How Much to Spend on Painting Supplies as a Beginner Artist - The Truth on Expensive Supplies
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- As a new artist looking to start painting, you may be shocked at how expensive certain art supplies can be. Many new artists think that they need to spend a lot of money on high end painting supplies for their paintings to look nice in the end. In this video, I explain why this is not true. I prove why expensive art supplies are a scam by doing a real life experiment. I created an identical painting - one with cheap supplies costing $2 to make, and one with expensive supplies, costing over 5 time the price at $11. I then polled a total of 119 people in the Painter In You Facebook group asking which painting they thought was the expensive one vs the cheap one. Watch the video to see what happened! You also have the opportunity to vote which painting you think cost more on this video by clicking the little "i" icon on this video (please make sure to vote BEFORE you hear me reveal the answer to eliminate any bias/cheating).
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I think its easier to use cheap acrylic and maybe even oils.. but cheap watercolor is like food coloring mixed with tooth paste. I just cannot do cheap watercolors, I hate to be a snob, and it pains me to pay 60 odd dollars for a couple panned colors. but I enjoy my colors and pigments to float on the surface, not soak into the paper itself.
Completely agree actually. I was thinking the same thing, I know a lot of people don't mind using chalky paint, but I personally cannot stand watercolour paint that are like that. There are some really good student grade paints out there though, so that's a much better compromise. But for opaque mediums it's a bit more workable as you said. Besides, high quality watercolours are very rich and pigmented and last a really long time, so they're more like a longterm investment.
ME TOO !!! that is literally the one thing that will keep me from buying any watercolor set: if the paints dry even slightly chalky or spread pigment around when you rub them. i'm a beginner in oil paints and gouache and i think those mediums are much much more forgivinf on the cheaper end but watercolors are worth the (very slight) investment, like going for the cotman sketcher pocket box for $ 15 rather than whatever crap's at michaels for $ 5
Franchesca Pierre I agree completely! It's very annoying when paints dry chalky and also those kinds of paint usually do not spread as nicely. I've used cheap acrylics in the past and they weren't super bad. Just not as buttery smooth and pigmented as higher quality ones...but not chalky or gritty atleast. And yes, even just 10 bucks extra for the cotman set is definitely a much better investment for sure! There's many great budget options available nowadays for watercolours.
***** yes definitely! there are tons of affordable, good quality sets for watercolor that produce nicely pigmented work and don't physically hurt when you use them for practice haha
I got a pan by reeves with 8 colours i think and their surprisingly pigmented! Not as pigmented as other but for 10€ I enjoy them
Hilarious!!! You are talking about me!!! "I don't want to ruin them!" "I don't want to use my expensive paints because I'm not good enough to use, thus wasting,...so they sit" 😂😂😂👍💚
I've been there! lol!
Rant time.
1. Liquitex Basics is probably one of the better if not best quality low cost paints you could have got to compare against.
2. As you mentioned the bonus of the "expensive" or more on point, professional/artists quality paints is the archival qualities and light fastness of them. Some of the cheaper paints are not so lightfast and have less pigment so need thre or so layers to one layer of pro paint. But there certainly are ones that have also taken lightfastness into consideration such as Chroma A>2 which are student paints but not as costly as their professional/artist quality Atelier range.
3. If you want to save money? Learn to colour mix. Depending on which paints you get and what your subject matter is you can get away with as few colours as four and probably wouldn't need to max out past 8-12 for a real full rounded set. Leave the other 70 tubes on the shelf.
Bottom line is there's a market for it all otherwise it wouldn't be sold. The problem is the brainwashing as mentioned which tends to create a lot of the market. If you really sit down and do the research you can avoid the hype and make the correct decisions.
That lady was not completely wrong to be looking for a higher quality paint but the logic certainly was. She SHOULD have ALSO invested in good brushes. Either way whatever she bought would NOT make the person painting a better painter. As per the analogy, it's the experience that dictates that. Back in my days in photography when they were still using film there were "throw away" cameras. Cheap plastic lensed cameras that cost not much more than a roll of film. However in the hands of a professional photographer there were some amazing photos that came out of these. On the flip side were people walking in buying a $1000 camera and producing terrible images. All down to experience. Not to say the pro would have enjoyed working with the cheapy camera possibly but it was their experience that produced the stunning results rather than the camera per say.
Bottom line. Know the difference and get the best you can afford that matches the goals you have.
Learning - Sure get something cheaper but do realise if you're not getting the results you expect, apart from lack of experience it could be the materials to a degree too.
Selling your work - Get some pro paints and good quality brushes (don't want to be dropping brush hairs in your painting). In this scenario the paint and substrate is more important as that's what the customer will buy your brushes just need to hold together and feel right to you.
Thank you Petrik, you said a lot of what I wanted to say.
The archival thing cannot be understated. When you start to sell, you really need to be more aware of that. Imagine a customer buying a painting that starts to fade or otherwise start to deteriorate before its time.
I'd also say that even my old "student" work, I sometimes wish I'd used slightly better quality. If the paint is fading or the paper is getting brown, then that's no good. It may be my old student work, but for sentimental reasons, I'd like for it to remain in one piece.
As for quality brushes and paint--you *can* get cheapER paints and brushes as a student (I agree with Mr. Papa about worrying about "wasting" materials when they're pricey), but if it's really cheap, you are fighting the materials. The pigment will be so weak that you can't get any decent mixtures. If you're a beginner artist, you may not have enough experience to know that it's the *paint's* fault, not your own, when you are having trouble. Cheap brushes will not keep a point or will be shedding all the time. That also sounds like not a lot of fun.
Middle-range is probably good for beginners. Not so cheap that everything is falling apart, but not so expensive that you're afraid to use them.
The point is if you're new, don't fear cheap paints.
Commenters are missing the point. He's not knocking artist grade. Just encouraging those who can't afford the expensive stuff that they can still make decent paintings. It's about skill.
The other nice thing about learning with cheap paint is you you won't feel so inclined to be stingy as you may with expensive supplies. You can feel more free.
From distance the painting B has a nicer feel IMO, canvas makes it look softer. But by no means is A cheap looking.
+Suji K, exactly! Many people are missing my main point. I agree more expensive supplies have their advantages. As i am getting ready to start selling more paintings, i am shifting towards more expensive paint. However for LEARNING as a beginner, cheaper "student grade" paints are just fine. Glad you understood what my goal was with this video! :)
I used to manage a guitar store. I sold lots of high end guitars to guys having a midlife crisis that wanted to learn on the most expensive guitar they could afford. Even after I TOLD them they could save a few hundred bucks and start out on something cheaper they STILL wanted the expensive guitar. When I go to artist groups on FB they all talk about the "importance" of using high quality materials. It's all malarkey. Like I used to say, it's not the guitar...it's the musician BEHIND the guitar that makes it great. Same thing with art. I know an artist who has been painting almost 50 years with craft acrylics. A dollar a tube! His paintings sell for thousands of dollars a canvas. I agree with you.
Exactly my point! Glad you agree. ;)
What is the name of your painter friend?
Hobby Lobby always has brushes in the clearance section...They tend to be marked down around $1.50-$4 and they get marked down further and further the longer they sit there. Always check the clearance section.
I use cheap acrylic and oils for my paintings
Yeah more expensive supplies are good for long lasting, gallery paintings but remember it’s not what you use, it’s how you use it
I actually got it right, I'm not an acrylic painter though. But the B version is definitely more pigmented, the colors is deeper I would say, that's probably a little change that some professional artists wanted upgrade. There would be differences, but not a significant amount that some people thought.
Lol that's what I was going to say.
I buy every inexpensive paint and canvases. I don't sell my paintings for a living, so I don't feel badly about this. And when I do sell them, it's not for very much $25 - $50 depending on size. I use Apple Barrel Craft paints and I have super results with all my paintings. When someone wants to start paying more $100 and upwards for my paintings, maybe I'll spend more. For now, I paint for myself and I don't need expensive materials.
Maggie H what is your Instagram account? Will follow you
I've been purchasing acrylics at all price points for 6 months now. Anything from large bottles of paint for elementary school kids to small tubs of the most expensive acrylic and everything else in between. Discovering preference in gesso is important, too. Also I prefer painting on cardboard and press board over canvass! I think it's important to experiment with many varieties/brands at different price points because personal preference, the enjoyment of using the materials, plays a big part. Thank you for your video, it was very helpful!
"calculating the damage....." you have good sense of humor that is why we are improving
I live in Pakistan. And it's hard to even find supplies in my country. And when I do find supplies I can't pay for them because there so expensive. I make it work and paint with a 1$ per tube of paint. But, it's amazingly fun. I don't let it get to me. It's awesome because you don't need 500$ supplies to paint. And this video tells the truth. Thanks man. You've inspired alot of people.
Hi there, it is a nice comparison. I personally thought, that painting A was made with Golden paints. Little did I know! I think it is important to define "cheap paints". In my opinion cheap paints mean craft paints from the dollar store or the least expensive acrylic paint sold in my local art store, which comes in huge tubs and has absoluetely no pigment whatsoever. The price is about 5 € for 700 ml paint and I couldn't work with them and threw them in the trash bin. The next level of paint would be the generic brand from the store, which is about 5 € for 250 ml. The pigment load is just slightly better. I switched to Lukas paints in general and Liquitex Basics for colours Lukas doesn't carry, like chinacridon magenta, prism violet, etc. Lukas paints are 6 € for 250 ml bottles and Liquitex Basics range about 7 € for 112 ml, 10 € for 250 ml. Of course I would love to have the budget to buy Liquitex heavy body ( 10 to 16 € ) or even golden ( 10 to 28 € ), but I am disabled and sick and therefore don't earn a lot of money. I think it is important to buy decent, cost effective paint, that is lightfast and easy to handle. For watercolours I only use White Nights artist quality, around 2 € for a whole pan with highly pigmented paints and "cheap" watercolour paper, around 17 € for 50 sheets of cold pressed 300 gsm paper. I also have Hahnemühle paper, which is made of 100 % cotton and works nicely for me, but it costs 15 € for 20 sheets and I can't afford that in the long run. I really share your opinion, that it doesn't have to be super expensive supplies, but it should work for your artistic needs, should be lightfast and you should have fun working with your art supplies. Practice makes perfect!
I agree. I use a real hodge podge of acrylic paints: Basics, Plaza Art, Windsor Newton, Artist's Loft, Daler Rowney. I think when you're mixing a tone your want to capture, with patience you will arrive at the color you want no matter which paints you use
As a complete novice that has been painting with watercolours for a few months and more recently turned to acrylics, your video has been more insightful that any other on RUclips. I'm happy to spend £3 on a canvas because it doesn't matter if I ruin it. If I don't like it, I'll paint straight over it with something else. For me it's all about learning techniques and enjoying the learning curve.
I'm just learning, but I'm very grateful for the artists here who explain these things. You demonstrated the different levels of supplies very well, and showed me that I needn't rush to upgrade to "professional" grade supplies. I too, hate to see beginners thinking expensive will make their paintings better. Great video. Thank you for taking so much trouble to give background and proof. Just found you. Subscribing!
“Cheap supplies”... Liquitex Basics, LOL. No those are expensive to a lot of people. The cheap stuff is the paint in the craft section of Walmart, called Apple Barrel, it’s 50 cents for two ounces.
I know a few "OCD" artists who swear color is everything. They don't buy the cheapest brushes but decent and they don't buy any brand ready made colors at all but pigments and binder separately. They learned the chemistry for artists and swear that the experience and control or lack there of is worth going into all this artist alchemy and witch craft. Since I'm a curious person I got myself a starter kit with pure pigments and a binder and so far it is an interesting experience. I haven't yet raided the fridge for eggs to make myself some tempera paints like the old masters. :)
awesome video...and i guessed right...but they both are great...but i can remember when i was in college, i felt really bad for my parents..they spent a good fortune on art supplies..that is y i had to make a A in all my art classes(and i did!)...so glad i found u...i now am grown and decided that after doctors put me on permanent disability to start working from home in this youtube world, i have a small channel where showcase my artwork..i was told this was the best way to get my stuff out there..with that said NEW SUBBIE here...and i look forward to checking out more of your videos.
denise wilson yayyyyyy , good job!!!!! CONGRAT!!!
Looking at it from a artist point of view.. wouldn't the paint also be more light fast, the better the canvas the more long lasting the painting, I've heard horror stories about masters being painted on horrible surfaces and were more difficult to preserve.. if you are selling your paintings and use "inexpensive" paint wouldn't it follow that you would want to provide the best materials for the big money your client may pay. . I'm a beginner artist... working at it for a while and yes, i use the cheap stuff but what do you think about art supply quality at certain price points. I'm just looking at it from a different point of view. -- oh, I really like your stuff so your opinion matters. And remember- Wolfe gang Puck might cook on cheap cook wear but would only use the best ingredients! aka art supplies. lol! .. fyi- this is a very good topic and I picked B.. I just liked the light better! :)
ok liquitex basica is actually a nice acrylic paint despite being student grade even Lisa from Lachri Fine Art uses it. So it's not a good example imo. I think you have really used the really chip craft acrylics for a better comparison.
came here to say this! :)
Thank you so much for the great information! I haven't opened my good paints yet or used good canvas in fear I would ruin them. After hearing you, I am going to start painting, have to start some time!
The more expensive painting does look a little more pigmented but this is a wonderful point. I will be sharing this.
I like Jerry’s I’ve purchased quite a few items there via website. I thought the paintings look similar, the canvas in B looked rougher. This is a great video for us beginners. I have purchased Golden because of a tutorial I purchased last year, yet, I have not used them because of what you stated. I found myself afraid of using the paints, colors were intimidating me. The other day I just started playing with the basics I also purchased to start mixing colors after I viewed a vid on mixing colors and do away with the fear of using paint and I had a good time. Maybe pulling the lady aside and challenging her to experiment both theories would of been a great way to make her think twice before using up her certificate. I understand the apprehension, I would like to think that I would of welcomed the challenge, just a thought. Thanks again, and especially for your sincerity, bravo!
Thank you Chris for a great video with good information.I started painting a little over a year ago and when I could afford it I started buying the better products but like you said it didn't really make a difference and I like the liquitex heavy body better as well but basics it is because they work very well. I love the painting did you do a tutorial for it!
Thanks! Yes, I will be doing a tutorial of a similar painting. I am currently working on it and it will be an evening stormy ship seascape! Please stay tuned!
I disagree as it makes difference over time. If you don't care if your painting wil last then do it.
I agree with the basic premise of your point but I don't think you are saying enough on why the products are different. Using an expensive canvas without a coat of gesso is a little ludicrous. I use both Liquitex and Golden paints but I am still working thru my first sets of paints. The amount of pigment and ease of applying paint makes painting easier with high end paints. Your comparison using a very light-white painting is good but in all fairness try painting something with strong bold colors. I am not a professional and I pinch my pennies all the time. Comparing cost of paint buying the smallest container is not reasonable when most times we have a basic pallet and mix to achieve results. I wished you talked a little more about starter, student grade, and high end paints. Practice versus complete projects. I have never bought a high end canvass and my favorite brushes are all under ten dollars and I am happy with my results and progress as a artist. Last but not least, why throw products under the bus. You did not have to pick on Golden. I like your videos but I think you should revisit this topic.
ORlestor You do make some good points....i have a bottle of gesso but never really use it. I actually personally LIKE seeing the canvas on my paintings as I think it makes the art look more original and authentic. I will experiment with the gesso though...maybe I will like it. Also it would have created bias if I used different steps/techniques on the paintings. Regarding the products, I am entitled to my own honest opinion. I didn't enjoy the Golden acrylics at all, so I am not going to sugar coat it. Liquitex, Amsterdam, and Windsor and Newton I like better. But anyway, you seem to have a similar interest and knowledge in this topic, so I would love it if you would make a similar video for youtube and maybe we can all learn something from you! :)
+PainterInYou If you truly enjoy the canvas look, then surely you must clearly see the difference between canvases, the uniformity in threading is irregular in the cheaper brands. Also while I haven't personally used Golden acrylics, I can see see the robust color that comes out within the blues you used in the water. It must have been obvious even to you as you raised the contrast level of the cheaper product's sails to compensate. I believe this is the reason ORlestor said you threw the product under the bus, you yourself seen the difference and rather than admitting it in full disclosure that the pigmentation was clearly of better quality, chose to overlook that part and instead reinforce the message you originally tried to make.
I think it depends on the colors too, especially the lighter colors might need to do a few layers.. Yellows I make sure it is a good brand or at least add a bit of a good brand Titanium white to it..I broke down and bought Golden cad orange hue because I just couldn't mix my own and get good coverage with the cheaper paint I had..after the 5th layer I got so mad my flowers still didn't look 'orange', lol...Otherwise I totally agree...I have only been painting about one year and I spent way too much $$!!! I realized I don't need to apply products like Gesso down on every single canvas as one artist had recommended and I don't need a matt medium like another had insisted..Gesso starts to get pricey if you use it on every single painting!! Now those products just sit on the shelf collecting dust!! I agree those big packs of paintbrushes suck too, but I didn't know that when I first started. The big pack I bought had labeled the brushes good for acrylics and realized later that they were too soft...I need good firm brushes not 'soft' ones so I can push the paint around better..I thought I was just bad at painting until I used better brushes and they dont have to be expensive either.....ps.. I just found you and I love the way you teach! Liked and subscribed and will look on fb for you
One thing people should understand is the amount of filler garbage in cheap paint verses expensive paint. Professional grade paints have very small amounts of filler, or none at all. The better paints last much longer, don't fade, peel etc..like the cheap garbage will. Using cheap paint is like building a house with inferior material. The issue of cheap verses expensive is not as simple as it's made out to be in this video, there are many factors to be considered. Wolfgang might use a cheap pan but I'll bet he uses the best ingredients available!!!
cheaper paints are for practicing, and these expensive artist grade paints are for finished works that need to last forever! i don't think practice paintings esp for beginners need to last long
There's a lot of stuff talked about "filler". Yes, extremely inexpensive children's paint has chalky additives, but any branded paint will vary in the amount of pigment and possibly its composition, nothing else. So Winsor and Newton Winton will have less pigment than their Artist range but permanence and other qualities will be the same.
People want to believe that if they throw money at the problem the art will be somehow superior, which is silly. If you're a professional portraitist selling a family heirloom for £15k by all means spend a few hundred on paint. That isn't the case for most of us, and modern materials are light fast and permanent even in student ranges.
Great video!!!!! If I did not have experience with linen canvases I would not have been able to guess which was the expensive one. As for the paint I could not tell the difference!
The only give away for me was the texture of the canvas.
Awesome Video! Great Advice.....AND THAT IS ONE BEAUTIFUL STORE!!!! Heaven!!! lol
Personally i buy whatever is see & like that has a decent price. Iv splurged on more expensive brushes with like a Birthday gift card. And used them once and went back to my cheep brushes.
My all time favorite brushes are from Dollar General makeup brushes that are $1 ea.
They are GREAT and last
I would say that, when it comes to the paint proper, buying student and craft grades from the reputable brands is perfectly fine, they have sufficient quality to hold their ground and do get use by professional artists when doing less traditional pieces (say, murals or painting over surfaces other than canvas, paper or wood panel). Now, buying from cheap brands that cannot produce higher grade products tends to be problematic. I actually asked one of my art suppliers with respect to my favorite brand for acrylic paints, Daler-Rowney, she told me that both the System 3 and Graduate acrylics (craft and student grade, respectively) work just fine compared to Cryla (professional artist grade), but that the simply... (ultra cheap line) line is like school glue with a bit of coloring added.
Love your video , I’m a beginner painter myself. Being a Canadian, that 88 dollars would be close to 160 Canadian . Golden paints can cost up to 65 Canadian dollars for 1 tube. I love their pigments in more costly paints. I used golden for pour paintings, but painting by brush I will use artist loft . I also love Liquitex products as well. Thanks for sharing your info
I have some liquitex basic and Soho from Jerry's artarama. With the exception of the Soho being slightly more transparent in some of the colors, which I like, I don't find much difference in them. They both have a nice creamy texture and the colors are almost identical on my color charts. I have only been painting for a year, and when I sit down to do practice runs, I use my soho. When I am painting something for someone, I use both. I know the color fastness is not as good, but really, I don't expect to see my painting on someones wall 30, 40, 50 years from now. I just don't want to be burdened by worrying about what money I am spending when trying to learn to paint something new. I really do agree with the brushes though. They really do make a difference. But like he said, the real factor is experience so just keep painting and it will come.
Thank you SO much for this informative video. I am a new painter. I have always been one to do portraits like Marilyn on my profile picture. I just used an artist loft pencil, eraser and a piece of paper. lol Now that I am painting I kind of mix the brands. I use liquitex basics for my ground. It just blends better. I use my Golden paint for the rest of the painting. And I really like Golden Glazing medium. It both glazes and extends the time on the paint. Both in one. I like that! I do like a better brush...but it doesn't have to be expensive. Just a firm filament for a heavy bodied paint is all. I have painted 7 or 8 paintings so far and still learning and you have helped so much. :D ...oh if someone asked me to paint for them I would use more expensive product. That would just make me feel better...even if they didn't know it.
I started painting a year ago. I live in Israel. Everything is expensive. I had no idea what to buy. through the year I have painted almost 400 pictures, slowly I have upgraded my paint. I visited Canada and bought Liquitex Basics. Hoping it would be a better paint. The white is not as good as a cheap chinese brand I buy here, but the sap green is better. At the beginning I painted on paper that a watercolour artist would use; I have slowly switched to a heavier cardboard almost emulating canvas. The brushes I have slowly upgrades which has helped my painting skills. Some colours are important like yellow, most are not depends on personal preference. The main thing is practice, practice, practise.
I can't really totally agree on cheap paints LB's are ok for students but there are many that are not with very little pigment, the multi packs of 20/40 colours you see in stores, My own advice would be to use LB's or Liguitex soft or heavy or golden but buy MATTE OPAQUE EXTENDER GEL MEDIUM costs about the same as a tube of paint (it's not time extender) which will double the volume but keep the level of pigment and binding (unlike water) and quality of the paint and better flow thereby cutting the cost of paint to half, it's not a trick as such but it's not often talked about of a way of saving without losing quality. Other brands of good student paint Winsor & Newton Galeria for one. Just my opinon :-)
Helen Smith Great advice! I will admit I use a lot of water in my paintings and it comes out fine....but who knows what it woud look like 20 years from now. I will try out the medium as you suggested. :)
You are welcome, I only came across it myself a little while ago, it's easy to miss other ways of saving money without losing quality, it's not that the manufacturers like Liguitex don't want you to know, they make it, maybe we focus on the paint to much and a little scared to try the mediums thinking it makes things cost more when it can really save more. Also Winsor & Newton Galeria Medium: Extender.
In my mined, to start with art is to organise art Supplies in the middle of the cost spectrum.
Not the cheap stuff in the dollar store or overpriced Hobby Supplies them are in the near of Studio or Student Supplies prieced.
I think on Student Supplies like for example Cotman or van Gogh Watercolors,
Amsterdam or System3 Acrylics and Georgian or Winton Oilcolors.
I like the lower painting, it looks better and sharper.
but to the question I also answered the top painting as being better.
there is a difference but somehow I assumed the better one was cheaper one lol
feel duped by my own brain.
how ever on a big scale , yea they are really similar
I just went through this I'm a new painter again and you are exactly right and everything you said and I appreciate the
Thank you for this video. I am a new painter and I started out with Golden, but I waste so much paint due to bad mixing, painting over to redo, etc. I now buy my paint at Hobby Lobby. Liquitex Basic and Masters Touch (so cheap, Yay)
You are so right,the expensive ones does not mean are better if you do not , as you said , learned the skills ! Cheers !
I agree with you. BUT really really really cheap materials, really suck!!!. So I think buying a decent low price is ok for any beginner.
I couldn't tell which painting used what supplies... but that could be because you wanted to paint them both the same and did not supply a reference photo to see the differences between the 2. If you are trying to make them look alike, it shouldn't matter what paint you use... they should look alike.
More expensive paints have more pigment and have more lightfastness. Usually this means your paintings last longer and you use less paint to cover the canvas when you use more expensive paints. Cheap paints will grey out more as you mix them and will often be very thin, hence not providing sufficient cover.
As for other performance... If you are use to a thinner body paint, like liquitex basics, of course you would prefer how it works to a higher quality paint like the liquitex heavy body or Golden. The paints will perform differently because they were created differently. So its hard to compare one to another in this respect and say one is better than another because of a longer/shorter working time. Rather its easier to just explain the differences. Usually, longer working times means a more watered down paint that fades quicker.
Same thing goes for canvas. There is rough canvas, smooth canvas, Linnens, cottons, stretched or boarded. Etc. Each canvas has its own unique properties. It sounds like you bought a heavy weave canvas usually good for impasto style painting, but you had ttrouble covering the canvas because your painting style used too thin of a paint. Again, it mostly comes down to styles and preference of how you work and how you want your products to perform. There are differences in canvases and it maters if you know what type of canvas works best for your style of painting.
Expensive supplies doesn't mean you will make better art. But better supplies if used in proper context do perform better, and as such will make better art.
The only thing i say, is get get a good white color. I got one from walmart that took layers to make bright, but a slightly more expensive one was much better.
Every time I go into Michael's I look up their coupon on my phone. They almost always have a 40-50% off coupon on one regularly priced item. I have slowly acquired many of the liquitex Basics paints. I just recently purchased my first Golden in Titanium white. I buy the 5 pack of cheap canvases. I have never tried an expensive canvas. I would like to purchase eventually a Fredrix one, but can't justify the cost at this time. I recommend joining Michael's reward program as they offer occasionally a discount off of entire purchase. Wish there was a Jerry's Artarama near me!
Yes Jerrys is amazing! And I never buy from Michaels without a coupon either! lol
I like to see the canvas weave too Chris,but sometimes I use the cheap canvases from our local Chinese shop(known here in Spain as Todo Shops)then I definitely need to gesso,as the gaps are difficult to fill!! Oh to be able to paint on expensive canvases!!!!!! I found this very interesting even though I use oils. Thankyou
Amen!!! Thank you for sharing your experiment with us.
Chris...thanks for this video. It was really a surprise to me. I've always thought you should buy the best paints you could afford. I use professional grade heavy body acrylics in my paintings. I was so surprised though that I picked the wrong painting. So true that better paints don't make you a better painter. It might be though that a great painter like yourself, can make any kind of paints look beautiful!
Thanks Shari! It was a very fun experiment to do. I will admit, I do love working with Liquitex heavy body acrylics the best, but for the price I can't justify it. Like I said, its the artist's skills and not necessarily the supplies. Thanks for watching!
I think that experience cannot be replaced by expensive materials if someone paints much less with them than with the cheaper ones. The materials have to be at least as good that they don't get the feeling that the materials work against them
and that people like to paint / draw with them.
I hundred percent agree with you I mean we use sheep pants I got at the dollar store they're very good to me I come up with very beautiful paintings with them and I use $2 brushes and I come up with beautiful paintings it's all about the artist not the paint supplies
I`m very happy with your advice. Actually, I`m using cheap acrylics for students and paper canvas because it`s cheaper too. I think since I`m a beginner artist I should not waste too much money on expensive acrylics and canvas because I`m not skilled yet and it`s just a practice. I bought F8 size canvas and still haven`t used it. It`s kindda expensive. I chose B! because it`s more realistic.
Great video- thanks for taking the time and expense to make this!!
Honestly, when you go to see all the cheap vs expensive art supply comparisons on yt, you can really see there's not much of a difference. I do believe it's good for professionals to get expensive supply's that would work best and would be higher quality thus making it easier to produce art and just improve the art. I'm all for middle class art.
I inherited some prismacolors from my sister. They're good quality though color choice isn't perfect. I have the lower brand of winsor and newton watercolor but I think I'll be using some cheep yoobi watercolors with them for pink, a color that I'm low on and really love. I definitely really enjoy my prismacolors. So much better than crayola!
So yeah, I'm all for middle class.
Great video, I started out with Liquitex Basics, I now use Matisse Professional, which I like a lot. Thank you for making some very good points.
Barbara Z. Love Matisse! Holbein is sooo amazing too! Cheap Joes has good prices for Holbein paints.
I want to thank you , I am learning to paint and wondering about more expensive materials . I just realized that the dollar store acrylic craft paints are actually falling off the canvas and the canvases I bought there are developing little holes so obviously those materials are too cheap. I have art on deviant art under the name of kerroni and I have been putting my stuff on facebook under my own name and I would love tips, advise and criticism but mostly tips!
I don’t paint on canvases as everyday practice. So any sketchbook and gesso will do. What will you recommend for beginners as medium ? I tend to use a lot at the beginning and spend money on that unnecessarily. To minimize is also big help not to get distracted and just create
Try living in the UK where Golden paint is twice that price!
I have always wanted to paint a stormy sea and would love it if you made a tutorial of this.
Dale Knapp I am going to make one shortly. i was actually killing 2 birds with 1 stone...making this video....and the 2 paintings were studies for a larger one I will do a tutorial on soon. so please subscribe if you haven't already! :)
Thank you so much , my husband said I should not use the most expensive but now you have convenes me ,we believe these people they are artist , now is it the same for water colour
Hi Jean! I don't have much watercolor experience, so can't give a good answer on that, but I would imagine so.
Jean Milhollin don't use cheap watercolor from the kid's section cause even with skill, the watercolors won't be very pigmented or either blotchy. A brand that I really like and has a good price is Prang. I hope that helped :)
I think you can tell the expensive one because of the vibrancy (?) of the colors. The only reason to use expensive is for the "acid free" that guarantees longevity. But I usually mix expensive and cheap it depends on the consistency o like density of the paint or workability. to fix the fast drying thing maybe use a medium to slow the process and it makes it shiny and that's a plus!
i am planing to purchase gamblin pigment and make my own diy high quality watercolor
I been making my own watercolour's for year's their a easy to make. I love them. Must of saved a bomb in money over the year's. Sennelier do lovely pigment.
I work as a artist for years so wile I know the video wasn't made for me I wanted to see your take on it. While I very much agree with some things such as fundamentals are more important then tools for beginners. For professionals it a inconveniences to use cheaper paint as tends to be it thinner so it changes work flow as it takes a lot more paint to get the same effect. (As it be a inconvenience for the cook to use cheep knifes that don't cut well. sure its doable but it dose effect the final result)
. . for my self personalty I rather use expensive paints that last a bit longer and go on a bit thinker so I can paint in any order I see fit as well as work quickly as it fast drying.
With that said I tend to save money on canvas and paint bushes that are easily disposable as it will wear and tear over time regardless and I rather save where I can.
Great video. Just what I needed to hear.
Videos non related,yes,I too have to get the best watercolours I can afford,I haven't been able to get Winsor and Newton oils here,so am using some called Van Gogh,they are dreadful,what a waste of money!
Cheap acrylic paint may use the same pigments and fillers but in a different ratio and the light-fastness may be the same but whether the paintings come out the same will show only if you field test them under the same conditions for a few years.
If you're selling art using the more expensive art can be a sales pitch.
Though I absolutely agree using cheap art supply can be just as rewarding as using the more expensive ones. Though really cheap brushes tend to loose their hairs much more easily and removing these hairs from the canvas can be daunting.
Wow ty so much! You rock!!!!
Haha I like the introduction.... Though you have pointed the exact reality..
It is quite noticeable the difference between a and b and the higher-priced paints do make a difference in quality and longevity. So things you would shake your head to Id shake my head right back at you.
in my humble opinions the quality and texture of your brush play a very important part in executing your painting. I personally use student grade white paints and blacks because the most use colours and decently price professional paints in my majority of all my painting . anyone could have seen b was the most expensive paints cause of its colour vibrancy but the canvas b textures was peeping through to much I can't c y that canvas b cost so much.
Good cooking analogy!
Awesome just the video looking for
I've pretty much settled on Windsor & Newton since they're in the decently priced range while being fairly well pigmented. Still not quite satisfied with the ultramarine though.
I picked B as the more expensive painting.
holy crap - was that the jerrys in elmwood?
Why yes it is! Lol
I've moved out of state since and no Jerrys here. :(
haha i knew it! i live right down the street - what a small world. thanks for your videos by the way!
Is it wrong of me- I like the cheap one better! :)
I love craft paints, I can get fine details and all the things that can be done with artist grade paints. But I use both.
Thank you for sharing, I love your FB page too. Hoo Roo
Thanks Marie!
Thanks for your video
Both are awesome.
Geez, i had no idea, thanks. Do you think the same applies to oil paints?
this doesn't matter. if you mix colors, paints with less pigment are not the way to go.
Personally, I think it's not just the quality of materials you are using that will determine the outcome of the painting, but also your skill level. If you are an amateur but use expensive paints, the painting you produce will still look like an amateur painting. Yes, better quality paints have more pigment in them but it takes a skilled artist to use those paints in a way which brings out the best results.
Thanks for the informations and suggestions you gave about the art supplies for a beginner... I want to start painting in acrylics because I love art, and watching and hearing all the other artist saying to buy a good quality product because they are worth the deal and because you learn better this way, they just seems to me that they tell this just for the sake of answer that question. Now I have another question for you, if this doesn't bother you: Do you suggest any specific book or DvD to watch to start understand how acrylics work and the specific techniques?
Glad you liked this video! Unfortunately, I am self taught so no book or DVD recommendations on my end. I would say just experiment with it on you own. Its really about getting the feel for working with acrylics and getting used to it on your own. Id recommend youtube over spending money on any books or DVDs!
You are probably so used to overpainting with the cheaper products, especially the canvas, that you missed the differences.
The linen canvas has such a different feel and flow to it.
It appears you didn't go far enough with the linen, probably because the paints are naturally covering faster or better.
To be sure, the more expensive canvas and paints are worth it.
I mean, 2 dollars compared to 12 dollars for something you want people to remember forever?
Should have just showed your shoes and watch and asked what we thought!
I've been painting for one year or less and I can tell you the linen is painting with the brush you use while the cheaper cotton, etc. is wrestling with the canvas you chose.
im learning intuitive art, but i find cheap paint just doesnt let me achieve the results i want,Im going to try the liquitex basics & see if they help but if not im going str8 for the Golden
The photos people voted looked very different from what it looks all throughout the video and the thumbnail .____. haven't no one realized?
That's y I'm using school students water color to learn painting...👍
I am thinking better brushes would be more important than the more expensive paint
Have you done one of these with Oil? Wet on Wet?
These 2 examples are acrylic. I rarely paint with oils these days. I prefer acrylic.
thank you for this
So glad I watched this video.
Are there acrylic sketchbooks ?
Can i use watercolor sketchbooks?
i wish it's the same with watercolors but lord, cheap watercolor papers suck so bad! and cheap watercolor paints tend to be more opaque and just so bad for layering!!!
Chris,which jerrys artarama are you at. are you east coast,CT store,or NC store. I wish I could just go shop there I only ha e Michael's and ACMoore
West Hartford, CT. I love that store! :)
Check out what Dean Proxy on Facebook does with student grade paints.
May I ask, which was the easiest to paint?
Peggy Huddleston The cheaper one, for sure. The liquitex Basics flows much better than Golden in my opinion. also the cheap canvas was smoother.
I get sick if I don't buy good oils. The cheap oils makes me very sick.
YESSSSSSS, I'm to broke to buy art supplies anyway, I used normal pencil and some cheap sketchbook and it work!!!! lol
What about if you’re trying to sell your painting is basic a good paint how much does the materials matter then
+josephine solomon I have sold paintings with paint of either quality with no issues. I do adjust my prices slightly based on paint though. I charge slightly more for paintings done with better paint.
Skill>Cost Of Supplies