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Jovy Merryl

Aquarryl Studio

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How to Start Making Art Again

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How to Start Making Art Again

Have you ever stopped painting for months and feels awkward to hold those gorgeous brushes again? Or get super scared with that expensive 100% cotton paper? Or maybe wondered if your creativity is already a distant memory? I know that feeling!

So… How do we get back into art after a long looong break?

Don't feel bad

1. First (and the most important of them all) is do not ever feel bad of taking a break from creating. We all need to get a new perspective and fresh ideas in order to progress.

The ever suportive creative community

2. Get in touch with the creative community. Social media is another great way to meet fellow creatives. There are a lot of friendly artists all over social media, even in Tiktok! So follow them, get to know them, and don’t be shy and start the conversation! The creative community has always been kind and encouraging to me and to everyone else.

These artists are incredibly friendly and talented. Say hi to them in Instagram!!

ADD CART!!

Do I need to explain more? *wink*

Along with your newly purchased art materials, find a free tutorial that interests you. Pick up some technique and learn to fall in love again with the process of creating. The joy it brings and safe space that feels like home within home.

Here are some free tutorials that might help!

FREE ONLINE CLASSES
MY YOUTUBE TUTORIALS

What is the best watercolor paint brand? Quick Review & Comparison

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Getting your watercolor paints can be overwhelming specially when you have no idea on what to get and what works for you. So breathe and consider these two things;

  1. Budget. Students’ Grade Watercolor are cheaper with less or cheaper pigments in it. Artists’ Grade with all the rights reasons such as Permancy or lightfastness, higher pigment concentration, transparency and vibrancy are expensive.
  2. What are you going to do with it? Would you like to make a living off your works? Is it going to be for pure leisure? Is watercolor going to be your main medium or tools? Is it for sketching? Calligraphy?

Avoid falling into marketing hype and try to understand what do you need as a watercolorist.

 

 Winsor and Newton Cotman: Rating: 🎨🎨🎨

The variety of colors in this set is amazing! I bought a set of 48 half pans (some are repeated colours) it can be easily activated, the transparency is good but it is not vibrant enough for me.

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Winsor and Newton Cotman. Swatch in Aquafine 300 gsm CP

 

Sakura Field Sketchbox: Rating: 🎨🎨🎨

The colours are fun to use and the set is handy as promised. This set is perfect for outdoor painting, for urban sketching. I love the earth colours of this set but find it abit chalky in some papers.

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Sakura Field Sketchbox swatched in Canson 200 gsm CP

 

Mungyo: Rating: 🎨🎨🎨

I love the greens of this set! The color selection is impressive, they are vivid and easy to activate. The metallics are not as sheen and some colours are really opaque.

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Mungyo. Swatch in Aquafine 300 gsm CP

 

Prima Confections: Rating: 🎨🎨

Prima is comparable to Mungyo although I find Mungyo bolder than Prima. It is not as transparent as Cotman but not as chalky as Simbalion so yeah, a touch of chalkiness. It does stain in the tin which probably suggests hight filler content. Price is very reasonable so it doesn’t hurt to grab one and play with it.

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Prima swatched in Aquafine 300 gsm CP

 

Kuretaki Gansai Tambi: Rating: 🎨🎨

This Japanese watercolor set is very opaque and although very vibrant I regret that we didn’t get a long but I enjoyed using it with brush calligraphy.

White Nights: Rating: 🎨🎨🎨🎨

My obsession with vibrant, pigmented and easily activated watercolor started with this brand. For a very long time this is my standard, I always compare new paint to my White Nights. A real value for money.

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White Nights

 

Shinhan Professional: Rating: 🎨🎨🎨🎨

My first taste of tube goodness started with this set. Shinhan mix very well and doesn’t get muddy. They are intense and highly pigmented! I use this as my travel palette.

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Shinhan Professional swatched in Aquafine 300 gsm CP

 

Random Comparisons

Hobein, Daler Rowney Simply, Winsor and Newton Fine

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Swatch in Aquafine 300 gsm CP

 

Daniel Smith, Winsor and Newton Professional, 

Shinhan PWC , Mission Gold

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Daniel Smith — Winsor and Newton Professional — Shinahan PWC — Mijello Gold. Swatched in Aquafine 300 gsm CP

 

White Nights , Daler Rowner Aquafine , Prang (Oval Pan)

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Comparion. White Nights — Aquafine — Prang swatch in Canson 200 gsm CP

 

Disclaimer: Review and ratings of the said products/brands are purely base on my preference and opinion as user (of the said products) for a certain period of time between November 2016- 2018. Let us all keep in mind that these brands may or may not change the properties of their paints.

My Palette

Setting or building up huge watercolor studio palette has been surprisingly educational and not sharing it is a crime I don’t want to commit. There are a lot of brands out there so it is important that you have a guideline. Mine’s below.

  1. Is it bold, vibrant and pigmented? I like my works fierce and confident but can be soft when I needed it to be
  2. Lightfast?
  3. Is it easy to activate? I want my paints to be moist all the time, always ready to use.
  4. Is it transparent? Will my paints help my creation glow and be luminous?
 After a year of trying this and that I humbly recommend paints in tube. Why? Because pans are slightly hard for my brushes-and I love my brushes! Also, I like the idea of me having fresh paints available just in case my imagination require me to have one.
Also, I highly encourage that you get Artists’ Grade paints because at the end of the day, your skills and passion to create deserves a high quality of materials you can afford.

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