Using Tiger's Eye stone as an artist's pigment is a relatively recent development. Either unknown to or overlooked by artists of the past, it is just recently finding its way onto the modern day watercolorist's palette, despite being a commonly available and inexpensive mineral that has been known and used at least ceremonially since antiquity.
Some of our most frequently asked questions: What is the difference between student and artist grade paint? Which is the best choice for beginners and why the price difference?
I'm going to dive into answers for each of these questions in this article so that you can decide which is best for YOU.
Smalt is an artist's pigment seldom found in modern palettes or paint lines, despite historically being one of the most important blue pigments, used by such titans of art history as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and J.M.W. Turner.
Most artists, if they are even familiar with Smalt at all, have at best a hazy notion of what it is, and what little is known is shaped by its use in oil painting, which, if you are a watercolorist, will offer a distorted view at best.
Value Range is absolutely one of the most important characteristics in watercolor paints. Understanding this concept will unlock untapped potential in each and every single one of your colors.
In this post we will also cover how to make your own value scale swatches and value finder - free templates included!
Magnetized pans not only hold your colors in place while you travel (if the magnets are strong), but also allow you to quickly rearrange your color layout. Additionally, they allow you to use a very wide variety of different tins - even the beautiful vintage tins from antique shops.
Adding magnets to your tins is straightforward, however, I thought I would share a few pro tips that we have accumulated from over the years of magnetizing thousands of pans.
Drybrushing is easily my favorite watercolor technique. Learning how to incorporate it into my practice gave me much greater control, broadened my skillset, and ultimately brought greater enjoyment to the painting process and satisfaction in the final work.
I'm going to explain it from the ground up as concisely as I can, and then illlustrate how it all works with a mini watercolor tutorial where I will show you how to paint a cherry.
