A Lovely Little Art Haul: Watercolour Paints, Acrylics, Unison Soft Pastels, Brushes & Art Books

I take a look at a few things I bought in January, including one of Holbein's new granulating watercolours, plus some art books inspired by my recent stay in St. Ives.
'Painting the Warmth of the Sun' by Tom Cross:
UK amzn.to/3PNe0MY
UK amzn.to/40H9Exc
'Alfred Wallis' by Matthew Gale:
UK amzn.to/4jDDYjM
US amzn.to/40kCYIc
'Ben Nicholson' by Virginia Button:
UK amzn.to/3Q7F0XP
US amzn.to/42paK1C
Daler Rowney System 3 Acrylic Paint (Currently On Sale at Jackson's Art):
www.awin1.com/...
Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints:
www.awin1.com/...
Schmincke Ice Blue Watercolour:
www.awin1.com/...
Holbein Granulating Watercolours (Currently On Sale at Jackson's Art):
www.awin1.com/...
Roman Szmal Aquarius Watercolours:
www.awin1.com/...
Mijello Mission Gold Watercolours:
www.awin1.com/...
Canson XL Watercolour A4 Paper:
UK amzn.to/40IxoOQ
US amzn.to/3WU3qqv
Da Vinci Brush Set:
UK amzn.to/4awJDE5
US amzn.to/3PUfQeQ
Princeton Select ¼" Dagger Brush:
UK amzn.to/3WFWMoD
Unison Soft Pastel Sets:
www.awin1.com/...
Canson Mi-Teintes Velvet Pad:
UK amzn.to/3Yv5FCI
US (This is a different colour range) amzn.to/3BSSUZW
Prismacolour NuPastel Firm Pastel Color Sticks 96:
UK amzn.to/49DPANs
US amzn.to/3Z8Utfz
Sennelier Plein Air Landscape Set 80 Half Sticks Soft Pastels:
UK amzn.to/3U1uO4z
US amzn.to/3UFzMFh
Lictin Trading Cards Album:
UK amzn.to/3U2safC
US (Similar design, but not identical)
Swatching & Mixing Some Granulating Watercolours Video:
• Swatching Some Of My F...
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(As an Amazon & Jackson's Art Associate, I earn a small amount from the purchase of ANY items - not just the ones I link to - when you enter the sites via my links. It doesn't affect the price for you, and I'm very grateful when you do, thank you!)

[@KindaSassy1]

Just a girl who wishes she could paint/draw stick people without having to label them as people.....this is the first video Ive found by you. Your calm presence is lovely in this madcap world.

[@helencryer]

Haha! Welcome, and thank you!

[@libellula3313]

Intriguing books Helen. I was an art student in the late 60's and visited St Ives several times. I'm 76 and live in France now and by chance met a potter here, Alan Wallwork who was well known in St Ives. Spookily i still have an old book on ceramics i had used at college and it had pictures of Alan, who has now returned to the UK. Im a subscriber as i am getting together a travel watercolour bag recently, and i enjoy your vlogs. The Schmincke Blue/Ice White is beautiful and could be interesting to use in watercolour snow scenes. Thanks Helen. Jo in France 🇫🇷

[@helencryer]

Oh, that's so cool! I will look up his work. Thanks!

[@zenlife1200]

Nice mixed lot of art supplies today. I've been experimenting with mixing my own granulating paints too. I'm quite liking a Daniel Smith cobalt teal blue with Payne's grey mix at the moment. I've also started trying a few different papers too as I'm moving from using straight watercolor to more and more mixed media pieces. I want all the granulation plus I want the pencils, markers etc to play nicely together without ruining the tips or the paper and still give me texture. I think my art word for the year should be "texture". I noticed a few KZbinrs have a word this year.

[@helencryer]

That sounds a nice mix! I really like Canson XL Watercolour for mixed media. It shows off the granulating paints well, but although it's cold pressed, the actual surface of the texture is quite smooth, unlike Arches or Baohong, so it plays nicely with pencils and markers. I haven't got a word for the year, unless maybe it's Chocolate....

[@zenlife1200]

@@helencryer chocolate sounds like a great word for every year 😂🍫

[@dianemeldi2377]

Thank you for your knowledge of art history and your beautiful countryside.

[@helencryer]

Thanks!!

[@beejayem42]

Love your work with the granulating paints Helen. I can see how the cellulose paper is an advantage with them. 🐨👍

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I think it's good with the cellulose, if you don't mind some cauliflowering. The cellulose isn't good for layers though.

[@chris.369]

Hello Helen! 10:00 These are absolutely gorgeous colours! I am puzzled by the second greys set though. I wouldn’t say that the first row are greys. 😳 I would say these are some kind of earth colour and it’s tints.

[@helencryer]

I agree - they're gorgeous, but very strange colours to be considered greys!

[@beedee4427]

I knew you'd sell that painting straight away! 😎So chuffed I was right. You should absolutely definitely do prints of them as they'd sell like hotcakes (as they say in Yorkshire!). All of your pastel paintings are stunning btw. It's obviously your natural "thing". Looking at the Unison greys, I'm quite interested in the second box of greys. Much more conducive to an Australian landscape. I currently have the two Unison Portrait sets in my Wishlist, waiting for Mother's Day maybe? Also, now you've shown the Wallis paintings I completely get your harbour painting from last week. It's a fabulous style, and again, one you're v good at. I'm still stuck in bed but hope to get down to the studio for at least an hour today. I'm trying out oils for my portraiture work. It's the antithesis of watercolour so I'm finding it 🤔🤪. Oh yes, cos I'm stuck in bed, I've been messing about in my sketchbooks with Neocolours IIs etc and creating pictures not unlike the Ben Nicholson stuff you also tried! For some reason, I tend to go back to that sort of Bauhaus style when I'm clueless about what to create and my brain can't cope with overthinking anything. Shapes and Colour. Shapes and Colour. I can just about manage that 😆 Anyhoo, thanks for the lovely long vid. Thoroughly enjoyed as always. All the best from sunny Merewether x

[@helencryer]

Haha - thanks! The annoying thing is that I can't seem to do any soft pastel paintings in anything but a more traditional style. I'd like to be able to do something a bit more bold and quirky with them, but they keep turning out the same! I haven't seen the portrait sets, but I definitely love Unison pastels. I hope you made it into your studio! My walking is getting very limited now (on crutches), but at least I'll have art to get on with till surgery and during the recovery. I think keeping art simple and therapeutic sounds good! I have just been painting watercolour circles today!

[@sherricarneal4986]

Helen, Your artwork in pastels as you flicked through your book is so beautiful. The granulation studies are wonderful. Thank you for the great job you do and Cornwall is lucky to have you as an artist.

[@helencryer]

That's really lovely of you - thank you!

[@diannedupuis2960]

It’s so fun to watch you get into soft pastels. I’ve just started using them also, it’s a whole new world!

[@helencryer]

They're great aren't they?!

[@FaithAnnNB]

You were so fortunate to be at the gallery for the lectures! I’m sure that would encourage me to get some art books to read more about them. Fun new supplies!! Personally can’t imagine leaving my house to go to a gallery… it’s been -20 Celsius (or colder) all week, we’re all sick with colds and my husband is currently outside snow-blowing the driveway from the most recent snowfall. So, I’m getting caught up on art videos and plan to play in a sketchbook later (if it can be done while bundled in blankets on my sofa).

[@helencryer]

The funny thing was, I'd bought the two artist books first, then just happened to show up for those exact two lectures! I can't even imagine that level of cold! Stay cosy!

[@FaithAnnNB]

@ What a lucky coincidence!!

[@cydengel]

Another beautiful and inspirational video, Helen! I’m traveling to St Ives in late March and will definitely be looking forward to a visit to the Tate. The books you shared were so interesting and I’m going to try to obtain a copy of the first one you showed before I come. Hoping to do some arting while I’m there if the weather allows for it. Maybe bring a Barbour coat or something lighter? Your pastel works are wonderful and looks like you have found another method for your toolbox! Thanks again for the wonderful video!

[@helencryer]

Oh how lovely! I hope you thoroughly enjoy it! Definitely bring something waterproof, and the temperature could vary a lot at that time of year!

[@Artistallegedly-ys4rt]

Always enjoy catching up with what you're doing. I have that ice blue paint too and have just ordered the trumpet vine red in the Holbein granulating paint. (As well as some Roman Szmal pans). Those pastels look so nice.

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Oo - lovely! Which Roman Szmals did you order?!

[@crystalipock9725]

Helen that Eurasian Jay Rose Grey was so lovely. You have my dream palette of colors in your watercolor paints you have! Those blues and violet were lovely too! That second set of greys you got really perfected the set! Your pastel paintings are more gorgeous each time; no wonder they are selling right away! What a great idea to make prints! Nice to see your acrylic paintings as well. They are fabulous! Enjoyed today's video. Hope you have a good week. See you in the next video.

[@helencryer]

Thank you so much, that's really kind!

[@nereaguijarroalonso2691]

Hi, I have been looking recently for some videos to get inspiration for my paintings and I just bumped into this video and I thought that it was really useful! I would highlight the moment when you start showing the books pages in the second 30 so that people can see them. I found the way you turn the pages very relaxing and your voice is stress-releaving. I also love the moment when you show the brushes (minute 13:24) as I am a begginer at painting and I still do not know much about how to use them. But my favourite moment is when you try the acrylics on (minute 15:00) as it is helpful for those who are interested on buying these products. I was thinking that it could be really interesting if you could paint a painting with all those products and get the inspiration from one of those books. That would be such a great way to show them off. I am sure you would do an incredible job. I would also appreciate if you could do a haul of other type of painting products or, at least, recommending them. Thank you for your video.

[@Everywhere2]

Oh, work back through Helen's older videos! She's so wonderful. Her work is lovely and the way she explores and tests so practical and informative!

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!! Hopefully you will find lots of the things you mentioned if you browse my other videos!

[@helencryer]

Awww, thank you!!!!

[@lisaharner3720]

Hi Helen, welcome home. Those books look like inviting reads! I always enjoy your art supply deliveries. I especially love the ice blue and your grey sets of Unison. I look forward to seeing them used in the future! 😍

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@Brilliantnash]

Glad I'm not the only one to wonder what happened to the grey in Blue Grey.

[@helencryer]

😁

[@derwood206]

great job on the rose grey mix! it was reminding me of Aquarius Violet at one point and i could see your association of it with Notturno. I am glad Schmincke released ice blue. so pretty. Some of the colors in Michael Harding I enjoy are Ochre Icles Lemon, Moss Green, Forest Green, Earth of Cyprus, Indigo, Herculane or Pozzouli Red, and Caribbean Turquoise.

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Hi! I will have to go and look at those Michael Harding colours!

[@derwood206]

@ check out the 18th century masters set too as it has their Lapis Lazuli

[@berolinastrassmann]

Thanks for showing those books. It's great to oearn about new artists. I am loving your new series of paintings in acrylics. Very atmospheric!

[@helencryer]

Thanks!!

[@mayuloves858]

The schmincke ice blue watercolour is my favourite blue, was actually lucky to get my hands on it a year ago, 'cause it's nowhere to be found in the artshops I usually buy from anymore 😅 . Davinci brushes the forte ones and the green handle ones (can never remember the range name) are my go to brushes for gouache paintings. This is a lovely haul, especially the books are very interesting.

[@helencryer]

I didn't even know any of them existed till recently!

[@piperspurpose3005]

I really liked that painting you did in Wallis's style. 🎉😊❤

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@Everywhere2]

Eurasian Jay is totally new to me. Alluring!

[@melissamartinart]

2:53 I’m pretty sure they have string artwork on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario!

[@helencryer]

Oh cool!

[@pikkuoo]

That Eurasian Jay looks a lot like Roman Szmal's November!

[@helencryer]

I've liked the look of it, but it's been out of stock!

[@paulawilliams9645]

Thank you. I have found a copy of Painting the warmth of the sun pre-loved as well what a lovely book. My next trip to Cornwall will be in June and this will definitely inspire me

[@helencryer]

It's so nice when you can visit St. Ives to bring it all to life!

[@toneminde8939]

Lovely to see what your up to 😊 I couldnt get what kind of market you sold the painting at? Ca n you pls tell me?

[@helencryer]

Thanks! It is a craft market - just the village community building filled with about 20 tabletop stalls once a month.

[@firdyk]

Your second set of pastels greys looks lovely. Are you spraying your pastels with fixative if you are framing them under glass for selling

[@helencryer]

No, I don't spray ones being framed.

[@marjoriebelt2842]

This was a lovely and informative review - I’m wondering what sketchbook or notebook you did these swatches on?

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I used Canson XL Watercolour paper (the same I used for the little granulating landscape paintings).

[@marjoriebelt2842]

@ Thank you - I find paper can make such a difference.

[@helencryer]

Absolutely! I love the Canson XL for single layer watercolouring, where texture is desirable, but it's definitely not good for layering/glazing.

[@martinanelsonartandpsychol6478]

I find that when I use water to dilute acrylics they become slushy and I can not draw thin lines very well. While this doesn’t happen with mediums like: matte, super?ultra?matte or wetting aid … I only discovered this lately after struggling for a long time.

[@helencryer]

Thank you - I have been wondering about mediums too.. I'm sure I'll do some experimenting soon!

[@martinanelsonartandpsychol6478]

@ Just to make sure: I still use water too when needed, but some mediums just make the paint less goopy.

[@Ohblioh]

I enjoy your art but I have to say the word ‘haul’ feels more and more crass in our over-consuming yet increasingly poorer world. And seeing piles of stuff week on week like this with this word attached makes me feel nasty inside. An art review channel fine focus on that and review so people can see stuff used but a haul? I can’t follow anymore.

[@helencryer]

I respect your opinion, and don't particularly like the word myself. I probably will still continue to buy art materials though, and use that particular word, because it is searched for in search engines, and I'd like my videos to be visible.