★ where to spend your money as an artist ★

[@lucienamerlin]

I LOVE Arches paper! My painting teacher from highschool got me hooked on it as a very beginner painter, and I will never go back 😂 I like to get the super large sheets and then cut them down, since its much cheaper than buying the pads or blocks. I hope you and your community are safe during the hurricanes ❤❤

[@RoseGardenArt]

I’m glad you are doing okay post Hurricane.

[@stroodledoodles]

4:38 I agree that you should be wary of mentorships, since there are unfortunately plenty of people who are simply looking to scam you rather than help. I know there's a particular KZbinr in the art space who has a $600 mentorship and I can't help but side eye it. Like at that point you're better off just finding resources on your own.

[@Gnomicgabby]

for the label printer you can get free shipping labels from ups if you set up a business account ! I think it's something like 6k labels a month :-)

[@fuzzydragons]

the bet scanner a person can afford is def a necessity if they cant get good scans from somewhere else and yeah once you use the 'really good' paper it is sooo hard to go back to the 'OK' paper

[@steffiehiggi]

So glad you are doing ok after the hurricane 🌀

[@shontoo6979]

Lots of great tips, thanks for sharing. For what it is worth, I love my expensive easel... Went through so many flimsy unstable ones before biting the bullet and haven't looked back. I do have room for it in a corner however.

[@leahzeilinger]

I almost never comment, but I’ve been thinking about you a lot with the incoming hurricane and I really hope you and yours stay safe Al.

[@wkwheezy]

Just now feeling mentally recovered from the hurricane myself. Glad to see you and yours are okay 🫶🫶 sending my thoughts to folks who were hit hard, especially in NC and east TN.

[@ChantelleArts]

glad you're doing okay with the hurricane, stay safe! 🥰

[@daniv8500]

Super helpful video! I've definitely considered getting a studio since I'm very cramped in my room but I definitely feel like I wouldn't use it enough to justify it. Hope you and your family are okay after the hurricane!

[@hauntingrefrain5583]

Please please be safe!! I don’t usually pray - but I pray for you and your family’s safety during hurricane Milton! please update us if possible, much love from Australia 💕

[@cinderblockstudios]

As someone who has built their home (basement) into a working studio to some degree I feel like I agree and disagree with a lot of this. 1. Per your disclaimer it is your perspective, though I would say everyone's space is a personal thing. If it works for you it might not work for someone else. So it's about what the individual needs are. 2. Work your way up with video supplies is TOTALLY the way to go! Super agree there! 3. I agree and disagree with supplies, but I'd say for an artist of any level a high quality supply is USUALLY better. Not for the sake of selling, but for the sake of not having a headache of the supply fighting against you. It's weird that you mention Arches paper and good sketchbooks after saying don't get the high end stuff. Seems contradictory. 4. You didn't talk about it, but you've clearly done a lot of work to make your studio "presentable" so to speak. IMO it should be practical before presentable. Yeah, it might be nice to show off, but it should be useful FIRST, before it's a video background. 5. Honestly I'd say paying for studio space is one of the things you SHOULDN'T do! I know it's not practical for everyone but I imagine if you weren't paying for your studio you could get out of your parents house. I'd take barely any space verses living with my parents again any day. Just some food for thought. PS. this is the first of your videos I've seen and I'm glad you've weathered the storm.

[@Lilstarnerd]

I feel most of this comment was you personally criticizing me and my choices that you have little insight about rather than the actual point of the video

[@shanividal8885]

Thank you so much for this video, I really needed it❤

[@Alonelysea]

I've had the same ipad for 5 years. It still works the exact same. Literally, all I've had to do is replace my apple pencil nib. It is absolutely worth it. The best part is portability. You dont need a laptop, so it's easy to take anywhere. The art tablets that can do that are nearly as if not more expensive than ipads, and ipads have a lot more features. Also, most programs for ipad are either free or super cheap, but the windos equivalent is expensive

[@shanividal8885]

If you want to transport the art files to a pc, does it connect well or make a problem? I once had an iphone and if I wanted to transport photos to my pc computer it was a nightmare. That is my only issue with apple products.

[@ms.pirate]

Eh, I'm sticking with traditional art. The supplies can be very cheap if you buy them during back to school. They don't have to be expensive

[@Alonelysea]

@@shanividal8885 I simply use Dropbox to share files, so I'm not sure. I know apple products generally only work with other apple products though

[@elizabethr.9359]

100% procreate on a used older model iPad (I use swappa and back market) has served me very well and as long as you’re careful not to drop your iPad it’ll last a long time. And then I find that for traditional you can find materials pretty dang cheap in reuse stores and places like Craigslist (good for easels). And a lot of the time you don’t need the highest quality materials, particularly for when you’re not selling originals and just need to scan/take pictures for prints/stickers/etc.

[@Alonelysea]

@elizabethr.9359 my ipad was the second newest model when i bought it, but the newest model had just come out when I bought it. Again, it's been going for 5 years. I have a good case on it, and when I accidentally dropped it, it only cracked the screen projector. I used to carry it literally everywhere with me, including to school everyday for nearly my entire time in highschool. It's definitely a good long term investment

[@katiea.7356]

I can't be the only person who cannot stand the texture of the Strathmore 500 series sketchbook? The feeling of the paper reminds me of the texture of microfiber cloths. 😭

[@wynngwynn]

idk about the sketchbook but the 500 watercolor paper performs about like arches for me

[@DirtyCommieArtStudio]

where’s you get your Chucky mug? I have Jason & Pennywise, but my Michael Myers broke and I still need the other ones!!!!

[@DarlitaDawn]

What about a shed? $500 a month that's $6,000 a year. Put that towards the shed in your yard set up lighting and air conditioning and then you get the best of both worlds