Art Supplies I Couldn't Live Without - Beginner to Advanced Watercolor Supplies

[@WaterColorMisfit]

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO @DahliaBodil for pointing out some lightfast magentas for me to try in the future as substitutes for modern primaries! I purchased the five recommended and will be trying them out in a future video 😃

[@timk.1395]

I recently started using a Magic Eraser to prepare my Mijello watercolor pallette and it really works great!

[@angelairidescenceartglass6289]

Ok, so...there are “close enough” for the “modern primaries” that ARE lightfast. But, going to be difficult to mix some colors. The “traditional” primaries can be fugitive and impermanent depending upon your pigments. Lightfastness is dependent upon the pigments and the delivery vehicle. Opera Rose is fugitive because of the fluorescent dye used...in any brand. Three “modern” primaries that are mostly lightfast? Quinacridone Magenta, Phthalo Blue (GS), Hansa Yellow Lt.

[@angelairidescenceartglass6289]

Emily yeah, 1/2 of my split primary palette is really CMY...and they ARE lightfast. Though I have been collecting fugitive paints lately cause I have a crazy idea for a painting...cause my brain works that way.

[@YourMajesty143]

Opera Rose isn't completely fugitive, just the fluorescent dye itself fades and leaves behind a flat pink (Quin Rose or Quin Magenta), which is still pretty & bright -- just not neon. That's why I'd still use it, bc I'd have used those Quin colors anyway in place of it. Why not enjoy the neon for the 3 to 5 years, and then enjoy the underlying Quin for the rest? The immediate impact of a neon is just so satisfying as a contrast color that I'm willing to use it and allow it to give me a new viewing experience of my work in the future.

[@FaeDream]

The reason printers print in CMYK is because it needs to convert colors emitted from the screen in the form of light to colors on paper reflected back in the form of ink. Pigments and light colors are produced a bit differently, so they don't directly covert. So even though you're seeing RBG light on your monitor, you don't want to print with that, because the inks will make the colors darker than what you would see on screen. The CMYK setup is a work around for that issue. :) I was always taught that RGB are primary colors for pigments and CMY are primaries for light. I don't have much experience mixing paints (yet!) but it's really interesting that painters think of CMY as primaries! I can't wait to get my hands dirty. Thank you for making this video!

[@niteycat]

I am really digging your desk easel in the background.

[@Nexus2Eden]

So funny you mention being an Art Supply Hoarder. 😂 Yesterday was my birthday and rather than buying myself clothes or tickets to a show....I spent $180 on Botanical Illustration books from Amazon. 🤣

[@patriciasmith7604]

I just found you today and have watched four of your videos. I'm a back-to-watercolor after many years. I love what you do and your information is very helpful to an old beginner. You're a good communicator and know your products and how best to use them. I'll be keeping up with you. Thanks

[@lindamclean8809]

I use a porcelain dinner plate for a pallette.... I dispense my colours around the rim squeezed out from tubes

[@gorway7]

A great alternative to the Mono Black eraser is the black "Derwent Soft Eraser" it's a really soft compound so handles everything including charcoal and light pastel without clogging. It's a "dust free" type, meaning it forms easily removed threads of waste material and being black these are easy to see, so you don't end up with unwanted specs or blobs spoiling your wash.

[@Trish_Carmichael]

Same here xD Art supplies, or artbooks/comics or collectible figures haha I'm glad my parents always supported mu lvoe for books and art, and it haven't changed now I'm 43.

[@kerrydeamicis3376]

Newbie here I love this video you gave so much information I’m sorry it ended and would love to see more. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video.

[@monopinion8799]

This session was excellent for informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@IcebulletZ]

For the oil issue, if you want your fingertips free, look at compression gloves. There are some nice half finger ones. They also help reduce hand cramping.

[@Renilou2]

Loved seeing your favorites. I know that any pink that says the word Opera as the color hue, actually has mostly PV10 in it which is a very fugitive fluorescent dye. BV10 is not a pigment which is why not all manufactures list it on the label. I know Holbein does and W&N used to. It is combined with PR122 (Quinacridone Magenta) which is actually very lightfast. But having that Fluorescent dye in there is what makes it fade. Once the initial fading happens, what is left over is a thin glaze of PR122 that is holding up. PR122 is the most lightfast and strongest magenta pigment available and matches the magenta that is in printer ink so why not just use that? Schmincke brand call theirs Purple Magenta and Winser & Newton call theirs Quinacridone Magenta. Here is the scientific reason for the two sets of primaries. The Modern Primary colors is based on additive color where three light sources are added together to create color and the Traditional Primaries is based on subtractive color creating color by the reflection or absorption. I always use PR122 (quin magenta) for my primary magenta, Holbein Peacock Blue and any Nickel Azo yellow (PY150). This yellow is the perfect match full strength all the way to the lightest value. I drained some printer ink out on a paper towel and found the lightfast watercolor to match it. It was a fun challenge.

[@YourMajesty143]

If the Quin Magenta gets left behind, why not enjoy Opera in all her flourescence for the first few years and then allow it to leave behind the Quin for you to enjoy the remaining years? That's what I do. Some artists use certain fugitive colors for their immediate impact and don't mind the hue dimming or flattening out, since often the color that remains is still lovely (except for Aureolin Yellow as it completely changes into a brown).

[@HJPeet]

For your white pigment ink, open the bottle, dropper some onto a palette or plastic sheet and close it immediately rather than leaving it open during your painting session. You can also use a micro spoon (lab spatula) to get a tiny bit of paint from the jar and just brush right from the spoon like a teeny palette. Just rinse the spoon when you’re done.

[@barbaragibson612]

Some watercolor names are hard to pronounce, so I'm glad that I'm not the only one that say them goofy the first time. Especially that opera pink that starts with a q! I wanted to let you know that I am so encouraged by your videos. I haven't seriously painted with watercolors since high school and I'm trying to start back up again. I'm always on the lookout for better supplies than what I currently have. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@c8Lorraine1]

Do you use the warm and cool primaries... 2 reds, 2 yellows, two blues

[@dahliabodil9002]

With the modern primaries it depends on which pigments are used for the paint to how lightfast it is. I've found quite a few magenta that have a very high lightfast rating.

[@WaterColorMisfit]

Which brands and what are their names! I would love to try them! I haven't found any as of yet with a good lightfastness rating! I would be so interested! 😃

[@dahliabodil9002]

@@WaterColorMisfitM Graham has quinacridone rose made from PV 19, Da Vinci has permanent rose quinacridone also PV19, Daniel Smith had quinacridone magenta made from PR202. There are a lot of different companies that use PR122 for magenta and give it an excellent lightfast rating but others say it's a fugitive color so it leads to confusion. I know Qor have a magenta made from PR122 and have given it the highest lightfast rating. Golden, the makers of Qor, have a download on how they test for lightfastness and their ratings. Adding to this as an edit - Schmincke has a quinacridone magenta made from PR202 as well.

[@WaterColorMisfit]

@@dahliabodil9002 THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm gonna check these out! 😃 New supplies to add to my list! Sweet! 😃I just purchased all the one's you suggested! I'm going to do a future video testing these as well as the ones I have that are not lightfast and see if there is a difference! I'm excited! 😃

[@dahliabodil9002]

@@WaterColorMisfit You're very welcome! I hope you enjoy all the new shades. The Qor is a bit different and flows like crazy. Their binder is a bit different and they use a synthetic ox gall in them which makes all their paints just dance everywhere.

[@WaterColorMisfit]

@@dahliabodil9002 I'm excited! 😃 Yeah - I've heard great things about Qor and wanted to try it - so this is an excuse to do so! Thanks so much for commenting! It helps a bunch! 😃

[@danikaiser6508]

Top notch video for supplies. Thank you!

[@aprilholm9166]

I'm interested in your testing of the plastic palate. Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but I would like to know more. Thank you for your videos and for your inspiration. I love the how peaceful and calming your videos are.

[@ebox3365]

LOVE your into w/ timelines. Cute, SMART and fun. You're awesome!

[@TrueLoveX1027]

Loved this video and especially am appreciative of the Tombow MONO Black Plastic Eraser! It is fantastic product and as a professional artist, I found the kneaded eraser to have limitations. The white needed eraser leaves halo marks on black and coloured papers and gets so grimy. Thanks so much for this video and your many others fab videos! P.S. The updated CMY lightfast primaries was very helpful as well!

[@mizbeadmkr]

I loved this one! Thanks for all your videos and your honesty! Just to help, (not to criticize) Quinacridone is pronounced Kwin-ack-kruh-doan. Viridian is pronounced Ver-ih-dee-yin. And yes, talk supplies, often!!!! Happy holidays!

[@WaterColorMisfit]

THANKS! That helps! 😃 Happy Holidays to you too! 😃

[@bobbijolane367]

I’m going to kindly add to that if I could....opaque has a q not a g...so it’s o-pake. And Schmincke is pronounced Schmin-kuh... 💜✌🏼. Great informative video! Thanks! 💜

[@music-sc7eg]

Or even shmingkeh

[@sabineleppanenart3014]

music right. A German “e” at the end of a word is pronounced as a short e, as in “elf”😉.

[@jeffcuthbert7127]

One more, Cadmium ends with an M not an N.

[@alaskangypsy]

Other than granulation, why would we use inks versus traditional watercolor paints? I've wondered this for awhile. And can you mix inks with regular watercolor? What are the benefits? Would love info and a demo on this. Great and helpful video!!!

[@sylnormey]

Hey! Old question but I saw no answer to you so thought I'd give my thoughts. Personally I use ink instead of watercolor mostly for its opacity (although it varies as some watercolors are more like gouache). Furthermore, I have inks that are waterproof, which is fun to use in combination with watercolors. I can technically use both watercolors and inks for calligraphy, but I save on prep time by simply using inks. When I travel, I only bring watercolors, but at home it's my personal favorite medium to use for its variety of uses. Inks are also (in most cases) easier to put a bigger brush into if you only have half pans. But it is true watercolors can be used as "inks" in a lot of ways, so if you only have watercolors, I only recommend you investing in inks to have waterproof options (if that interests you). Hope that helps!

[@alaskangypsy]

@@sylnormey What a perfect answer!!! And YES, it helps me alot! Thank you so much!

[@sylnormey]

@@alaskangypsy No problem! If you prefer watercolors but want the waterproof aspect, watered down acrylic inks are still permanent (as long as they have time to dry) or you can go towards permanent watercolor inks such as the Hydrus line from Dr. Ph Martins. If not, Ecoline makes watercolor inks that can likely be mixed with watercolors, although I haven't personally tried it. :)

[@music-sc7eg]

Next time you are tempted I can recommend Jacksons Icon brushes. Sable/synthetic mix - hold masses of paint. Their description explains why and not very expensive. First time I used the quill I thought something was wrong - but I just hadn't loaded it up enough.

[@megperry5586]

Thank you, I always appreciate your honest opinions. I would love to see a demo on why you personally chose water color concentrates and when you choose traditional watercolor paints, and if you play with them both together.

[@floydfloart1240]

Three words that will change your life!! Glue stick, magic eraser (well four)😂 scruff your plastic pallet mixing area with magic eraser, then put some glue stick on, i just use washable (I guess any would work) scrubbier it around good then with the magic eraser, wet with some water. Then take a cloth or paper towel and wipe, let dry. Then add a spritz or two more water and continue to wipe until it’s clean. Then you have a surface that will not bead up. I do this to all my plastic pallets. Saw a guy on KZbin do this not my idea, but it works. Try it😘

[@lumartwentyone]

Based on your final comments regarding "when asked "is it a watercolor painting", and have added details with pencils, wc pencils, inks, etc, do you label it as "Watercolor" or "Mixed Media"? Thanks, by the way, on a great video.

[@pat4005]

Ruben Navarro Prieto I think if a certain amount of both media and time spent (say, 15% +), on a painting is not watercolor, but other media, then it’s mixed-media, not watercolor (only). I’ve seen (highly time-lapsed) videos of a certain artist on Instagram that always calls his art watercolor, but it is definitely mixed-media. His work is photorealistic and well-done, but it shouldn’t be marketed as watercolor when after the extremely time-lapsed video is slowed-down (still fast looking), you can see it’s more color pencil and airbrush and very little watercolor painting other than a few general washes of color.

[@lumartwentyone]

@@pat4005 Thanks much for your reply. I´ll take this into account. Happy painting....

[@BornAgainFarmGirl]

I enjoy my palettes 🎨 , Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 🙋🏻‍♀️🎄 !

[@nadiartista]

Je te souhaite un très beau et bon temps des fêtes et un Joyeux Noël ! // I wish you a very good and happy holiday season, and a Merry Christmas!

[@OneTrueWord1988]

Great video - I really enjoyed it! Yes - please film using the new mystery plastic palette; can’t wait to see what it is! 😀

[@Angela10277088]

Thank you for the video! I would love an on-camera palette test if you can. 😊

[@tinaboomerina1607]

That beautiful Quinacridone pink or red is pronounced something like... Kwin Ack Rid Doe-n. Last syllable is like doe, a female deer, with an "n" sound it the end. Or just call it Quinn. Love your selection of essentials! Shopping to do and who needs shoes?

[@lindaholmes754]

When describing the pencil, you used a flat acrylic ruler on the paper. Could you please give a description, brand and size of this ruler and/or others you find helpful? Looking for 12, 14 or 18 inches due to different paper sizes used. A video on your odd tool that assist in the creative process would be helpful. Thank you.

[@WaterColorMisfit]

The ruler I use is discontinued now :( But it's called a drafting ruler that is clear plastic. I will say - your idea of random/odd supplies is a good one! I'll need to do that in the future! 😃

[@tydelbarrio9193]

Im so curious as to what palette you were talking about 🙏🙏🙏

[@Kamala-isa-Criminal]

Enjoyed it, thank you! I’d love to see you experiment with your new pallet. Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 ✨

[@ARTYCOATY]

I learned a lot. Thank you for sharing. I support you. 😊🌈🌸👍

[@flowerfiend12]

Hi Carrie, In case you ever wanted to really stock up on Holbein's Horizon Blue, it comes in 60 ml tubes. You'd probably have to order it from someone in Japan, unless you can find a distributor on eBay. p.s. Love your videos :)

[@randyebastian8186]

Please test the special plastic palette that you referred to, and thank you a million times over for your channel!

[@gorway7]

Aaaaagh!... I always get green with envy when I hear you Americans talk of special deals or sales on Arches Paper. In the U.K which is just a spit over the Channel from France, we get screwed blind on Arches. It is about the most expensive paper on sale here bar a few special hand made brands - and I have never seen it reduced more than a pound or so on blocks - never sheets (usually on weird shapes and sizes that no one wants like 4" x 11") I buy Saunders Waterford or Fabriano Artistico both about the same price and about £10 cheaper than Arches per 5 sheet pack. In fact you get it cheaper in the US than I can buy on a day trip to Calais. I think the French just hate the Brits.

[@avaliveradio]

Try the Windsor newton. It’s amazing and doesn’t dry up. It’s opaque as well

[@c.catlover4080]

Love your pup! So cute. :)

[@jenniefrench1338]

I like to sketch my painting with wc pencils and I pick colors that will disappear in my painting. After I paint I do use pro colored pencils or pastels-modern art.

[@Bees123Knees]

I love the sound (and looks) of the watercolour inks. Just wondering if you can use them with traditional watercolours all in the same painting, or would they look noticeably different? For example, could you use the inks for the sky and then traditional paint for the landscape? If they do look fine side-by-side, could you also actually mix them with tube or pan watercolours, for example mixing a traditional green with a yellow watercolour ink? Thanks, Carrie!

[@animalmania2381]

HI, what easel do you have? I tried clicking on your blog like but it doesn't work.

[@josephmarquez81]

what you can use instead of the anti-friction glove is a maulstick. It will keep your hand off your work and you won't have that constraining feeling of the glove.

[@sharonoddlyenough]

Is a maul stick similar to a bridge?

[@josephmarquez81]

@@sharonoddlyenough I think, not to sure what a bridge is, we may be talking about the same thing. It is a stick with a rolled up sock at the end, it rides along the top edge of you work surface and keeps your hand off the art. Hope this helps.

[@sharonoddlyenough]

@@josephmarquez81 I've only seen pictures of a bridge. It's a piece of wood, like a ruler, with a small block glued to each end that lifts it above the work surface. Then my hand would rest on the stick without anything contacting the paper. Thank you for mentioning a maul stick, I'd never heard of that before

[@sharonoddlyenough]

I just heard another option: a piece of parchment paper between the hand and the art piece will slide with the hand and protect the art

[@Mariannevieitez]

Just found your channel I’m so glad !

[@jyosh5909]

hi! Im having some trouble choosing what my first watercolor i should get. Should i get a white nights + palette combo or a W&N Cotman? In my country, theres only a ~4-5 dollar difference between them because of the palette (W&N is around 30 dollars, and White nights 12 tubes are also 30 dollars) An answer would be appreciated! Love the video.

[@lorischwichtenberg9088]

Just a noob myself, but I'm getting to be an expert at BUYING art supplies, haha... My white nights were my first not-student paints, and even after using m graham, qor, and daniel smith, all of whom I adore, I still have a special place in my heart for my white nights and continue to buy their new seasonal additions. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

[@cdorothy444]

I would choose a limited palette consisting of primaries (4-6 colors) first to save money. (You can search limited palette on youtube). Just bear in mind that Cotman is student grade paint (winsor and newton has two lines: professional and student)

[@jyosh5909]

@@cdorothy444 Ive never heard of limited palettes before until now and i find them super interesting! Im considering buying a limited palette but it might be harder for me cause i have to mix colors, being the newbie i am. But by doing so i can probably learn mixing colors and color theory easier. Another thing is, im not really sure what brand of paint i should buy for a limited palette, any suggestions other than daniel smith?

[@mars451b4]

I have both and I like my white nights a little more. Colours are really vibrant. Also check out Jacksonsart they always have sales and shipping isn't much to the US

[@JC-il4or]

@@jyosh5909 Great question! I learned on Windsor Newton and Grumbacher, but its very personal. I learned with 6 colors, a warm and a cool of Red, Yellow, and blue. Search Mind of Watercolor on youtube and Lindsay the Frugal Crafter. Both give sound advice regarding color theory, mixing colors, and Lindsay's vids demo tons of different sets of watercolors from cheap to professional, student to artist grade. It is such a fun journey, i hope you enjoy. Oh. And there is a Japanese fellow who is wonderful for beginners, Shibasaki, i think. Search him on youtube, for sure., gentle voice, English sub titles, traditional watercolor.

[@julienotsmith7068]

A "lake" pigment is a dye that has been made into a paint. Usually they'll do something like dye white limestone with indigo, and then the indigo-colored limestone is the pigment. Madder Lake is made with a madder dye. The "Lake" term has nothing to do with lightfastness.

[@simpette_2.0]

*WAO THIS IS THE EARLIEST I'VE EVER BEEN!HOW 'BOUT THAT?*🤔 All jokes aside, this video was a treat to watch! Keep up the good work. 🤗

[@WaterColorMisfit]

So glad you liked it! 😃

[@KittyWitch27]

I loved this video, I already ordered the easel lol I'm curious about the concentrates but I am not sure how to use them. Could u do a video?

[@vanreign]

Great video as always Carrie!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@rnee1000]

Great video! I've heard so many good things about that easel so I ordered one. It arrived broken :(

[@Forouzad]

Love you! Merry Christmas to you as well

[@floydfloart1240]

And yes please show the pallet

[@marycunningham5050]

Thank you! Can i ask what size davinci mop brush you showed?

[@danarenfand3384]

2

[@bluegingerink5021]

Have you tried using Japanese or Chinese traditional brushes? I found it hard to use other brushes since I started watercolour using those. Their water retention level as well as level of control with the very pointed tips and full bodies have been hard to replace for me. I would love to hear what you think of those Japanese or Chinese traditional brushes. I am still watching your video as I post this comment :P

[@BakerImageGroup]

Thank you! For an opaque white you should try the “Pentel Correction Fluid” www.walmart.com/ip/Pentel-Jumbo-Fine-Point-Correction-Pen/14931895 Iconic Marvel artist Jim Lee uses it to create his whites over black ink. You can use it in the pen or pool it out onto your palette. It’s a great addition for interesting effects as well.

[@tinkerspell4850]

my lovely boss got me a $25 amazon gift card and he knew exactly what I was going to get: watercolor paper. 100% cotton baby..

[@lindathaxton1994]

Art supplies trump all else 👍❤️

[@jocooneyart77]

Do you sell your work? If so, where's your store?

[@WaterColorMisfit]

For art prints, we currently don't have a store. We tried to use a platform in the past but the quality wasn't great. So we're still looking - if you know any. We do have courses on our misfit land platform. Thanks for asking!

[@adelia988]

I’m vegetarian I was wondering if any synthetic brush would be absorbent ?

[@sharonoddlyenough]

I've heard that Miller's pseudo sable brushes are very good synthetics. I sympathise with your cause.

[@patstokes3615]

I'm so glad in found your channel. But really why would having a sweating hand be "gross" that just seem goofy.

[@DainiusArt]

ordered Ecoline set to try for the first time. If you want I can tag you on instagram when I paint something :)

[@monopinion8799]

What is granulation?

[@juliesczesny90]

Think of color deposits, which clump together, in a random, beautiful way. Hot pressed paper has peaks & valleys in it, which take advantage of those paints. I love working with paints, such as Lapis Lazuli (genuine). It's literally a semi-precious stone, ground up and milled. But you can't make the particles too small, or you lose the blue! So you get both an undertone, and the darker tone deposits! It fascinates me so much, Even got granulation in oils. Love the feel!

[@alexiayoung1225]

Yay

[@debbiebuttars5598]

Why do you say “oh-peg”? It is opaque. There’s a Q in there. It’s oh-peik. Sorry. This was just driving me nuts. 😊

[@pollyweinmann5082]

No way I will use animal hair!

[@elizabethbaumler4098]

Video too long although I was interested in hearing your recommendations. Better to break video into smaller segments.

[@jisuki6731]

Great to see you again! I hope all is healing fast! This video was so informative. Thank you so much for sharing!