Supplies

Adventures with Acrylic Gouache!

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Well, I got out of the gouache game, but not for long! After moving with only my watercolors, I started to miss having a second medium, especially one that forces me to think differently from watercolor and that has different benefits and challenges. While I love the dreaminess and luminosity of watercolor, some types of … Read more

What’s the difference between Perylene Scarlet (PR149) and Perylene Red (PR178)?

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Today I’m comparing two colors that are both named Perylene Red, but use different pigments.

DV Perylene Red (PR149) vs. DS Perylene Red (PR178)

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Vancouver Colors Revisted + palette update

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The big question in my last palette review was: will I use the “Vancouver colors” Perylene Green, Carbazole Violet, and Quin Burnt Orange? Answer: yes! I found even more uses for them than before, including making a lovely kind of dull violet gray with the violet + green. This is a good color base for … Read more

What’s the difference between Imidazolone Lemon and Imidazolone Yellow?

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In this Color Comparison, I’ll compare two similar yellows that I love: Imidazolone Lemon (PY175) and Imidazolone Yellow (PY154). Both are very bold, lightfast yellows that can be used as a primary yellow in a palette. Either one of them, if you showed it to me, I would be like “yup that’s the platonic ideal of yellow,” but next to each other I can see how they are actually kind of different.

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Accepting Drying Shift

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Drying shift is the tendency of watercolor paints to become lighter and less vibrant as they dry. This is a bane of my existence, increasing the difficulty of painting with enough value range. You can paint something out that looks high-contrast but have it all dry pale and weak-looking. Why does this happen, and what … Read more

Seven Confusing Things About Paint Names

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There are certain conventions or tricks to the ways paints are named that I found confusing, especially when I was starting out. Here are some key points about paint names. Confusing Thing #1: Paint names aren’t standardized. You can get lulled into a false sense of security because some paints look very similar, are made … Read more

My complete minimalist watercolor supply collection

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As you read this, I’m en route on my cross-continent, international move from Boston to Vancouver. Rather than paying thousands for a moving truck and storage for months (while we live in a furnished sublet), my partner and I elected to sell or give away nearly everything we own, keeping only what fits in a few suitcases. So, I had to make massive cuts to my art supplies. Below, I’ll share everything I kept – that is to say, as of now, every art supply I own in the world. What made the cut??

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What’s in my palette? (May 2024)

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You might be unsurprised to note that I have had some last-minute changes of heart about my palette since last time. Partially this is general regrets after overzealously cutting good colors last time, and partially it’s a result of philosophical thoughts after taking a color class with Katie Woodward! Since I’ve run out of time to dither before my move, and have actually given away the colors from the cut pile now, this is going to have to be the “final final final” version… at least I scope out my next art store situation.

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