Experimenting the Beginner, Intermediate and Professional Levels of Watercolour.

I cheers to the acrylic work in the process... But I couldn't take an
updated picture because my students played the jumping
dinosaur game on my phone till the battery went flat. The rascals...

Hey everyone! How's painting coming along? As for me, I've been busy producing everything colourful on paper recently (and more ideas has been a speechless, endless down pour I kid you not). This time, my students actually asked me what's the difference between cheap watercolour and expensive watercolour brands out there and why the cheap ones always finish so fast compared to the slightly pricier brands. Here's why.

I've been working with a few brands of watercolour and my best pick will always be Alpha Watercolour from Korea and Holbein Watercolour from Japan. 2nd best is Derwent, Daler Rowney for intermediate, and my last best, but great for beginners Pentel watercolour... And very likely Marie's. So let's start with the beginner's brand up to the more professional brands sold out there.

Pentel Watercolour Set

Marie's Watercolour and Pentel Watercolour Set

As far as I have been painting with my students, my students who did and are still using these two brands have complained (and stealing my watercolour afterwards...) about why their watercolour keeps finishing so fast and my watercolour set is so much nicer to use despite already 10 years old.

One reason: the colour quality in these two sets are really mild and low pigmented. When one layer

The artwork one of my students did...
It has decent colours, very subtle and easy.

 is applied, the colour isn't strong and may require more from the tube itself. However, I do recommend these two brands for beginners because they cost waaaaay less than the mid range brands out there, and for those who are just exploring too. You may use the watercolour in a breeze when you've gotten the hang of it, but for starters, these two are great for starters.

You can, however, find it's comparable solo tube from Buncho since I have seen it first hand in ArtFriend Malaysia in case you may need to replace only certain colours that doesn't kill your budget.

Daler Rowney Aquafine

I was intrigued by my cousin; Cheryl when she presented her Daler Rowney watercolour travel set (AND FULL RANGE OF COLOURS!!!) and so we started painting together one day. The price for this brand is surprisingly affordable for its range and can be considered mid to intermediate level due to the colour quality being strong and you only require a small amount at a time to apply to your artwork. I'd give it a 9/10 rating since it is the next best thing to my top favourite brand.

The other best part about this particular travel set, it isn't as messy as my tubes and they do not threaten to explode from pressure. (I had one of my tubes exploding watercolour in all directions before... And it had to be my violet tube. Joy...) You can, if available, purchase the cakes when you have run out of a certain colours or simply purchase tubes and refill, let them dry and start again.

The colour review I requested my cousin to help
me out with since I do not own her watercolour set haha.

Daler Rowney Aquafine travelling
watercolour set.

However, not to bullshit given it's Daler Rowney, the Aquafine range has its solo tube sold in my favourite art shops (I am odd because the first place I will run to in a mall is either the book shop or the art shops) so I don't have to purchase a new set of colours to replace my missing few. They have larger tubes at 15ml too if you tend paint more with certain colours, or you can just settle with the small 8ml tubes if you are satisfied with it.

There is also UMAE, which surprisingly costs waaaaaaay lesser for a bigger tube and ooh la laaa... The colour pigment for this brand is super strong too. However, my luck for its solo tube is limited with only 18 colours available sold and I have yet to find the wider range sets. The price per set is surprisingly affordable or can be considered steep for only 18 colours per set, but it's 15 ml tubes can last you a few good years.

My few UMAE watercolour tubes. I've only purchased
these few tubes since I also needed to replace my finishing
and mostly used colours. They cost half the price of
Daler Rowney Aquafine solo tubes. Surprise...

Now For The Intermediate Pro Range Holbein and Alpha

I've been using Alpha watercolour for a good 4-5 years albeit my watercolour has aged a great 10 years, dusting away in storage after my college days are over. I picked it up again since I started teaching art 5 years ago and ooh! They live!!! One of my best investment for watercolour and I don't regret it. Even my students take my word for it and loves it as much as me. 

So here's the difference why I love Apha Watercolour and Holbein. The colours for Alpha Watercolour are high pigmented albeit can be pricey for beginners, however they do not break the bank for intermediate and professional users on the budget. They last longer since very very little amount is used (and recommended to only squeeze a little at a time and dilute with lots of water.) Only set back I have faced is not a lot of places sells the solo tubes in case you may need to only replace certain finishing colours.

The most recent painting I did
and the quality outcome is fabulous!!

Here is where I've discovered (and was recommended by another fellow painter) Holbein and more ooh la la spews from my lips. The colour is comparable to Alpha watercolour and the best part- they sell a wide colour range in their solo tubes! Oh joy! No more hunting like mad and I was

sold at 3 tubes of the same colour per

purchase albeit the price.

Colour quality comparison for the same Cerulean Blue range between Alpha (from he top), Holbein and Daler Rowney Aquafine, except I have Holbein in Peacock Blue because I was running out of Cerulean blue of an Alpha quality.

 I used a lot of cerulean blue in my artworks and it was sad that I could not replenish with the same brand

so I had to find another alternative however... The colour quality isn't what I preferred working with with other available brands sold out there. When I discovered Holbein, I finally managed to replenish the cerulean blue (but it was with another name with the same quality) and I definitely recommend it.

So now that a huge comparison is made, I'm definitely up for the challenge when it comes to exploring more of the watercolour world and updating more on my Instagram account. I have been bugged to sell my art too since I've been getting tonnes of support (and nagged too) to sell my artwork online. Eventually I have attracted an interested buyer too! Splendid!! Now to work out my.. International payment and such... Oh, what a headache. This is practically new to me. I hope I don't fry my brains by the time I am done with all the needed arrangements. 

My ex-student Haritha did this and I...
have... no... patience like her...

I hope this helps everyone in terms of choosing your first watercolour set to work with, and how much you want to invest in watercolour art. I won't be a salesmen here and proclaim the best brands are the most expensive range because I personally haven't tried them myself. However, I kid you not by personal experience so I hope you will enjoy trying out and come up with your own preference because not any or all brands are suitable to either your budget, interest and skill, or all three in the list.

How Much Does It Cost To Paint?

How a painter's small work station
looks like.. MESSY!

Whenever people inquire about starting their first artwork, the first thing that comes to mind is cost. People will shun away and think twice when the cost is presented to them- and worst a barrage of questions how, what, why, materials and the whole lot follows after. It makes me laugh sometimes, and I will patiently entertain them. (in a humble manner, of course) Life of a teacher has fused my blood with tonnes of zen... Since... Children, brats and rascals are involved every weekend.

Kaleidoscope Dream

I'm an illustrator on the budget and I do see a lot of brands out there and not all extremely expensive brands are to my quality choice... And like seriously! I love Alpha brand for watercolour, and I've recently learnt about the wonders of Holbein introduced to me through another friend who is from the same field as me. The large tubes of paint sold half the price like Reeves, Marie and some other cheaper large tube brands are my preferred choice for acrylic paint because I use a lot and I like working on casual layers. Yes, the tubes are huge but they cost half the price (sometimes a fraction cheaper) than the extremely expensive well known brands but they give out the same quality outcome.

However, here is a guide what and how you should purchase your first watercolour kit! It is easy, simple and affordable for everyone to try out- till you decide you would like to explore further into painting wave in the future.

Among Ocean, Moons and Stars.
And this artwork is sold!!!

• What And Why Do You Want To Paint?

People paint for many reasons; to relax, to fill up their journals, a hobby, a profession, a practice... So on and so forth. Find out what and why do you want to paint first before you go to the next level and purchase your painting tools.

• Start With Watercolour

Watercolour is the most basic medium to start with. Reason; it is simple, water soluble and you don't need all the advanced tool to work with. All you need is a cup of water, maybe a few types of brushes depending on how you want to paint your subject, a pallete and a piece of rug to dry your brush when need be. 

It doesn't matter how much you want to spend on a set of watercolour; it can be a children's set you pay less that $10 to an advance (or those expensive well known brands like Daller Rowney, Holbein and other notable brands) set that costs $50 or more, what you want is a medium you can start with to learn how to blend colours, techniques in brush applications and how you correct as your paint.

• Choosing The Right Canvas

Not every medium is suitable with every or any sort of surfaces. You may need to prime your base first before you apply your colour medium. Eg: canvas is expensive and can be pricy for oil and acrylic mediums, however, paper sold meant for oil and acrylic paint can be pricy too. Solution: a good tub of gesso! I've applied gesso to a normal acid free 185 gsm thick drawing block and do I enjoy the feel after that.  

You can start off in a form of a book, in which I DIY my own book instead of buying off the shelf. I find it more affordable that way. Scouting the price per sheet in its largest A1 size (I get my boyfie to carry it for me since me carrying it means dragging it across the floor), cut to preferred size at home then choose the sort of binding later on with my own sort of cover. I choose the transparent matte so I can show off my paintings on the first page (haha!!) Price per book I DIY with binding with clear matte cover and hard board for the backing came up to a third of the price to buy a book outside. Of course the hard cover is awesome and the binding is splendid... But hmmm.... Not worth my three times the price when it consists on one type of paper only.

• What Brands Have I Used Is Quality Yet Comfortable To The Wallet? 

Being an illustrator on the budget, I have always worked with Alpha. And when I need to replace only certain colours, I always look out for discounts on certain brands of paint, and my far best few are Holbein, Umae and Daller Rowney. Really lucky, because Alpha doesn't have them in solo tube colours in variants.

Marie Watercolour Set

Derwent Watercolour

I have tried some other brands like Derwent and Marie, however the colours are not to my liking since it is pretty pale and will require more layers (and more paint used too) but it would be good for beginners to start with. The price wise is half from what I normally purchase, and it is definitely easier on the budget. 

When I do find a certain brand with the colour quality of my choice, I will purchase at least a few tubes (unless it is too strong and I really use a small amount at a time... Like violet) and will have all of the stored in a proper box. Reason for a box? So I don't squish them by accident... Since they have soft bodies. Well... Tubes. 

I do not let my watercolour kept in just a box, I have my other watercolour tools kept together in a bag with my cheap Daiso painting pallete (RM5.90 and hey! It works!) my watercolour brushes, my metallic gold paints, and my Pentel black and white poster colour. I so happen found a bag I kept away forgotten in my room, so oho- Now I use you.

How my collection for watercolour looks like. MESSY in a neat way.

Taadaa!! All zipped up and
ready to be carried around!

See how they fit so nicely?

I don't want to brag but I do find this tip useful, a step by step illustrator-to-be guide. I hate salesmen, and I do not easily trust when the seller said it is good. I must always open tubes and see the colours within myself to be convinced. As harsh as it may seem, I hope these tips will help you on your first colourful journey!

A New Life, A New Journey... And Aging Backwards.

"Under The Red Moon"

How long has it been since I last wrote up here? It has been eons and watercolour has taken its course in my life now. Here's the thing; what does it mean to be a successful watercolour artist? It makes me question sometime, demotivating, hard yet it brought me somewhere close to realization that I really need to buckle up and really take the risky step since I have been jobless for a while.

However, skill shows and attracts support from friends and everyone else because I have always been afraid to try and go daring; FEAR OF FAILURE. And because of that I envy everyone else who are in places they are now and in dreams I wish I could be in. Albeit better, still you are in total envy because lack of recognition.

Still... Now that it is 2019, time to push into my dreams!

One of my portable acrylic artwork in a book form.
'When The Moonlight Calls You"

Experimented with children's oil pastel for the first time...
Woooow... I was seriously having fun here.

"Calling you"

"Teal"

My Winning Artwork!
This baby landed me a
grand winner for
GSC Sayangi Malaysiaku!

"Among The Flowers I Heed"

There are many more artworks that I've been wanting to post up and all, and soon will be up for printing sales, and hoooooboy. I wonder, how do people want to buy your artwork? I need a self promo for cheap, positive thinking and lots of self care to make sure I can draw more while I cosplay my age away... Yes, despite now 32 years old and counting, I have still not given up on that idea of letting go of cosplay.... I deny it all.

Hopefully I will start writing more soon, compiling all of my artworks slowly, build my page and here is one of my wishlist to be crossed out this year! No more slacking off and paint!

However, will also update on some painting notes for everyone new and wanting to experience painting for the first time, what to get and where to get, the woes of paint and the sort- I think it is a great start, I believe. Something I am willing to share away. Not to brag too much, but I have a lot of compiling to do and this is not funny either. I have never seen myself type so fast before with all ten fingers when I used to type with only two! It is fun- and what's fun I don't have to look at the keyboard when typing anymore. Hahahahaha!!

So here we go and may 2019 treat me well this year with a new life to look forward to. Cheers!