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

My roundup of the top 10 AMAZING art supplies that are actually not at supplies. Pick up these hidden gems at the grocery store, hardware store and pretty much any store other than the art store!
SHOP THE VIDEO
Brush Holder : amzn.to/3F1vG1K
Square Puncher : amzn.to/3EZF4Dj
Ceramic Plates : amzn.to/3PTZTGu
Baby Shampoo : amzn.to/3RI50uD
Amaran Light : amzn.to/3RB6SoT
Lantern Modifier : amzn.to/3RoRw6B
Light Stand : amzn.to/3RAnlKd
Castile Soap : amzn.to/3RA8cZl
Sponge Brushes : amzn.to/3rmhdus
Restaurant Napkins : amzn.to/3EYtDvq
Drawstring Bag : amzn.to/45cUwqr
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GET STARTED
My Watercolor Supplies Video : • Watercolor Supplies fo...
Getting Started with Watercolors: • How to paint with WATE...
My Ultimate Palette Setup : • The ULTIMATE Watercolo...
Intro to Watercolor Papers : • Watercolor Papers for ...
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PLACES TO FIND ME
Instagram : / pointebrush
Website : pointebrushnyc.com/
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Facebook : / pointebrushnyc
Pinterest : / _shop
Contact me : pointebrushnyc.com/pages/contact
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ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Margot and I am a professional artist and graphic designer. My parents like to joke that I was born with a paintbrush in hand. I started my career after graduating from the renown Parsons School of Design in New York City and spent over 15 years creating and designing for many of the world's top Fortune 500 brands and companies. My painting journey started as a side project and a creative outlet for me to step away from the computer, go back to my "roots" in fine art and to hone my skills as an illustrator and painter. I started posting some of my work on instagram and the rest is history. My work is inspired by all the things that I am passionate about. Ballet, travel, graphic design, color and finding a world of beauty in all facets of everyday life. I hope you'll join me in this KZbin journey as I take you through all the tips, tricks and trade secrets I've gathered throughout the years. I hope I can teach you some of what I know, help you discover your creative voice and I hope you enjoy this Channel!
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*Disclaimer: Pointebrush is a participant in the Blick Art Materials, Jackson Art Supplies and Amazon affiliate programs. An affiliate advertising program is designed to provide a means for creators to earn fees by linking to products they recommend on. The cost to you for these products is the same, but I earn a small commission which helps support the creation of these videos and content.
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[@carinwiseman4309]

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

[@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!!

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@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. 😊

[@doggletts]

I used shop towels, too! They are great.

[@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 😂

[@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-land7893]

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

[@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!

[@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 👍🏼

[@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!

[@denisethepainterNarc-FreeZone]

​@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.

[@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.

[@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"???

[@LeighsLittleLife]

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

[@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.

[@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…

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@TaraDreams]

Ohhh I have a wooden soap dish that is a similar shape to your "brush holder"... time for it to migrate to my watercolour box I think! 😊 My favourite non art supply, art supply are cocktail sticks - perfect tool for mixing your own convenience mixes with tube paints, persuading paint into the corners of pans / half pans etc when pouring, as well as random mark making and small area masking fluid application. Versatile! 😆

[@amkarei]

I giggle at your first comment, even though in our house that "migration-thing" is a source of minor aggravation to me. "Things" of all sorts seem to "migrate" out to the shop but never make the return journey without my intervention!! Your second comment just jogged my memory, as I, too, USED to have a few SW Air drink stirs (the plastic ones with the hearts on the ends) I would put to all such purposes!! Wonder where they could have gotten off to?!? (hmmm ... I'll check the shop ... )

[@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.

[@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.❤️

[@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 !!!

[@stellaball7289]

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

[@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 😘

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 ... ???")

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@dfwinterfeld93]

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.

[@aaab469]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@samguentherillustration]

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.

[@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!

[@cathl3154]

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

[@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).

[@MrVbobby]

Cheapskate, innovative total weirdo. Your enthusiasm is addictive. Thanks for sharing

[@louiseschultz2064]

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

[@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!!!

[@dorothyatchison1825]

Loved, loved, loved this video … what a gem … thanks so much for sharing ❤

[@colleenm9188]

Super duper review of your art making tools and helpful stuff. Thanks so much!

[@karehhartig7287]

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

[@macgurrl]

Love, Love the video. I already use the foam brushes and I can''t wait to get myself some of those plates. I noticed on Amazon that you can also get a set of sushi plates which look like they would work too.

[@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,

[@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!

[@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 !!! 👍🌟

[@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

[@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!

[@stephaniegrier8379]

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

[@jennb3073]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@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!

[@wunna8657]

Love these hacks ! Very helpful ❤

[@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!

[@arlenemurphy804]

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

[@elizabethkirkeide2458]

Awesome, your exuberance is revitalizing. thank you for sharing these great ideas.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@sandraneale128]

Brilliant ideas. Thank you ❤️🦋

[@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.

[@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!

[@brucetidwell7715]

Margot, thank you for your in depth lighting tutorial. That was very educational. It inspires me to add similar lighting to my wish list and will be very helpful when I'm able to go shopping.

[@lora9664]

I bought the soap dish (brush holder) after watching your video. Love it.

[@lindaclark4807]

Omg, this is the first time I see one of your videos! I love your energy, you are a sweetie! I will certainly continue watching your videos! Thank you so much!

[@DreamyBohemian]

Love this! I really need that light setup - I’m always filming at night. Ugh. Love the paint brush holder/soap dispenser. I’ve been looking for something like that! I’m no serious watercolor artist and I just started dabbling with some online classes but still good to take care of my brushes. Thanks - love your channel!

[@cynmillar1]

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

[@ladybugandlore]

This was excellent! Thank you!! ❤

[@whatseriously1]

Thanks for all the great ideas! These are actually really valuable solutions! And I ordered some of your merch I can’t wait to get 🤗💗

[@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!!"

[@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!

[@DarkMoonSanctuary]

Great ideas. Thank you for sharing....❤

[@penelopefp]

B&H is awesome. I was happy to hear them mentioned. I agree, new mom survival mode! Hang in there! Fun stuff! Love the tips!

[@joannernst6406]

Margot I look forward to your videos, I will try some of these items! I would recommend that you try Scott shop towels. They are blue and come in a roll like paper towels, but they are unique. You can wash/rinse out these towels and use again and again.

[@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

[@maria-fb3ex]

Love ❤! The square punch idea

[@weekend_art]

I did a lot of studio photography about 10 years ago and never seen this lantern diffuser, looks awesome!

[@jacksoncenterforthearts626]

Yes, I bought soap dishes and you are right! Genius way to take care of brushes while painting! Thanks!

[@MsMoniqueWilson]

Some really great ideas! Thank you!

[@Pointebrush]

Glad you liked it! 😘

[@MsMishkyn]

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

[@utterlynice1]

Grea list. Will be using them and love your videos so much!!

[@osilva2367]

Great! I love your videos! They're always entertaining and very informative. Thank you❤

[@tanyahayeslee8125]

Great instruction!! Thanks, Jo.

[@CCLinGameOnABC]

Thank you for these excellent practical tips. I’m blessed to come across this tutorial. Subscribed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@candyh2o]

KZbin suggested your channel and so I'm a new viewer. ... All I can say is WOW! Your ideas are fabulous and I cannot wait to try some of the tools you suggested. I Loved this video, so thank you and I look forward to your next one. *cheers*