I definitely think that using a favorite art supply can just bring back the joy you have for making art and also bring back the feelings you have and reinspire you to want to make more art. for me it's my custom watercolor pallet and watercolor mop brush I just love to take those supplies out and just have fun and be carless it makes art fun again
One of my comfort/inspiration items is a good old fashioned paint by number kit. I paint them with a very tiny brush, so it's just thousands of little brush strokes.. then go back after and "repaint" by detailing and blending, hand mixing the various colors together, basically increasing the resolution by multiple factors. They look amazing if you take your time with them, I have several hung for display that no one would guess are PBN's. I don't have to think about what colors to use, or where they go, it's just an almost mindless activity I find very soothing. By the time I finish one I'm ready to go back to actual painting again... it's like the creative side of my brain is free to work while the logic side is busy. If you do want to try one please buy from a reputable manufacturer who doesn't steal from artists or other companies. There are so many "black market" PBN's out there who steal art, patterns, or copyrighted material, it's a real problem in the industry. Paintworks/Dimensions and Schipper are both good options. Their quality is also excellent and if you spend that much time on a project you want the materials to be worth it.
For me it's the Boku-Undo E-Sumi paints. There's a limited amount of gorgeous dark colors and it's nice to not worry how well the colors will go together because they're so similar even if they're so distinct. I love the darker mood they create and how easy it is for me to use them. I primarily write so for me switching to another creative outlet is really how I get over writer's block. I'm creating a habit of painting each time the motivation to write isn't there. Music also helps inspire me as I can picture the scenes I want in my head more easily with a soundtrack.
That is such a good point about knowing you're using the 'wrong' paper for the medium and it actually being freeing. I find that I've got lovely 100% cotton sketchbooks but knowing they are good for watercolour actually means I don't want to use them for trying things out, or even for sketching at all because that paper is for 'best' - with the result that I suffer from a kind of art paralysis and end up doing nothing. 😂
I totally agree about using a sketchbook that doesn’t take water well but helps you paint loosely! That’s my comfort supply, a NON-watercolor sketchbook for gauche sketches. And adding to that I like using my water pens (those watercolor brushes where you fill it with water) bc that also helps me get in the mindset that I’m just doing a sketch not a serious piece. Adding to comfort supplies I like using my ink pens (fountain, felt tip, just anything that has ink), color pencils, and my blackwing pencils. Bc this strays far from what I usually do (paintings) it help me feel loose and experimental or feel ok I’m just practicing and having fun.
I love the Karetake watercolors because it’s acts very similar to gouache being a very opaque watercolor, however the colors tend to bloom when it is wet.
The most comfortable art thing for me is white nights' vermilion hue, especially when I'm tired of other watercolours. It's really relaxing when you get home, you had a very hard day and trying to get some rest by drawing some sketches using only one colour
I usually try for something simple and familiar, which for me is mushrooms, flowers, or animals. keeping it simple takes off some of the pressure to feel like I have to make it really good. and btw, I just got a blackwing sharpener and love it! I'll have to try the pencils now
I find that when I get art block, its usually because I have become more interested in another creative outlet - so I did an arty advent last year (and probably got a little bit burnt out) but since Christmas ive been fixated on crochet stuff - to the point that I can't even really think about doing any artwork. I keep switching between lots of different crafty things. I really like the idea of a comfort art supply though, I think mine would be watercolour in maybe purples? or primary colours with little doodly characters. Really love your videos with all the chill vibes :)
My comfort supplies that I use to get out of art block are (1) cheap pen (usually BIC) and a whole bunch of highly-saturated sharpies. It forces me to use a limited color palette and to deal with not being able to erase. I love pulling up random images I have saved and trying to re-create them using my cheap pen and 5 or 6 sharpies
I’m not a huge artsy person but I can say that I draw and all that jazz. Comfort art supplies to me are instead of the more expensive things I have such as Daniel Smith water colors or Windsor and newton oils, I use cheap stuff. When I’m feeling the art block I like to take out some water color paper, a mechanical Bic 0.9 mm pencil, and my really shitty crayola water color pans 😂 something about them being so bright is what gets me comfy. Idk what it is about these things in particular but they make me feel loose and ready to do something. I also really enjoy just taking printer paper, highlighters and just random colored ball point pens and just sketching different and random things I find. It’s just so easy to get sucked up into art work and making it all pretty n stuff like that, that just sometimes you need that break to kinda feel like a kid again. Lol sorry this was so long, and i promise I’m not slandering the expensive stuff! This is just what makes me comfy when I’m feeling out of it or blocked. Ly all
I think it’s totally valid and beneficial to go back to your comfort zone when you’re not feeling it. Creativity is a muscle that can be worked, but not forced. I like to go back to color when i’m not feeling it (although, i have a teeeny tiny problem with buying new supplies), making swatch sheets, mixing two odd colors or painting monochromatic. That’s what fuels my soul !!
The Blackwing pencils are my absolute favorites. I have sets of Staedtler, Faber-Castell, and others, but I always reach for the Blackwings. They are just so versatile, I can work without becoming preoccupied by whether or not I'm using the right pencil. Also, my go to for breaking art block is india ink and dip pen. Something about the feedback of thick ink feeding out of the metal tines just satisfies me.
That's a grat tip, having a specific model to turn to. I don't know how much time I've spent searching for the "perfect" reference just to practice, a.k.a. the perfect trap for the procrastinator in me. Come to think of it, it's not even a new concept (artists and their "muses") but it never clicked until now. Great video as always!
My first ever set of watercolors was Prima's decadent pies set, and there is something about the moodiness of them, and they way they mix together that's always very comforting to me. Maybe it's that I used the palette so long that I always know exactly what to expect. I don't know, but there is something very special about forgoing all of my higher quality options to make little moody paint doodles with that set
Those sets got a lot of criticism from the "art" community but are great for what they are, a coordinated set of convenience colors that go with each other. I think they might be going away, I've noticed they are marked "discontinued" in many stores... so you may want to consider a backup if you really love it.
I had several Prima Marketing watercolor sets when I first started watercoloring. When I got older I purchased a large set of white nights (I literally waited like four years putting it off for myself to make sure I definitely wanted it) and the white nights improved my color mixing tenfold and they're very familiar to me now but I find I still reach for my prima marketing colors for my sketchbook! (Specifically the decadent pies and tropicals, I really recommend them!) for just how different they make the color mixtures come out. Thank you for reminding me that they're special to me!
I have the pastel dreams set and haven’t loved those but am super curious how the other sets compare since so many people seem to enjoy them! Maybe the added white in the pastel set turns me off to the quality that wouldn’t be in the other sets.
@@meldixon1918 I had all of them at one time, I've since rehomed them and changed my focus to very limited single pigment palettes. Since they are coordinated convenience colors (some have as many as four pigments in a single pan) you really have to just choose the "flavor" that fits what you want to do. For example one is all skin/hair tones for portraits.. another all water/sky colors. I think the Tropicals, Essence, and Woodlands are probably the most "all around" choices, but each give a totally unique result from the others. Decadent Pies and Vintage Pastels seem to have very strong fan bases.. they are unique color combinations that are soft and have an antique/vintage feel. They were really designed for cardmakers/crafters who don't mix much, just lay the colors down on the paper.
I definitely go thru cycles of block and absolutely resort to comfort supplies, though I never thought of calling them that. You're so right! I find solace in getting out my most absorbent sketchbooks/paper and use huge washy swaths of juicy watercolor - lots of paint, lots of water. Doing this calms my jittery, self-judgemental brain and almost always leads me to new ideas. Sometimes I go back to familiar subjects, sometimes I try something new. I like playing with acrylic using a watercolor approach. I also think gouache is fun, fun, fun. Thanks so much for this great video!
For me the opposite tends to work. I often can't find the energy to put effort and concentration and care into art when I'm stressed. But it tends to help me to get away from my favourite medium and my favourite supplies and instead work with some of the things I rarely use because my expectations are lower and I don't know what I'm doing so I don't mind just playing around without too much effort. E.g. coloured pencils or markers or acrylic paints. I usually use mostly watercolour and ink so if I use my favourite colours and my favourite brushes and paper, sure, it's comfortable, but if I use them I expect and want the result to be at a higher level and I want to put more effort into it. Which is not a bad thing. But yeah, going way out of my comfort zone tends to help me more when i feel like I don't have the time or energy or motivation for art.
I’ve figured out why I’ve been watching your videos for the longest. It’s your art style. Surrealism had inspired my art preferences so much, and you’re the only art RUclipsr who does surrealism!!
Literally anything crafty, to get me back into creative mode by baby steps. Crochet, sewing, model making, needlepoint- anything that requires precise focus- helps restructure my brain, so instead of feeling guilty about "not being creative" I instead embrace being analytical and precedural. Once the pressure of creating is relieved inspiration is easier to find
I drew with charcoal for the first time in awhile and I absolutely loved it. It’s messy and I find that very comforting because I know I don’t have to be perfect when using it.
my earth tone watercolors from a set my older brother had abandoned is still a comfort medium; the red is much like the one you were using and i agree - there's so much life and meaning in a simple pigment, so much can be drawn from it, its quite inspiring
I try a different media that has not been so familiar like I pretty recently (3 months ago, long block eh?) bought some Neocolor II from Caran de ‘ache that are a water soluble waxy crayon. They are more opaque too. I enjoy just letting go on my sketchbook and even like using them over watercolor. It just is fun. I love turquoise or cobalt turquoise at wherever I can put it I just do. That is another reason why I just like going between different media. It can be just colored pens and doodles. I often use colored pencils over watercolor, it just works. I terribly miss oil painting and getting back into it is expensive and I would use the water soluble kind but that is a big decision for me but I would really love to.
For me what to draw/paint is often the biggest struggle, can't get myself to do an idea I already have laying around, and unlike many people apparently, my Pinterest is always so full of nonsense recipes I don't want and hacks for kids, I only use it for drawing references, so idk how. Having someone to draw with tends to be a help for me, I have someone with whom I like to both draw the same thing at the same time. Just that sitting together, not being alone and bring able to talk about what you're doing, that can help. Of course it's also fun to afterwards look at both your works and see what you did differently.
Oooh, I'd love to see your knitting! Do you have a ravelry? My comfort supplies are a Blackwing pencil, a small sketchbook, and any little, compact watercolour palette really. I can squish it all into a tiny space and work from the couch then, which just takes all the pressure off.
I love these palettes with varying sizes of wells. They look really organic and comfortable in a way and I like picking whatever well shape and size I feel like. They just feel more creative in a really small but fun way. Much more than just a daisy palette.
I really enjoy how genuine you are. Thank you for this video. It has inspired me. I have been in a terrible art block for a long time due to some PPD. This really helped me a lot. I don't really have any comfort supplies, but watching youtube videos like yours actually bring me a lot of comfort.
My comfort supplies are colored pencils, alc markers, and paint :) My color is probably blue and pink I can't go wrong there usually as an accent color to a piece.
I have a comfort subject, mushrooms and toadstools! Whenever I’m blocked I always fall back on drawing/painting/sculpting/sewing etc etc toadstools and mushrooms
okay this may seem very random, but my comfort art supplies are erasable highlighters (those ones that erase with friction) Whenever I open my sketchbook and have absolutely no ideas, I just wip them and a reference out. They’re super cheap and I’m a bit of a stationary hoarder so I have lots :D Since they’re a broad round nib I really can’t dwell on little details, and I always have the reassurance of being able to erase if I really mess up😅
My comfort art supply is the Hindi gouache, working in a small Strathmore watercolor journal. The paint is so basic & inexpensive that I don’t feel bad “wasting” it, and working in such small scale really takes the pressure off. Even just typing this, think I’m gonna go pull out those goodies for a quick play before bed. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
I think that my comfort art supplies can range a lot depending on my mood! but usually i find myself drawn to ohuhu brush markers, blackwing pencils, and winsor & newton cotman watercolors! or just digital art!
nice to see how you keep the creative flow going. for me it's my tattoo art coloring book with, alcohol markers, colored pencils and white jelly roll pen. Sometimes water colors or even gauche depending on my mood. Lately i have tried golden open acrylics (when outdoors) and they are... fun, but also frustrating so that one will take a while to become a comfort medium -lol
A comfort art supply for me would have to be my Mont Marte 2 seasons fall and spring watercolor set of 18 colors! At first i didn't like them because they don't reactivate when dried in a palette and when i added some vegetable glycerin to rehydrate them, i had to wait for months until they became a workable consistency. But that wait was worth it because i absolutely love the mixes i get with this set! Definitely a go-to for me whenever i feel the need for a moody/atmospheric piece!
Lovely video! I love going back to making collages. Digital or analog. Just being surprised with what these existing images can create 💖 it's not as daunting for me as there are already existing pieces
Collage is my comfort medium too! I agree it takes off the pressure of creating something new by using existing items, plus you can really challenge yourself in neat ways. Also the act of doing collage mentally brings me back to my teen years of when I started getting serious about art, and it's a good reminder of what I love to feel when I create 💓
I always try to change up the medium i work with, because I get board easy and I’d have to agree with what you said, the gansi watercolor acts so differently .
Interesting post. For me, it’s just the opposite. I paint/ draw/ create, etc., as a balm for psychic pain. It works both as a catharsis and a way to distract. Perhaps that is what leads my creativity, because I never seem to run out of ideas of things to do! It is all in the mindset of viewing oneself as a flawed being, and how to become better. What is it about my art that I’d like to improve upon? Well, since I regard myself as a mediocre artist that would like to gain proficiency, I look at my work critically and ask myself what needs most improvement? From there, I explore channels of ideas to get me there…there being where I want to be as a goal. As far as “comfort art supplies”( interesting concept, btw), I’m sure that it will change over time, but right now, I’m loving the versatility of carandache neocolor 2 water soluble pastels. At first, I was almost embarrassed to use them because they are essentially very expensive crayons! But, I got over it when I saw how beautiful and convenient they are. You can sharpen them to a fine point( save the shavings) and draw with them, then you can flip them over and use a dampened brush and use them like gouache pans. You can also use the shavings similarly. In fact, you can have a very satisfying watercolor/ gouache painting session with just the shavings alone, being used as traditional pan watercolors. I’ve found that every brand or concept behind each brands watercolors has the potential to teach me something new about color, if one stays open to the experience. For example, the Peerless paints seem to “settle” into very interesting pigment combinations when dry which have in turn given me ideas about what colors to choose and emphasis even when using a more traditional brand like Schmincke next. There are many brands that I love, but something about the convenience of using the carandache crayons has me painting more often because I know deep down that if I’m depressed or something, I won’t have to exert the energy to be changing the brush water every five minutes or clean up palettes, etc. The initial time and energy commitment seems less, which can be a great way to get started and break out of a toxic mind set. Your point about playing around in a sketchbook of cheaper paper is something that resonated even though I’m trying to break that habit. I’ve got several sketchbooks of varying quality, but wouldn’t you know I keep going to the one that isn’t meant for water media or precious artwork? I don’t know why I do this, although I suspect it has something to do with the preciousness of the “good” paper. So I compromise and usually make the conscious choice to then bump it up a notch and use watercolor paper that I bought on sale. Meanwhile, the watercolor pad waits and sits all pristine but collecting dust on the shelf! Oye! Anyway, thanks for your interesting video and topic.
I especially loved this ep! My comfort supplies are probably a good old pencil or a fountain pen with some line weight variation... I am usually a digital artist where everything feels clean even if you do sketches or rougher drawings. So having the way traditional materials can be so unpredictable makes it easy for me to loosen up. I especially prefer those materials cause they don't feel so expensive or special and I don't feel like I'm wasting anything by just experimenting around
(i think ur talking abt the kuretake gansai tambi’s but if not then just ignore me lol) I feel this! I got them a few years back and while the paints are wonderful and I love their quality: they arent really portable and thats such a downside for me because I like to be able to bring my watercolors places.
I think my comfort is more based around the media I'm consuming, I'll listen to new music while I'm goofing around and trying new things, or watch an animated film to spark ideas. When I'm trying to relax after work I'll watch your channel, if I'm trying to brush up and improve I'll watch Chroma Moma, and when I want to do just draw and not stress about what I'm making I'll watch Peter Draws
that green is yummy! I love it. comfort art supplies for me is the mini-pans I got from a local seller with mijello pure pigments set. they're so fun to use and easy to rewet. as per brush, I never really liked the brushes i used before but lately, i was able to try a dagger brush and boy, was it fun to paint with watercolors!
my paul rubens glitter watercolors (that i found out about through you c:) are something i dont use often because i feel like im wasting them even though im literally not if im using them for art 🗿 but theyre my favorite art supply to use when i dont know what to do with my art anymore. im primarily a digital artist and its nice to do sketches and painting on paper every once in a while -luci
My comfort is making organic shapes and coloring them in with whatever medium I feel like using. I've been doing this since I was a kid, and would call them "nothing paintings" because that's what they were to me. Pictures of nothing.
Great Tips that are sure help get the creative ideas going even if just for one piece. One thing I do to help fight it is to just remember the people who love your art; love your art and aren’t as critical of piece as you are of it. Also just not giving yourself a limit just let yourself do whatever with no goal in mind .
The green and gold blackwings are some of my favorite as well! I think I had shared one or two with you at one point :D Glad they're becoming favorites. My comfort art supplies are also watercolors -- I have been focusing on observing better and trying to draw with more line confidence, so I do a lot of work with Posca where it's not as intuitive (at least to me) to create looser art work. If I return to watercolors, there's a lot more forgiveness in the paint, besides that it's relaxing to watch and see how pigment flows across the page. My comfort color is cobalt teal or other pigments just like that.
What brushes are you using. I need to invest into some watercolour brushes as currently I have the cheap ones that are EXTREMELY synthetic and with white bristles The ones u are using looks very nice to use
two of my biggest inspirations are pokemon and fashion design. it sounds like those two things shouldn't work together, but I like trying to make it work lol. not necessarily a gijinka kinda thing, more like taking a color scheme or a visual motif of a pokemon and trying to turn it into a wearable outfit. I guess some people might still consider that a gijinka haha. but something about having a predetermined color scheme that I already know looks good seems to take off a lot of the pressure for me when I feel stuck.
I have been find comfort and inspiration in cheap paper and arteza limited gouache palettes. Does blackwing pencils sale single pencils? A 12 pack is a little to expensive at the moment.
I’m sorry you’re feeling blocked, but your work looks as great as ever. Thanks for the images of your studio, I like seeing how other people store their art supplies. And I laughed at your description of gansai paints - I was thinking how they’re great for blocks of bright color, and you said about the same thing. Hope the enthusiasm returns, soon.
Hi! Why dont you use wet-on-wet technique? Its my comfort thing, i can just make shapes and watch them live their own lives till the paper dries.. so cool! (by wet-on-wet i mean pre-wet whole sheet of paper)
I' really struggling with feeling like a not very creative person at all at the moment and like I've forgotten how to be "good" at watercolours at all. So I'm just trying to give myself permission to try andything and it doesn't have to result in a "finished piece" if I abandon it half way that's ok. If I get to the end and go "meh" that's ok. If I just have loads of fun making marks on paper but don't produce anything very "artistc" that's ok too. I'm focussing my energy on just enjoying and getting pleasure out of it
I definitely think that using a favorite art supply can just bring back the joy you have for making art and also bring back the feelings you have and reinspire you to want to make more art. for me it's my custom watercolor pallet and watercolor mop brush I just love to take those supplies out and just have fun and be carless it makes art fun again
Rewatching this video and enjoying it all over again. I love this painting. The teal at the end just really fits (to me).
One of my comfort/inspiration items is a good old fashioned paint by number kit. I paint them with a very tiny brush, so it's just thousands of little brush strokes.. then go back after and "repaint" by detailing and blending, hand mixing the various colors together, basically increasing the resolution by multiple factors. They look amazing if you take your time with them, I have several hung for display that no one would guess are PBN's. I don't have to think about what colors to use, or where they go, it's just an almost mindless activity I find very soothing. By the time I finish one I'm ready to go back to actual painting again... it's like the creative side of my brain is free to work while the logic side is busy. If you do want to try one please buy from a reputable manufacturer who doesn't steal from artists or other companies. There are so many "black market" PBN's out there who steal art, patterns, or copyrighted material, it's a real problem in the industry. Paintworks/Dimensions and Schipper are both good options. Their quality is also excellent and if you spend that much time on a project you want the materials to be worth it.
I didn't know there was art theft about them but I have to say it's not a huge surprise, thank you for the recommendations!
Oh that sounds really cool! The paint by number thing might just work! Thank you I will look for it on Amazon this is a nice idea :)
For me it's the Boku-Undo E-Sumi paints. There's a limited amount of gorgeous dark colors and it's nice to not worry how well the colors will go together because they're so similar even if they're so distinct. I love the darker mood they create and how easy it is for me to use them.
I primarily write so for me switching to another creative outlet is really how I get over writer's block. I'm creating a habit of painting each time the motivation to write isn't there. Music also helps inspire me as I can picture the scenes I want in my head more easily with a soundtrack.
That is such a good point about knowing you're using the 'wrong' paper for the medium and it actually being freeing. I find that I've got lovely 100% cotton sketchbooks but knowing they are good for watercolour actually means I don't want to use them for trying things out, or even for sketching at all because that paper is for 'best' - with the result that I suffer from a kind of art paralysis and end up doing nothing. 😂
I totally agree about using a sketchbook that doesn’t take water well but helps you paint loosely! That’s my comfort supply, a NON-watercolor sketchbook for gauche sketches. And adding to that I like using my water pens (those watercolor brushes where you fill it with water) bc that also helps me get in the mindset that I’m just doing a sketch not a serious piece.
Adding to comfort supplies I like using my ink pens (fountain, felt tip, just anything that has ink), color pencils, and my blackwing pencils. Bc this strays far from what I usually do (paintings) it help me feel loose and experimental or feel ok I’m just practicing and having fun.
I love the Karetake watercolors because it’s acts very similar to gouache being a very opaque watercolor, however the colors tend to bloom when it is wet.
I don't know about comfort supplies but your videos are definitely ones I turn to when I want something chill and comfortable. (and just 'cause)
The most comfortable art thing for me is white nights' vermilion hue, especially when I'm tired of other watercolours. It's really relaxing when you get home, you had a very hard day and trying to get some rest by drawing some sketches using only one colour
I usually try for something simple and familiar, which for me is mushrooms, flowers, or animals. keeping it simple takes off some of the pressure to feel like I have to make it really good. and btw, I just got a blackwing sharpener and love it! I'll have to try the pencils now
I find that when I get art block, its usually because I have become more interested in another creative outlet - so I did an arty advent last year (and probably got a little bit burnt out) but since Christmas ive been fixated on crochet stuff - to the point that I can't even really think about doing any artwork. I keep switching between lots of different crafty things. I really like the idea of a comfort art supply though, I think mine would be watercolour in maybe purples? or primary colours with little doodly characters. Really love your videos with all the chill vibes :)
I believe what I love the most about your videos is how soothing and expressionistic you are while speaking.
My comfort supplies that I use to get out of art block are (1) cheap pen (usually BIC) and a whole bunch of highly-saturated sharpies. It forces me to use a limited color palette and to deal with not being able to erase.
I love pulling up random images I have saved and trying to re-create them using my cheap pen and 5 or 6 sharpies
i love to paint with my favorite artsupplies and colors ^_^ but to get out of my comfortzone and make new experiences also can be inspiring ^_^
I’m not a huge artsy person but I can say that I draw and all that jazz. Comfort art supplies to me are instead of the more expensive things I have such as Daniel Smith water colors or Windsor and newton oils, I use cheap stuff. When I’m feeling the art block I like to take out some water color paper, a mechanical Bic 0.9 mm pencil, and my really shitty crayola water color pans 😂 something about them being so bright is what gets me comfy. Idk what it is about these things in particular but they make me feel loose and ready to do something. I also really enjoy just taking printer paper, highlighters and just random colored ball point pens and just sketching different and random things I find. It’s just so easy to get sucked up into art work and making it all pretty n stuff like that, that just sometimes you need that break to kinda feel like a kid again. Lol sorry this was so long, and i promise I’m not slandering the expensive stuff! This is just what makes me comfy when I’m feeling out of it or blocked. Ly all
I have fallen in love with your channel and your art! Wow
I think it’s totally valid and beneficial to go back to your comfort zone when you’re not feeling it. Creativity is a muscle that can be worked, but not forced. I like to go back to color when i’m not feeling it (although, i have a teeeny tiny problem with buying new supplies), making swatch sheets, mixing two odd colors or painting monochromatic. That’s what fuels my soul !!
Me too! Swatches and color mixing feeds my soul! ❤️
The Blackwing pencils are my absolute favorites. I have sets of Staedtler, Faber-Castell, and others, but I always reach for the Blackwings. They are just so versatile, I can work without becoming preoccupied by whether or not I'm using the right pencil. Also, my go to for breaking art block is india ink and dip pen. Something about the feedback of thick ink feeding out of the metal tines just satisfies me.
I prefer faber castell I think but I should really try out Blackwings now!
My comfort colour is daniel smith’s quinacridone coral… always gets me in a portrait painting mood :)
mine is quin gold from qor! funny that quin colors are so inspiring for people :)
@@jessthehotmess5044 They really are!! They just have something...extra 😁
That's a grat tip, having a specific model to turn to. I don't know how much time I've spent searching for the "perfect" reference just to practice, a.k.a. the perfect trap for the procrastinator in me. Come to think of it, it's not even a new concept (artists and their "muses") but it never clicked until now. Great video as always!
My first ever set of watercolors was Prima's decadent pies set, and there is something about the moodiness of them, and they way they mix together that's always very comforting to me. Maybe it's that I used the palette so long that I always know exactly what to expect. I don't know, but there is something very special about forgoing all of my higher quality options to make little moody paint doodles with that set
Those sets got a lot of criticism from the "art" community but are great for what they are, a coordinated set of convenience colors that go with each other. I think they might be going away, I've noticed they are marked "discontinued" in many stores... so you may want to consider a backup if you really love it.
Oh my goodness, thank you for the heads up! They're so inexpensive, it would definitely be worth it to pick up a backup.
I had several Prima Marketing watercolor sets when I first started watercoloring. When I got older I purchased a large set of white nights (I literally waited like four years putting it off for myself to make sure I definitely wanted it) and the white nights improved my color mixing tenfold and they're very familiar to me now but I find I still reach for my prima marketing colors for my sketchbook! (Specifically the decadent pies and tropicals, I really recommend them!) for just how different they make the color mixtures come out. Thank you for reminding me that they're special to me!
I have the pastel dreams set and haven’t loved those but am super curious how the other sets compare since so many people seem to enjoy them! Maybe the added white in the pastel set turns me off to the quality that wouldn’t be in the other sets.
@@meldixon1918 I had all of them at one time, I've since rehomed them and changed my focus to very limited single pigment palettes. Since they are coordinated convenience colors (some have as many as four pigments in a single pan) you really have to just choose the "flavor" that fits what you want to do. For example one is all skin/hair tones for portraits.. another all water/sky colors. I think the Tropicals, Essence, and Woodlands are probably the most "all around" choices, but each give a totally unique result from the others. Decadent Pies and Vintage Pastels seem to have very strong fan bases.. they are unique color combinations that are soft and have an antique/vintage feel. They were really designed for cardmakers/crafters who don't mix much, just lay the colors down on the paper.
I definitely go thru cycles of block and absolutely resort to comfort supplies, though I never thought of calling them that. You're so right! I find solace in getting out my most absorbent sketchbooks/paper and use huge washy swaths of juicy watercolor - lots of paint, lots of water. Doing this calms my jittery, self-judgemental brain and almost always leads me to new ideas. Sometimes I go back to familiar subjects, sometimes I try something new. I like playing with acrylic using a watercolor approach. I also think gouache is fun, fun, fun. Thanks so much for this great video!
For me the opposite tends to work. I often can't find the energy to put effort and concentration and care into art when I'm stressed. But it tends to help me to get away from my favourite medium and my favourite supplies and instead work with some of the things I rarely use because my expectations are lower and I don't know what I'm doing so I don't mind just playing around without too much effort. E.g. coloured pencils or markers or acrylic paints. I usually use mostly watercolour and ink so if I use my favourite colours and my favourite brushes and paper, sure, it's comfortable, but if I use them I expect and want the result to be at a higher level and I want to put more effort into it. Which is not a bad thing. But yeah, going way out of my comfort zone tends to help me more when i feel like I don't have the time or energy or motivation for art.
My comfort art supplies are watercolor pencils for sketching ideas from pintrest, fashion history, etc
I’ve figured out why I’ve been watching your videos for the longest. It’s your art style. Surrealism had inspired my art preferences so much, and you’re the only art RUclipsr who does surrealism!!
Literally anything crafty, to get me back into creative mode by baby steps. Crochet, sewing, model making, needlepoint- anything that requires precise focus- helps restructure my brain, so instead of feeling guilty about "not being creative" I instead embrace being analytical and precedural. Once the pressure of creating is relieved inspiration is easier to find
I drew with charcoal for the first time in awhile and I absolutely loved it. It’s messy and I find that very comforting because I know I don’t have to be perfect when using it.
my earth tone watercolors from a set my older brother had abandoned is still a comfort medium; the red is much like the one you were using and i agree - there's so much life and meaning in a simple pigment, so much can be drawn from it, its quite inspiring
I try a different media that has not been so familiar like I pretty recently (3 months ago, long block eh?) bought some Neocolor II from Caran de ‘ache that are a water soluble waxy crayon. They are more opaque too. I enjoy just letting go on my sketchbook and even like using them over watercolor. It just is fun. I love turquoise or cobalt turquoise at wherever I can put it I just do. That is another reason why I just like going between different media. It can be just colored pens and doodles. I often use colored pencils over watercolor, it just works. I terribly miss oil painting and getting back into it is expensive and I would use the water soluble kind but that is a big decision for me but I would really love to.
For me what to draw/paint is often the biggest struggle, can't get myself to do an idea I already have laying around, and unlike many people apparently, my Pinterest is always so full of nonsense recipes I don't want and hacks for kids, I only use it for drawing references, so idk how.
Having someone to draw with tends to be a help for me, I have someone with whom I like to both draw the same thing at the same time. Just that sitting together, not being alone and bring able to talk about what you're doing, that can help. Of course it's also fun to afterwards look at both your works and see what you did differently.
Oooh, I'd love to see your knitting! Do you have a ravelry?
My comfort supplies are a Blackwing pencil, a small sketchbook, and any little, compact watercolour palette really. I can squish it all into a tiny space and work from the couch then, which just takes all the pressure off.
I love these palettes with varying sizes of wells. They look really organic and comfortable in a way and I like picking whatever well shape and size I feel like. They just feel more creative in a really small but fun way. Much more than just a daisy palette.
I really enjoy how genuine you are. Thank you for this video. It has inspired me. I have been in a terrible art block for a long time due to some PPD. This really helped me a lot. I don't really have any comfort supplies, but watching youtube videos like yours actually bring me a lot of comfort.
My comfort supplies are colored pencils, alc markers, and paint :)
My color is probably blue and pink I can't go wrong there usually as an accent color to a piece.
I have a comfort subject, mushrooms and toadstools! Whenever I’m blocked I always fall back on drawing/painting/sculpting/sewing etc etc toadstools and mushrooms
okay this may seem very random, but my comfort art supplies are erasable highlighters (those ones that erase with friction) Whenever I open my sketchbook and have absolutely no ideas, I just wip them and a reference out. They’re super cheap and I’m a bit of a stationary hoarder so I have lots :D Since they’re a broad round nib I really can’t dwell on little details, and I always have the reassurance of being able to erase if I really mess up😅
My comfort art supply is the Hindi gouache, working in a small Strathmore watercolor journal. The paint is so basic & inexpensive that I don’t feel bad “wasting” it, and working in such small scale really takes the pressure off. Even just typing this, think I’m gonna go pull out those goodies for a quick play before bed. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
I love the idea of using comfortable materials to get out of art block, and not expecting a masterpiece.
Letting the materials surprise you.
I think that my comfort art supplies can range a lot depending on my mood! but usually i find myself drawn to ohuhu brush markers, blackwing pencils, and winsor & newton cotman watercolors! or just digital art!
nice to see how you keep the creative flow going. for me it's my tattoo art coloring book with, alcohol markers, colored pencils and white jelly roll pen. Sometimes water colors or even gauche depending on my mood. Lately i have tried golden open acrylics (when outdoors) and they are... fun, but also frustrating so that one will take a while to become a comfort medium -lol
A comfort art supply for me would have to be my Mont Marte 2 seasons fall and spring watercolor set of 18 colors! At first i didn't like them because they don't reactivate when dried in a palette and when i added some vegetable glycerin to rehydrate them, i had to wait for months until they became a workable consistency. But that wait was worth it because i absolutely love the mixes i get with this set! Definitely a go-to for me whenever i feel the need for a moody/atmospheric piece!
Really cool painting here. Awesome job.
Lovely video! I love going back to making collages. Digital or analog. Just being surprised with what these existing images can create 💖 it's not as daunting for me as there are already existing pieces
Collage is my comfort medium too! I agree it takes off the pressure of creating something new by using existing items, plus you can really challenge yourself in neat ways. Also the act of doing collage mentally brings me back to my teen years of when I started getting serious about art, and it's a good reminder of what I love to feel when I create 💓
I always try to change up the medium i work with, because I get board easy and I’d have to agree with what you said, the gansi watercolor acts so differently .
Interesting post. For me, it’s just the opposite. I paint/ draw/ create, etc., as a balm for psychic pain. It works both as a catharsis and a way to distract. Perhaps that is what leads my creativity, because I never seem to run out of ideas of things to do! It is all in the mindset of viewing oneself as a flawed being, and how to become better. What is it about my art that I’d like to improve upon? Well, since I regard myself as a mediocre artist that would like to gain proficiency, I look at my work critically and ask myself what needs most improvement? From there, I explore channels of ideas to get me there…there being where I want to be as a goal. As far as “comfort art supplies”( interesting concept, btw), I’m sure that it will change over time, but right now, I’m loving the versatility of carandache neocolor 2 water soluble pastels. At first, I was almost embarrassed to use them because they are essentially very expensive crayons! But, I got over it when I saw how beautiful and convenient they are. You can sharpen them to a fine point( save the shavings) and draw with them, then you can flip them over and use a dampened brush and use them like gouache pans. You can also use the shavings similarly. In fact, you can have a very satisfying watercolor/ gouache painting session with just the shavings alone, being used as traditional pan watercolors. I’ve found that every brand or concept behind each brands watercolors has the potential to teach me something new about color, if one stays open to the experience. For example, the Peerless paints seem to “settle” into very interesting pigment combinations when dry which have in turn given me ideas about what colors to choose and emphasis even when using a more traditional brand like Schmincke next. There are many brands that I love, but something about the convenience of using the carandache crayons has me painting more often because I know deep down that if I’m depressed or something, I won’t have to exert the energy to be changing the brush water every five minutes or clean up palettes, etc. The initial time and energy commitment seems less, which can be a great way to get started and break out of a toxic mind set. Your point about playing around in a sketchbook of cheaper paper is something that resonated even though I’m trying to break that habit. I’ve got several sketchbooks of varying quality, but wouldn’t you know I keep going to the one that isn’t meant for water media or precious artwork? I don’t know why I do this, although I suspect it has something to do with the preciousness of the “good” paper. So I compromise and usually make the conscious choice to then bump it up a notch and use watercolor paper that I bought on sale. Meanwhile, the watercolor pad waits and sits all pristine but collecting dust on the shelf! Oye! Anyway, thanks for your interesting video and topic.
I especially loved this ep! My comfort supplies are probably a good old pencil or a fountain pen with some line weight variation... I am usually a digital artist where everything feels clean even if you do sketches or rougher drawings. So having the way traditional materials can be so unpredictable makes it easy for me to loosen up. I especially prefer those materials cause they don't feel so expensive or special and I don't feel like I'm wasting anything by just experimenting around
I like my fountain pen. I've got so much practice with it, that I can tickle amazing things out of it, which is a lot of fun
Looks great :). And I have considered buying that palette but honestly it seems more cumbersome than useful!
(i think ur talking abt the kuretake gansai tambi’s but if not then just ignore me lol) I feel this! I got them a few years back and while the paints are wonderful and I love their quality: they arent really portable and thats such a downside for me because I like to be able to bring my watercolors places.
I love my kuretake gansai tambi paint, since I enjoy gouache and watercolor. I also don’t usually rely on mixed colors
I think my comfort is more based around the media I'm consuming, I'll listen to new music while I'm goofing around and trying new things, or watch an animated film to spark ideas. When I'm trying to relax after work I'll watch your channel, if I'm trying to brush up and improve I'll watch Chroma Moma, and when I want to do just draw and not stress about what I'm making I'll watch Peter Draws
that green is yummy! I love it. comfort art supplies for me is the mini-pans I got from a local seller with mijello pure pigments set. they're so fun to use and easy to rewet. as per brush, I never really liked the brushes i used before but lately, i was able to try a dagger brush and boy, was it fun to paint with watercolors!
my paul rubens glitter watercolors (that i found out about through you c:) are something i dont use often because i feel like im wasting them even though im literally not if im using them for art 🗿 but theyre my favorite art supply to use when i dont know what to do with my art anymore. im primarily a digital artist and its nice to do sketches and painting on paper every once in a while -luci
I also love that watercolor palette👍🏼
I have a really bad habit of drawing with cheap mechanical pencils, so definitely my comfort art supply.
A red uniball eye fine rollerball on a piece of cheap paper does wonders whenever I feel artblocked
My color lead eco mechanical pencils and ohuhu markers
My comfort is making organic shapes and coloring them in with whatever medium I feel like using. I've been doing this since I was a kid, and would call them "nothing paintings" because that's what they were to me. Pictures of nothing.
Great Tips that are sure help get the creative ideas going even if just for one piece. One thing I do to help fight it is to just remember the people who love your art; love your art and aren’t as critical of piece as you are of it. Also just not giving yourself a limit just let yourself do whatever with no goal in mind .
The green and gold blackwings are some of my favorite as well! I think I had shared one or two with you at one point :D Glad they're becoming favorites. My comfort art supplies are also watercolors -- I have been focusing on observing better and trying to draw with more line confidence, so I do a lot of work with Posca where it's not as intuitive (at least to me) to create looser art work. If I return to watercolors, there's a lot more forgiveness in the paint, besides that it's relaxing to watch and see how pigment flows across the page. My comfort color is cobalt teal or other pigments just like that.
The biggest help for me is just change the medium and set the mood. Like putting music or listening podcast
Absolutely beautiful and awesome 👏🏻
Just want to say that you are my favorite artist. Love from the Philippines💚
What brushes are you using. I need to invest into some watercolour brushes as currently I have the cheap ones that are EXTREMELY synthetic and with white bristles The ones u are using looks very nice to use
Hello, I have a question, what paper do you recommend for Kuretake watercolors?
two of my biggest inspirations are pokemon and fashion design. it sounds like those two things shouldn't work together, but I like trying to make it work lol. not necessarily a gijinka kinda thing, more like taking a color scheme or a visual motif of a pokemon and trying to turn it into a wearable outfit. I guess some people might still consider that a gijinka haha. but something about having a predetermined color scheme that I already know looks good seems to take off a lot of the pressure for me when I feel stuck.
Designing outfits is so fun. I like redesigning outfits of characters I like with similar color palettes
Too early to say anything so, Hi Arlee! And Hi to everyone who sees this!!
Lovely artwork dear friend. Good job 😊
I have been find comfort and inspiration in cheap paper and arteza limited gouache palettes. Does blackwing pencils sale single pencils? A 12 pack is a little to expensive at the moment.
I was just thinking about using my own gensai tabi and play with them!
I’m sorry you’re feeling blocked, but your work looks as great as ever.
Thanks for the images of your studio, I like seeing how other people store their art supplies. And I laughed at your description of gansai paints - I was thinking how they’re great for blocks of bright color, and you said about the same thing. Hope the enthusiasm returns, soon.
Beautiful
Hi! Why dont you use wet-on-wet technique? Its my comfort thing, i can just make shapes and watch them live their own lives till the paper dries.. so cool! (by wet-on-wet i mean pre-wet whole sheet of paper)
I' really struggling with feeling like a not very creative person at all at the moment and like I've forgotten how to be "good" at watercolours at all. So I'm just trying to give myself permission to try andything and it doesn't have to result in a "finished piece" if I abandon it half way that's ok. If I get to the end and go "meh" that's ok. If I just have loads of fun making marks on paper but don't produce anything very "artistc" that's ok too. I'm focussing my energy on just enjoying and getting pleasure out of it
Early gang!!
that's what i also do when im art bocked.
What a fascinating face this person has!
Early
Are you and infp
Are you an*