed me to have better versatility. Note for US residents: Jackson’s Art Supply offers Escoda’s 3 pack black travel brush set for half the price! Again, thanks so much Irit!
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you for sharing your tips, I especially feel strongly about mixing brands because it is simply a shame to not use all one's faves all the time 😁
Great video, lots of good ideas here. I find myself doing way more haul videos than I feel fully comfortable with, even on my very new channel. Part of me feels bad because I might be encouraging people to spend when they shouldn't, but part of me also thinks that we're should be able to make decisions for ourselves about our spending habits. I definitely never blame anyone but myself when I buy things, so I hope others feel the same when they see interesting things in my videos and purchase them. Thanks for all of the ideas!
Glad you enjoyed! Hauls are a great way to attract new subscribers and anyone that puts the time into a UA-cam channel has the right and also good sense to make these and gain new viewers. I think a great service to your viewers would also be favourite videos or updated reviews after using the supplies showed in the hauls. That helps gain trust, good luck!
Also, it's really not about the money. The money is part of it, of course, but I, like you, trust people to make decisions that are right for them. For me it's more about that FOMO vibe, that they are missing out on something great, or somehow (unintentionally most of the time), making people think they need much more than they actually do. That's it, I'm done now😉
@@iritlandgraf oh yeah, so true!! I know I definitely have bought more than a few things just to add to my growing collection of various art supplies, and now I look at them and wonder what I'm ever going to do with them!!! But I definitely wanted them at the time. I would like to say I'm getting better about that, but I still tend to grab up a lot of stuff when it's on sale, even when it's more than I need. My FOMO is massively triggered by sales!! Ugh!!! Hahaha thank you for your responses. I have been really loving getting to know the UA-cam art community. ❤️
Great advice! When I get that feeling of FOMO, I always remind myself that I am not an art supply collector.😂 I can usually find something similar that I already own. Thank you💜
I appreciate your comment to feel free to mix colors from different brands. While it is tricky process finding the colors from those brands that you really love, I find that creating swatch charts is very helpful in this process.
This was great! I agree 100%. It is nice to have inspiring convenience colors as you can afford them, but not necessary to go overboard. I did get the Rosa Gallery monopigment set of 12 and am very happy. They would start off anyone in a lovely way. They have some pigments that spread in a QOR like way, which is great for loose, intuitive painters. There are also some cadmiums in the set which I don't have in my collection. You're right about spending time painting vs watching more art haul you tubes 😊 But I've definitely learned so much from the art haul reviews too!
I think there can be some benefit to starting with a dirt cheap multi pack of brushes, because it gives you a chance to figure out what size/shape you prefer using. Most watercolor artists I've watched stick to rounds in the size range you mentioned, but I found that in some painting scenarios I really like a small flat to give me control in creating lines/edges. I wouldn't have known that without trying it out. *However* now I'm starting to upgrade to better brushes (I like Princeton Neptune), and I only individually buy the ones I've already vetted out. You can get a cheap set for the cost of 1 nicer brush, and that saves you from spending on a nicer brush you might ultimately not like using because of the size/shape.
Thanks for sharing Eliza! You make a good point, and so I would recommend picking up a set when starting out, but not with every size of the same shaped brush, but rather a selection of shapes. I recently reviewed such a set by Zen, Princeton also has something like that. Those are great for trying out different shapes, because while many do use round brushes, there are other artists that swear by flat ones or other shapes. I'm very much a dagger gal these days myself 😉
@@iritlandgraf 100% agree. I only tried a couple of sizes of differing types before I knew what I liked. Definitely do not need one of every round. The ones I've upgraded are rounds in 2, 8, and 12, a 3/4" oval wash, and still to be upgraded is the 1/4" flat, and that's where I'll stop for now. I've been buying 1 upgraded brush each month as I go, and that has worked great for me.
Oh!! I forgot my best money-saving tip. I prefer to buy loose sheets of Imperial size paper and cut it myself. I hate stretching and that's why I *avoid* Arches and Fabriano. I find Hahnemuhle (Wet Paint has the best price in USA) and Lanaquarelle (Cheap Joes has the best price in 5-packs) do not warp and can be cut and simply taped down to a board. Or I soak the entire paper and just let it cling to the board! Arches only costs $6 a loose sheet at Blick (in a 5-pack) if you really love it though! Arches marks up their blocks so much, and they fall apart! Then again, this is why you might like the blocks, because Arches will in fact need stretching. But you're paying SO MUCH for that convenience.
Hello Irit…great information….the two “P’s” resonated with me…. Pigments and paper…the first I need to get to know better and the second I need to let go of my hesitation use my good paper! I also think it’s important to take stock of what you already have…. Use your supplies, don’t leave them on the shelf to look pretty…. And, before buying anything check your stock first…you may well just have that tube of Ultramarine Blue ! I have quite a few duplicates 😳. Take care
Theres so many lovely watercolors out there it can be overwhelming, my best idea i have to save money is buy the watercolor dot sheets that your favorite colors company makes an get the biggest dot number sheet you can adfford and then swatch them out and you can really see texture and feel of the paint and mark the ones you want first like 1 thru 20..lol...im so in love with the schmicke super granulation colors the wooden box complete set is on my lottery win bucket list but thats along long way long way from buy purschase , but i learned theres wants and need so ...lol..this is a nice video to learn from..thank you i agree its good to buy local first...do u think u would ever do a museum walk thru video,id never be able to go to your country but id love to find out about your museums...
Dot cards, of course! I've talked about them so many times before but should have mentioned them again in this video. You're absolutely right, it's a great way to see and try colors.
Such a great video!!! Very good points!! I think the most important is learning pigments!! My whole art journey changed (for the better) when I started learning and understanding pigments!! Please fellow artists learn you pigments- Just like kids learn the alphabet, ya no, the benefits are immeasurable!! Anyway great video and thanks for sharing, much ❤️
I am guilty of a few of these, like bying a big cheap brush set and buying the 45 halfpan W&N cotman set, however the only thing I regret is buying Hahnemühle 100% cotton watercolor sketchbook. It's been a few months since I bought it and I still haven't touched it because I am affraid that I will ruin it. But buying the big brush and watercolor set have helped me figure out what I like so I now I have a better idea of what I want to invest in in the future and what I am going to avoid. And I read another comment recommending dot cards and I totally agree that, it is a great way to explore different brands. I bought dot cards from the three most common brands where I live and it's very helpful for me when I want to upgrade a color or expand my collection.
That was my biggest issue too, my solution to it was - ruin it first and then it stops being precious. I open it on a RANDOM page and just sketch something in the middle of sketchbook. Once it loses it preciousness you can start from first page - but i leave first always empty, to not make myself fixate on chronology and everything being "proper"
I remember reading comments somewhere that the sizing on watercolor paper will degrade over time (I believe over a few years). So yes watercolor sketchbooks are expensive, but don’t save it and turn it into an unused degraded sketchbook. I bought some of those 100% cotton Hahnemuhle sketchbooks (I’m not even that good at watercolor). I don’t use my sketchbooks for everything, but I like looking at my progress (and errors) in book form. It’s fun.
@@shadowguard3578 I know what you mean. I too like to look at my art in a book form and see the progress. I feel like it's easier to keep track of than a bunch of loose papers. I also feel like I am not that good at watercolor and I watched to many sketchbook tours where the book is basically a book of art, I guess that's why I feel like I will ruin it. But I just started my vacation so I set a goal to paint at least one page in them during it😅
@@rebeccasartcorner all the best on using your sketchbook! I was against buying watercolor sketchbooks due to the price, but then over time of using loose sheets of paper I was beginning to get irritated by all the loose pages I was accumulating. So I caved and bought some Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbooks. Sketchbook tours give me ideas and inspiration but I will progress on my own with time and practice. Also no one is going to see what I do except my family, and they enjoy my simple paintings and so do it. Have fun creating in your sketchbook and enjoy your vacation. ☺️
This has given me some inspiration p.s unfortunately Daniel Smith and Da Vinci are still expensive in America too especially if your like me and live on the other side of the coast lol
I Really like painting in art journals but a lot of the water colour ones are super expensive . So I have started to buy paper pads and then will use them and a cardboard box to make my own journals. It also is another creative activity. I love arches but because of the price, I tend to use some of the cheaper papers. I like Fabriano a lot it’s probably my favourite ‘cheaper’ paper.. I FIND unless I’m doing a lot of wet on wet that I tend to reach for the cheaper brands over the arches. I also found with buying a cheap thrift store sketchbook that if you gesso the paper first then you can paint over it with water colour or gouache and it kind of thickens the paper- so it doesn’t rip.
It's a great set. Reactivates quickly and a decent amount of single pigments. There's another white-labeled set that frugal crafter reviewed that *appears* to be identical, but comes in removable half pans, instead of one, thin mold.
I say the exact same things to people who want to get into using coloured pencils, you dont need every brand or even every colour in that brand of pencils. and i hate how people get FOMO from seeing the supplies we have, a lot of us are older and have built up the number of supplies over time, not all a once.
I think each person has to practice personal responsibility. Buy local, support small businesses, do not get caught up in the frenzy, sit and think about it, budget for, etc.
Hallo liebe Irit!! Liebste grüsse aus Wien💗I just discovered your Chanel, by searching inspiration with organising my atelier:-) great videos😍👍now, I am long thinking starting with gouache, I have painted with Aquarell for 30 years.... do you have any recommendations?!?! Brand🌈Tuben oder malkasten? Danke und alles liebe von Anna
Hallo Anna! Ich schreibe auf Englisch, ich hoffe das ist OK, geht viel schneller 😉 I was just in Vienna, always want to come back 😍 I haven't painted a ton with gouache, but both schmincke and winsor & Newton are great and easily available at Boesner😉 best would probably be to pick up a set of primaries, they offer those, that would be a great place to start. Have fun!
@@iritlandgraf great great great, boesner, I am on my way:-), vielen lieben dank!! Freu mich, deine Videos der Reihe nach zu gucken🤸♀️schönen sommer 🌞
Hey everyone! I hope you'll enjoy this video. I also wanted to add another awesome tip, dot cards! Dot cards are a great way of trying out colors and seeing them next to each other before committing to a full tube or pan. Enjoy the video!
I was going to suggest that. 😊
Totally agree. Have to remind myself that watching videos isn't painting... So I have to select ones that teach and inspire rather than encourage me to consume. :) And yes, the dot cards are helpful in limiting purchases.
Irit- this was great. I really agree about being careful when it comes to haul videos. They create this frenzied feeling to buy that is a big turn off for me. I can’t remember if you mentioned it here but along with paper samples- I think dot cards are a fantastic way to explore a brand or some pigments before committing to tube purchases. The schmincke supergranulating dot card helped me to calm down and choose just a couple that I found truly unique and complementary to my taste (some looked like a science experiment once I swatched them😹). I hope this video finds folks who are just starting off because it is a smart way to explore while avoiding confusion and hopefully keeping expenses to a manageable level. Thanks- Irit.🌈
Glad you enjoyed! You're so right about dot cards. I always recommend them and simply forgot this time. They are extremely helpful!
i totally agree on the feeling that expensive paper feels "precious" and still have a large Arches pad sealed. (I found out that I like to use their 7 x 10 for swatching cards for a palette so now I have one of those) I ended up stumbling on the Fabriano fat pad of 60 sheets and 25% cotton and it has given me so much freedom to explore and play and just get a new paint and take a page and draw circles and squiggles and not feel guilty. I like watching youtubers to see how many different color preferences there are, As a beginner i also enjoy learning about pigments but found myself getting obsessed with lightfastness (as if someone will care about my squiggles in 100 years) so I ended up putting together a palette of all these fugitive and questionable colors to release myself of that fear of exploration. :). Right now I've been in the "i need this and I need that" phase but your video has come at the right time as I found myself on Jackson's site telling myself the Schmincke sale will come back around another day! ha.
I'm the same way. LOL
Love, love, love ❤️ this video. Sorry…my comment is a kind of long one. Such good and practical advice for everyone. I also enjoy watching the haul videos and I’ve watched a LOT. They are definitely CLICK BAIT and I think they get some of the highest number of viewers on any of YT creator channels. The high viewing numbers/hours that channels get for doing hauls is probably the biggest reason we see so many of them. For viewers It’s like being a “voyeur” to someone’s Christmas morning, Hanukkah or birthday party. And then to see all those pretty little square pans of wc being unwrapped….the pretty and dazzling colors being swatched…they look like candy and I’m convinced that’s part of the allure. For the video creators, I wonder…no I know, there’s no way they will ever use many of the sets and colors they’re buying or are GIFTED by a sponsor. But to their credit, many of them DO giveaways and such, so that’s good. I also do part-time vintage reselling and watch a LOT of reselling HAUL videos from thrift stores, estate sales, auctions and the like. They are some of the most watched videos in that genre too. So even with reselling hauls, the temptation to run to the thrift store and buy more stuff after watching a haul video can easily kick-in even when you already have too much stuff on your basement shelves, THAT YOU HAVEN’T SOLD. (that would be me 🤚.) So this issue of buying more than we really need or could ever use can be an issue for all sorts of “consumables.” You give some great tips on how to step back and look at what you may already have, check those pigment numbers for dupes and just a gentle warning not to pile up with all the colors you see on someone’s haul just bc they’re so pretty. I do have lots of watercolors in my stash and some that I’ve seen on haul videos. But I have recently realized that I don’t need anymore typical sets bc there are too many dupes with what I already have. But one thing that’s helped to reduce my spending on paints that may be too expensive for me and not so sure I need, but that I really want to at least try out is to buy dot cards, quarter pan sets (small sets) and other sampler sets. I also now buy one tube or pan color at a time that I don’t have and know I would really use. The cost for many of these sampling/try-out sets is maybe 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of regular size sets. For example, I got a Schmincke Super Granulating set in “Forest” for about $23 from Meow Cafe Watercolors on Etsy. There’s really quite a lot of paint in quarter pans, dots cards & sample sets. It’s just a money saver that I can feel better about, but then I still get the excitement and fun of trying out those pretty and dazzling colors without committing to a much more expensive purchase. Thanks so much Irit!
Thanks Irit - such great advice. The other “value for money” tip I have to remind myself is to shop my stash and use all those treasures I have! I am so excited when I receive them, but if I keep them preserved in a drawer waiting for the “perfect moment” to use them, then it is a complete waste of $. (And for the ones that are truly regrets - a colour I don’t like or a brush that doesn’t perform for my style, then I donate to a local kids Center so some child can discover their creative soul). Have a good summer and vacation! 💕
Great advise…needed this 2 years ago…but when you know better you do better. Also knowledge is power…so thank you so much 😊
Glad you enjoyed ❤️❤️❤️
This was a very helpful video. I am new to watercolor, so all the haul videos can make you want everything you see. I had purchased a couple of lower priced large palettes, and I would always be disappointed that they weren’t exactly what I wanted. After watching you create your own palette, I selected a few colors that I really loved, and I am now building my own. Additionally, I have found a local artist who creates her own little mini palettes, and I occasionally pick up one of her sets. I am resisting the temptation to by every watercolor set out there. I started with the Daniel Smith Jean Haines set because I loved all of those colors, and I have filled in with a couple of Van Gogh, Windsor and Newton, and Schminke colors to create my individual palette. When my husband gets a job, I will go through your class. Until then, I’m playing around with my paints. ❤
Thanks for helping us spend less! I never watch hauls, however, the constant release of products and reviews really influences my buying. I think this is worse in makeup & nail polish (things I've also bought too much of, largely due to UA-cam). But interestingly there are a lot more people talking about doing low or no-buys, panning projects and declutters in makeup then there are in art supplies. Maybe because art supplies "don't expire." Thanks for adding another viewpoint to the mix.
Your advice to buy paint manufactured in your country is so smart; it's easy to get entranced with a brand that's expensive to you. There's not much good watercolor paper made here, but paint and brushes from US companies are great! DaVinci is a great family company, economical paints, and a straightforward formula. Great for beginners, although the big surprise to me was the phthalos are weak. I'm also loving Qor and M. Graham, both of which have a ton of personality. I started with DS and of course most of those are great, but I don't like their non-transparency as a company.
As for US-made brushes, I love my Princeton brushes, and we also have Silver (Black Velvet and other lines) and Trekell brushes which are wonderful as well. And Rosemary & Co makes super high quality, yet affordable, natural hair brushes that are a big savings, even if you have to pay international shipping.
I'm at that "use what I have" stage. I don't have a lot, but make due with what I do have. I use my cheaper paper to practice and experiment on, saving the better paper for actual projects.
I'm creating my own "super granulating" mixes which is so much fun. Some aren't even available to buy, because no one makes them. I'm also making a list of fugitive pigments so I know what to avoid.
And yes, I would love to buy your SKETCHBOOK STAMP SET. Hopefully I can get them when they're back in stock. ❤️
Thanks ever so much for sharing your talents and time with us! We all need to spend more time painting vs. watching videos! My wee tip for these type of hauls and informational videos is to listen to them when getting dressed and applying make-up for the day, or folding towels, cooking, etc. I keep my pigments in individual Possum Palette cups with the pigment code marked on them. As you stated, the artists grade colors are all excellent, and I feel one hardly needs 12 open tubes of different brands of PB 15 (Thalo Blue), as the difference for painting purposes is minimal. The few workshops I took the artists used only about 12 colors and a handful of brushes. A famous watercolorist (in the US) Tony Couch always touted the use of synthetic brushes. These workshops were 20 years ago, before the internet (you likely do not remember that time!) when artists collected books, so I have quite the collection of those.
eBay can offer some great deals on supplies. A mixed lot can be purchased and the types one cannot use can be donated. Craft and hobby stores (in the US) often have a discount/discontinued bin that can be a great way to try expensive items.
I so appreciate your video. Over the years I’ve found my watercolor palette has shaped up to contain various colors by HWC, DaVinci, Daniel Smith, and Schmincke. All living harmoniously in my palette. Also, I appreciated what you sai about watercolor brushes. It didn’t pay for me to have the 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. Instead, I purchased Escoda 2, 6, and their 3 piece black travel set which contains a Perla - Bright, #12
Perla - Dagger, #1/14in
Versatil - Pointed Round, #16 which has allowed me to have better versatility. Note for US residents: Jackson’s Art Supply offers Escoda’s 3 pack black travel brush set for half the price! Again, thanks so much Irit!
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you for sharing your tips, I especially feel strongly about mixing brands because it is simply a shame to not use all one's faves all the time 😁
Great video, lots of good ideas here. I find myself doing way more haul videos than I feel fully comfortable with, even on my very new channel. Part of me feels bad because I might be encouraging people to spend when they shouldn't, but part of me also thinks that we're should be able to make decisions for ourselves about our spending habits. I definitely never blame anyone but myself when I buy things, so I hope others feel the same when they see interesting things in my videos and purchase them. Thanks for all of the ideas!
Glad you enjoyed! Hauls are a great way to attract new subscribers and anyone that puts the time into a UA-cam channel has the right and also good sense to make these and gain new viewers. I think a great service to your viewers would also be favourite videos or updated reviews after using the supplies showed in the hauls. That helps gain trust, good luck!
Also, it's really not about the money. The money is part of it, of course, but I, like you, trust people to make decisions that are right for them. For me it's more about that FOMO vibe, that they are missing out on something great, or somehow (unintentionally most of the time), making people think they need much more than they actually do. That's it, I'm done now😉
@@iritlandgraf oh yeah, so true!! I know I definitely have bought more than a few things just to add to my growing collection of various art supplies, and now I look at them and wonder what I'm ever going to do with them!!! But I definitely wanted them at the time. I would like to say I'm getting better about that, but I still tend to grab up a lot of stuff when it's on sale, even when it's more than I need. My FOMO is massively triggered by sales!! Ugh!!! Hahaha thank you for your responses. I have been really loving getting to know the UA-cam art community. ❤️
Great advice! When I get that feeling of FOMO, I always remind myself that I am not an art supply collector.😂 I can usually find something similar that I already own. Thank you💜
Good thinking Melissa 👍❤️
I appreciate your comment to feel free to mix colors from different brands. While it is tricky process finding the colors from those brands that you really love, I find that creating swatch charts is very helpful in this process.
This was great! I agree 100%. It is nice to have inspiring convenience colors as you can afford them, but not necessary to go overboard. I did get the Rosa Gallery monopigment set of 12 and am very happy. They would start off anyone in a lovely way. They have some pigments that spread in a QOR like way, which is great for loose, intuitive painters. There are also some cadmiums in the set which I don't have in my collection. You're right about spending time painting vs watching more art haul you tubes 😊 But I've definitely learned so much from the art haul reviews too!
Thanks for sharing!
I think there can be some benefit to starting with a dirt cheap multi pack of brushes, because it gives you a chance to figure out what size/shape you prefer using. Most watercolor artists I've watched stick to rounds in the size range you mentioned, but I found that in some painting scenarios I really like a small flat to give me control in creating lines/edges. I wouldn't have known that without trying it out. *However* now I'm starting to upgrade to better brushes (I like Princeton Neptune), and I only individually buy the ones I've already vetted out. You can get a cheap set for the cost of 1 nicer brush, and that saves you from spending on a nicer brush you might ultimately not like using because of the size/shape.
Thanks for sharing Eliza! You make a good point, and so I would recommend picking up a set when starting out, but not with every size of the same shaped brush, but rather a selection of shapes. I recently reviewed such a set by Zen, Princeton also has something like that. Those are great for trying out different shapes, because while many do use round brushes, there are other artists that swear by flat ones or other shapes. I'm very much a dagger gal these days myself 😉
@@iritlandgraf 100% agree. I only tried a couple of sizes of differing types before I knew what I liked. Definitely do not need one of every round. The ones I've upgraded are rounds in 2, 8, and 12, a 3/4" oval wash, and still to be upgraded is the 1/4" flat, and that's where I'll stop for now. I've been buying 1 upgraded brush each month as I go, and that has worked great for me.
Hello Irit, I‘m interested in the „Watercolor Workbook Stamp Set“. 🤩🎨🙌🏻 Best wishes from Germany 🤗
Oh!! I forgot my best money-saving tip. I prefer to buy loose sheets of Imperial size paper and cut it myself. I hate stretching and that's why I *avoid* Arches and Fabriano. I find Hahnemuhle (Wet Paint has the best price in USA) and Lanaquarelle (Cheap Joes has the best price in 5-packs) do not warp and can be cut and simply taped down to a board. Or I soak the entire paper and just let it cling to the board! Arches only costs $6 a loose sheet at Blick (in a 5-pack) if you really love it though! Arches marks up their blocks so much, and they fall apart! Then again, this is why you might like the blocks, because Arches will in fact need stretching. But you're paying SO MUCH for that convenience.
Hello Irit…great information….the two “P’s” resonated with me…. Pigments and paper…the first I need to get to know better and the second I need to let go of my hesitation use my good paper! I also think it’s important to take stock of what you already have…. Use your supplies, don’t leave them on the shelf to look pretty…. And, before buying anything check your stock first…you may well just have that tube of Ultramarine Blue ! I have quite a few duplicates 😳. Take care
Nice.. can't wait to sit down with a cup of coffee and watch..
Theres so many lovely watercolors out there it can be overwhelming, my best idea i have to save money is buy the watercolor dot sheets that your favorite colors company makes an get the biggest dot number sheet you can adfford and then swatch them out and you can really see texture and feel of the paint and mark the ones you want first like 1 thru 20..lol...im so in love with the schmicke super granulation colors the wooden box complete set is on my lottery win bucket list but thats along long way long way from buy purschase , but i learned theres wants and need so ...lol..this is a nice video to learn from..thank you i agree its good to buy local first...do u think u would ever do a museum walk thru video,id never be able to go to your country but id love to find out about your museums...
Dot cards, of course! I've talked about them so many times before but should have mentioned them again in this video. You're absolutely right, it's a great way to see and try colors.
Such a great video!!! Very good points!! I think the most important is learning pigments!! My whole art journey changed (for the better) when I started learning and understanding pigments!! Please fellow artists learn you pigments- Just like kids learn the alphabet, ya no, the benefits are immeasurable!! Anyway great video and thanks for sharing, much ❤️
Oooh my daughter got a list of materials for school, and they said buy smaller sets but better quality, so I'll get to enjoy shopping for her :)
I want the Sketchbook Essentials Stamp set ❤
I like your approach to buying supplies, thank you for the video!
So much wonderful information. I've made all of these mistakes along my journey.
I’m interested in the Sketchbook Essentials and Prismatic Watercolor stamp sets, TY
Thanks, this is a game changer!
I am guilty of a few of these, like bying a big cheap brush set and buying the 45 halfpan W&N cotman set, however the only thing I regret is buying Hahnemühle 100% cotton watercolor sketchbook. It's been a few months since I bought it and I still haven't touched it because I am affraid that I will ruin it. But buying the big brush and watercolor set have helped me figure out what I like so I now I have a better idea of what I want to invest in in the future and what I am going to avoid.
And I read another comment recommending dot cards and I totally agree that, it is a great way to explore different brands. I bought dot cards from the three most common brands where I live and it's very helpful for me when I want to upgrade a color or expand my collection.
Thanks for sharing! Be brave, open that sketchbook and start playing!
That was my biggest issue too, my solution to it was - ruin it first and then it stops being precious. I open it on a RANDOM page and just sketch something in the middle of sketchbook. Once it loses it preciousness you can start from first page - but i leave first always empty, to not make myself fixate on chronology and everything being "proper"
I remember reading comments somewhere that the sizing on watercolor paper will degrade over time (I believe over a few years). So yes watercolor sketchbooks are expensive, but don’t save it and turn it into an unused degraded sketchbook. I bought some of those 100% cotton Hahnemuhle sketchbooks (I’m not even that good at watercolor). I don’t use my sketchbooks for everything, but I like looking at my progress (and errors) in book form. It’s fun.
@@shadowguard3578 I know what you mean. I too like to look at my art in a book form and see the progress. I feel like it's easier to keep track of than a bunch of loose papers. I also feel like I am not that good at watercolor and I watched to many sketchbook tours where the book is basically a book of art, I guess that's why I feel like I will ruin it. But I just started my vacation so I set a goal to paint at least one page in them during it😅
@@rebeccasartcorner all the best on using your sketchbook! I was against buying watercolor sketchbooks due to the price, but then over time of using loose sheets of paper I was beginning to get irritated by all the loose pages I was accumulating. So I caved and bought some Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbooks. Sketchbook tours give me ideas and inspiration but I will progress on my own with time and practice. Also no one is going to see what I do except my family, and they enjoy my simple paintings and so do it. Have fun creating in your sketchbook and enjoy your vacation. ☺️
This has given me some inspiration p.s unfortunately Daniel Smith and Da Vinci are still expensive in America too especially if your like me and live on the other side of the coast lol
Great video! Thank you! Can you do a video of the brand superstars you mentioned? I'd love to watch that!
I have! It’s on my channel and there’s a link in the info section. Glad you enjoyed!
@@iritlandgraf thank you so much!
I Really like painting in art journals but a lot of the water colour ones are super expensive . So I have started to buy paper pads and then will use them and a cardboard box to make my own journals. It also is another creative activity. I love arches but because of the price, I tend to use some of the cheaper papers. I like Fabriano a lot it’s probably my favourite ‘cheaper’ paper.. I FIND unless I’m doing a lot of wet on wet that I tend to reach for the cheaper brands over the arches.
I also found with buying a cheap thrift store sketchbook that if you gesso the paper first then you can paint over it with water colour or gouache and it kind of thickens the paper- so it doesn’t rip.
Great video 😌
I actually have a lot of watercolor sets, most of those are artist grade, but I find myself grabbing my Pretty Excellent set 70% of the time.
I love that set! Fuss free and fun to use!
It's a great set. Reactivates quickly and a decent amount of single pigments. There's another white-labeled set that frugal crafter reviewed that *appears* to be identical, but comes in removable half pans, instead of one, thin mold.
I say the exact same things to people who want to get into using coloured pencils, you dont need every brand or even every colour in that brand of pencils. and i hate how people get FOMO from seeing the supplies we have, a lot of us are older and have built up the number of supplies over time, not all a once.
I think each person has to practice personal responsibility. Buy local, support small businesses, do not get caught up in the frenzy, sit and think about it, budget for, etc.
Please make a «superstars in every brand» video :)
I have! Link in the info section ❤️
I only bought a sample pack once to give away as a present, giving away individual samples from the art shop wouldn't have gone over so well.
Hallo liebe Irit!! Liebste grüsse aus Wien💗I just discovered your Chanel, by searching inspiration with organising my atelier:-) great videos😍👍now, I am long thinking starting with gouache, I have painted with Aquarell for 30 years.... do you have any recommendations?!?! Brand🌈Tuben oder malkasten? Danke und alles liebe von Anna
Hallo Anna! Ich schreibe auf Englisch, ich hoffe das ist OK, geht viel schneller 😉
I was just in Vienna, always want to come back 😍
I haven't painted a ton with gouache, but both schmincke and winsor & Newton are great and easily available at Boesner😉 best would probably be to pick up a set of primaries, they offer those, that would be a great place to start. Have fun!
@@iritlandgraf great great great, boesner, I am on my way:-), vielen lieben dank!! Freu mich, deine Videos der Reihe nach zu gucken🤸♀️schönen sommer 🌞
what I find expensive is actually the frames 😅
My wallet says thank you.
I'm glad!
Great advice here, but I have to tell you, the UK hasn't left the continent of Europe :D
It has left the EU and that's what I was referring to