*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :) What's the actual reason behind swatching watercolor paint (aside from the satisfaction of laying pretty colors down on paper)? What specific things should we be looking for when testing out a new watercolor paint set, besides differences in color? What are the different variables that may affect watercolors' behavior and their final appearance? In this blog post, I'm going to explain the most important characteristics that you should start taking note of when it comes to watercolor paint. By understanding these different aspects and how they vary from pigment to pigment, you'll be able to make more informed choices when it comes to picking your color palettes/schemes for your paintings, which will make everything go a lot smoother. I'll also walk you through my own personal method for swatching out a new paint set and share why I like testing my paints on two different types of paper. It's very useful to explore a new paint set before actually attempting to create a painting with it. This is especially the case when it comes to watercolors, as this painting medium's inherent characteristics make it tricky to use. For one, watercolors are translucent, which means we can't simply cover up our mistakes like we can when working with acrylics or oils. Secondly, due to their water-soluble properties, they tend to have a mind of their own. Finally (and something that was very hard for me to wrap my head around in the beginning), behaviors and effects can vary greatly from pigment to pigment, even within a set manufactured by the same company. There are also many external factors that can affect our watercolor painting process and the final outcome of a piece, such as how clean our water is, what kind of paper is used, and even the temperature of the room we're working in! Always remember that, as artists, we have to learn to embrace the exploration process. It may seem like a waste of time and resources when we're just starting out, but these smaller studies give us confidence and allow us to find ourselves as artists, so that we're then able to create more effective finalized works. If you're a beginner just starting out with watercolors, I highly recommend checking out my blog post titled 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting With Watercolors. By understanding these ten ideas and applying them in your painting, you'll be able to progress your watercolor skills much quicker and waste less supplies in the process. Let's get to the swatching! If you enjoy this video, subscribe to my YouTube channel! I publish a brand new video every-single-Friday with art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for aspiring artists. There is no right or wrong way to test out a new watercolor paint set. The whole point of swatching and testing out colors is for you, the artist, to have a better understanding of different color behaviors. This way, you'll be able to select the colors you like best depending on the particular subject you paint, your personal techniques and the overall effects you're going for. If you're just starting out and haven't found your style, no problem! As your artistic journey progresses, you'll discover your own way of working and the specific paint qualities that are important for you. Later on, you'll be able to modify your swatching process to whatever fits you best and perhaps leave out aspects that aren't as important. Watercolor Paint Characteristicsa) Mass tones A color's mass tone tells us what it looks like when it's straight out of the tube and at its fullest saturation. Basically, it's the color at its purest and undiluted self. -This is usually the first rectangle I fill in below the hue's name and I make sure to use the least amount of water possible. b) Staining qualities A color's staining quality refers to how difficult it is to remove from the paper when lifting, scrubbing or attempting to reactivate it once it's dry. -To test this out, I like lifting paint from a small section of my Masstone square/rectangle when it's still wet with either a rag or a paintbrush. I also like coming back to my color swatch once it's dried completely to see if any color can be lifted or reactivated because I personally use this technique a lot in my work. There are some pigments that are known for being extremely staining, such as Prussian Blue, and others that lift up quite easily. c) Opacity A color's opacity tells us how opaque or transparent it is. Usually, you're looking for transparency when it comes to watercolors, as this is the quality that gives paintings created with this medium their distinctive glow. -For faster swatches, I like drawing a couple of ink lines in this square/rectangle (allow them to dry completely) and painting over them with each color to see if there is any chalky residue left behind. -Another option is painting a couple of lines or shapes with a different color (a different color from the one you're testing) and seeing how much the subsequent layer of color allows the bottom to shine through. d) Level of dispersion A color's level of dispersion refers to how easily it expands and/or intermixes with other colors when dropping on damp paper. A high level of dispersion means a paint color expands quickly and intermixes a lot with colors around it. A low level of dispersion means it mostly stays in place. -For faster swatches, I like simply wetting this square/rectangle with clean water and dropping the color in in several different places to see how fast it expands. -Another option is dropping a different color in first and then placing the specific hue you're testing out to see how much it expands/intermixes. I do recommend preparing a larger square/rectangle for swatching if you want to test this out. Because I don't do a ton of wet-on-wet work myself, this isn't I take too much time doing. However, if you do a lot of landscapes or even abstracts, it may be very useful for you to spend time testing out this particular one for your different colors! e) Granulation A color's granulation level can be identified by laying down a flat wash, allowing it to dry completely, and observing how even and uniform it looks after. Pigments that have a high level of granulation separate from their binder when mixed with water and tend to settle into the texture of the paper it is placed on. This leads to white dots and a patchy look in some areas. *A high level of granulation isn't inherently bad, as it can be used to create great effects in areas that require them. Many artists use highly granulating paints to their advantage! -I don't usually create a separate square/rectangle to test out granulation, but come back to observe this later on after my paint has fully dried and settled into the paper in all my sections. f) Permanence A color's permanence refers to how resistant it is when exposed to light. In other words, how quickly does it start to fade out? Usually, manufacturers include this information somewhere within the packaging of the product with the following codes: AA (Extremely Permanent), A (Permanent), B (Moderately Durable) or C (Fugitive). -I don't usually create a separate square/rectangle to test out permanence, but come back to observe how much the color has faded out a few months later. g) How do colors react on different types of papers? I usually like seeing how different pigments react on at least a couple of different types of watercolor paper because I know how much of a difference the right paper can make! -For the swatching of this particular Winsor and Newton set, I used both higher quality Arches watercolor paper, as well as cheaper Canson paper. Both of these were 140 lb. Cold Press papers, but the Arches had much more of a texture to it. Another option could be testing your paint out on both Cold Press and Hot Press papers. Check out my blog post/YouTube video Watercolor Supplies for Beginners + Things You Should Know. In it, I explain everything you have to know about watercolor paper and demystify a lot of common thoughts beginners have in relation to watercolor supplies. Swatching Outcome and My Conclusions
Swatching out Winsor and Newton paint set on Arches 140 lb. Cold-Press watercolor paper. This photo has not been manipulated in any way.
Swatching out Winsor and Newton paint set on Canson 140 lb. Cold-Press watercolor paper. This photo has not been manipulated in any way.
The colors included in this Winsor and Newton 12-piece tube set are: Cadmium Yellow Hue Cadmium Red Pale Hue Alizarin Crimson Ultramarine Blue Cerulean Blue Prussian Blue Viridian Green Yellow Ochre Burnt Sienna Burnt Umber Ivory Black Chinese White I enjoyed testing out this Winsor and Newton watercolor tube set and look forward to painting a piece with it. Even though this brand's Cotman line is described as being their affordable/student grade option, this particular tube set offers an excellent color payoff, contains a good amount of paint and is quite comfortable to work with. The paint's texture is just thick enough when squeezed out of the tube and onto the paint-mixing palette. Each tube contains 8 ml of paint and the manufacturer has included relevant information on its packaging such as each color's level of Permanence and Pigment Code. A few things I noticed in regards to the differences between the swatches created on the two different watercolor papers: a) Overall, the colors painted on the Arches paper are more vibrant than how they appear on the Canson paper. b) The degree of this varies from pigment to pigment, but I was able to lift up more paint from the Canson paper, especially once the paint had dried. This probably has to do with the fact that the 100% cotton Arches paper absorbs the pigment a lot more effectively. c) Wet-on-wet effects were much more beautiful on the Arches paper, which allowed them to disperse a lot more fluidly and gradually. On the Canson paper, the paint pooled in certain areas and left a patchy effect. d) All colors, except for the Chinese white are completely transparent (which is a good thing). Transparent watercolors allow bottom layers to shine through and give paintings a unique glow. If you zoom into the ink lines below the Chinese white swatch, they appear to have a bit of a chalkiness over them. Watercolor Supplies Used:
*I buy most of my art supplies online through ConsumerCrafts or Amazon. Both of them are excellent options for finding great supplies at accessible prices. Click on images below to learn more about each product.
Subscribe to my email list and get access to my exclusive group of growing artists over on Facebook. Art in Harmony is a safe place to share your art and connect with other artists in a positive environment. I'm at the group daily providing feedback and have a free live class based on topics of members' choosing every week. There are also Weekly Challenges you can take part of, Thursday Art Tips and inspiration to help you make creativity a habit. 
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*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)
Looking for some meaningful and practical gift ideas that your artsy friend/significant other/family member would absolutely love to receive this Christmas? What items could help encourage an artist to keep creating and pursuing his/her creative passions?
First and foremost, I'd like to take a moment to thank you for reading this post, as it most likely means that you're interested in celebrating your friend or loved one's individuality and passion for art, and want to encourage him/her to keep going. As an artist myself, I can tell you that knowing people close to me support my decision to pursue art means everything, especially when one is just starting out. I'm all about encouraging fellow artists to keep going because I 100% believe the world would be a better place with more art in it. All this said, no matter how mysterious and complex people make us artists to be, we're honestly an easy bunch to buy presents for. Not only do we tend to wear our hearts (and minds) on our sleeves more than others, but there are things we need to constantly replace in order to keep feeding our need for creation. We also need to constantly seek ways to stay inspired and motivated, and a huge variety of things can get our creative minds going. In this blog post, I'll be sharing a list of ten awesome gift ideas that your artistic friend will absolutely love. I've made sure to include options for both males and females, as well as an explanation as to why each item is so great. Enjoy! Perfect Gifts for Artists on AmazonI personally love buying art supplies, as well as Christmas gifts for my loved ones from the comfort of my own home through Amazon. Click on the images below to learn more about each item on this list. 1. A sketchbook (or two)
Illo Sketchbook 180 GSM Paper (8x8). Click on image to find out more about this item.
An artist can only paint as well as he/she can draw, and keeping sketchbooks is a great way for us to continue sharpening our drawing and observational skills throughout our journeys. Not to mention, sketchbooks are portable, allowing us to stay creative wherever we go, and provide a chronological record of our progress that we'll keep forever. You can honestly never go wrong with giving an artist a sketchbook. Find out more about why sketchbooks are such an essential part of an artist's journey in this blog post. 2. An artsy cell phone case
CRAFIC Watercolor Paint Cell Phone Case for Apple iPhone 6 / 6S Plus. Click on image to find out more about this item.
Not only do artists love making their passions known to those around them, but many of us working artists actually depend on it. Especially when an artist is just starting out, it's incredibly important to get the word out about what it is we do so that we can start building up those connections and experience. An eye-catching statement accessory like this artsy cell phone case is a great way for us to transmit our originality and love for art, but also encourages other people to strike up a conversation with us. 3. A leather pencil and paintbrush case
Flyshine Canvas Artist Brush Holder Rollup Pouch. Click on image to find out more about this item.
An artist's supplies are his/her tools for creation, and they must be taken care of. This can definitely be a challenge when we do sketching and painting outside of our studios. A quality paintbrush case or pouch like this canvas roll-up ensures that our favorite paintbrushes will be kept safe. I love the practicality of a roll-up pouch like this one, as there is no space wasted and paintbrushes can be organized/kept in place perfectly. 4. A painter's apron
Artist Canvas Unisex Apron with Pockets. Click on image to find out more about this item.
The struggle is real for us artists to keep our clothes free of paint, which can be a problem because a lot of us prefer to spend our money on more art supplies, than on new clothes! A canvas apron like this one is durable, wraps around the back for a higher level of protection, and I love that it includes different pockets for paintbrushes, rags and other things we might need to have on hand while painting. It's perfect for both males and females. 5. Some high quality hand lotion
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Hand Lotion, Lavender (12 oz). Click on image to find out more about this item.
Hand lotion is a total must for artists, especially in the winter time. We're constantly washing paint and other harsh liquids off our hands, which makes them extremely dry and itchy. I personally have bottles everywhere, including my studio, and always carry a tube with my in my bag. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day line offers a variety of scents like Lavender, Lemon Verbena, and Peppermint. They are perfect for those of us who need a higher amount of protection/moisture, as they are created especially for people who work with their hands. We must take care of our hands because without them we can't create! 6. An inspiring (and practical) artsy mug
Paint Water & Not paint water - Set of two mugs (11oz). Click on image to find out more about this item.
Whether your friend paints with watercolors, acrylics or oils, chances are he/she's experienced dipping a paintbrush in his/her beverage on more than one occasion. It may sound odd to the non-artist, but I promise you, it happens time and time again when one is immersed in the art-making process! I actually know someone who drank paint thinner by accident. I'll just leave it at that... These mugs appear to be humorous, but they may also help keep an artist safe. 7. A color wheel umbrella
Streamline Rainbow Color Wheel Umbrella. Click on image to find out more about this item.
An umbrella like this one is not only beautiful and inspiring to look at, but is also large and sturdy to help us keep our work safe when walking to and from vehicles in the pouring rain (which can be very challenging). What better way to let that artist in your life know that you're there for him/her than providing a canopy of protection from the rain? 8. An artsy enamel pin
Pinsanity Painter's Palette Enamel Lapel Pin. Click on image to find out more about this item.
On the lookout for something small, but meaningful? Enamel pins are all the rage now-a-days and are a perfect little surprise that your artsy friend will be able to actually wear while out and about. This is another perfect accessory that can not only help us express our individuality and love for art, but can also be a conversational piece. Making time for conversation with others is essential for us, especially because artists tend to be alone a lot. Some of us forget what it's like to talk with others. True story. 9. An inspirational art book
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life (Sharon Louden) and Art & Fear (David Bayles/Ted Orland) Books -Click on image to find out more about these items.
An artist's life can definitely get lonely and sometimes we need to be reminded of how others have gone through what we're going through. We also need to be inspired by stories from other artists who have reached success so that we can keep working hard to make our dreams come true. Both of the books above are, in my opinion, must-reads for any serious artist. Living and Sustaining a Creative Life is a compilation of 40 personal stories/essays by working artists. Each one of them shares his/her own experiences and struggles as they have pursued making a living as an artist. This book helps us understand the reality of what it's like to sustain a professional creative career over time. Art and Fear is a very popular book amongst creatives of all kinds. This book tackles artistic insecurities, and the internal and external challenges that professional artists face throughout their journeys. Finishing projects, getting our work out there and receiving critique are difficult tasks that artists must learn how to do/handle. This is a book to read over and over again. 10. A painting easel
US Art Supply Tall Tabletop Adjustable H-Frame Wood Studio Artist Easel. Click on image to find out more about this item.
As a painter myself, I have a variety of easels. I enjoy standing when I'm creating my larger pieces, but a desk easel like this one is absolutely perfect for smaller and more relaxing works to enjoy on weekend mornings. Switching from one easel to another is a great way to reset my mind from a piece I'm creating for selling purposes, and one I'm creating for myself. This easel is sleek, sturdy, and is perfectly sized, even for beginner artists working in a small studio. 
*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :) Welcome back, fellow artists! I'm very excited to share that I made it through my first time participating in the Inktober drawing challenge! In today's blog post, I'll be sharing my last time lapse compilation of Inktober sketches, as well as things I learned by having pushed myself through it. Though the drawings I'll be sharing were created specifically for Inktober, most of the information I'll be including throughout the post (and video) can relate to any type of daily art challenge. There's no question that being able to produce a new piece every-single-day for an entire month (no matter how small), is extremely difficult. However, there's a ton to learn from participating in art challenges like this one, as they allow us to improve not only our cold-technical skills (drawing, shading techniques, etc.) and our time-management abilities, but also test us mentally in many ways. This is why I made the decision to finally take on Inktober this year! If you visited my blog or YouTube channel at any point throughout October, you're probably aware that I've been sharing time lapses for every-single-one of my Inktober sketches! I've also talked about a variety of topics pertaining to it. Make sure to check out my past Inktober blog posts and find the rest of my time lapses over at my YouTube channel: 5 Tips to Make it Through Inktober and How I'm Going About It My Inktober Supplies and Time-lapses for Sketches 6-11 Inktober Sketches 19-25 + Reviewing My Supplies If you enjoy this video, I highly recommend subscribing to my YouTube channel. I publish a new one every-single-week sharing art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for beginner/intermediate artists! :) What I Learned from Inktober
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Thanks so much for checking out this blog post! Did you participate in Inktober this year? If not, are you planning to in 2019? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below! :)
*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)
Hey, there!
In today's blog post/YouTube video, I'll be sharing Inktober sketches 19-25, as well as a review of the supplies I've been using throughout this challenge. I wanted to really put these products to the test and have a good amount of experience with them before I actually expressed any opinions.
I have released several blog posts sharing tips and tutorials about pen and ink drawing that I highly recommend you check out if you haven't already (two very popular ones are this one and this one). In past YouTube videos, I've shared how much I enjoy using this drawing medium and why I think it's so effective at helping us progress our artistic skills.
All this said, I had never used pen and ink as consistently as I have with this drawing challenge. I committed to participating in Inktober this year because I knew that creating a new piece every-single-day for an entire month would lead to amazing growth in a short period of time. The challenge would help me not only exercise my creativity continuously and gain confidence in my pen and ink technique, but would also test my time-management skills and even more mental/personal aspects.
Over at my YouTube channel, I've shared all of my Inktober sketch time lapses so far:
1. Time lapses 1-5 + A Bit About My Thoughts and Process
2. Time lapses 6-11 + How I Come Up With the Ideas Behind My Sketches
3. Time lapses 12-18 + My Struggles So Far
*The video included in this post is my fourth compilation of sketch time lapses and I'm closing this Inktober series with a last video including my final drawings, as well as a bit about what I've learned. Make sure to subscribe to my channel and stay tuned for the last compilation of sketches coming up next Friday (Nov. 2)!
If you enjoy this video, I highly recommend subscribing to my YouTube channel. I publish a new one every-single-week sharing art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for beginner/intermediate artists! :)
If you enjoy this video, I highly recommend subscribing to my YouTube channel. I publish a new one every-single-week sharing art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for beginner/intermediate artists! :)
My Inktober Supplies
I knew since before starting the challenge, that I wanted to make a careful selection of supplies and stick with them throughout the entire month. This way, I would be able to come up with solid opinions about them.
All of my supplies were acquired online through either Amazon or ConsumerCrafts.com, which are both excellent online options to find quality art supplies at great prices.
1. Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook
This was my first time using a Leuchtturm sketchbook and I really enjoyed it, especially in combination with drawing pens and ink. These sketchbooks are definitely on the more expensive side, but I'm really glad I invested in one and decided to use it for this drawing challenge!
The sketchbook is 15 x 21 cms. in size and is made up of 96 pure white 180 g/m drawing paper that is quite smooth. I love that the sketchbook includes two bookmarks and an elastic to keep it safely closed. These characteristics make the sketchbook perfect to take out for drawing in plein air or coffeeshops.
I had a couple of different sketchbooks to pick from laying around that I could go for, but I went for this one for two main reasons:
a) I knew that I wanted some areas of my Inktober sketches to have thick applications of ink and the thickness of its pages would allow for this.
b) The pure/brilliant white of its pages would really allow my black ink lines/shapes to contrast and pop out!
Though I find this sketchbook amazing for drawing purposes, I wouldn't recommend it for sketching with watercolors, as its paper is too smooth and I don't think it would hold/absorb water very well. I think it would, however, work pretty well for gouache and even acrylics.
It's always a smart idea to give thought to what kinds of mediums you're planning on using in your sketchbooks before making a decision about which one to buy.
The sketchbook is 15 x 21 cms. in size and is made up of 96 pure white 180 g/m drawing paper that is quite smooth. I love that the sketchbook includes two bookmarks and an elastic to keep it safely closed. These characteristics make the sketchbook perfect to take out for drawing in plein air or coffeeshops.
I had a couple of different sketchbooks to pick from laying around that I could go for, but I went for this one for two main reasons:
a) I knew that I wanted some areas of my Inktober sketches to have thick applications of ink and the thickness of its pages would allow for this.
b) The pure/brilliant white of its pages would really allow my black ink lines/shapes to contrast and pop out!
Though I find this sketchbook amazing for drawing purposes, I wouldn't recommend it for sketching with watercolors, as its paper is too smooth and I don't think it would hold/absorb water very well. I think it would, however, work pretty well for gouache and even acrylics.
It's always a smart idea to give thought to what kinds of mediums you're planning on using in your sketchbooks before making a decision about which one to buy.
2. Staedtler Pigment Liners
I've had this set of drawing pens for a while and I've always used them interchangeably with my Micron pens. I think these two brands/products are pretty close in terms of quality and price, and produce almost the same results. I will continue buying Staedtler drawing pens for the time being, as I found throughout this challenge that I really enjoy them.
The four-pack of drawing pens that I have includes .1, .3, .5, and .7 millimeter points. The majority of my Inktober sketches were created using only the .3 and .5 points. I find the four pack includes a perfect variety of point thicknesses and don't think I would personally need anything smaller or larger.
The ink in the Staedtler Pigment Liners is waterproof, bleed-proof, smudge-proof and fade resistant, which leads me to think they would be perfect for use in combination with watercolors. The lines created by these drawing pens are also very crisp and dark.
Lastly, the ink in these pens also lasts a very long time. Even though I used them every-single-day for 31 days (and pretty roughly-I might add), they never started drying out.
3. Speedball Drawing & Calligraphy India Ink
I acquired this little 2 ounce tub of black ink a while back for exploratory purposes and I'm very glad I had it on hand for this Inktober! It allowed me to create the flat black geometric background shapes that I decided would be the unifying aspect of my drawings prior to starting.
This Speedball drawing/calligraphy ink is a rich black and a bit on the thick side. However, it can be diluted to create a variety of values and a runnier texture. I used a small, angled, soft-bristled brush to apply it onto my paper and the wash always came out quite even. I never noticed any granulation, even in areas where I applied the ink thickly.
I also loved the fact that it washes off from skin pretty easily and that it has no overpowering odor to it. Lastly, the shape of its bottle is genius, as the bottom of it is wider than the top and makes it more stable. This avoids it from tipping over and creating a huge mess!
This Speedball drawing/calligraphy ink is a rich black and a bit on the thick side. However, it can be diluted to create a variety of values and a runnier texture. I used a small, angled, soft-bristled brush to apply it onto my paper and the wash always came out quite even. I never noticed any granulation, even in areas where I applied the ink thickly.
I also loved the fact that it washes off from skin pretty easily and that it has no overpowering odor to it. Lastly, the shape of its bottle is genius, as the bottom of it is wider than the top and makes it more stable. This avoids it from tipping over and creating a huge mess!
That's it in terms of my Inktober supplies for 2018! I hope that you found this blog post/YouTube video helpful and inspiring! :)
*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)
Are you an artist looking for a foolproof way to improve your drawing/creative skills in a short period of time? Have you always wanted to participate in #Inktober or other daily drawing challenges but find them a bit intimidating? Are you a beginner looking to make drawing and creativity a part of your daily life?
Month-long drawing challenges like Inktober are no joke. Most of us have a lot going on in our lives and committing to producing one drawing a day (and actually sticking with it for the entire month) requires a huge amount of discipline. Even if one starts with the project excited and has proper fun creating those first few sketches, that initial burst of inspiration is probably going to dwindle at some point mid-way.
And when that happens, it's going to take sheer determination to keep going!
This said, if we are able to stick with it, growth will come inevitably and fast. By the end of the month, our drawing skills will have progressed and our creative abilities will be heightened. This type of experience is also incredibly valuable as it helps us make way towards finding our artistic style and voice. Committing to any sort of series like this one is a great way of pinpointing our strengths and weaknesses, which is essential.
In this blog post, I'll be sharing my top five tips to ensure that you are progressing your drawing/creative skills as much as possible with this drawing challenge, but also staying sane along the way. These are all things I'm making sure to do myself throughout this month. I'm also including links to a few very helpful pen and ink drawing blog posts/YouTube videos that will help you step up your inking game.
The video included in this post is a compilation of time lapses for my first five Inktober sketches.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram to stay up-to-date with my progress throughout the month.
I'm sure I'll be missing a few days here and there, but I am planning to make up for them as soon as I'm able to.
Check out these helpful pen and ink sketching blog posts/YouTube videos!
1. Pen & Ink Sketching: 6 Shading Techniques
2. Guide to Shading Techniques: Hatching, Crosshatching, Scribbling and Others
3. Shading Simple Objects Using Hatching, Crosshatching and Other Drawing Pen Techniques
4. Shading a Hand Using Pen and Ink (Complex Subjects)
Inktober Tips
1. Be practical about it
As creatives, we have tons of different ideas popping up in our heads non-stop. This is great, but it can definitely hinder us from moving forward and actually finishing things. Think of an idea that you feel could work and that feels practical in terms of time, and just go for it. If you look back constantly, there's a huge possibility that you won't finish drawings on time and they're going to start piling up, which can lead to overwhelm.
Remember that this is a marathon and not a sprint. I like keeping this sort of project practical by giving a bit of my energy each day instead of giving it all right at the beginning and burning out fast. I'm not striving for masterpieces, but for growth.
Remember that this is a marathon and not a sprint. I like keeping this sort of project practical by giving a bit of my energy each day instead of giving it all right at the beginning and burning out fast. I'm not striving for masterpieces, but for growth.
2. Avoid looking at others' work until after you have finished yours
It's important for me to keep my work as original as possible and I hope this is the case for you as well. I'm sure there will be other artists in the world creating work that is similar to mine in some (or many) aspects. But when this happens, I know that it's due to the fact that those other artists and I are somehow influenced by similar things and not because I'm copying their work.
For challenges like this one, I find it super helpful to stay away from social media until after I have finished my work (or at least my initial sketch). This way, I'm not allowing other artists' ideas to infiltrate my mind.
For challenges like this one, I find it super helpful to stay away from social media until after I have finished my work (or at least my initial sketch). This way, I'm not allowing other artists' ideas to infiltrate my mind.
3. Brainstorm ideas and create sketches
Before going to bed, I'm reading the prompt for the following day and allowing myself to start brainstorming. I start sifting through ideas in my head, setting aside those that might not be practical (no matter how amazing they might sound). I don't actually put pencil/pen to paper until the next day.
I recommend creating at least a couple of quick sketches prior to actually starting with your piece. Doing quick thumbnails is an excellent way of arriving at great compositional arrangements. For several of the drawings above, I was unsure whether I wanted my main subject to be facing forwards or whether I'd be sketching him/her/it in profile or at an angle. It wasn't until I created those sketches and actually saw my ideas come to life that I could make a decision about what would be most appealing.
I recommend creating at least a couple of quick sketches prior to actually starting with your piece. Doing quick thumbnails is an excellent way of arriving at great compositional arrangements. For several of the drawings above, I was unsure whether I wanted my main subject to be facing forwards or whether I'd be sketching him/her/it in profile or at an angle. It wasn't until I created those sketches and actually saw my ideas come to life that I could make a decision about what would be most appealing.
4. Incorporate some sort of element of coherency (or a theme)
When creating any sort of series like this one, it's useful to think about how you can bring an aspect of consistency to your work. A lot of artists like sticking to a specific theme for Inktober and I think this is very useful, as it limits the broad range of ideas that might lead to indecision and not doing anything at all.
I decided to incorporate coherency in the format/layout of my overall design. However, there are many ways that we can add a sense of consistency to our artwork. Perhaps you want to make sure to incorporate human figures in all your drawings, stick with a specific color scheme (if you're using color), create some sort of frame around your drawing, integrate handwritten lettering, or think of a specific layout like I did.
I decided to incorporate coherency in the format/layout of my overall design. However, there are many ways that we can add a sense of consistency to our artwork. Perhaps you want to make sure to incorporate human figures in all your drawings, stick with a specific color scheme (if you're using color), create some sort of frame around your drawing, integrate handwritten lettering, or think of a specific layout like I did.
5. Have fun and don't strive for perfection
Being a perfectionist and expecting too much from yourself with every single thing you do is a surefire way of burning out and not enjoying the creative process. It also keeps you from producing the amount of work you have to create in order to really improve artistically.
Not to mention, this challenge (in my opinion) is a way of improving our personal skills, not about showing off masterpieces and/or comparing them with other peoples'! Stay in your lane and remember that the purpose of this project is to improve your drawing and creative skills, as well as to make art a daily habit.
I hope you have fun throughout the month and wish you lots of artistic growth!
Not to mention, this challenge (in my opinion) is a way of improving our personal skills, not about showing off masterpieces and/or comparing them with other peoples'! Stay in your lane and remember that the purpose of this project is to improve your drawing and creative skills, as well as to make art a daily habit.
I hope you have fun throughout the month and wish you lots of artistic growth!
My Inktober art supplies
*Click on images to check out the specific supplies I'm using for Inktober that I've bought through www.consumercrafts.com and www.amazon.com:
Staedtler Pigment Liner Sketch Pens: Black (4 pack) $15.67
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Prismacolor Drawing Pencil Set: Turquoise, 12 pack $13.99
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*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)
Are you interested in learning how to paint using watercolors but are unsure of what supplies are best suited for beginners on a budget? Does the thought of going to an art supply store and having to decide what specific items to choose in a sea of different types of paper, paint and paintbrushes make you not want to start at all? Do you find all the information out there about watercolor paper, paintbrushes, etc. confusing and, perhaps even, overwhelming?
When I was first starting my watercolor painting journey, I wasted a lot of money on supplies that ended up sitting on my shelf unused. I also bought materials (especially paper) that made the whole learning process much more frustrating and longer than it could have been. Though I'm still working hard at improving my skills, I've learned a lot in the years I've been painting with this medium, and I have a solid idea of what particular supplies actually helped me improve, as well as which ones I shouldn't have spent my hard-earned cash on.
In this blog post, I will share a list of items that all beginner watercolor artists should have on hand when starting on their journeys, as well as specific brands of products that I have personally used time and time again. I will also provide essential information throughout that I wish I knew when I first started with this amazing painting medium. This way, you'll not only be able to make more informed choices when you're deciding which supplies to buy, but you'll progress your watercolor painting skills a lot faster.
These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)
Are you interested in learning how to paint using watercolors but are unsure of what supplies are best suited for beginners on a budget? Does the thought of going to an art supply store and having to decide what specific items to choose in a sea of different types of paper, paint and paintbrushes make you not want to start at all? Do you find all the information out there about watercolor paper, paintbrushes, etc. confusing and, perhaps even, overwhelming?
When I was first starting my watercolor painting journey, I wasted a lot of money on supplies that ended up sitting on my shelf unused. I also bought materials (especially paper) that made the whole learning process much more frustrating and longer than it could have been. Though I'm still working hard at improving my skills, I've learned a lot in the years I've been painting with this medium, and I have a solid idea of what particular supplies actually helped me improve, as well as which ones I shouldn't have spent my hard-earned cash on.
In this blog post, I will share a list of items that all beginner watercolor artists should have on hand when starting on their journeys, as well as specific brands of products that I have personally used time and time again. I will also provide essential information throughout that I wish I knew when I first started with this amazing painting medium. This way, you'll not only be able to make more informed choices when you're deciding which supplies to buy, but you'll progress your watercolor painting skills a lot faster.
Watercolor illustrations by Erika Lancaster
Before I get into the watercolor supply list, I'd like to preface by saying that I'm all for using limited and non-expensive supplies when creating any kind of artwork, especially when it's not meant to be sold. It's important to invest in superior quality supplies once you start selling your paintings, but there is absolutely no need for you to spend so much money at this point. In many ways, the more limited your supplies are, the faster you'll grow.
There are several brands of art supplies that are on your side and create quality products for you to build up your skills without the need to spend a ton of money. So please, don't make this an excuse not to keep working on your art!
Next, I'll be sharing a list of nine essential items to have on hand as you start your watercolor painting journey. Some of these you'll have to buy, but others you probably already have. :)
Watercolor Supplies for Beginners
1. Paint
Now-a-days there are tons of different kinds of watercolor presentations and variations, but we're going to be sticking with the most basic types, which are tubes and pans. While tube sets can be pretty great, I would recommend beginners stick with pans sets. My reasoning is that when we're first starting out, we tend to use way more paint than necessary and pans tend to be less wasteful/durable.
To-the-day, I find using pan sets more enjoyable. I love their portability and the fact that they often have an integrated paint mixing palate (and sometimes even a small paintbrush!).
This said, I highly recommend beginners make time to do a bit of research to find particular brands that offer quality paint at affordable prices. Quality watercolor paint makes ALL the difference, as it offers great color payoff and blendability. I've acquired paint sets from both of the brands below more than once and I just love how creamy and bright their colors are!
Something that is essential for beginners to understand is that just because a set of watercolors contains more colors, doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Twelve color sets are more than enough for beginners (or anyone else really), and I believe that starting with limited colors is going to help you understand color and become more experienced creating successful color combinations sooner.
To-the-day, I find using pan sets more enjoyable. I love their portability and the fact that they often have an integrated paint mixing palate (and sometimes even a small paintbrush!).
This said, I highly recommend beginners make time to do a bit of research to find particular brands that offer quality paint at affordable prices. Quality watercolor paint makes ALL the difference, as it offers great color payoff and blendability. I've acquired paint sets from both of the brands below more than once and I just love how creamy and bright their colors are!
Something that is essential for beginners to understand is that just because a set of watercolors contains more colors, doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Twelve color sets are more than enough for beginners (or anyone else really), and I believe that starting with limited colors is going to help you understand color and become more experienced creating successful color combinations sooner.
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2. Paper
Out of all the watercolor painting supplies on this list, I think paper was the most difficult for me to wrap my head around when I was starting out because it comes in so many different types, weights and formats. Here's what you need to know:
There are three main things that will affect your painting experience, as well as the outcome of your work when it comes to paper, and this is its weight (how thick or thin it is), absorbency (directly related to paper 'sizing') and texture (how rough or smooth it is). These are the main things you should start noticing about your paper as you move forward. When we're just starting out, it's best to go for a paper that falls within a mid-range of each of these three things.
Watercolor paper is categorized into three main types: Rough, Cold-Press and Hot-Press
There are three main things that will affect your painting experience, as well as the outcome of your work when it comes to paper, and this is its weight (how thick or thin it is), absorbency (directly related to paper 'sizing') and texture (how rough or smooth it is). These are the main things you should start noticing about your paper as you move forward. When we're just starting out, it's best to go for a paper that falls within a mid-range of each of these three things.
Watercolor paper is categorized into three main types: Rough, Cold-Press and Hot-Press
Types of watercolor paper
Because Cold-Press paper offers the best of both worlds, it's the paper of choice for many professional watercolor artists and it is the one I recommend beginners look for. This said, it's important for you to know that characteristics will vary from brand to brand and you're going to have to do some exploration yourself in order to arrive at the specific brands/products that work to your benefit, enhancing your own art style.
In terms of thickness, watercolor can be found in lightweight, medium-weight and heavy-weight. I would strongly advise against spending money on any kind of light-weight paper, as it tends to buckle, warp and is much more delicate, which is something we don't want when we're just getting to know a new painting medium.
Here are three specific weights that you can usually find at art supply stores:
Watercolor paper weights
Here are two of my favorite accessible watercolor paper brands. I used both Canson and Strathmore paper A LOT at the beginning, and I STILL do!
*Click on the image to go directly to the product page at www.consumercrafts.com.
Montval Watercolor Paper Pad (15 x 20 in) 12 sheets $11.49
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Strathmore 300 Series Watercolor Pad (9 x 12 in) $6.97
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There are watercolor artists out there that may shun lower quality watercolor paper advise beginners to start with the best 100% cotton watercolor paper right off the bat. I'm not one of them.
100% cotton watercolor paper may be awesome for professional artists already selling their work (especially if they're selling originals), but as beginners we are exploring and developing skills. Superior paper brands like Arches are amazing, but they are much more expensive. I much prefer you paint a lot and not keep yourself from working because your materials are too precious!
The last thing you should know about in terms of paper, are the different formats that you can find it in. Watercolor paper can be acquired in pads with many sheets in them, in large sheets that you can buy in singles and then cut up in whatever size you'd like to work in, and in blocks. Blocks are interesting because they have a film or adhesive all around their edges and require you to use some sort of knife to separate sheets one by one. They are useful, especially for those looking to paint landscapes and/or enjoy working in plein air because they eliminate the need to stretch your paper on a board beforehand.
I would recommend beginners start with paper pads. I enjoy buying medium sized pads and cutting them to whatever size I need, sometimes creating 2-4 separate illustrations with one same sheet!
3. Paintbrushes
A good watercolor paintbrush should be able to hold a good amount of water in it, maintain a fine point/end and also distribute paint smoothly on your paper. I'm going to be explaining a bit about the two things that you should know about at this point, which are different paintbrush shapes and hair.
First and foremost, I want to get something out of the way.
I feel there is the misconception amongst beginners starting out with watercolors that you should have tons of different types of paintbrushes in order to create a successful watercolor painting, and this couldn't be further from the truth. When we're first starting out getting to know the medium, we might feel inclined to buy those huge sets of paintbrushes so that we can follow along with different watercolor technique tutorials and fun abstract exercises.
Though learning different techniques and exploring the beautiful effects that watercolor allows is very useful, when you really want to hone into your subject of choice (be it landscapes, still life, animals, portraits, etc.), and actually improve your skill, you're going to find that you only use a few (or even a couple) different types of brushes.
Once you have spent a bit of time practicing, you're going to arrive at your own favorite paintbrush type/size and, most likely, you'll be able to paint all sorts of things using only those two or three brushes!
So instead of buying one of those huge paintbrush sets with all the different types in it, invest in only 3-4 higher quality paintbrushes that you're actually going to use (and won't fall apart after a few paintings). I would recommend round brushes, as they are the most versatile. Decide what sizes are right for you, depending on your subject of choice, as well as the level of detail you want to be able to achieve. I would recommend acquiring one larger (1-1.5 in) flat brush along with 2-3 sizes of rounds, just so you can have a way to cover larger areas at once. But that's pretty much it!
I personally create around 80% of my paintings using only 2-3 different sizes of round brushes!
Here are the main kinds of paintbrush shapes that you'll be able to easily find at art supply stores:
First and foremost, I want to get something out of the way.
I feel there is the misconception amongst beginners starting out with watercolors that you should have tons of different types of paintbrushes in order to create a successful watercolor painting, and this couldn't be further from the truth. When we're first starting out getting to know the medium, we might feel inclined to buy those huge sets of paintbrushes so that we can follow along with different watercolor technique tutorials and fun abstract exercises.
Though learning different techniques and exploring the beautiful effects that watercolor allows is very useful, when you really want to hone into your subject of choice (be it landscapes, still life, animals, portraits, etc.), and actually improve your skill, you're going to find that you only use a few (or even a couple) different types of brushes.
Once you have spent a bit of time practicing, you're going to arrive at your own favorite paintbrush type/size and, most likely, you'll be able to paint all sorts of things using only those two or three brushes!
So instead of buying one of those huge paintbrush sets with all the different types in it, invest in only 3-4 higher quality paintbrushes that you're actually going to use (and won't fall apart after a few paintings). I would recommend round brushes, as they are the most versatile. Decide what sizes are right for you, depending on your subject of choice, as well as the level of detail you want to be able to achieve. I would recommend acquiring one larger (1-1.5 in) flat brush along with 2-3 sizes of rounds, just so you can have a way to cover larger areas at once. But that's pretty much it!
I personally create around 80% of my paintings using only 2-3 different sizes of round brushes!
Here are the main kinds of paintbrush shapes that you'll be able to easily find at art supply stores:
All of these can be found in all kinds of sizes. As your watercolor painting journey progresses, you'll likely hear about other types of more specialized paintbrushes like: the mop brush, dagger brush, rigger brush, etc., but don't worry about those for now!
An awesome type of paintbrush that you should know exists, especially if you enjoy painting outdoors or taking your art supplies along with you when you travel, is the water-fillable paintbrush. This one eliminates the need for a water jar as you paint!
An awesome type of paintbrush that you should know exists, especially if you enjoy painting outdoors or taking your art supplies along with you when you travel, is the water-fillable paintbrush. This one eliminates the need for a water jar as you paint!
Re-fillable watercolor paintbrush (included in Sakura Koi watercolor set)
Royal & Langnickel Zen All Media Long Handle Round Brush Size 6 $2.00
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Royal & Langnickel Zen All Media Long Handle Round Brush Size 10 $2.00
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Princeton Select Artiste Wash Paintbrush - 1/2 in $4.36
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And lastly, in regards to brushes, you are going to be able to find them with three different kinds of hair: natural, synthetic and a mixture of the two. Paintbrushes with natural hair are usually considered higher quality and are created with hair from different animals (squirrel, camel, ox, etc.). However, there are excellent quality synthetic paintbrushes that mimic natural hair and I would recommend these for beginners as they are usually more affordable and durable in many ways.
I only work with synthetics.
4. Paint mixing palette
I really enjoy using an old ceramic kitchen plate as a paint-mixing palette. However, I can be a bit of a mess when I'm painting and I wouldn't recommend this for beginners as my colors sometimes mix together.
If you buy a watercolor set like Sakura Koi set mentioned in number one, you don't really need to buy a separate palette, but you can get a plastic one with reservoirs like the one below for a small amount of money.
If you buy a watercolor set like Sakura Koi set mentioned in number one, you don't really need to buy a separate palette, but you can get a plastic one with reservoirs like the one below for a small amount of money.
Studio71 10 Well Plastic Palette $1.17
4. Thick cardboard
Some kinds of paintings will require you to tape your watercolor paper down onto a hard surface, and any kind of thick cardboard will do. This is especially necessary to have on hand if you enjoy painting landscapes, using lots of washes, or simply covering most of your paper with paint.
You can always tape your paper down onto your desk or table, but you won't be able to shift it and turn it throughout the painting process, which can be uncomfortable and annoying.
You can always tape your paper down onto your desk or table, but you won't be able to shift it and turn it throughout the painting process, which can be uncomfortable and annoying.
5. Masking tape
You're going to need a good roll of masking tape to tape your paper down onto hard surfaces for the reason mentioned above. Unless you're using heavy-weight paper or a watercolor paper block, you'll have to stretch it if you're planning on creating a complete painting.
If you paint more simple illustrations that don't have a background, medium weight paper doesn't necessarily need stretching.
If you paint more simple illustrations that don't have a background, medium weight paper doesn't necessarily need stretching.
6. Rag or paper towel
When we're painting with watercolor, it's essential to have some sort of rag or paper towel on hand in order to lift paint and/or create certain effects. I'm a huge fan of these reusable Scott Shop Towels and use them for both my watercolor and oil paintings, but you can literally use a paper towel from your kitchen!
7. Cup or glass jar (or two or three)
Some watercolor artists enjoy using two, or even three, watercolor cups/glass jars as they are working. This ensures that their water is going to be cleaner throughout the painting process, which is absolutely essential! If you choose to do this, one jar can be used to rinse your brush, while the other can be used to add water to paint mixtures.
Whether you decide to use only one, two or three water containers, just make sure you're keeping an eye on your water and changing it as needed. Using dirty water will affect your colors!
Whether you decide to use only one, two or three water containers, just make sure you're keeping an eye on your water and changing it as needed. Using dirty water will affect your colors!
8. Scrap piece of watercolor paper
I simply cannot paint without a scrap piece of watercolor paper by my side! It's absolutely essential to test your paint mixtures before actually going into your painting with them, in order to ensure that the color and transparency are what you intend them to be.
Remember watercolor paintings require a bit more care and planning throughout the process, as they cannot be easily fixed!
Remember watercolor paintings require a bit more care and planning throughout the process, as they cannot be easily fixed!
9. Pencil and eraser
You're going to need a harder pencil grade (4H, 2H, HB) for your initial sketch in order to ensure that your lines are light enough that they won't show through your paint. A harder lead pencil is also going to ensure that no messy graphite is left on your watercolor paper that could be smudged throughout the painting process. Also, make sure you have a nice, soft rubber eraser on hand. If you find your pencil work is too dark, make sure to lightly erase before starting to paint.
That's it! With these 10 supplies you'll be ready to get started on your watercolor painting journey!
I hope that you found this post helpful, and don't forget to have fun as you work towards improving your skills! I would LOVE to know how it goes for you! :)
That's it! With these 10 supplies you'll be ready to get started on your watercolor painting journey!
I hope that you found this post helpful, and don't forget to have fun as you work towards improving your skills! I would LOVE to know how it goes for you! :)
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to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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is a participant in the Shareasale.com Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Shareasale.com partner companies.
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