15 Art Hacks, Tips, and Supplies That Changed My Life!

Hello, everyone! Today, I'm going to share the 15 art hacks, tips, and supplies that changed my art forever! And some of these TRULY were life changing or at the very least, caused a big breakthrough in my art journey! So, grab yourself something to drink and come on into my Northwoods Studio and get comfy!
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Magicfly Art Supplies: www.imagicfly.com/
Magicfly oil paints: amzn.to/49AQ2Nx
Videos mentioned:
Proportional scale video: • Six Steps to ACTUALLY ...
Supplies Mentioned:
Sta-wet palette: shrsl.com/4amvq
Empty ketchup bottles: amzn.to/40qZi2x
Golden satin glazing liquid: amzn.to/3QjRLhi
Vivia paper towels: amzn.to/3QO4AlM
Arches watercolor paper: shrsl.com/4amw3
Proportional Scale: amzn.to/3MuX5xr
Gamblin Safflower oil: shrsl.com/4amw5
Masters Brush cleaner: amzn.to/49o2oIG
Ivory Bar Soap: amzn.to/45X7yZv
Dawn Dish Soap: amzn.to/49mwTPn
Cheap Mechanical pencils
Prismacolor colorless blender: amzn.to/46VIIdE
Prismacolor White colored pencil: shrsl.com/4amwl
SpectraFix Spray Fixative: shrsl.com/4amwm
Sennelier Soft Pastel Fixative: shrsl.com/4amwn
Sennelier Oil Pastel Fixative: shrsl.com/4amwp
Prismacolor Handheld Pencil Sharpener: amzn.to/3Mvssb8
One of my viewers suggested I should add my Amazon Wishlist for my channel since it's my birthday, so here you go! : www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
My shop is finally open!: www.winterwoodsstudio.com
To support me: www.buymeacoffee.com/winterwoods
My every day supplies
Invisible Glove Barrier Cream (protect your hands from your supplies!): amzn.to/3Tl9JRC
Oil Painting:
Michael Harding oil paints (my favorite oil paints- the best of the best):
Six tube set: amzn.to/40vYN6Z
Ten tube set: amzn.to/3lcjVz2
Gamblin oil paints (my runner up paint and a little cheaper):
Nine tube set: amzn.to/3wY67e8
Winsor and Newton Winton oil paint (Best inexpensive but good quality paint for beginners):
Ten tube set: amzn.to/3JKEXPq
Liquin (thinning medium and speeds drying):
amzn.to/3Rzgr5S
Liquin for fine details:
amzn.to/3YLjryz
Liquin Impasto medium (for thicker texture):
amzn.to/3wYCSaW
Gamsol (oderless paint thinner and cleaner):
amzn.to/3DHpgVC
Watercolor:
Daniel Smith Watercolors:
amzn.to/3JQm91v
Arches Hot Press Paper:
amzn.to/3JLKW6H
Pastel:
My favorite pastel surface is ClaireFontaine PastelMat:
Amazon: amzn.to/3iWcRWx
Blick Art Materials: shrsl.com/3w5on
Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencils:
Amazon(set of 60): amzn.to/3wooZmq
Blick Art Materials (sets and individual pencils): shrsl.com/3w5ph
Panpastels:
Amazon (the set of 20 that I own): amzn.to/3R1cYN1
Blick Art Materials (individual pans): shrsl.com/3w5p0
Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel pencils:
Amazon(set of 60): amzn.to/3QWOF2M
Blick Art Materials (sets and individual pencils): shrsl.com/3w5pa
Stick pastels:
Prismacolor Nupastels (set of 36):
amzn.to/3JM9E74
Mungyo (good for beginners and cheap!):
amzn.to/3YvzZui
My fine art printer- Canon Pixma Pro 200: amzn.to/3XFK2vG
My filming equipment:
Overhead filming set up for my phone: amzn.to/3Z3AAnb
My Camera- Canon Rebel EOS SL3: amzn.to/3XG58Kk
Alternate lens: amzn.to/3YFTv7M
My voice over microphone: amzn.to/3Ixgtbz
All music by Epidemic Sound
Affiliate links with Amazon and Blick art materials help me buy more supplies!

[@user-kw4kk6sp5v]

Thanks for all the excellent tips. I will be using some of them for sure. When I was in college I used to check the trash cans for paint dried brushes tossed by other students. I would take them home and soak them in Murphy's oil soap and have myself some "new" brushes on my student budget.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I haven't tried Murphy's but I know a lot of people swear by it! It sounds like you must have been the smartest one in that group! Good thinking! :) Also, I love old scraggly brushes! THey make great textures and patterns! I don't think I've ever thrown a single brush away!

[@rebeccahesser8057]

I prefer the blue shop towels they stay together longer than any other paper towels I have used.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I haven't tried them! They are kind of expensive here. Maybe I can order them from somewhere! Thanks for the tip!

[@terrilyon6825]

I use the big blue roll of towels and also pod cut up t-shirts for my oil rags

[@irenearty]

Wow! Didn’t know that tip about using gesso. And the tip about sharpening the coloured pencils is priceless. Thanks for sharing

[@winterwoodsstudio]

You are so welcome! I'm glad I could be helpful! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@terrilyon6825]

I'm 100% with you on the Safflower oil. I've been using that for the past two years - I kept getting headaches and was sick for a couple of days afterwards when I was painting until I switched to this.

[@lorithompson2432]

I use a drop of clove oil to gouache to keep it mold free. 4:21

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I never thought of that! I use a couple pf drops of clove oil on a cotton ball in my enclosed oil paint palette to keep them from oxidizing!

[@terrilyon6825]

I always have a mechanical pencil to hand too. I need to invest in some really good fixatives - i just use cheap hairspray for my sketchbook pieces 🙈

[@sallysims5090]

Hah! I can relate to the gesso issue! I kept thinking: What magic brush is everyone else using to get a smooth gesso application? No, dilute it some! Yes, would like to see your nontoxic oil painting process. Happy New Year. 🎉

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I know, right! 😂 well at least we know now! Thank you for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!

[@AmazinGraceXOXO1]

The ketchup bottles is genius. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

It makes it SO much easier to control the amount of water and medium! It was a game changer for me! :) Thanks for watching!

[@kyleequest]

I use the Sta-wet acrylic paper for my gel prints. That paper works great on the gel plate and it’s soft and pliable to use for collage pieces. Thanks for the ti on the gesso! I did not know to thin it. Great video, thanks.✨🍸🍁

[@winterwoodsstudio]

That's a great idea! Thank you for sharing! And for watching!

[@glowycloey]

Keep it (with paint in it) in the freezer. It's always fresh paint, never molds!

[@melissaaldosari8024]

Fabulous tips n tricks! Thank you!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

You are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, Melissa!

[@sararamer-dean7846]

Thanks for the tips!

[@cyborgzulu2011]

Gosh ive used viva paper towels for a very long time (for everything plus art stuff). It would be a hell of an sponsorship! Thanks for sharing as always. Watercolour paper reccomendation is awesome!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

They are truly the best paper towels and would make an AWESOME sponsor! Hint hint, Viva, if you're listening! ;) Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@joymiller9668]

Im so happy you are reviewing the magic fly set i got it and wasnt sure if it was any good as it was my first set

[@sherhardgrave3664]

Great tricks and hacks love these kinds of videos some much information. I love my mechanical pencils to 😊👩🏻‍🎨

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Glad you enjoyed it! And me too! Nothing beats a good mechanical pencil! :) Thanks for watching!

[@corgan0759]

Sennelier fixative is my favorite for soft pastel! Thank you for your tips!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

You are so welcome! And it's my favorite too! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@christineHoxsey]

Thanks awesome tips I just subscribed! Love your shirt!

[@Samantha_tookey197]

Looking forward to a non toxic oil painting video, I’d really like to try oil painting x

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Coming soon! I've had three requests now, so you, me, and two other people can enjoy it, even if no one else does! :) Thanks for watching!

[@E4Alabbasy]

Thank you for the tip they are so helpful 🥰 I've seen a watercolor artist recommend to use baby fregrant free baby shampoo for her watercolor brushes.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Great tip! I don't generally wash my watercolor brushes, but if I ever need too, I'm totally going to try that! I bet it is super gentle on the soft bristles! Thanks for sharing!

[@macgurrl]

Great tips. I use shop paper towels which are basically like cloth. For washing brushes so they won’t get damaged I use baby shampoo. Thanks for the video. I can’t wait to see your non toxic oil paint video. All the toxins have kept me from trying oils.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Thanks for sharing!! I never thought of baby shampoo but I bet that would be awesome and gentle! And that video is coming! I don't know how many people actually want to see it, but I worked too hard figuring it out not to share! So maybe just you will enjoy it but oh well! :) Well, you and me! Thanks for watching!

[@btwilks]

Plenty of good tips etc for all the different mediums that someone might be working in. As a watercolour beginner I can definitely agree that good quality cotton paper makes the learning process soooo much easier and frustration-free. Cellulose paper might be OK for simple line & wash, swatching etc - but for watercolour painting , cotton paper was a game-changer for me and single-handedly stopped me from giving up the medium in frustration. Thanks for the wide-ranging video - all the best, Brian.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Glad it was helpful! And I totally agree with the experience you had with the watercolor paper! That's how it went for me as well! Thank you for watching and commenting as always! :)

[@marissariley7319]

So much great info in here, thanks!! Especially the one about thinning gesso - I didn’t know that either 😅 no wonder I always got streaks. You just upped my painting game!!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Glad it was helpful! It was a game changer for me! :) I hope it will be for you too!

[@jeanettegillings7202]

Thankyou for a great vlog. I’m really interested in your view on non toxic oil painting. Take care ❤

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Coming soon! A couple of other people requested it too, and I'm going to make one, even if a whole lot aren't interested! If I can at least help a couple of people, that makes it worth it! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@kathycleriucuzio5245]

Dollar Tree has a pack of two “ketchup” bottles - $1.25! On the kitchen supply wall(that’s where I found mine)😊

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Holy moly that's cheap! I should have gone there first! Oh well, you live and you learn, right? Next time! :) Thank you for watching!

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Amy, so many great ideas and tips too! I have been looking at Chelsea Lavender products for the toxic free oil painting solutions as well. I initially started with water soluble oil paints and I still have quite a few tubes! I feel this may still be the better way to go, I just cannot make up my mind! Perhaps your non-toxic painting video will help me too! I might suggest baby shampoo to clean your brushes when you can not find your Masters brush soap! See ya soon!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I think I have to try that baby shampoo idea! I bet that would be really gentle on the brushes! Thanks for the tip and for watching!

[@ChantelleArts]

so many good hacks, these are fantastic tips, i love em ❤❤

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Glad you like them! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@todaytomorrowbujo3221]

Hi❤️I love papers towels in my art supplies 😂

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Those are the best! Seriously! Indispensable! :) Thanks for watching!

[@todaytomorrowbujo3221]

@@winterwoodsstudio ☺️💜

[@krissy2321]

Thank you for all the helpful tips 💛

[@winterwoodsstudio]

You are so welcome!

[@AlisaSauer]

Loved these hacks and tips Amy. I just bought the Viva towels too-excited to try them.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

So glad they were helpful! I love those paper towels! :) Hope you like them!

[@EbStefTv]

those paper towels are also used by tattoo artists bc it does not flake or crumble! Thank you for the reminder, I will pick some up. Also going to jump on the arches train! Have the best day

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I love those paper towels! They're great! And you can't go wrong with Arches! Have a great day and thanks for watching!

[@SMBDesigns]

Have you tried the derwent colorless blender? It's a really nice one

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I haven't yet, but you are the second one to recommend it today, so now I HAVE to try it! :) Maybe in my next art supply stock up! Thank you so much, by the way, for your continued support and encouragement on my channel and art journey! It means so much! I'm not sure you guys know that, but it really does! Thank you for watching!

[@annavanesyan5769]

Very informative ❤, thanks a lot 🙏

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Goddess452]

Really loved the video, really informative and interesting 😊

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Thank you so much! And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@diannedupuis2960]

Great video! Lots of useful tips. I’m looking forward to you telling us about toxic free oils. I’m very intrigued by oils but not the chemicals. You’re doing a great job, almost always watch your videos. 👍🏽

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Thank you! What a wonderful thing for you to say! You made my morning! :) Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! I appreciate it!

[@akschauer]

I love the blue shop towels for durability and absorption and the Sennelier oil pastel fixative is definitely an MVP for that medium! I have also heard of artists using Murphy’s oil soap to clean brushes. Have you tried it? I don’t use acrylic or oil paints, so I don’t gave a lot of experience cleaning off heavier paints from brushes.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I have never tried Murphy's oil soap although I know a lot of artists do use it! I had one friend I know who said she felt it made her brushes a little more brittle, but I've never tried it so I can't say. To be fair, I've heard people say that about Dawn too, and that I DO use a lot and have never experienced that problem! Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave a comment!

[@eljay1980]

Great video! So many things I didn't know or hadn't thought of - definitely going to order the Prismacolor sharpener. I had no idea you were supposed to use other things with acrylic paints, I don't work in acrylic much anymore but definitely going to look into this. Same as gesso, I didn't know you were supposed to water it down. Such an interesting and helpful video!! Thank you :)

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I'm so glad it was helpful in some way! And thank you again for you continue support of my channel and taking the time to leave a comment! :)

[@eleanortaylor4389]

Very good tips! Arches paper is really close to the best watercolor paper there is even if it is expensive. I use it for charcoal and pastel paintings too.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Great tip! I was actually just looking at mine last night and wondering if I'd like to do pastel on it! Do you apply any sort of ground to it first? I was thinking of trying Golden Pastel ground on it, but wasn't sure if that was necessary or not? Thank you for watching!

[@eleanortaylor4389]

@@winterwoodsstudio No, I just use the surface of the paper. Cold press paper takes quite a few layers. Hot press is probably too smooth. Rough press uses up your pastels pretty fast.

[@cs1291]

Looking forward to your oil painting video. Great tips!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Coming soon! I'm glad to know at least one person is looing forward to them! The oil painting votes in my last poll weren't great but oh well! I'm going to do them anyway! :) Thanks for watching!

[@cs1291]

I think once you show how to paint in an almost nontoxic way it may change some minds. I’m getting there! Trying to lose my Liquin addiction. 😅😢

[@marie-piermorissette5263]

I will love to learn how to paint non toxic with oil paint I have the water mixable oil paint I want to see if they are worth the price or just buy the regular oil paint…

[@moonlightgator]

I did paintober with oils without solvents and it is still sticky after 2 weeks. 😮I need to try tempera or acrylics. I don't have room to dry all this paintings. 😆

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Yup. I've been testing some toxin free fast(er?) drying oil medium and they dry faster but not like liquin. I just told my husband if I'm going to work seriously in oils I need a bigger studio with more wall drying space! :) Maybe someday! Thanks for watching!

[@lindegold7481]

proportional scale, please show how to use, thank you

[@veystone2580]

PLEASEEEE... tell me EXACTLY how you use the Spectrafix!!! I bought one, and I dont know what am I doing wrong but it doesnt work either with my oil pastel paintings nor my soft pastel paintings. Please tell me, exactly how you use it!!!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I haven't tried the spectra fix on oil pastels. I'm not sure if it is meant for those? I'd have to look. But they work great with soft pastels for me. I put my soft pastel piece on a clean towel (but one I don't care about) on the floor, then hold the mister two feet away and spray with with a fine layer, then let it dry totally, and then repeat. I do probably 4-5 layers like that. It will curl, but you can flatten it out under a heavy weight, or mount it to acid free foam core board. Hope that helps!

[@veystone2580]

@@winterwoodsstudio thank u! I will try that tomorrow!

[@artandmorewithrachelnicole]

Hi Amy I absolutely love you & your channel ❤

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Thank you so much!! That's so nice to hear! Thank you for watching!

[@artandmorewithrachelnicole]

Your welcome thank you for always making such amazing art content 💗

[@moonlightgator]

What pencil sharpener you can recomened for 8mm pencils such as Charandache? Can you check if they fit in Prismacolor sharpener, I doubt they would.

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Yeah, it does. It has two holes and the bigger hole fits the caran d'ache. Hope that helps!

[@moonlightgator]

@@winterwoodsstudio Cool, thank you. I will try it. 🥰

[@bijichirayathnadakalan8100]

Hi Amy I love your videos They are super informative and useful and can you please make videos about things to draw in a sketchbook

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I do have on eon how to fill your sketchbook! it's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epa7q5uJm7yapc0 And of course, my whole sketchbook club over on Patreon is about filling your sketchbook, although I know not everyone can do $4 a month! I will try to make another video soon!

[@bijichirayathnadakalan8100]

@@winterwoodsstudio Thank you i will surely watch it

[@elisecharlenefineart]

I think you should try the Drawing Drawing White pencil. It is the most opaque white I have ever seen. I also think you should try the Lyra Splendor Blender pencil. I think it is the best blender I have use. Thanks for always giving us great videos!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

I'll check it out! Thanks for the tip and for watching and leaving a comment, Elise!

[@TracieWho]

The first time I tried the Spectratifix fixative, I about had a heart attack. It was a color pencil piece that I had literally spent 2 months on. The paper curled. So instead of freaking out (or maybe afterwards lol), once it was dry, I put it under weight and left it there for about a week. It looked perfect once it was framed. It's good to know about the Viva towels. I've been using the blue Scott shop towels with acrylics and boy, are they ever expensive. You are so right that just regular towels can't hold up without creating a mess. Looking forward to the oil painting info! The solvents always kept me from even wanting to try them. oh, for my sta-wet palette, I put a drop or two of hydrogen peroxide on the sponge and a copper penny underneath. I make sure to find the old ones with real copper and I've never had a mold problem. I've had my paints turn to soup after sitting for a long time with an overly wet sponge, but never mold. Lastly, would that prismacolor pencil sharpener work with pastel pencils? Great job with all the tips, btw! They were spot on! Really good idea about the ivory soap!

[@winterwoodsstudio]

Thank you so much for the sta-wet palette tips! I appreciate it! I'm going to try those! I use a different pencil sharpener for my pastel pencils and just realized I should have included that. It's actually a pencil sharpener by faber castell and it works AMAZING on pastel pencils! it's this one: amzn.to/47bF0Nk And it's only $7.50! Hope you are continuing to heal up okay, Tracie! Sending you good thoughts!

[@TracieWho]

@@winterwoodsstudio Perfect! Thanks! I pulled out my old pastel pencils and played around with them last light. They are so much easier lay down than the oil pastels because I don't have to work to blend them. I managed about 1/2 hour without pain. I ordered some more because I had some odd colors, for a specific project. I never pursued them because I found sharpening them to be such a pain. But I've ordered that pastel sharpener - thanks for the link on that!