I Think I’m Ready Now

Judith, , , ,

Last September I wrote a post asking “Why Pay More?” when it comes to art supplies — specifically watercolor art supplies. At the time I was contentedly using very cheap paints on very cheap “pulp” watercolor paper, and doing it with very cheap brushes. For me, it worked.

When I say “it worked”, I don’t mean that I turned out high-quality watercolor paintings with low-quality art supplies. It simply means that using inexpensive materials suited me, that I was comfortable with those supplies, and that I was having fun with what I was doing.

Learning art — or anything else — should be fun. Had I not been having fun playing around with my inexpensive watercolors, brushes, and paper, I would have given up the media. But because I was enjoying my watercolor practice time, I kept at it. Sure, I ran into frustrations along the way, and much of the frustration came from using inexpensive materials, yet I still learned from all that I did.

It was the brushes that were the first to go. Armed with a $15.00 coupon from Michael’s, I checked out a few new watercolor brushes and bought a lovely, large flat brush to use for washes. I loved it, and of course my watercolor washes improved.

Next, I moved up to slightly higher-quality watercolors. The Cotman set I bought isn’t exactly “top-notch artist quality”, but it’s a much better “student” paint than the children’s set I picked up at Walmart. I do still have a place in my heart for Crayola watercolors. They’re surprisingly good. Still, I’m willing now to set them aside, reserve them for when the grandchildren play in the studio, and paint now with either my Cotman set or my Japanese gansai. I also have tubes of M. Graham watercolor that I use from time to time.

Now, I think I’m ready to set aside my cheap watercolor paper and invest in a block of Arches. I’ve used Arches before. I actually still have a few sheets in the studio. I’ve been saving it, though, waiting for that time when I felt I was ready for it. I think that time has come now.

The prices still make me wince, and I’m sure I’ll only purchase a block when I have a few dollars built up on my Michael’s Rewards account, or when an art supply store is having a sale. I’m still not a watercolor artist. I’m still learning.

Of course, I can continue doing a lot of practice paintings on my inexpensive paper. Once I have an idea in mind and have done a “practice painting”, I can then get out the good stuff and do the painting again on the higher quality paper.

I still stand by my earlier decision that the cheap materials were good enough for me at the time, and I’m sure I will still use that cheap paper and my inexpensive paints — both with the grandsons and during my own watercolor playtimes. I have learned by using those materials, and they’ll always be good choices for playing.

All in all, though, I think I’m ready now to move up, to get out my Arches, to check out other brands of good watercolor paper, and to see the results I can achieve when I’m not dealing with excessive puddles caused by buckles and bends.

It will be interesting, I think, to see — and feel — the differences. In the past, my techniques and experience with watercolor were so limited, it really didn’t matter what supplies I used. Now, I do think I’m ready. Wish me luck!

19 Comments

  2. I have been doing similar reorientation to watercolor with cheaper materials. I am slowly building up a supply of daniel smith watercolor tubes while using up my cotman tubes. As an alternative to ruining more arches paper, I am sampling other 100% cotton coldpress papers. I do small studies on my 5 x 7 fabriano cold press blocks.

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    1. I’ve tried a lot of the inexpensive watercolor papers, and while I’m playing around, I just live with the buckles and warps. I have sometimes “ironed” a finished watercolor to flatten it out a bit. It does help. 🙂 I just can’t see “wasting” expensive paper for little exercises and brush stroke practices. I wish watercolor paper weren’t so costly!

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  3. For paper, I like to use Stonehenge Aqua (by Legion) which is a step below Arches, but a lot gentler on the account balance. I do have some Fabriano Artistico as well, but the main frustration is the paper dimensions, being totally metric (not a surprise).

    For brushes, I adore my Princeton Neptune ones. I started with a set of four, and am currently close to a dozen of different sizes and shapes.

    As for paints, I started off with some Daler-Rowney “Simply” line from WalMart, and for the price point those do well enough. I then tried a nine-tube introductory set of Mijello Mission Gold, and love them. The only down side is they lift VERY EASILY, even off the paper, so I am experimenting with some other brands. The Mission Golds also don’t “run” as well on coldpress paper, which makes them great for detail work but less than ideal for things like backgrounds or the occasional landscape. Right now I am using Turner paints from Jerry’s Artorama, though I am sorely tempted to try some QoR paints.

    When it comes to flattening finished watercolor, I tend to grab hardbound editions of Bulfinch’s Mythology and the Complete Works of Shakespeare.

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    1. Thanks so much for the suggestions! I will definitely check out Stonehenge Aqua. In fact, I think I did have some small “sample” sheets last summer, both cold- and hot-press. They were part of an art “subscription box”, and I did like them!

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  4. I detest buckling and have gradually evolved to mostly using the blocks that you cut the sheets off with a knife, I tried taping to a board, but, it was too hard for me and I tend to use watercolor when I am in the field, on vacation or just in a hurry to produce something, so, either a pad and risk a little buckle or a block is good for me….haven’t splashed out on any arches paper…..yet, but I AM slowly stepping my paints up to W & N pro, because, well the pigments are just SO MUCH BETTER!!!

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    1. I’m “moving up” a little at a time. I’ve got better brushes now, slightly better paints (and gansai) and I’ll be using better paper. I’ll still play around with my “cheap supplies” for practice, but I’m looking forward to doing more “finished” watercolor work now.

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  5. Arches cold press is my favorite because I also like the sizing. I tried some pure cottonpaper from England and found it too absorbent. Blocks are good if you really are going to work very wet, but they are so expensive that they aren’t worth it for me. 140 lb Arches taped to a plastic “glass” (the kind that goes on picture frames) from the hardware store with drafting tape works fine for me. Just remember to seal the edges withered duct tape so you don’t cut your hands on the sharp corners and sides. 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick foam core is light and easy to carry to classes, and if you cover it with contact paper it lasts quite a while.

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    1. I’ve used the Arches block in the past for “special” projects — such as the watercolors I’ve given as gifts — and it’s worked well, It’s just so expensive! Thanks for the suggestions for using the glass and taping the edges. The foam core sounds good, too!

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    1. Other artists have suggested buying “sample packs” of watercolor paper. I guess this is something art supply stores do… offering a small variety at a reasonable price. I’ve never purchased any “samples” like this, but it might be something to check into. I know good watercolor paper makes a big difference, but I can’t see spending outrageous amounts on it when I’m not a real watercolor artist, just someone who wants to paint a few “pretty pictures” now and then.

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      4. Yes, it is! That’s one of the best things that’s happened since I started this blog back in 2016. I thought other artists might laugh at my attempts to learn, but instead, I found a supportive community of artists who cheered me on. 🙂

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