These are not art supplies. But they’re my best kept secrets (Art supply hacks)

[@barbibarnum]

Professional wedding photographer here… your lantern modifier is wonderful when you have white or light walls and ceilings. If you have an accent wall or bold drapery you are going to get color casts from all that bouncing light. It is a wonderful modifier if you use it with that in mind.

[@WendyColeArt]

Marbles in the bottom of the jars to swish the brushes, bonus fun sound 😁

[@amkarei]

Oooo ... A gal who likes all her senses sated!! I like the idea of the marbles!

[@Bluessongstress1963]

For the 'paper towel' uses, I have become a big fan of using the blue shop towels that you find in the hardware store. They are incredibly absorbent, leave, no pattern, and they last absolutely forever… I even throw some of mine in the wash machine and in the dryer and they come out wonderfully soft and clean and I reuse them over and over and over again. I also love the super absorbent shammy towels that you will find in the automotive aisle at the dollar tree. These are also just so wonderful. 😊

[@UpintheOaks_1]

I used shop towels, too! They are great.

[@otterpoppin]

Much better for the environment too, I'd imagine. Save the trees!

[@skhjs9246]

I picked up a bunch of chopstick holders for brushes, and little sauce dishes for mini mixing palettes from my local Asian grocery. Really inexpensive and very configurable. I cut watercolour paper into bookmark strips for my swatches. Hole punch the top and put them all on a quick release ring, then I just take them off and set up my palette for whatever I’m working on. I work in other mediums as well, so I have a deck for each. Run out of a colour? Stick the swatch in my purse. Lent a tube to my mother-in-law? Set the swatch to the side. Decide I don’t like a paint? Big X through the swatch, but keep it on the ring to remember. Need inspiration? Take the deck to the art store and make sure the colour that is calling to me isn’t already in the deck before I buy. Probably the best thing I ever did to keep from accidental duplicates and refine my palettes to the things that make me happy.

[@recoveringsoul755]

I've seen that. I think someone even punched a hole in each swatch so they could hold it over a sample to see if they can match a color

[@briannab5296]

I'd enjoy seeing a video of this.

[@amkarei]

@@recoveringsoul755 I used a Yin-Yang stamp to swatch my card crafting inks (it gives me input as to whether the ink stays crisp on the thin line, or bleeds, on my chosen cardstock) and put a hole through the "not white side" of the stamp to lay over other color choices to see if they're compatible.

[@recoveringsoul755]

@@amkarei oh good idea

[@heathereileenoquin]

nicely written

[@neecywatson8250]

I paint with acrylic, I use a plastic ice tray as a palette. The squares are perfect for mixing my paint and mixed colors stay separate!

[@AmazinGraceXOXO1]

Ohhh I'm going to have to try that!!! Great idea!

[@AvalonDreamz]

oooh, if you use the silicone ones you can get the added benefit of peeling the paint out too if you let it dry in there! I am a weirdo who loves to do that with my acrylic.😂

[@cats333tube]

I do the same!

[@joysart0881]

Hand sanitizer and an old comb are great for cleaning up brushes that have become hardened with acrylic paint.

[@ladymuck2]

I keep the ice cube tray in a Tupperware box on a damp paper towel and the paint stays wet

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter]

Here's another tip. Maxipad with sticky back. Stick that to your surface right by the paints and it won't go anywhere and will remain absorbent for a long. lonnnnng while.

[@cathyquilts2609]

Suggest: improve the brush rest idea by wrapping a rubber band, yarn or tape around one end. This way, the brush’s ferrule remains nestled in the groove at the free end with a slight downward incline to keep liquids from backing up into the bristles. This will also prevent the painted handles from sitting in a moist groove for extended periods of time. Alternatively, place a couple thin items under one end to create the same brush incline while maintaining full nestle-power and better drainage of the grooves such as a folded towel, loose coins, loose rubber bands, etc. under one edge. Great video!

[@amkarei]

I like your "rubber band around one end" idea! Besides lifting the handles out of the wet groove, this would also add some tilt to the whole tray which might help drain the grooves as well. 😉👍

[@grynormann1438]

My thoughts also 👍🏼

[@nancyloomis3046]

The thrift store is a great place for very affordable white ceramic dishes of all types, divided or not. And deviled egg dishes make great palettes if you want a lot of separate wells.

[@pb4life597]

Genius

[@DanaJoTucker]

Was just coming here to gush about the deviled egg ceramic dish I found at goodwill. The center had a rooster shaped lid that I put my clean water in!

[@carlaeskelsen]

​@@DanaJoTuckerThose are my favorite!!!

[@amkarei]

@@DanaJoTucker Was the center reservoir to keep the eggs from drying out??? (Even my great-grandmother's deviled egg plate didn't have a center reservoir. So curious!!)

[@amkarei]

Since so many took "the opportunity" during covid to purge & clean, the THRIFT STORES had been a GREAT SOURCE of all things crafty!! I picked up 3 or 4 decorative-edging scissors from a Desseret Thrift Store in Tucson in the latter half of 2022. Even though the "heyday" seems to have come & gone, some treasures have sifted to the bottom and are still awaiting my eager hands! What better purpose for Christmas or Hanukkah money ?!? 👍 Be well, All!!

[@erint2419]

I have been "binging" your video's today and taking notes. I promised myself that this late fall and winter (on the grey East Coast) I would fill my mental "pantry" of hobbies to get through it. I have been afraid to go for it with watercolor, I've been watching videos and got all excited, bought the supplies and then felt intimidated. So, instead they sat in my desk, and I've moped through the winter until I could start with my garden (just another canvas, but with living plants). I found your videos and I could have cried with relief. You gave me not just permission but inspiration. I have gotten more from your video's today than you will ever know! You make me laugh, you make me feel comfortable and you have given me tricks, and hacks, and all I can say is that I have felt like I can see it in my head what I want to create, but felt like I was on mute, and had no chance of communicating what it is. From head to paper was like staring and a blank page in a word document with a cursor flashing. Thank you. Thank you for your help, the way you deliver it, the fun you put into it, the freedom and the inspiration. You have enormous talent, and you are sharing it, I hope you have incredible success in your KZbin channel and in all your endeavors, you have given such a gift to me. Thank you.

[@AdriaStaley]

I took inspiration a while back seeing your dishes and started looking around my cabinets and found an old 1960s Franciscan Ware covered butter dish. Its WONDERFUL because you can have the paints in the flat dish part and the cover is perfect for holding water. Also after a painting session the cover helps keep the paints in the dish from getting dusty or full of animal hair etc between sessions.

[@PKEDRM]

Great advice! I just turned 70 on 10/2 and have been retired since the summer of 2012. I began sewing in my junior high years and greeting card crafting 5 or 6 years before retiring so those creative hobbies continued into my senior years. Within the last year my love of treadle sewing machines was rekindled as I wanted to get one as much like my first sewing machine in the 1960s. Now I am buying machines that need a lot of TLC and bringing them back to life! I love getting grease and oil under my nails (I rarely wear rubber gloves) and squeals with infantile delight when I reassembled a tension unit or other parts of the machines AND it produces a beautiful stitch. My tool collection is growing and my husband is my greatest cheerleader. I enjoy my creative pursuits and they really help with managing the chronic pain I live with. My biggest problem is that I need to part with some of my sewing machines because they are squeezing out of my 2 craft rooms. I will never be bored as a retired senior as long as I have my creative hobbies. I just hope that I can keep doing the things I love all the way to the end.❤

[@myrahunter131]

Me too! But not the repairing part, I guess that’s next, since I’m about to buy my second vintage singer, and I have my grandmothers!

[@denkerdunsmuir3370]

Do you have any recommendations for where to buy a current, reasonably priced Singer-type sewing machine table with space to work? Thx for your help.

[@shelleythompson-brock6412]

Edit: I just noticed that we share the same birthday. Let us know when you're ready to part with them. I'm sure you'll have plenty of interested parties. I have 3 small sewing machines, and can't get any of them to work. That's what I get for 'cheaping out', due to lack of space. I just need to dedicate space.

[@GillianJustice]

❤ What a beautiful thing to discover new creative pursuits!

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter]

​@denkerdunsmuir3370 there's often old singer sewing machines left in the abandoned houses I see in those URBEX videos ('Urban Exploring' ) SO, ("sew"!) with *_that_* in mind, check estate sales & even garage sales, sales of old, unrefinished houses with still 1970's and 1980s interior & even follow obits in the area. *_Especially_* now that boomers & silent Era generations are passing away. There's gonna be a huge influx in vintage to mid century Singer sewing machines in the wooden/iron treadle machine- encasement.

[@Nottherebutthere]

The minute something is labeled as an art supply, the price is marked up 300 percent.

[@deborahbeatty]

Viva makes a paper towel that has no patterns. Also, for wiping up messes and for wiping your brushes off, I use a microfiber towel. Lastly, if you have an acrylic buildup and your favorite brush is all funky and crusty, soak it in Murphys Oil Soap overnight. Next morning, all the gunk comes right out. (This was a tip for brayers but it works on brushes, too, since you can also use Murphys as shampoo.)

[@notesfromleisa-land]

Viva towels are the best for any application.

[@chrystenethomas175]

Shop towels work great as well.

[@CnithTheOnliestOne]

the easier option, if you're in a rush is to use acetone. Not the nail polish remover with acetone stuff, the actual acetone. You can get it at sally's beauty or box hardware stores, doesn't matter as long as it's 100% acetone. I made a video demonstrating this but basically you want to dip the brush, let it sit for a few secs or swish it around and wipe. The acetone should be poured into a container because you won't need much. Acetone melts plastic so it cleans acrylic paints fast. Even crusty old, dried up paint on a brush that your kid forgot in kindergarden and is now a 6th grader. Acetone evaporates so whatever you don't need will come right off. That's why you don't want to leave the bottle open. Do be careful not to leave the brush in the acetone too much (as in, don't soak it and go) because it will melt the glue holding the bristles or if you leave it deeper, the handle plastic (if any.)

[@deborahbeatty]

Murphy's Oil Soap also works with crusted dried acrylics. @@CnithTheOnliestOne

[@PolarBearChicky]

I use microfiber cloths too. I like that I can wash them so there's less waste.

[@suel4269]

The Dollar tree has the foam sponges. I use a pool noodle to dry brushes upside down. I cut a one foot section and cut slits almost halfway through and attach it to a cookbook stand.

[@kimatlastlooks2915]

I use the pool noodle too! I love it!

[@debramoss2267]

Genius! Love this, off to the pool! Thank you

[@PamOrl]

If you slice the noodle lengthwise, you can attach it to the side of a table or desk.

[@ediejankura9258]

I took a watercolor class where the teacher recommended a roll of toilet paper with string tied atoud it and fit into a wipe box to get escedd wster ofg out brushes or dry if necessery. Wirks like a charm and lasts a life time.

[@carloshaun7297]

Can you please explain what a cookbook rack is?

[@MoonSpinners]

Fantastic video, I love that you mentioned jam jars because I’ve been using them for 20 odd years because of my cat wanting to drink the dirty paint water 😂

[@juliebrunner3239]

I purchased a set of white plastic party plates and a fine point sharpie. I use different plates for my favorite fall mixes, holiday, etc. I use the sharpie to write which colors are used in the mixes. When dry, the plates stack one on top of the other and then when the season rolls around again, I just rewet and reuse. I just hate throwing professional quality paint down the drain! :)

[@pamelaburke9250]

Great idea!

[@ChapmanGriffith]

Thanks for sharing your great idea with us. Not only is this cost effective but for me it’s a space saver well.

[@amkarei]

The paints LAST -- ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT -- with ONLY the next plastic plate to keep them from totally "dying"???

[@Leigh-says-stuff]

@@amkareiIt will absolutely work for watercolor paint. Not so much for acrylic.

[@After40Art]

Love these. Use many of these myself. I actually buy a pack of napkins that feel like cloth but they aren't. One last like a month sometimes more. Daylight lamps are amazing, mine has a magnifying glass in it. I have an old pot that I fill with an old dirt mixture, I use that to dispose of my water, it dries out leaving the pigment behind. I add more dirt as needed and when it's full I take it to the toxic substance disposal. 😊

[@polgara28]

Excellent idea!

[@shellyparker8960]

Wow, the pot idea filled with dirt is a great one!

[@After40Art]

@@shellyparker8960 yeah I have been doing it for yrs this way. It's works great cause my daughter also paints, acrylics. She uses a pot too so no paint on the drains etc. 😁

[@kraznia]

Thanks for the dirt idea! I love the simplicity.

[@izrj2689]

Great idea. Will definitely try this.

[@julielondon4759]

Margot, you are an angel!!! I have been despondent over rectifying lighting related difficulties. Cannot thank you enough for sharing your solution. Will be saving up for an end of year purchases as recommended. Your other recommendations will also help me out, big time. Your attention to detail from every angle on this video is so appreciated. Thank you for making time in your busy schedule to create such helpful, fun, and beautifully designed videos.❤️

[@MrWhelts]

Watercolour artists pallets always seem to be stupidly expensive. So what I did was go to a cheap kitchen utensil shop and bought a white plastic tea tray. Onto the tray I stuck some tablet (pill) holders (they are normally labelled with the days of the week, for us elderly people) these holders normally have lids so they are great for keeping the paints damp. You can now have compartments for as many colours as you need and a large area for mixing. (I sectioned my tray to separate different colour mixes.) My pallet cost less that $6.5 (€6 or 5 pounds).

[@PolarBearChicky]

I bought some cheap flat gift boxes. They have slightly plasticey outsides. Because their corners are perfectly square, the paint pans fit in them perfectly. I just use Blu Tack to keep them in place. That way I can switch them around whenever I want. And it comes with a lid and is light so it's easy to carry around.

[@lmac_z]

I allow pigments to settle in my glass jars and then use coffee filters when pouring off the water that sits on top, to catch any pigment particle stragglers. Then as you do, pick up the mass at the bottom with paper towel. So ya, paper coffee filters. 😊

[@AmazinGraceXOXO1]

That's a great idea!!!

[@SuziSellsSound]

LOVE this! Thank you!

[@Nathalieroy2624]

i used to do nail art… omg so much nail art tools can be used with watercolours… stylus, nail polish, trays, samplers, brushes, powders, silicone brushes, makeup sponges, dotters…. Masking fluid…

[@SusanBrewer-zp8bj]

Never thought of this. What a great idea!!!

[@plant-a-holic]

BEST paper towels for painting and art projects…VIVA paper towels, no lint, no texture, perfect weight etcetc!

[@ToucanTorte]

I thought this is what she was going to say. Cake decorators are known to use them too for smoothing

[@grandmasparkles58]

I love the VIVA towels in my studio space. Last summer I was working on a project for the USFS and was supplied with a roll of blue shop towels that worked as well as the VIVA. I plan to make a trip to the hardware store to price them out.

[@barrybegley5379]

It is definitely the "Artist" in You that allows your very active imagination to see alternative and unintended uses for objects that have been manufactured for other purposes. Perhaps that is why being artistic in nature is never dull or boring but rather a treasure trove of Life experiences. Thank You so much for sharing some of your fantastic ideas. Greetings from Ontario, Canada.

[@50andCountingcom]

Yours is my favorite watercolor channel, for many reasons. Today’s video is a great example with great tips, fun personality, and good information (especially on lighting). I, too, found covered jars my go-to water containers but was disappointed by lids that often rusted. Problem solved when I discovered plastic canning jar lids; canning jars are a great size and the screw on lids don’t rust. The lids also prevent evaporation. Anyway, thanks so much for keeping your channel when it would have been more convenient, with the many demands of your life, to drop it. Many blessings to you and your family!

[@yart123]

Wow, thank you for all these wonderful tips! I used to feel that I was kind of weird for trying to repurpose many objects, and hating letting good things go to waste. I feel empowered now. 😂

[@annamarielewis7078]

Recycle reuse. The way of the future for smart people.

[@cynthiacooke9785]

@@annamarielewis7078I use disposable diapers for paint cloth great for water-colours/ I actually use a single depends/ cut away all sides and just use Center one lasts for ages great for wiping a brush as I paint always one by my hand

[@jantaylor4282]

I also try to find uses for common household or recycle items. Glad to hear someone else does this also. My children think I am crazy I think.

[@olgat.155]

I am exactly like you. I try to get creative with old stuff and reuse them and not waste a single thing. Great video.

[@lisaharner3720]

Loved your chatty non-art items. Especially the lamp, hole punch and soap dish. I’m on the lookout for them. My hack is to use a vinyl table cloth with felt backing to cover my wooden table when working or when friends come to paint. Saves worrying about marring my lovely new table! 36”x24” silicone mats from Amazon work too. Thanks for your ideas! ❤

[@debbrantstevens8826]

A fellow artist in our local group takes rolled silicone sheet with her. Limits slip unlike some vinyl sheets and easy to wipe.

[@amkarei]

@@debbrantstevens8826 Cheapskate here! I'm a papercrafter with only my kitchen peninsula to craft on, so I use a large piece of Reynold's Freezer Paper, which is plastic-coated on one side. It eliminates slipping, can be used for ink blending, catches most of the tiny shards from die cuts so they're not all over the floor, and, if I HAVE to clean up fast, I can wad it up and toss it in the trash. However, the one I'm currently using, has been quite serviceable for the last 10 months. The only problem I have with it is when I attempt to layer a piece of cardstock onto a WHITE card base. As the two are basically the same shade, I can't make out where the edge of the card is (Dry Eye Syndrome has diminished my fine vision skill) !!!

[@63artemisia63]

@lisaharner3720 You may want to rethink encouraging people to buy from Amazon. The corporation has a reputation for abusing warehouse employees by forcing them to work too fast, so Prime members get their purchases in two days, which means employees end up with injuries and, because Amazon’s time-off to heal is far from generous, they have to work injuried. Also, Amazon’s enormous fleets of trucks contribute more than their share to the climate crisis. So do their millions of annual tons of orders packed in plastic packaging that can’t be recycled. There’s more. But in short, the money we save with their low prices has a high human cost.

[@lorrie6736]

Love the video and your sense of humor! I actually bought the brush holder when you mentioned it in a past video. I like the restaurant napkin idea. The paper towel roll takes up a lot of room on my small painting space.I’m going to watch your previous video to get more ideas. Thank you for helping us find new ways to make our craft easier❤

[@Pointebrush]

Aww thank you so much and I'm sog happy to hear the video was helpful 😘

[@PaulaScardamalia]

Another super duper winner. You've definitely earned your sushi! I, too, use jam jars even though I have no pets or small kids. It's nice to have a lidded jar of water waiting for me when I am ready to paint. I also use mechanics/shop towels for dabbing my brush on (and use tissues for dabbing my painting for clouds and such). The shop towels are so absorbent and last forever. And the ever popular cut up credit card for mark making.

[@amkarei]

When you reference the mechanics / shop towels, are you referring to the blue ones on a roll? "Disposable" ones? I've used that kind for a couple of decades to clean with. Especially helpful to clean mirrors A F T E R THEIR F I R S T WASHING! I very much like that they are "colored" (not just white, like paper towels) as they actually show me that I've got that last dribble if I drop an ice cube!

[@PaulaScardamalia]

@@amkarei Actually, the ones I have are not from a roll but were stacked in a box. Since a friend of hubby's gave them to me to use for watercolor, I've never tried using them for cleaning...just the watercolor. :)

[@alisonkate2677]

@@amkarei I use the blue ones both in my art room and to clean the filthy glass on our fireplace insert window over and over and over. Store branded ones or Scott shop towels.

[@catzenhouse]

I have also found that a white Corelle plate or platter works well (for me) as a palette in a pinch. I used a Melmac plate covered after class with saran wrap when I was in college ages and ages ago and survived. Money was tight, tight, tight. Still have those brushes, too. Since I taught elem. art for decades, I prepped and saved lots of materials of all sorts, including paper towels that worked which I purchased myself as the brown garbage provided at schools were awful, great for smearing, totally non-absorbent. So when I retired, I kept the big box of pre-ripped to size paper towels. (All of my art teacher friends and my successor got loads of free art supplies and resources from me when I did leave. Christmas in July! We got diddly squat to teach art every year. Teaching 650 kids art each week? Great, here's $100 for the year. Or $0.00 for the year.) I put a supply of them in a big Kleenex box whose purple and gold decorations I loved. If not heavily tainted with paint, I let them dry and reuse them for wiping my brush to control the amount of water in the brush. I've been using two old fashions-sized Kahlua-brand etched glasses for my water as they are heavy-based, very non-tippy, plus I don't drink from them (no one does). But I like your lidded idea. And the palette cleanup idea. Bonne Maman, it is!, as I have an v. adventuresome 16-mo. old Russian Blue who was Curious George in another life. She has already walked through some of my wet pans as it is... ("I help, Mommy!") I must confess I love my ceramic cats that are brush holders - I couldn't resist those! Thank you for all the tips. Great ideas!!

[@lzal9204]

I use jars too-reuse and recycle. I take old towels and cut them up and use them to dry off my brushes. I received a rectangular plate for Christmas one year, it’s what I use for mixing. I also like using Murphy’s Oil Soap for brushes. Love the last one! I’ll have to try that.

[@monkeygirl4987]

Hah...thats great. TY I find yogurt lids incredibly useful for water colour and gauche. They are like little mini palettes of small colour range that can be used interchangeably depending on what I am doing.... green and grey, bluey purple range etc. Cheap, flat, white ...oh and I also find that leftover cotton socks are great for their absorption efficiency.

[@amkarei]

W H E R E do you live that your yogurt still comes with L I D S !?!? Long ago, when the individual yogurt servings came with lids, they never had a chance to reach the Plastic Sargasso Sea out in the Pacific!! I kept several for leftover sauces, etc., and I curse myself for not having kept EVERY ONE!!

[@PolarBearChicky]

I bought some ice cream container lids (we have a plastics shop that sells them new and individually). They're great for mixing colours. I just roughed them up a little with a scrubber so that the paint sticks a bit better.

[@Blick_Art]

Castile soap is a great suggestion for routine washing, especially if you aren't using oil paints and mediums! And, we don't think its a splurge if it preserves your valuable brushes- they're worth it, and so are you! (There's always Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver if you have an intensive care brush situation.) Margot, this channel always has the best pro tips from a knowledgeable source!

[@Pointebrush]

Thank you so much! I love my master’s brush cleaner puck (though I save it for my natural brushes)

[@kraznia]

Castile soap is great at removing oils (bar or liquid). I have very dry skin, so I'm doubly sure to moisturize my skin afterwards. Dawn dish soap and Simple Green are also great at removing stubborn oils but... they are not soaps. Simple Green cleans up theatrical makeup better than anything else I've tried. Dawn is a detergent, not a soap, and much harsher. Dawn and Simple Green are best left for cleaning up work spaces. I wouldn't use them on brushes.

[@amkarei]

@@kraznia T H A N K Y O U for the wonderful mini tutorial!!! I took a screen shot to print out your information to add to my "tool case". Again, many thx!!

[@juliettelynne5861]

Here's one for you: I take one of those pink spongey hair rollers, pop the plastic clamper sides off. Then, I take rubber bands and cut them so they're no longer a loop. I stuff them into the hole of the spongey roller with about 3/4 of an inch sticking out. I use it especially when doing grass fields, foliage or anywhere I want texture. Works fantastic!

[@donnahoward3694]

Excellent video! I am enjoying watching and listening to you! You are a delight! And I am a retired art teacher, retired mental health vocational supervisor running a ceramic shop. I learned some helpful hints here. Thank you.

[@nanschifris8734]

Great video! I’m a big fan of repurposing anything I can so I love hearing how other people do that, too. The textured paper towels: long been a struggle. I discovered WypAll folded paper towels several years ago & they’re fabulous.

[@patriciastikeleather5689]

Thank you for all the great tips. I'm going shopping now! I use white Corelle dishes because I have had a set for ages. Single pieces are available to buy, so you don't have to buy a whole set.

[@kimatlastlooks2915]

Thanks for all the ideas. I love those Bonne Maman jelly jars. I use those all the time. I love their Wild Blueberry Preserves. For your paper punch idea, you can affix magnets to the back & set them in the lid of any metallic palettes. For my non art supply art supply item, I use a pool noodle from Dollar Tree to hold my brushes while they dry. Cut to the length you need, then cut slices or wedges (for larger brushes) cut another slide length wise to attach it. Mine sits on the side of my cart. Side note: I happened to be on Amazon while your video was playing looking for something unrelated to art or art supplies & in the recommended for you section was the soap tray! You hadn't even mentioned it yet! 🤣 So freaky. Edit: I switched to super soft microfiber cleaning cloths. Originally bought them for dusting & cleaning, but then discovered I absolutely love them for painting. They're very absorbent and take lots of abuse. Best of all, they wash up brilliantly, just toss them into the washer or hand wash. Haven't used them to lift off color, but for everything else they're fabulous.

[@maryarzate1725]

Brilliant idea to fix the swatch squares to magnets.

[@louiseschultz2064]

Brilliant! Another hack is a silverware or utensils tray for a variety of supplies. Thank you for all your suggestions and fun videos.

[@melissafuhriman1860]

I really love finding out what other people have come up with! My own recent "hack" is medicine cups: the kind that come with cough medicines. I have been using a small square plastic container for water, but I got tired of getting up to get new clean water. I pulled medicine cups out of the drawer, fit them in the container, and voila! now I have 4 separate water containers, as well as water all around them that I keep clear. I can't wait to try some of these other ideas, especially for paints!

[@Shiroisake]

Margot! You've just told us about something I've been so frustrated about! The paint brush holder (forever shall it be known as such, not a soap dish tisk tisk) is exactly what I've been looking for! Bless you and thank you for another excellent video.

[@cathyquilts2609]

See my suggestion to wrap a rubber band around one end or prop up the end with a few flat items. The heavy marble soil remain stable and the ferrules will appreciate the extra drainage

[@Justathimbleful]

A similarly designed "brush holder" is a grooved olive wood hot dish trivet! Found at Target 🎯 Also have a large, white milk glass, deviled egg plate (with 12 individual concave indentations) that I use as a pallet! Picked up several at Goodwill charity shop.

[@amberdreams_0]

I got some of those trinket trays to use as palettes because they are slimline and I can slip one into my travel bag set up without it weighing too much or taking up lots of space. So many useful hacks around!

[@pamelaburke9250]

Love this video! Ordered the brush holder! Coming from acrylic paint background, I love the cloth-like feel & no pattern of Viva paper towels. I feel that it’s also gentle on my brushes. I use a water/brush container that has a divider for clean and dirty water from my acrylic days. Thanks for all the cool tips!

[@DjCapnWolf]

Bless the YT algorithm for suggesting your videos to me. Thank you for sharing all this with us. I'm just getting started with watercolors, and on a very, very restricted budget. Plus art supplies in my country are anywhere between 30% and 300% more expensive than in the US. The baby shampoo idea alone will be a game changer for me. Can't wait to watch more of your videos and to learn more from you. Oh, and your art is stunning, by the way! Love it!

[@50andCountingcom]

Margo, the soap dish has been a favorite of mine since I saw your earlier suggestion. It has a nice weight, perfect size, and doesn’t require a lot of room on my workspace. My desk is a drawing table, so has a slight angle and my brushes, being round handled, would roll. No more! And I do keep the bristle end of my brushes pointed downward to prevent the water from leaching where it does not belong. Thanks for the great tips, and frequent smiles! You are my favorite watercolor tutorials!

[@spearageddon3279]

Great tips, thank you! I love that soap dish and plan to get one stat. 😊 I regularly pop into my local Goodwill and Meals on Wheels stores where I get pretty much all of my dishes, water cups, etc for painting at usually $0.50 to $1.00 ... can't beat that.

[@amkarei]

Gone are the days, in Tucson, AZ, that you can buy A N Y T H I N G in our "Thrift Stores" for $0.50 or a $1.00 !!! Even an oversized pill container, SAME ONE that costs $1.25 at $🌳 NEW, one of the Goodwills had for $ 2 . 9 9 !!!

[@SuperManning11]

I’m sure thousands of people have told you this, but you have such an amazingly beautiful and precise way of speaking! It is pure joy to listen to. I have great respect for your command of the English language, which you use to somehow completely overcome any regional accent you might have been raised with, as well as all traces of any kind of lazy slang speech, even when you are speaking in very informal English. Truly remarkable! Very few people are capable of such a feat, or if they are capable of such precise speech, they simply do not take the time needed to develop it to a level of complete fluency as you have. If I were teaching English as a second language I would tell my students to listen to, and try to copy your exact speech patterns. Purely out of curiosity, what part of the country were you raised in? Do you speak any languages other than English? Thank you for letting me go on about this; for some reason I pay attention to these things, and it is a pleasure to listen to someone speaking from the very pinnacle of the English language.

[@aaab469]

My favourite hack is the brush holder. I'll be on the look out for a similar one ✌

[@ehart2422]

I use the blue paper towels in the auto section. Very absorbent, thick, soft yet tough, can be rinsed out and used over, last a long time. I also use pool noodles to protect the edges of my frames, especially when moving paintings to a show.They pop right on and stay secure, though I sometimes put string around for extra security.

[@Samreadsbooks9]

I like the blue shop towels from the hardware store. Theyre soft and cloth like. And they come in pretty big rolls and last a while.

[@oldladyfarmer7211]

Oh, Margot, this is one of my favorite videos that you've done. I laughed and felt like I was visiting with a friend! Thank you for your joyful manner and easy going attitude while sharing your family, your work & your home. God bless you! :) You make my day!

[@shellyparker8960]

This is the best video ever! I especially love the square punch and soap holder ideas. Literally right before I watched this video, I set my desk up to swatch some of my paints tomorrow and thought to myself how I would allow for adding colors. Your idea is brilliant! Thank you!!!

[@marthasipe9148]

Margot, YOU are an inspiration! I took a little time before coming to comment to peruse a few videos, shorts, and the website. It would be easy and very likely most redundant to list all the ways you inspire. So I thought for a bit....and what came to me is BEAUTY! You absolutely oooze Beauty....in your person, your space, your painting, your energy. And next would be JOY! Living, breathing JOY. I had forgotten both. A big thanks for the reminder how much life changes when these are our purpose and expression. P.S. I see a post from a day ago, which means the video titled 'I can't do this anymore' from a bit ago didn't mean the channel was ending. Phew! So glad.

[@cats333tube]

I use puppy pads on my surfaces to protect against spills and blot or dry brushes. They’re really helpful if I’m not painting at my table. Or I’m painting with someone even messier than I am. They also dry pretty well if they aren’t soaked and can be used several times. I’ve slipped pieces behind the page of a book I’m painting to keep the other pages from getting wet.

[@chrystenethomas175]

Puppy pads are the best.

[@caroler4297]

They have human pads for in beds, called Chux,

[@karehhartig7287]

Margot you are a treasure of the immeasurable kind. I'm so glad to connect with you. Yay spring ! New paths.

[@TheClutterLady]

The jar with a lid is my favorite tip! Love the white ceramic plates, too.

[@susannerauch8237]

I'm glad I happened upon your video. I use mostly oil paints, BUT your last tip here interested me very much. The same issue with substances finding their way into the ferrules of oil paintbrushes is also a problem. Good oil brushes can be extremely expensive, and not caring for them can cause brush "heartache" fairly quickly. Splayed brush hairs pretty much kills a good brush. Laying them flat on my workspace has helped, but as you might imagine, they have a tendency to roll away or even pick up spilled substances if I'm not very careful....Short and to the point: I'm eager to try the soap holder idea! Thank you!

[@Pointebrush]

Hi! Glad it helped you! Good brushes are a fortune so anything to extend their life right? Another little bonus tip I forgot to mention in the video, if you want to create a decline so the brushes tilt downwards (even better than drying flat), you can just roll up a piece of paper and wedge it on one side of the brushholder so it tilts the ferrules downward :)

[@susannerauch8237]

@@Pointebrush Thanks for the extra tip. You’re right about creating an incline. I used to wrap little rubber bands around the ends of the handles and hang them upside down, but it was SUCH a pain I gave it up. Your method sounds much, much better and easier/quicker. Lastly, you’re right. No matter what medium you use, if you use good brushes, it gets expensive, so taking care of them and keeping them in good shape is important!

[@evapmama-blue77]

I asked a local pottery store to make a brush holder similar to what you have and I asked her to make it at an incline up in back - I’ve seen similar products to what you described- I just love to support local small shops - I also wanted something to keep my many brushes ( I firmly believe purchasing brushes is a hobby in itself 😊) dust free when I dedicate my time more on water color and or Acrylic painting - I bought a box of toe dividers-what ladies use when toe nails - inexpensive- then glued two or more on a firm piece of cardboard- some ribbon flaps on the side for easy retrieval- sturdy end pieces for stacking one or two rows in one of those pretty storage boxes from Marshall’s - I like it much better then when all my brushes where standing around like sad bouquets in jars 🤷‍♀️👩‍🎨- thank you for sharing about the rectangle trays etc- I’m always on the lookout at stores what I could ‘repurpose’

[@Diane_McDon]

Great idea; I’ve been keeping mine while waiting for an idea like this to repurpose 😊

[@pumpkinspice1456]

What a cool Idea to use the toe dividers! Thanks for sharing ❤.

[@margs5758]

I'm just starting water colours and loving these ideas. Could you post a photo of how you use the toe separators please.

[@KimberlyPiasecki]

I just found you by accident, which makes me very happy because I absolutely love all recommendations and you are so funny! Mom of 4 + my fur Babies …I 100% get the jiggling and messed up sleep so excited I came across. Thank you so much for doing these videos I subscribed.!

[@LydiaCuff]

I enjoy having extra texture at the bottom of my water jars to help rinse paint out of the brush bristles. Cheap dollar store soap savers have bumps similar to the pricier Paint Pucks and are pretty easy to trim to fit the jar using a pair of sturdy scissors

[@christineykim]

Thanks for sharing all the tips! I’ve been wondering about that brush holder for a while now and couldn’t find it. One non-painting item I use every day is a pottery sponge that I had lying around. It wipes off my ceramic palettes SO much easier when rinsing them in the sink. I’ll have to wait to get that lighting, but that’s such a brilliant find! Thank you!

[@Cre-Art]

I am SO glad I caught this video. I've been in desperate need of good lighting since I only have a little space in a dining room to work. I have a glaring overhead chandelier, and a clip on lamp with a daylight bulb. Half the time I can't see the colors, and half the time I'm battling glare. I've looked at so many things about lighting (all expensive, of course) but none of them seemed quite right. This one looks amazing. FYI: the Aputure Softbox Soft Light Modifier Lantern, aka the Dome :), is currently unavailable and they don't know if it will be back in stock. Although there are some similar options, if they work with the same light. Anyway, this is now on my wish list and I'm very grateful that you included lighting in this video. You're awesome. Thank you.

[@SavvyBrandBuilderChristaSmith3]

Foam brushes are my go-to for soooo many projects. Love them! They can be cut into different shapes as well as come in different shapes too

[@pennywheeler2598]

This was so entertaining. Plus the tutorial was filled with so many helpful ideas. My favorite was the square puncher idea.💕🖌x

[@sonjadonovan2016]

And that brush holder...I had been raking the internet for one. Wrong search word😂.

[@Pointebrush]

Right? Who knew that "soap dish" was the way to go 😉

[@amkarei]

And I thought the ADDED COMMENT of USING MAGNETS on the backs of the swatching squares to attach them to the paint pans was a good one!

[@kraznia]

My favorite paper towels are Viva. I buy the "choose-a-size" variety and then cut the sheets in half to get approx six inch squares. They hold up great to a lot of water and are quite smooth compared to other brands. I've even wrapped them around a sponge as a blotter. My current desk top blotter is a Viva wrapped sponge sitting on top of a self draining soap saver. My travel blotter is a section of sponge cloth under a hand sewn sachet of water beads (like you use in flower arranging) on top covered with some Viva paper towel. I used tulle fine enough to hold the beads when they are completely dry, doubled the layer to be sure, sewed the sachet packet with cotton fabric. The whole packet stores in a metal gift card tin for travel. The tin doesn't seal moisture tight, so even if I don't open it to dry later, it will still dry out. Thanks for the recommendation on the brush holder. I love it!

[@pamelaburke9250]

I love the cloth-like feel of Viva too!

[@SuziSellsSound]

water bead sachet !!! 👍🌟

[@Skirliegirl]

Yes! I cover my desk with a puppy pad....it works so well at keeping things clean as it soaks up any spills or puddles but I can also dab my brush on it to take off any excess water or paint.

[@Tugboat-R-Us]

Okay you worried me when you said the Supermarket 😂 the baby shampoo makes total sense to me. I grew up with a father who painted homes and I used to work beside him. I used to always wonder how he got his caulking that you use to seal windows etc., how he got it so smooth and professional looking. He used to take soapy water with dawn dish soap and dip his finger in it then smooth out the caulking with his soapy finger 😂 but it always made it look so professional. Now that I paint watercolor, acrylic and oils, I find myself thinking about the little techniques that my father taught me when I was young

[@sherrirowan5049]

I made my own brush holder trays from air dry clay and sprayed it with clear sealer Made it with one side thicker the the other to allow any moister to drain away from the feral.

[@MsMishkyn]

Fascinating and extraordinarily helpful in so many ways. I will undoubtedly use every one of your tips and tricks. Thank you.

[@TeachArt240]

Some great ideas. Thank you. I have a few hacks myself. I do drawing, painting, & all kinds of crafts. 1. Light: I often use the headlamp I use for walking after dark. I can turn the light to slant down directly onto what I am working on. Attached to my drafting table, I have a light on a long bendable arm that swivels in any direction. It has a fluorescent ring with a round magnifying glass in the middle. I use it to work on tiny details, catch small flaws, or read tiny instructions on products. Years ago I rented an apartment above my landlady's art studio which had fluorescent light fixtures on the ceilings that each held 2 tubes. Tubes come in warm (slightly pinkish) and cool (slightly bluish.) She added one of each to each fixture which created a fairly neutral light. As part of my rental agreement, I could use her studio space as long as she wasn't using it or teaching painting classes. I was there mostly at night, so I appreciated those lights. 2. Keep round things from rolling: When I glue things onto curved sides of a cylinder (for example), I rest the item on its side in a corn cob holder dish (covered in plastic wrap so it doesn't get paint or glue on it.) I leave it to dry while I work on something else, then turn the item slightly to continue working on it. 3. For holding things together on (mostly) round surfaces: I cut several pieces of wide elastic & added a safety pin. I stretch it around anything to hold it in place & attach the pin where I need it based on the size of strap I need. I found similar items at Temu. Elastic straps with button holes about an inch apart & buttons. They are each about 10 in long & stretch to about 15, but you can attach 2 or more together for larger items or move the buttons to wrap them around small items. They come in sets of 10 or 20 (I ordered 20.) 4. Binder clips come in handy as small clamps when gluing, to hold the rolled ends of tubes of paint or glue, or to hold a bag of small items closed, etc. 5. Drying items: I found plastic clothes clips at Temu that have a hook at the top & a clothespin clip that swivels. I have a clothesline across one end of my studio & grab a clip to hang things to dry, a rag, paper towel, a painting (not dripping wet), or brushes to get them off my work surface until dry. My studio is in the basement with open rafters. I'm considering hanging straps below rafters to place stretched canvases or paper items laid on pieces of cardboard to dry flat. Mesh bags made to hold lingerie in a washing machine are fairly inexpensive & might work for napkins to dry. (I use them for socks --different colored bags for my husband's & mine, Never lose one in the washer or dryer.) A few had broken zippers so I use them in my studio on my clothesline to hold drying clips. 6. Protect surfaces: I get tons of free address labels in the mail. I peel off the labels (couldn't use all I have in 10 lifetimes) & use the backing sheets, 1 for small items or several taped together on the bottom for larger items. Besides silicone mats, I have an old double-sided dry-erase calendar that has 12 months on one sheet (about 3ft X 2ft) that works well for large items. I bought (from Temu, less than $2) a plant potting mat. The corners fold up & snap together to make kind of a large, soft, squarish bowl-like area. It's great when sanding or doing something that results in tiny scrap pieces. (It can also be used flat.) All of those wipe easily. I also use waxed paper to protect surfaces or to keep things from sticking to each other. I use plastic wrap on the tops of ModPodge between the jar and the lid to keep the lid from sticking. 7. Acrylics & drains: I never wash wet acrylic down the drain. If there is not enough in save in a small container, I wait until it dries to plastic. I use a drain strainer (either stainless steel with tiny holes or a mesh one) in the sink. When I wash dried acrylic from a palette tray, a silicone mat, or brush handles, the strainer catches the plastic bits so they don't go down the drain. Then I scoop them into the trash. 8. Store acrylic paints upside-down. You can see the paint color & when you use it, the paint is already at the top of the bottle. 9. I don't have a sink in my studio, so I use a gallon bottle to hold clean water and a large plastic container with a lid (Dollar Tree) for dirty water to refill or dump as needed. 10. I tend to lose marker, pen & glue caps frequently. So when a marker, pen or glue container is empty, I save the caps in a jar. When I lose one from a still-usable item, I can find one that might not match exactly, but fits well enough to keep the item from drying out.

[@Madeline96]

"Assmer, Asthma, Asmar" Great idea for a video - meditative, relaxing, natural painting sounds.

[@amkarei]

HUH?!? What "sounds" are we referring to ??

[@Madeline96]

@@amkarei when Margot was trying to say ASMR as a word and not an abbreviation

[@maryowen6094]

For acrylic paint the best palette is a glass/ceramic dinner plate. They are very cheap, white, you find them in bargain stores. If the paint dries on them you can simply peel it off and they don't stain.

[@arlenemurphy804]

Loved your video. I will get that brush rest. You are very entertaining and a fabulous artist.

[@lorirogers1911]

Great video with super ideas! My essential "non" art supply is my brother label maker which has settings for tiny type and waterproof labels so I use it to label my water color pans as I move them around a lot. I found that sharpie eventually wore off the pans, so the waterproof labels are perfect. The other is a second hand Zutter Bind it All machine that purchased for $15 on ebay and use to make my own watercolor sketchbooks.

[@ChristaDawnART]

Just purchased the light!! I’m SOOO excited, and can’t wait to start using it! Thanks for sharing! 🤗

[@Pointebrush]

Oh I’m so excited for you! Keep me updated on how it works out for you and your space! I would love to know!

[@DeannaMullally]

I’ve got one for y’all. I recently started painting again, primarily with acrylic, and we know the struggle of keeping acrylics from drying out between sessions, so I did some research and was in the market for a stay wet pallet but didn’t have the money to purchase one yet. I’ll get to the point. I work at a restaurant and often bring home leftovers from work in the plastic to go containers. I hate waste as well so I save all these containers to share home cooked meals with my neighbors. Anyway, in my research I discovered the wet paper towels under wax paper so I decided to use the plastic to go containers as my stay wet pallet and it’s worked beautifully! When I’m done painting, I just place the lid on loosely and next day, I can jump right back in where I left off!

[@stellaball7289]

I use jam jar lids for gouache so that i don't get the paint in my palette cloudy.

[@jennb3073]

Some really great ideas. And the soap tray one... brilliant! Thank you!

[@LindsaysCraftCorner]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching your personality AND YOUR TIPS! Just subscribed ❤❤❤❤

[@Bluessongstress1963]

just so you know, your soap, dish idea is great, but they also have an inexpensive version made of silicone, and I have seen them everywhere. Drugstores in the make up aisle, HomeGoods, both in the makeup aisle, and in the kitchen, cutlery sections, as there are some that were made for resting your spoons on. And I have yes seen them at the dollar tree, and five below.

[@wandateron1166]

I just found your channel today, loved all the great not art supplies ideas, I'm not just new to you channel but also to watercolor so all hacks are welcome. I've just started using masking fluid for drawing and was wondering if any bar soap will work to help keep my brushes lasting longer?

[@Pointebrush]

Welcome to my channel! Glad to have you on here with me! To answer your question about the soap, yes! Any soap should work!

[@bobbieninemire8282]

I do a lot of mixed media with my watercolours so I've had to branch out in order to find supplies. Disposable eyeliner brushes work great for fine details and micro dental swabs with a very small cotton tip are great for picking up colour or shading in small areas.

[@stephaniegrier8379]

As the young peeps say... fire! Love it!🎉

[@shane38002]

My brush holder is a 12" section of pool noodle placed over a section of PVC pipe clamped vertically beside my canvas. My 7 most used brushes are stuck in the top and the rest of my brushes are stuck in the side giving it a tree looking effect. It works great and gives you a great view of the profile of all the brushes.

[@jenthulhu]

Hi Margot! I use an old hobnail glass ashtray to hold my brushes--very similar concept except that it's deep enough that I can use it to temporarily hold other stuff too. Very inexpensive since few people smoke now compared to yesteryear. :) Also: I used to reuse food jars for my brush-cleaning water too (for the same reasons)--until my cats knocked them over and created a HUGE mess.

[@psisky]

Square spiky hobnail, or round?

[@jenthulhu]

@@psisky The ashtray is square. The little doodads on it are round.

[@MyrtleMert]

I have visited B and H. It is a fantastic place and, yes, the staff members are all very knowledgeable and helpful.

[@cathl3154]

I’ve wondered about your brush holder before! Thanks for all the great info.

[@triciac.5078]

The square punch out is going to be a changer for me. I just redid my palette, re did my search card and then promptly bought a new color to squeeze in. And I’ve been delaying making yet another new swatch card. I have a 2in circle punch out, easy to cut down to size and just the best idea. Thanks!!

[@Pointebrush]

Glad it’s helpful! You can just punch out the circles from your existing palette swatch card so you don’t have to repaint anything (unless you want to). Lazy person shortcuts 😝

[@triciac.5078]

@@Pointebrush true! But I’d need a smaller punch out! It’s a small palette and small cards. But I like the idea of what to do with left over swatch paper

[@amkarei]

@@triciac.5078 So don't use a punch ... use a straightedge and a $🌳 mini box knife (3 in a pk / $1.25 spring of '23), and cut your swatches any size / shape you'd like. Also -- though it'd take some digging in the dusty bins!! -- you can yet find s o m e punches, oh and an occasional "trimmer" at thrift stores, since a lot of people took the opportunity to "purge" crafty goodies during covid. Good luck with your project!

[@jmontoya6661]

So entertaining! Subscribed! Love your art hacks! As a watercolorist I love inventions too! Look up Swedish dishcloths, they are slim flat sponges. I use these instead of paper towels, you need to wet them first, they dry fast and can be used over and over. My favorite is a spinning large pencil holder that I put my fav brushes in. Thanks for all your tips!

[@WandaMartingaga]

The foam brushes are best wrapped in a package. Loose ones can have dust accumulation that will ruin your surface.

[@jadabaker9691]

Loved these suggestions! Definitely going to use the soap holder idea and soap idea for blocking.

[@lauraanderson3056]

Hi Margot. I love all of your videos so much. You are a delight to watch. I love antiques and like to repurpose them where I can. I use a german beer stein with a lid for my paint water. I look for clear ones while out antiquing. I also use antique flower frogs to hold my fountain pens and small crystal ice buckets to store colored pencils and markers on shelves. The color looks so pretty

[@amkarei]

I'll bet your "little touches" spark joy every time you get the opportunity to paint!! "In Joy!!"

[@SavvyBrandBuilderChristaSmith3]

Ooo! I use jars but never save the lids 🤦‍♀️ Great idea!

[@annamarielewis7078]

I save everything. Drives my husband crazy, but now I have lids for my jars.😊

[@amkarei]

@@annamarielewis7078 Mine, too ... UNTIL he needs that one strange thing ("... You wouldn't happen to have ... ???")

[@Denise11Schultz]

This was fun, it’s a special subset of seeing art everywhere you go. I am curious about 7th Generation dishwasher Rinse Aid. It is a surfactant that might act like ox gall. I’m a paper crafter and curious to try it with dye and pigment inks on glossy photo paper or Yupo. 🎨🖌️

[@amkarei]

What do you use OX GALL for??

[@Denise11Schultz]

@@amkarei “used as the wetting agent in paper marbling, engraving, lithography, and watercolor painting.” (Wikipedia) Something like alcohol blending solution but for other media. I used it in art school in the 70s. I’d like a vegan alternative. Just ordered some 7th generation free & clear Rinse Aid to try. ☺️

[@mewdar]

some great ideas there but I have used the Foam Brushes and hate them, as when they get wet they become unstuck from the handle I've wasted so many of these because it, I much prefer the silicone ones as they are smoother and leave no texture behind in the painting, they last so much longer, they are stronger but used in the same way will give the exact same art.

[@LeslyeMcCulloch]

Just came across your videos, and I love you! You have a charming personality and sense of humor. I think I’ll just stick around. 😊😊😊😊

[@earthrooster1969]

Thanks! For this comprehensive video! And hopefully we are kept alive!! The light idea though expensive, may work very well in the future for me as I may have to relocate to my old house that does not get natural light

[@NarsilRenewed]

I paint with oils, and I like to have a few choices for every colour right at hand when I paint. So I ended up with well over 200 tubes of paint I needed to organize. My personal favourite find was this standing revolving wire rack with enough room (well, at the time, anyway) to hold all my smaller 37-40ml tubes of paint. I had to tape some cardboard back walls in the middle of the rack to stop the tubes from falling out from the other end of their slots, but otherwise, it is perfect: I can see and easily access every paint, instead of having to use a second wall of slots I can just turn the rack around its axis on its stand, and there is even room in the middle for 4 large 6-8 oz tubes and a paint opener! This thing weighs a ton when fully loaded, but I am so very happy with finding this solution! Now I only need to figure out some way to organize my large paint tubes… Another discovery is blue shop towels in a roll you get at Costco. I don't do a lot of blotting, but in oil painting you do need to constantly wipe your brushes and especially palette knives. These towels are absolutely great for that, and they last way, way better than regular kitchen paper towels

[@cynmillar1]

Brilliant ideas, especially the square whole punch. Thank you.