I thought blog post #1 should be all about art supplies since that is the number one question I get asked!
These are just my personal favorites- experiment on your own to see what works best for you. The key is to practice. Worry about spending half your paycheck on art supplies down the road. :)
PAINT:
- Daniel Smith Watercolor- I have a few unusual shades and love them.
- Holbein Watercolor Tubes- So far I think I just have Shadow Green and it is one of my favorite colors.
- Winsor & Newton- I started out with student grade (Cotman) and moved on to professional grade (Artist) watercolor and gouache tubes. Excellent quality.
And I finally splurged and bought a SCHMINCKE Watercolor Set
WATERCOLOR PAPER:
I try to buy the best quality paper that I can afford. But there are plenty of good quality, mid-range pads out there to practice on. Experiment to see if you prefer hot press (smooth) or cold press (rough). I like Canson Watercolor Blocks and Arches Watercolor Blocks.
BRUSHES:
- I have many different kinds of watercolor brushes. At least get student grade brushes at the craft store or your local art supply store.
- The traditional gold standard is Kolinsky Sable brushes but I'm moving toward synthetic brushes for ethical reasons.
SCANNER:
- Epson v600- This scanner has worked beautifully for a few years now.
PRINTER:
- I use an HP 8620 for routine printing (mailing labels, invoices, etc).
- I use an Epson R3000 for all of my fine art printing. Excellent print quality.
PAPER:
- I like Epson Cold Press Bright Fine Art Paper
- You can also buy a sample pack to help you choose which kind of Epson paper you like the best.
CAMERA:
Hope this helps!
