707 Mercer Designs is a family venture of mother and daughter. However, now we have roped in my son as our marketing/website guru, (I got to get a return on my college investment). As we prepare to launch this website, he messages me with ‘assignments’ he needs me to complete. My kids live about an hour and half from where I live so most all that we do involves text, digital sharing and facetime. (anyone else feel my pain) My assignment is to write a blog post about tools we use for our art. Little does he know that is pandora’s box for an artist, but here goes.
Let me qualify this post in letting you know I am NOT sponsored by any of these companies. I have chosen these companies based on personal experience and preferences. The links provided are for convenience only to Amazon. I also like to shop Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Blick. Check your local art supplier for prices on these items.
I had NEVER watercolored before 2016. Never owned a watercolor set since teaching kindergarten. My point of reference for watercolor was that watercolor equaled little ones so that it doesn’t make such a mess. As I researched Bible illustration, on where else but Pinterest, they were all done in watercolor or colored pencil. I used what I had at the time which was some school Crayola colored pencils, free, and a tin of Derwent watercolor pencils 12 count, approximately $18, then I went to the 24 count, approximately $35. I needed some Art Basics clear gesso, approximately $16, to seal the Bible pages for watercolor, and off I went. So for two years those were my tools of Bible illustrating with some old paint brushes I had leftover from previous projects. I did purchase a Journaling Bible so that it was specific for my Bible illustrations.
These watercolored pencils opened up a new painting brain because watercolor is NOT anything like working in acrylics, which had been my primary medium up to this point. With watercolor you paint from light to dark versus other mediums layer dark to light. Learning the paper is your ‘white’ was a HUGE learning curve for me. After several months, I decided to venture out into the deep end and paint with actual watercolors and not just the pencils. I began with a simple 28 watercolor palette I think from Artist’s Loft, approximately $15. I used these actually for the first year of some of our 707 designs. They were good but as I researched, that is the teacher in me, I understood that there are student grade, artist grade and professional grade watercolors. The main difference is the quality of pigment, opticity and blendability.
After hours of research and painstaking decision making, not my forte, I decided on Sakura Koi watercolor 24 pan set, approximately $30. I was amazed at the texture and opticity difference in the paint. I then went out farther on the limb to by Holbien Artists’ Watercolor tube 18 set, approximately $55. Yet again was amazed at the quality of color and blendability. These are my staples along with the Derwent watercolor pencils to current day.
When researching watercolor paper I have found there is no other paper to use than Arches 140lb or 300lb cold press paper. The 140lb comes in a 12 ct pad, approximately $18, or 20 ct block, approximately $44, of 9x12. Arches has many different sizes of pads and blocks, I just prefere this size. A pad of paper is loosely bound only on one end like a pad of notebook paper and a block is bound on all 4 sides. A block allows for the paper to ‘stretch’ while still bound on all sides keeping it from being warped by the water. I like a block in a smaller size for plein air painting or get a watercolor paper sketchbook by Windsor Newton or Canson. I discovered that in using lesser grades of watercolor paper they would ‘pill’ up under too much water or blending. I am sure some of it was user error but Arches has never ‘pilled’ like other brands I tried.
Finally, brushes. My answer is fairly simple, use what you have and upgrade when there is a sale. I like Princeton Velvetouch series but you may find another brush brand you prefer. I think finding the right brush is like dating, you need to date a few duds before you land on the one you want to keep. Once you find the brand you like, treat it like shoes, buy one in every size. I prefer round shapes in sizes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
I hope this helps you on your creative journey. Let me encourage you to just begin with what you have, your kids’ crayons, some leftover brushes or markers. Just begin……….then the addiction takes hold.