My First Art Materials Haul of 2024! Books, Lutea Watercolours, Gelatos, Princeton Catalyst Tools +

[@henrikeluig6212]

the drawing and the text in your sketchbook is from a german artist with a longing for Norway. It says: the voices in my head tell me to go to Norway. I enjoyed your video. Thanks a lot

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@katyvashkevich2719]

Yours is currently my favorite art channel. I look forward to your videos :)

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much!! ☺️

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

Thank you for sharing your haul. I was intimidated by concertina sketchbooks until I watched Liz Chaderton make her own & then use them as travel sketchbooks on holiday. Seems they're most suited to a theme.

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@amandahodgin9316]

@@helencryerI make my own concertina sketchbooks because I can have the paper I want in them and they are quicker to make than ones with stitched bindings. I love the flexibility of them….one page, two page or three page spreads…whatever you want. You can make one big painting, make a theme or whatever you want. It’s your sketchbook. Don’t be intimidated by it. Do whatever you want with it. I also make them because sketchbooks with 100% cotton paper in them are quite expensive where I live. I can buy a large format sheet of Arches cold pressed paper for about 13 CAD and make a nice book. A comparable quality paper bound in hardcover would cost about $50.

[@helencryer]

This is wonderful! I hadn't thought of them in terms of choosing the number of pages for each spread, and love the thought of choosing great quality paper for making your own - thank you!!

[@amandahodgin9316]

@@helencryer check out Liz Chaderton’s channel. She does have a great video about making them. I think she might also have a neat video about how to fold and cut a whole 22x30 sheet and make it into a sketchbook. I sometimes use just 1/4 of a 22x30 sheet and make a small one that I can pop in my purse. They are really quick to make and very versatile. Make great gifts for artist friends, too.

[@WolfmanWoody]

I could never think of buying Lutea paints at the prices they are, but if it's your only hobby and you can afford them, why not. I have put one of those Indigo books in my wish list though. They look good and internally sized too.

[@helencryer]

Yep, I understand. I'm lucky that I've always been able to make my craft/art hobby pay for itself - I'm currently selling off loads of older craft stuff on eBay, plus I had some Jackson's affiliate credit, and KZbin money, so splashed out.

[@doreenstrachan1119]

I like the look of the indigo watercolour sketchbooks

[@helencryer]

They do seem quite promising!

[@awatercolourist]

Drawing with Charcoal has some arresting paintings. I love how expressive but realistic some of them are.

[@helencryer]

Yes! I think some are absolutely gorgeous!

[@hansendesigns]

Find a 50-100 year period that you’re drawn to and read that section thoroughly. Then get a book on just that period and literally memorize the names and notable works of artists you like. Once you know about 10-15 artists you can pick another period to engage with. In the beginning you actually have to study to get a foothold. It’s worth it though. Your art will grow and get more fun from studying artists and movements. Seeing artists in museums intentionally is a much richer experience than just going and looking at art at random. UK has some of the best art collections in the world. Best to you 🌸

[@helencryer]

Thank you for your advice! I like it! (Though I'm unsure of my ability to memorise anything at the moment!)

[@karendirmish2696]

Always a wonder to listen to you! I always want every book you talk about! I’m especially interested to finding Landscape Painting Now! It’s a quest! Thanks Karen Dirmish, learner!

[@helencryer]

I'm such a sucker for books! The Landscape Painting Now book is definitely incredible, good luck!

[@ntaylo6299]

I love Gelatos. Fun to use and great for kiddos that are past eating everything. Should mention dogs could eat them also.

[@PunjabiHumanitarian]

I absolutely loved your work at 3:10....I grew up on a farm where we grew rapini and mustard...your work was like a stylized, beautiful depiction of our farms

[@helencryer]

Thank you so much!

[@artmix700]

A lovely haul❤️ I love Catalyst tools, they're really useful. I particularly like your big 'Landscape Painting Now' book😍. I recently started playing with Gelli printing as I seem to have reverted back to acrylics and trying mixed media over the past few months. I'd never tried printing before but was inspired by watching a few other artists incorporate it into their mixed media work. Its just such good fun and like you say, it can be a bit unpredictable too which is great therapy for a control freak like me😂 Will look forward to your video about it😊

[@helencryer]

I had great fun using the new gel plate in today's video! Glad you're enjoying yours!

[@susanorban3059]

Hi Helen! Fabulous video as usual❤I loved all your new art books! And the Lutea WC are beautiful. Your perfect color wheel was so pretty! Love all the colors! Looking forward to see your gell print video etc. Thanks so much. I always look forward to your videos! Susan in Az🥰🏜️

[@helencryer]

Aww, thank you Susan!!

[@PatriciaVoinescuArt]

I love the Oil Painters Color Handbook! It's definitely going on my wishlist.

[@GuyArab]

I really enjoyed this art haul: such a variety of items purchased, some of which are unknown to me. I like the sketchbook which has been nicely started for you and translates as, “The voice in my head says to me I must visit Norway”. The book on charcoal looks very interesting, an item I should consider purchasing. On the subject of charcoal, I would like to mention someone I have recently come across on KZbin, Tony Swaby. Perhaps portraits are not your “thing”, but this Yorkshireman drew (pardon the pun) me to his style, that of scribble that turns out to be something other than scribble.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! Yes, a friend translated it for me, and funnily enough a few hours later one of my sons mentioned he's going on a trip to Norway! I will go and look up Tony Swabey - thanks!

[@reedebrown6006]

Wouldn’t know what to do with some of the items in this video, but looking forward to seeing you use them in future videos. The Lutea paints may be expensive but I love those colours. Can’t wait to see some paintings with those either. Thanks for sharing 💜

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much!

[@michaelinglis3566]

Hi Helen , loved the video especially the Charcoal book . I have tried to master charcoal many times (at least umpteen ) but never happy till I tried mixing with soft pastels , that was better . I noticed some charcoal/soft pastel illustrations in the book and I'm left drooling at the thought of an HC vid along these lines , don't let me down !!!! Thank you again , Mike in Exeter xx

[@helencryer]

Haha, thanks! Funnily enough, it was the illustrations with the colour in that excited me the most. I'm not very confident with charcoal though - I kind of feel like it's harder to bend to my will, and also like I have to be more careful with it. I'll give it a bash at some point!

[@impish22]

how fun, thanks for sharing

[@loveandlife4222]

I am so excited that you swatched the Lutea paints. I went yesterday and bought them all. I’ve been waiting for them to go on sale. I think they are so beautiful! I look forward to a more in depth video! Thank you!

[@helencryer]

Oh wow! You must be so excited! I'd love to have the whole set!

[@loveandlife4222]

I’ve been saving some of my money from my birthday until I found something that I really love. These paints look so beautiful!

[@debsllewelyn230]

Such a great haul

[@InkNSap]

I discovered George Shaw recently and loved his work, so British and moody. That landscape now looks like is going in my basket 😍 Have you seen that Schminke produced a new set of natural pigments series as well? The Lutea watercolours look so lovely but the price put me off 😢. I got myself a tiny set of handmade watercolours from natural materials that come in the cap of a walnut? They are so lovely, need to play with them more. Beautiful haul Helen! I think you’re one of the few KZbinrs that understands my want for new books and art supplies 😅

[@helencryer]

Haha, thanks! Yes, I saw the Schmincke paints, but wasn't as drawn to them for some reason. The one I really liked (Stil de Grain) is fugitive, so I left them.

[@puppydood]

I was in two minds about watching this, as your art haul videos often end up with me spending money as you have fantastic taste in art supplies. Fortunately however, I already bought the paint shaper brushes and got pallet knives and Indigo sketchbooks for Christmas (sadly no free art in mine). I’ve also got a few Gelli plates which are very addictive. I don’t like the way charcoal and pastel brush off paper, but I found (and I am sure you already know) you can transfer the messy charcoal/pastel sketch to the Gelli plate and pull to paper with gel medium and it’s instantly fixed on the page. Awesome. Hmm. Tempted by that illustration book though 😮. 😊😊

[@helencryer]

Haha! Love it! Can't believe your sketchbook didn't come with art in it though - what a swizz! You're going to have to tell me more about this transferring charcoal/pastel with a gel plate though!! This sounds amazing! What do you do the charcoal sketch on in the first place? I've never heard of it!

[@puppydood]

Hiya. It’s a cool process. You draw with charcoal on paper, then press that paper directly on the Gelli plate and the charcoal transfers to the plate. Then use a thin layer of transparent gel medium on the plate to pull your charcoal drawing to a fresh piece of paper. The charcoal is sealed! It’s great for layering up abstract landscapes. Also you can add extra media, acrylic, or whatever to the gel plate when the charcoal is on there, and use gel medium or any acrylic paint to pull the lot at once. 😊. Great fun.

[@ladyamalthea85]

I love working with charcoal, it's one of my favourite mediums. That book looks lovely

[@janemcgrath9615]

A beautiful collection of books,lovely to sit and flick through. Well done you,mid march and your first art haul,I wish I could say I’ve been as good!………I haven’t!😂 Another interesting video,thanks Helen….I MUST NOT check out the paper and paints!!,🤔

[@helencryer]

Haha! Thanks! I've been having a HUGE clearout of older craft materials and lesser used things too, so thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@maggiemae6867]

So nice Helen! Thank you

[@terrilyon6825]

Lovely things! I'll be interested to see what you think of the Oblanco sketchbook - I've looked a few times at those but been nervous to try,lol. Also I'd be interested to see the orange that carmine and yellow will make and how close it is to the convenience orange. They look like really nice paints. And I love that your sketchbook has art in it, lol, I actually think that makes it a bit more special.

[@helencryer]

I'm looking forward to a good mixing session with the Lutea paints soon, and I'll probably try chucking everything at the Oroblanco sketchbook too!

[@hansendesigns]

There are SO many great techniques for gel plates, i was surprised when i was watching process videos. Printing with Charcoal drawings, magazine photos, textures, anything goes.

[@helencryer]

Yes, definitely! I've barely scratched the surface here!

[@ChantelleArts]

What a fantastic haul, I love this ❤❤❤

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Helen, I found this video rather interesting. I have enjoyed watercolor painting since I was 10 years old, taught by my Gran. I never took an “art class “ until college where I was going for an accounting degree. I am a firm believer in learning history of every subject that I am interested in. So my first art class was an Art history class! I then branched out to an acrylic painting class the instructor said would enhance my understanding of paintings and art creation. I have taken classes in a lot of disciplines. I know the “shapers” you got to push your paints are ceramic tools for shaping clay! I was so taken with making everything that I changed my major to art history (I actually taught high school art classes for 1 year beforeI gave it up and became a freelance artist!) I don’t believe that anyone must be educated to create their own art, I do believe that if YOU want to create original art from your own ideas it is good to know what has come before. I remember when I saw an art show when an artist thought they were so original and creating unique artwork, they were just creating paintings from the Hudson River valley impressionist school, sort of it’s been done and by better creators than you! Now you are in no way obligated to create original thought content and re-painting scenes with your viewpoint is a valid purpose just not as unique as you might believe. Pretty watercolor choices, you do have a lovely color sense.

[@helencryer]

This is really interesting - thank you for sharing! I'm planning a trip to the Netherlands and visiting plenty of art galleries there - I'd just like to know more about what I'm actually looking at - I think it will add richness to my experience to be more educated about people/context/techniques/influences etc. I'm not hugely worried about whether my art is unique or not - I just want to enjoy doing it and looking at it!

[@mjpete27]

@@helencryer hullo Helen, Art as therapy is a wonderful thing. I believe that it should never be denied! I have enjoyed creating art for 30+ years and made a living with my artistic endeavors. I encourage any and all to spend time doing something that you enjoy, not everyone must use archival supplies or methods. Just enjoy creating! If your going to sell your art, well now that is something different, right? Right!

[@helencryer]

That's fantastic you've been able to do that! I sell my art in a small way (at monthly craft markets) so I use Lightfast materials etc for that.

[@tutushale]

Great haul! And I am addicted to the gel press. Love how you made your own stamps that is great!!🤙❤

[@helencryer]

It's a great piece of equipment isn't it?!

[@zenlife1200]

Lots of great books ❤ those paints look interesting too. I've never tried jelly printing so look forward to that video

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Lino printing is enormous fun!!

[@mariaalejandracardozo3879]

Loved your color wheel 🎉🎉🎉

[@Samantha_tookey197]

This is so funny, I bought 2 gel plates (oblong and round) last week and the indigo sketchbook today! 😂 loved your video, it’s always nice to see new products and how to use them x

[@helencryer]

That's great! All great stuff!

[@valeriegehling4358]

Like the Drawing for illustration book very much, so many lovely sketches/ pictures etc. I too enjoy drawing, graphite & charcoal I find magnetic. And, since childhood have loved paper & pencils! I guess I enjoy your videos as you like similar things to me so I can relate to it. Also, I‘m having trouble sticking to one particular medium as I like using them all. Last week I did 6 sketches of trees all using different mediums thoroughly enjoyable! So lovely to see how they look together. Thanks for making me feel less „peculiar“ OAP! ( Not acrylics painter! )Hi,hi, like the sketch, in sketchbook, ! It says: „the voices in my head, tell me I must visit Norway“. Wow! Your new hoard of books is enviable! I also love books.

[@helencryer]

I love that you like so many mediums too! Your tree exercise sounds wonderful! Thank you!!

[@moonchaserstudio]

I love how you got someone else’s artwork. Lol they must’ve returned the book. That’s a win for you. I love stuff like that too. Now your sketchbook has an awesome story.

[@helencryer]

It's honestly going to make me smile every time I open that book!!

[@teekierudite5108]

The Lutea paints mixed quite nicely, not sure if I like how hard the yellow was. Charcoal can be a fun media, you can create art by putting charcoal on paper and removing the charcoal from the paper. Just play around with it, go crazy, do anything; though to be fair, my favorite is when you do mix media *hint hint*.

[@helencryer]

Yes, I think they're going to be lovely. I've contacted Jackson's about the yellow, not that they've been particularly helpful yet. Haha! Thanks!

[@sonyaoart]

Lovely haul! The Lutea paints look gorgeous. I've had an Artway Indigo sketchbook last year, and for me the paper took a bit of getting used to. And that's after using Khadi paper for a couple of years. The Artway paper would disintegrate if I did too much wet in wet, so I had to exercise my patience and let things dry. It was fun to work in though, and it's lovely for granulating paints. It'll be interesting to see how you find it.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much for the heads-up on the Artway paper! I'm mainly a wet on dry for watercolour, but still good to know.

[@awatercolourist]

I’d like to try the Catalyst tools as well.

[@JLB0880]

This haul is so interesting! The Lutea paints are so beautiful- I may have to splurge on the carmin one while they’re on sale. Excited to see where your art style goes this year. Edit: I love your art style now it’s just interesting and inspiring to watch artists step outside their norm.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!! I'm excited to have a much better play with the Lutea's soon!

[@FaithAnnNB]

What a lovely collection of new supplies and art books!! You’ve done VERY well to have made it to month 3 before buying art materials! Love the 5 Lutea colours you chose and with the additional mixes, looks like a perfect limited palette!! (Too bad the yellow is so hard, doesn’t seem like it should be that consistency in the tube.)

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I just think I have most of the things I like the look of, so this year I'll still get things, but just don't want as much. I contacted Jackson's today about the yellow, so I'll see what they say.

[@FaithAnnNB]

@@helencryer I’m the same, I really feel like my “collection” of pretty supplies has whatever I want/need and I (surprisingly) haven’t been tempted yet this year. Kind of a nice feeling! Art books (or lovely picture books in general) to use for inspiration for practice are really what I seem to be interested in these days.

[@jessicastrideart]

I love looking at art books, thanks for sharing them here. I love the colour wheel palette that you painted on that gorgeous paper! What brush were you using? x

[@helencryer]

Thanks! The brush is a Princeton Neptune 8.

[@jessicastrideart]

Thanks Helen! x@@helencryer

[@NinaQueena]

Very interesting 🫶

[@beaast4249]

The artwork in your Sketchbook says: „The voices in my head tell me I have to go to Norway“ - just fyi (it‘s German). I also bought the same sketchbook a couple of years ago. I thought it was terrible because it repelled all the water and paint and left strange white speckles. Hope you got a better one from another batch. 😅

[@helencryer]

Thank you! Oh dear! I didn't seem to have that problem when I just did the swatching, but I'll keep an eye out for that!

[@wendycoyne2899]

You really need to get some cold wax medium to add to your oil paint, you can get such wonderful extremes from textures to fine ethereal layers

[@helencryer]

I have some Dorland's wax medium which I use for sealing art sometimes - I wonder if that's the same thing? I didn't know about mixing it with oil paint!

[@wendycoyne2899]

I would check out Jackson’s to see if it would work. I like Gamblin

[@andreabrown8551]

Another wonderful video Helen 🙏🏻. The lutea wc are beautiful and love watching your perfect circle swatches 😍. The artway paper looks good for wc and would be interested how it compares to Khadi. I struggle to find a reasonable priced watercolour journal and have been using Seawhites travel journal which takes a fair amount of water. The Pith Oroblanco I started using for watercolour but added too much water and the paper didn’t handle it, unlike Seawhites which is the same gsm. I now use my big Pith for acrylic abstract and it’s been great for that. I look forward to seeing how you use your Pith. Would you consider doing an up-to-date journal and paper haul at some stage please? Out of all the art supplies I have found the paper the most confusing as watercolour reacts differently and when you are a beginner it’s not practical to use the expensive heavier paper and journals. Look forward to your other videos you mention here. Thank you 🙏🏻 😊

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Yes, I know what you mean about paper - slowly coming more to grips with it. I'd seen Katie Moody say that too about the Pith scrapbook, and so was thinking of using it more for drier mixed media. I might have some fun with my gel plate and acrylic paint in it. I definitely like the Seawhites journal too for watercolour! I'll try and figure out a useful paper video.

[@andreabrown8551]

Thank you 🙏🏻 The pith works well after a layer of gesso and have been well and truly abusing mine with so many layers of acrylic washes, inks, water, in between layers of gesso and the neocolour IIs. The pages are super heavy 😆 Have fun experimenting and look forward to watching your results 🙏🏻😊🙏🏻@@helencryer

[@karenirving7088]

What are those silicon brush things called?

[@helencryer]

Just silicone brushes as far as I know! There's a link to them in the video description box.

[@MultiPassionateCreator]

Nice haul! Maybe they didn’t want the book anymore because they spelled Norwegian wrong! 😂 or maybe I’ve been spelling it wrong all these years. Can’t wait to see more beautiful work in the great sketchbooks

[@helencryer]

Ahaha! That's hilarious!! I think it's written in German isn't it - I haven't a clue about German or Norwegian, so it could have said anything!

[@MultiPassionateCreator]

@@helencryer It is German. That’s how they spell Norway. Fun find!!!

[@awatercolourist]

How do you use the linoprint ink?

[@helencryer]

If you look at 7 mins 50 secs on this video, there's a short snippet showing it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5SohYOrd9aEsLMsi=JdEakfuFg_d1wnag

[@awatercolourist]

Thanks 😃

[@beejayem42]

🐨👍

[@marikothecheetah9342]

Me, whenever I see someone touching the bristles of the brush: all that skin oil that is so hard to remove from the brush... It is an equivalent of a fork scratching on the plate stuff... Why artists do that? The same with paper... 😱

[@helencryer]

I understand if it's a beautiful delicate watercolour that's in store for them, but I have very messy, acrylic-y plans, that a bit of oil won't make much difference to! I'm afraid I just like touching everything!

[@marikothecheetah9342]

@@helencryer Sure, but I have seen people going through bristles every time they touch their brush. Count how many times a regularly painting person touches their brush, clears that brush only with water and then tries to paint it over the amount of months. It really adds up. Those who draw with dry media know it best how easy it is to damage the paper and render it useless just by putting your hand on it. :/

[@awatercolourist]

Good God, Helen! What an ungodly hour to upload a video in 🥱. How slow is your internet? 😂

[@helencryer]

Haha! I'm still not fully recovered from the Covid I had a few weeks ago, and keep falling asleep at stupid times - I woke up from a long nap at 7pm, so was up late!

[@awatercolourist]

I’m so sorry to hear that 😕. I apologise if my previous comment was untoward. I do hope that you fully recover in no time 😊.

[@awatercolourist]

I’m so sorry to hear that 😕. I apologise if my previous comment was untoward. I do hope that you fully recover in no time 😊.

[@helencryer]

No - your comment made me laugh! Thanks!!

[@awatercolourist]

@@helencryer My pleasure!