Thank you! The brush is actually a cheap store brand from Gerstaecker, it's the "I love art" brushes. They're fully synthetic and a bit stiff for watercolor, but perfect for miniatures as they don't hold too much water and have a great tip. They're also perfect for gouache. I have a bunch for this reason and they're very cheap to get here. :)

@@LanaGoesArt Thanks!

I just use another pencil, that is shorter from use for the cap on the go. Personally I'm underwhelmed from the Blackwings, they're nice but overpriced for what they are.

@@LanaGoesArt Blackwings are ridiculously overpriced, the result of shrewd marketing that manipulates their myth and heritage. But in the end, they are good pencils, as good as the best Japanese pencils. Graf von faber-castell products are also obscenely overpriced but on the whole very good--the sharpener in these caps a glaring exception.

Thanks for the comment. Interesting to hear, that the sharpener is the same for the expensive line of these. The blade is also not replaceable, which I think is a pitty. Because it makes it a throwaway article in the end. They also have a cheap kids version of the cap, which seems to have the same blade, here in Germany. Oh well... There is another pencil on the market with a similar cap now with a build in blade, review will follow!

@@LanaGoesArt yes, I have seen the other faber-castell variations, all with equallypoor sharpeners. Since I would only use the terrible built-in sharpener in an emergency (I carry a Kum two step sharpener in my pencil case instead), my cap is likely to last a long time. I really only use it as a point protector and extender. Looking forward to your review of a new version!

@@user-qj4dx4fc3n That makes sense. How do you like the two step sharpener?

@@LanaGoesArt it is pretty good, among the best hand-held sharpeners. There is now the Blackwing one-step sharpener, which is even better, but the Graf von faber-castell perfect pencils (the ones that go with the expensive platinum version) are too large for this one. They will however fit the two-step Kum.

@@user-qj4dx4fc3n Thanks!

Thank you so much! :)

Thank you :) I was surprised how much I lost myself in the tiny paintings. It's a great experience to find something that is so very captivating.

@@LanaGoesArt that's so lovely you've found something to captivate yourself!

Thanks! The wax works too, I have an even older video on that, but it dulls down metallic and iridescent paints, so isn't a good choice for those. For bookmarks and their use, I feel like either sleeves or laminating is the best option. For professional pieces, that will be framed without glass (But who does this to watercolors a lot?) it's either wax or watercolor varnish. Both a bit more expensive, but will protect your pieces. I use wax for postcards though. :) It's expensive, but it lasts for ages - got mine 8 years ago and I'm only half through. Have a wonderful day!

Oh my, thank you :)

Dankeschön! Das habe ich von meinen Eltern. Die haben irgendwann den Keller ausgemistet und sagten, sie hätten noch "einen Rest". Keine Ahnung, wo sie das herhaben.

@@awatercolourist is it? How come?

@@LanaGoesArt It was fashionable to paint small portraits and lockets of people back then. The style looks a lot like your style here.

@@awatercolourist oh I see! Thank you! I didn't make the connection :D Maybe I can try to paint smaller, so it actually fits in a locket??? Would be a real challenge!

@@LanaGoesArt I can imagine! Maybe start with a generic Landscape that has no details? Then you can work your way to portraits.

No, I used actually pretty cheap synthetic brushes, because they're holding the tip better for the small paintings and don't carry as much water, which again is better for the small size as it doesn't need a lot of water. The ones I used are the house brand from Gerstaecker I Love Art brushes in sizes 4,2 and 1. But I know, that Windsor&Newton Cotman brushes are very similar. There might be even local ones, that will fit for the small paintings and are pretty cheap. They just need to have a very nice tip.

@@LanaGoesArt Thanks!

Thanks! I streamed one and should edit it into a video indeed! :) I think I recorded some others too. Thanks for the reminder!

@@LanaGoesArt😊

It happens, when things are tiny. :) Thanks!

Hi! You can see all the swatches in the watercolor database: sunandcolors.com/ There is a filter for brands, if you choose BlockX, you'll get the complete list. Have fun!

Wow, that sounds amazing and intricate. I wouldn't even know how to paint on webs. Thanks for sharing!

@@LanaGoesArt Right? Me either. But your work reminded me of that work. I like mini paintings. Have a great day. Have fun crafting.

@@anitamitchell3452 I like mini paintings too! Made a few of them recently - even in a tiny sketchbook! :)

@@LanaGoesArt My eyes are bad so attempting a "Small" project is out of the question for me but I'm so happy to know it is desirable for others. Long live the tiny art! Enjoy. 😁

@@anitamitchell3452 I'm sorry to hear that, big projects are equally fun! I hope you get to paint still and enjoy being creative. :)

Hehe, I felt the same until writing down and talking to others. And you have your own little list too! Papers just need to work for us, right? :) I just hope to create helpful content.

Thank you! It's a slow process, but I hope we all will find our perfect paper that way. :)

Thank you! Exactly and as everyone has different preferences, I thought it would be nice to create neutral notes. So others can decide better. Just a "I like it" is great, but maybe you like something different. :D

Thanks for the suggestions! My favourites are Fabriano Artistico and Gerstaecker Centenaire, which both don't give me the odd sensation issues.

@@LanaGoesArt I like both of those as well!

Aww thank you for both. :) Hope you have a great day!

I’m first 😂

You're welcome :) I felt like it was necessary, but I'm not sure if I'm overthinking things... anyway ... another painting! :D

lol did you forget this time? :D

@@LanaGoesArt Nope 😂. I just prioritised thanking you in this time 🙂.

@@LanaGoesArt I did not feel that you were overthinking the process. Maybe a beginner will find it overwhelming, perhaps? But people who have been painting for some time will find your explanation useful.

I think it was hunting for something :D I see this one quite often over the area here. Very pretty big birds.

Yeah, that's a risk of course. But what if you like it? What if it turns out to be the best paper you ever used? You can never know, until you try. :)

I do too, some more some less. But I'm actually excited to test them and have a proper comparison :)

Oh yeah, when the collection is big, it's easy to forget what we have. Sadly I forgot testing masking fluid, it's possible, that it was annoying. But I often don't want to wait for it to dry, so I forget it too.

That's so sweet of you! Yes, I'm busy but well. How are you doing? I've been more active on twitch and discord and you're welcome to join! discord.gg/nKK296AS It's a very lovely community :)

That's interesting. What didn't you like about it? Would be great to know. :)

@@LanaGoesArt No, it just wasn’t to my liking, that’s all. It felt normal to me. Saunders Waterford just felt more interactive.

Well... There is a simple explanation. Because we review this set. If we want to show how every color mixes with every other color from other lines, brands etc, it will take up days of unnecessary time. Because it's not beneficial to anyone. The lines of watercolors from the big brands have 80 to 300 colors each. Where would I start, where would I stop? And would it actually tell you anything about these paints? I don't think so. But I can tell you how this palette works if you had only this palette to work with. How it behaves, about the pros and cons. If you know the basics of color mixing you also will probably be able to estimate how the colors will mix with others. Knowing about the properties of pigments, like introducing granulationg to the mixes if you want to. There is so much possible in color theory, that simple mixing videos will not give you the information you seek. No mix is always 50/50. So if you want to be creative and see how these would mix with your collection of watercolors, it would be easier to test it yourself and see whether you like the results. Have a wonderful day!

Hi! Thank you for your comment. I'm so sorry you made the same experience with this pen. It's so beautiful, but sadly can't hold up to the expectations. I haven't used it since the video either... which feels sad, because I like the look a lot. Actually I've been much happier with much cheaper pens since. Currently I have a Platinum Plaisir inked up all the time with a waterproof ink and it works so nice for writing and drawing. Maybe that one would be worth a review :D

Thanks!

I'm sure you will! Maybe Schmincke will release another Random Grey in watercolors in a few years? :) So fat they switch up the medium year to year and I strongly believe it will come back.

Hehe, sometimes it knows better what we want than we do ourselves! I'm sorry you feel disappointed. I did too, but some pigments just are what they are. It's nice in a soft palette, but it's not the most versatile to use for most. I haven't used it much since the video tbh. because of the low tinting strenght too.

@@LanaGoesArt I feel inspired to pour it now especially since you showed that it may work better when panned! I was a little worried it might go rock hard like the YinMin Blue. Which reminds me, I really need to use my pan of that too :)

@@jennw6809 Now you made me curious. I know about the YinMn problem, Oto Kano had the same problem with hers. But I have a handmade one, which works wonderfully even after a year of no use in the pan. It's really tricky. I just tried my YinTiCo, which I haven't used in over 6 months and it was completely dry. It rewetted nicely and I got a good pigment load from first try with only little time to rewet. I used a slightly stiffer brush though. I feel now confident, that it's safe to keep YinTiCo in a pan. :)

Oh! Thank you :) I planned this one so long and then too forgot I posted it. :D The owl is cute and my partner's version is displayed now in the living room. I love it!

Thank you!

I agree, they're beautiful animals. Need to paint one again, it's been so long now. :)

aww thank you :) Red and green are super nice, orange and blue are too, I used it for the other bunnies, but orange and blue doesn't show that well on camera. So I had to switch for the video. :)

Happy Easter to you too! :)

Hi! In the video I used a noname calligraphy pen which claims is waterproof, but it's not. Some other drawings in the sketchbook I made with a Tombow calligraphy pen with a similar nib. The Tombow is waterproof though. Hope this helps. But I'm also not doing lineart often, so my experiences with pens for this is limited. :) Have a great day!

@@LanaGoesArt Thanks 😃. Have a great week 😄.

@@awatercolouristYou're welcome, have a great week too! :)

:D Thank you and I agree! I felt very relaxed doing the drawings and each only took about 10-15 minutes tops. Good practice. The potato bunny is very special indeed. :D

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I won't do that and it's a valid point in a review. People need to know about the set unaltered. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Hi, I'd say get whatever is more comfortable for you to hold and paint in. I prefer landscape, but also have a few portrait ones. You can always turn them for single pieces to get a different direction of the page. Or paint smaller rectangles within the page with different scenes. If you worked in other sketchbooks before, what format did you like best? I'd say go with that and you'll probably be happy with it again. :) There's nothing bad in having preferences. And most important: Have fun!

@@LanaGoesArt It's going to be my first watercolor sketchbook! All the others I own, are dry media "portrait". I'll go with lanscape this time. Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it!

@@greekveteran2715 Oh sorry! Did you enjoy the portrait one? I'd say if you go with landscape, you can still turn it on the side to paint something in portrait. And if you enjoy doing landscapes or urban sketches, it's pretty nice.