It took a long time to recognize what I prefered to use to create artwork. This shift to watercolour has been no different as now I've had to figure out which papers, brushes and watercolours I prefer. Right now I'm loving the Joan of Art watercolours as they are vibrant and reactivate easily as they don't require a lot of water and a little bit goes a long way. Plus, I love that it is a woman-owned business in B.C. which is right next door to Alberta.
Other than this brand, I also love my Jane Davenport Brights which I purchased on sale many years ago in order to paint while travelling. My third favourite is the White Nights watercolours and that is probably because they are full pans and also vibrant and easily reactivated. I'm surprised that the natural watercolours aren't a favourite, but that is mostly because of the gritty texture they leave behind on the paper. I'm also finding that many of the honey based watercolours aren't a favourite either because they take so long to dry and stay a bit sticky in the pans. Derwent and gouache paints tend to be a bit opaque for me at the moment, which is another surprise since I am originally an acrylic painter. Plus I find that tubes of gouache (traditional and acrylic) tend to be a bit 'grippy' on the paper (I love smooth flowing paint) and I'm not a fan of the scent. I do like Daniel Smith but they also tend to take a bit to reactivate and I find that Winsor & Newton is not vibrant enough for me. All in all this experiment has taught me that what works for someone else may not work for me as I have certain expectations. And it's not just the type of paint that matters to me, but also the container that it is stored in...currently my favourites are tiny mint tins that I can take with me anywhere I go.. Which is why I'm looking forward to sharing my supplies in upcoming workshops so that others can try them, too. Comments are closed.
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