Tell me fellow artists, does a trip to the art store thrill you as much as it does me? Even if it's a trip to an online art store like Dick Blick?
I enjoy shopping for art supplies online even more than entering a physical store. It gives one time to reflect, really study paint colors, brush sizes, read reviews on products and do research at the same time. In the physical art store, I am more likely to purchase on impulse and end up with things I don't really need.
Such as this nice little travel set of Sennelier paints, really cute, purchased on impulse and only used once in 5 years.
I have dozens of plastic watercolor palettes from the store, most of them sitting in a drawer, of course. All I really needed were these porcelain palettes purchased online. What a delightful difference in how the porcelain surface keeps the watercolor from separating and spreading around., it just feels nice to use it.. and it is pretty too.
I enjoy shopping for art supplies online even more than entering a physical store. It gives one time to reflect, really study paint colors, brush sizes, read reviews on products and do research at the same time. In the physical art store, I am more likely to purchase on impulse and end up with things I don't really need.
Such as this nice little travel set of Sennelier paints, really cute, purchased on impulse and only used once in 5 years.
For mixing larger amounts of color, these wonderful porcelain paint pots are excellent, stack-able AND have a lid.
An exception to my rule of favoring online or catalog art-supply, is
PAINT-BRUSHES. I just realized this when I decided to try a new brand of brush.
I purchased 7 DaVinci Kolinski sable Rounds, ONLINE, after reading some very positive reviews about the brand.
I was excited to receive them in the post and couldn't wait to try them out...BUT I am not pleased. They were priced reasonably, the brushes held a lot of paint but they DO not keep a sharp point. I was happier with the two brushes I bought last week, in person, at Hobby Lobby from "Masters Touch".
At least, in the art store, you can examine the brush, feel the bristles and if you are really serious, wet the brush with your fingers to test the point.
When it comes to purchasing the BEST supplies you can afford, I have to say that I'm picky with paint-brands-(Windsor Newton, Senneilier, and Schmincke) paintbrushes- (Windsor Newton) and paper- (Fabrianna)
My question to you is this: is there a tool or implement you use in your art, needlework or craft that you are particularly adamant about it being exactly the correct brand or even of the highest price because it WORKS BEST FOR YOU? Are there other products that you are happy to use of a lesser price or quality?
And lastly, what ARE your favorite products for creating YOUR masterpieces?
The right tools or supplies do make a difference. Since I've been working with beads quite a bit lately I can tell you that I really don't like plastic beads and I like working with size 11 seed beads, and I love fresh water pearls. :-) I love silk ribbon to work with also.
ReplyDeleteI just love these watercolors you are working on. They are happy and wonderful.
Happy Creating dear Jeri ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady
Lorraine, I can see where working with the glass beads would make a huge difference. Not even a question about the silk ribbon!
DeleteJERI LANDERS, how are ya.....
ReplyDeleteGOOD MORNING!
Well, I am not an artist as such, but I can understand what ya mean about particular products and what works best. First let me say that I LOVE your porcelain wares; to me, they would feel just right. I had a lovely watercolour set once that provided its own porcelain pots and it was fun to pretend to be an artist with such beautiful supplies!
As a poet, my supplies are simply a computer, paper and pencil, NATURE and life in general. The more authentic, the better the observation. As a budding photographer, my newest must-have is a tripod. For now, I'm using an inexpensive sort, but later may get one that is more stable. It does make a difference to have reliable and long-lasting materials to help us run with our hearts' desires to capture these fleeting moments of living.
YOU ROCK always, Jeri!
Anita, you are very much the artist, in my opinion. As a writer, I imagine you have a nice array of beautiful journals? I keep leather bound journals all over the house, just for writing down idea and making sketches, but I can see your journals filled with breathtaking prose and poetry.
DeleteOh my gosh Jeri, I don't know. I can tell you I know it when I see it. I shopped at DB once for some gold leaf and it was very expensive. I like to look for it at the store. I have noticed the difference in paints. Can't believe the difference in the hues between brands. Now that is hard to predict.
ReplyDeleteDonna, true that, you know it when you see it! The hues are always so varied, geez, who knew Hooker Green could take on so many personalities! But I usually mix my paints anyway, rarely working straight from the tube.
DeleteGood post
ReplyDeleteI save old brushes to use for watercolor textures. I'm a long time fan of Arches, Winsor-Newton, Staedtler, and Golden. Drawing papers are varied, and I do try other brands for specific colors. I'm keen on trying the Escoda Versatil brushes after reading about them on a blog.
May, I'll have to look up that brush. Good grief, what would we do without all those old brushes on hand,; great for mixing paints, using dry for texture or... hair picks!
DeleteI can't relate to brushes at all, but I do an awful lot of writing and I like a good pen to hold with a decent grip. When I journal, I really like different coloured pens, depending on my mood. My father was a stickler for good tools. For gardening, I have YET to find a good pair of pruners that is still sharp and solid by the end of the season. I think I need to spend more on them. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteJenn, I can relate to the pruner problem.
DeleteColored pens are a pleasant way to journal, it is much more interesting to switch colors from time to time. Journals are also available in so many wonderful looks and styles. My favorite journals come from a company called Oberon. They are truly beautiful works of art to inspire writers.
Jeri, you have raised interesting topics and questions in this post. Like you, I would not want to buy brushes online, I have to see and touch the brush, feel its weight, get an idea of the capacity and point of the brush. I do love Kolinsky sable, but have also used some synthetic brushes for certain painting...in sizes like 1 or 00-something or other. Windsor Newton, Isabey, Raphael, and even Da Vinci brushes.
ReplyDeleteIt's been so long now since I did any oil painting, that I won't comment on those materials.
Fabriano paper is so beautiful, for painting and for color pencil drawing. I also like Arches for watercolor.
Most of my watercolor paints are Windsor Newton, with a few other colors from other companies. I am currently contemplating purchasing some from Sennelier, although truly I think I have plenty of paint.
Although I do use those little plastic mixing trays, I prefer the porcelain version.
Before I ramble on about colored and graphite pencils and inks, I would also like to mention how much I love my jam jars for water. It's fun to read the other comments, too. xo
Frances, Do try the Sennelier, wonderful colors and even the tubes they come in are scrumptious.
DeleteI would love to shuffle through your art supplies, I find it fascinating to see what works for other artists. Never used jam jars;I know a lot of potters, so you can imagine what I use to hold my water.
Thank you, Jeri. I am going to give the Sennelier watercolors a go. It would be fun to have you see what sorts of art supplies I have. (Of course, there's also quite a large amount of knitting- and crochet-related stuff around here, too.) xo
DeleteMust haves-for knitting;real wool or cotton, linen. For fabric work-antique decrepit clothing that I can make over without feeling guilty into new creations...love W&N watercolors-but I'm a newbie at that. I agree about buying brushes in person.
ReplyDeleteLove your new painting-the goose in the middle reminds me of my Sam...
Debra, "Antique and decrepit" remade into something delightful by you!
DeleteYes, I remember pics of your Sam, he is just like my Hamish...
Now this is a really juicy topic! I went to my local store today- a nice old fashioned store where you can "test drive" your brushes. Since I've been unhappy with my existing ones for brush calligraphy, I spent half my hoarded Christmas money there on a rigger and two liners. The liners are DaVinci cosmotop spin and work perfectly for the job I wanted. DaVinci's other brushes don't satisfy me but the Cosmotop Spins are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI splurged a few years ago on their #10 round travel brush and it is my favorite of all, holding a beautiful point, filling well with lots of paint and it simply can't be beat for an all purpose brush.
Paints are another topic on which we can wax poetic. Winsor & Newton is my go-to as well, but I'm not so fond of some of their greens, which I usually mix anyway. M. Graham makes some beautiful greens (very convenient) and I want to love them if only for the honey in their binder, but sadly they don't dry as well in our moist climate.
I bought a cheap Prima Marketing tropical palette a few months ago (true confession: purchased only because the metal box is terrific) and found myself loving their paints. I jammed a bunch of half pans in the extra space, filled them with Winsor & Newton colors and find myself reaching for them even in the studio.
Jeri, I'm now drooling over your pretty porcelain palette. Where did you find that lovely shaped one?
And you and I could talk scissors for hours, too. I am so particularly fond of sharp, sharp tips and the thinnest of thin blades. If only distance did not separate us as it does.
Thank you for this lovely post and the invitation to share. A tip of the tea cup to you, Jeri, and wishes for many happy hours of painting!
Sharon, I was looking at a #5 round Windsor Newton brush and the price was $79!! TOO much, that's why I'm shopping around for alternatives. I really wanted to like those Da Vinci's but they are too SOPPY, I need a stiff tip for details. I may go back to using 1/8" dagger brushes from WN. Have you ever tried those? They are perfect for detailed work.
DeleteMy beautiful shell palette was purchased off Amazon for $18.95 I love it. They have a number of wonderful shapes and sizes, but this one is really pretty.
Scissors? I have real expensive German Scherenschnitte scissors I never use, Give me a pair of Curved Revlon Manicure scissors for 8 bucks and I am a happy cutter!
I have seen those porcelain paint pots used in one of my on-line classes. I dug out the little white porcelain mini-plates I found at a yard sale (I guess they are meant to be used as condiment plates?) and have been using them. They are really great. The teacher also used a rimmed white dinner plate as her palette, putting the paint on the rim and using the center for mixing her colors.
ReplyDeleteCathy,plates work as nicely as any palette you can purchase, as you have seen. Another nice quality about using anything porcelain is that cleanup is easy and the paint doesn't stain the surface.
DeleteValdani threads. I get inspired just looking at those little balls of variegated color. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Michelle, Valdani threads are marvelous to the senses.I keep mine in little antique boxes and they look as beautiful as palettes of paint..
DeleteI know that artists are choosy about their tools..If it ain't broke..don't fix it?? I envy your talent..beautiful..
ReplyDeleteThanks Missy. yes, most artists do have their favorites from pencils to threads!
DeleteDear Jeri - first and foremost - your art is just beautiful - it makes me smile. As for favorite art supplies I really like Fabriano paper as well. Especially like the bright white cold press. Hope you are having a great day. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie and thankyou! I've been using the Fabriano for over 10 years now, I'm using the bright white for the work I'm doing now, and it really makes the colors pop!
Deleteas a quilter and a hand piecer, threads and needles need to be just right. I stock up on my favorite needles whenever I can and while I might try the latest thread du jour, if it can't handle hand piecing it is given away and I go back to my tried and true stuff. I can certainly understand that having the best tools in painting would be equally important.
ReplyDeleteSuz, I can see that needles would be of the utmost importance for quilters and threads are as vital in the strength, quality and color as any paint is for an artist. But then, Quilters ARE artists in my opinion.
DeleteHi Jeri, Loved your post and I agree about using porcelain for watercolor, love it. I discovered Sakura Koi Water Brush and it is my favourite at the present. I have a favorite old pan watercolour by Grumbacher. I don't think they make them anymore and I'll be sorry when it's used up.
ReplyDeleteGwen, I looked at the Sakura brushes online and may have to give them a go at some point. They had very good reviews.
Delete