What Did I Use?! TWO Art Hauls Reviewed 1 Year Later: Watercolours, Oil Pastels, Books, Papers etc.

[@UTleochi]

Love that little peek into your creative process. Keeping a journal just for art is such a lovely concept. My favourite picture is the little white chapel; everything in it looks so harmonious and right. Beautiful!

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much! The writing ends up being not much about art, but it all affects the art in the long run anyway!

[@Everywhere2]

Thanks for continuing this series, Helen. I think I've commented before that these videos have changed the way I think about materials before and after buying, and also before and after using. I've now noticed that change in my thinking about mere household supplies, too!!!

[@helencryer]

Thank you! That's good to hear!

[@tdelphia1]

After 3+ days without power, it was sure nice to be warm again AND have one of your post-haul reviews to watch while I revel,ed in the simple joys of hot coffee and cold yogurt for breakfast. Helen, I LOVED your first oil painting! Wow. I so know what you mean about the scratchiness and MESSINESS of charcoal (vine sticks, shudder!). I did recently get the basic 4 sketching set from Conte Paris and I do like using the sanguine, sepia and white on colored paper for value sketches. I can't wait for videos sharing your gallery experiences...what an exciting time for you!

[@helencryer]

That's not much fun!! Glad it's back on - definitely helps to appreciate things! I probably won't buy any more sets, but you made me think about using similar colours to those from the Derwent Drawing set, for sketches!

[@laura7607]

Subscribed after binge watching your hauls, swatching and the one year on videos (these are particularly interesting!). I’m autistic and my favourite activity is collecting and swatching art materials 😊🫣 thank you for your videos xx

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@heathern.6124]

Your work has such amazing atmosphere. Every piece is like a breath of fresh air!

[@helencryer]

That's really lovely - thank you!

[@felicitycrowe6971]

Really enjoyed this video - thank you! In some ways, I think this is more informative than a straight review

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@martinanelsonartandpsychol6478]

I love the mahogany from Schmincke. Together with the potters pink and sometimes some purply color, violet or even red they make the most incredible hues and shades.

[@helencryer]

Thank you - I will have to have a fun experimental session with it!

[@constancewith_a_soundtrack5339]

The FaberCastell Pitch (?) Charcoals look absolutely stunning!

[@helencryer]

Yes - the Pitt Compressed Charcoal is very rich!

[@dianneholst3209]

Your work is really stunning! Love

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@lisaharner3720]

This was an interesting mix of products. Loved the books and the water soluble graphite too. There goes my cart filling up again! 😊

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Sorry!

[@waterlovindog2256]

Your art is just beautiful, Helen, and you are inspiring. I found a podcast that follows the book “The Artist’s Way,” that I listen to on my walks in the woods, so it was interesting to see you mention it.

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much! That sounds interesting!

[@twisteddyekitchenmyfiberjo4577]

Great video. As always, I left with more knowledge than I had🙂

[@helencryer]

Great! Thanks!

[@KirstenAiello-h6d]

I absolutely adore everything you do and especially watching your new painting journey. I also particularly like your reviews and comparisons they are so well thought out and above all I love how calm your videos are! Well done.

[@helencryer]

That's really kind of you - thank you!

[@bleuvertetforetdepin7308]

there's something magic in the watercolor/oil pastel piece , i love how you've blended the two . thank you for sharing .

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@SROSA-ci1kl]

Informative video. I think you would love the green earths from A Gallo. They rewet a little better than others i've tried. The colours are a bit stronger, too and granulate.

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I have A. Gallo's Green Earth Cool, and don't honestly notice much difference in the re-wetabiliy. Lovely colour though.

[@Bonnie-r4b]

This was enjoyable to watch. Relaxing and informative. Also, I enjoyed seeing your work.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@valeriegehling4358]

Yet another interesting & informative video. Thanks

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@ninamarie60]

I love all things charcoal, tinted charcoal, so this was a great overview. The Derwent tinted charcoal pencils are nice, too, and easier to carry along a couple on a plein air/travel sketching outing. The small 6 pencil set has some nice dark landscape colors and is a pretty affordable way to try out their tinted charcoal line.

[@helencryer]

Lovely! Thank you!

[@beedee4427]

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and purchase some of the Sennellier Oil Pastel Fixitive but I just find it hard to justify such a high price. I've been using my other fixitives with my oil pastels, which aren't particularly fabulous but they'll do for now, until I see a can of the Sennellier on special! Also, books are generally never a disappointment or "regret" are they? Whilst I'm unable to "read" more than a paragraph without getting unwell cos of the neuro complications, I LOVE buying art books as I'm just looking at pictures. Otherwise, I have an Audible account with almost 600 books in it at this stage 🤭. Interesting vid. Cheers Helen 😊

[@helencryer]

Most of the time I don't bother with it, in sketchbooks and stuff, but occasionally it's useful. I only look at the pictures too! 😬 Sometimes I've bought books I end up not loving, but it happens less nowadays, because I spend more time looking them up online first.

[@FaithAnnNB]

It looks like I followed the Artist’s Way from Sep 29 until Nov 15 (according to my daily pages). I’m not sure if I might have done a little bit extra in the book, but stopped my morning writing? Like you, I do want to complete the program, but I think it’s on hold until I take an extended work-break and can focus on art and creativity. Lovely review of past purchases… seems like you enjoyed almost everything!

[@helencryer]

Hope you get that chance at some point!

[@zenlife1200]

I really like your watercolor and oil pastel painting at 11:29 it reminds me of the Bay of Islands here in NZ and I'd love to be able to capture them in this style. I don't really like oil pastels though, and I don't own any, so I guess I'll end up capturing the islands in my own way/style 😂

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I think you could do similar with soft pastels over the top of watercolour, if you have those?

[@zenlife1200]

@@helencryer The only pastels I have are Derwent Pastel pencils. They remind me of chalk

[@helencryer]

If you were gentle with them, you could still get the blended look over the top of watercolour.

[@zenlife1200]

@@helencryer I need to practice with them a bit to see what I can do with them. I'm putting together a small mixed media bag with between 4-6 colors of each medium. It's for landscapes. I'll pick a few colors to add to that. Any color suggestions?

[@helencryer]

I don't know the Derwent Pastel Pencil colours off-hand, but I'd just pick a few that tone in with the regular landscape colours you use. A really dark brown/blue/green, plus white will always be useful.

[@juliart5]

Hi Helen! I bought Rosa Gallerys Jade green and Cobalt grey after seeing you last year swatch them out and they are both almost empty now. :D I already ordered the tubes to fill them up again. In fact I bought a lot of things because I saw you use them. :D I appreciate the time you take to film all that!

[@helencryer]

They're lovely aren't they?! Thanks!

[@awatercolourist]

19:09 The new MaimeriBlu watercolours have a new formula and are all single-pigment. The vat blue no 1 is essentially PB66 synthetic indigo.

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@thefrostedblueberryart]

I love these videos of your Helen; you try the supplies so I don't have to take a second mortgage out (not that they'd give me one lol)

[@triciabennetts6578]

Thankyou Helen and thankyou for introducing me to Ann Cowan and Jane Askey - Really love their work! - unfortunately Ann’s book is no longer available - sold out ☹️ I have the Fairfield Porter book and love that too 😊 What varnish do you use on top of acrylic and oil pastel please? - assuming you put another layer on top of the pastel fixative. I’ve just finished a painting in watercolour’ flashe and graphite and not sure what to use on top of that 🤷🏻‍♀️ So many products, easily confused 😳

[@helencryer]

Oh that's a shame. They really are beautiful artists! I'm using some Krylon Kamar spray varnish at the moment, which I also use on alcohol inks. I use Sennelier Oil Pastels spray on oil pastels first though. The Kamar can be used on watercolour too, but I have done Flashe Varnish which came with the Flashe Introduction set.

[@triciabennetts6578]

@ Thankyou Helen - do you think the Krylon Kaamar would work on Flashe as well?🤔

[@berolinastrassmann]

22:51 on Quin Purple. Mixed with burnt umber or any other dark brown (try Mahogany Brown?) can give you some excellent dark darks, with the chance to make it colder or warmen depending on which one you use more of. Thanks @helencryer for this "one year on" series. It's a good way to remind ourselves to do the same.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much! Sounds like I need to spend some good time with it having a mixing session!

[@awatercolourist]

21:40 The W&N version did not change as much as I would have thought.

[@helencryer]

It's a really pleasant surprise!

[@ladyflimflam]

I just can’t with charcoal or conte or pastels because of the sound and the texture through my hands. I’ve tried to get over it but it gets worse the longer I use the medium.

[@helencryer]

Fair enough!

[@awatercolourist]

16:52 Does the Master’s Brush cleaner have abrasives?

[@helencryer]

Was cleaning some brushes this morning, and really rubbed it between my figures to try and feel any - but it's just like smooth soap as far as I can tell.

[@awatercolourist]

@ Thanks. I tend to be careful with soaps because some have abrasives in them. I think they are geared more towards oil brushes.

[@phillipstroll7385]

You used them all at least once. To make the video so you could write them off and make your money back. I'm shocked you didn't sell it all off after uploading the review & haul videos.

[@helencryer]

I'm sad for you that you have such a cynical outlook. I can honestly say that that wasn't my motivation for buying one single thing in this video or any other. I find genuine delight in exploring new art materials. That's it.

[@awatercolourist]

Hello Phillip 👋. A bit cynical, don’t you think? It’s exceedingly rare for someone to buy all these art supplies just for a video. Sure, KZbinrs might buy a brush or a tube of paint for a video, but a whole haul? It is beyond the means of most of us to do that.