“I played with student paints for a while… What a HUGE difference in my final results by using Quality Paper and Artist grade Pigments! My cheap paper, brushes and student grade paints sit in a drawer unused…. a waste of money and time…..” – Nancy P
What supplies you need to get started with watercolor painting
It’s just the same, whether it’s getting up at 6am and stepping out into a cold, dark, rainy morning to go for a run, or making the first mark in a fresh, new sketchbook.
Yet when you’re halfway through that run, or that sketchbook, taking another step or making another mark feels like hardly any effort at all.
Once you have that initial momentum behind you, it all gets so much easier.
Why does that first part feel like such a big step?
Whilst starting anything can feel hard, something I’ve noticed makes starting feel even harder is when the thing we’re putting off is linked to one of our long term goals. Like improving our fitness or developing our artistic skills.
The bigger the ambition, the heavier it weighs.
And the harder it can feel to start.
So when we feel sparked to make a special effort and take that first big step to start something, we owe it to ourselves to give it our best shot so we can stand the best chances of succeeding.
When it comes to watercolor painting, getting off on the right foot means starting with the best watercolor supplies you’re able to get hold of.
My view is that with watercolor, if you don’t spend and have the best materials you probably won’t do well and therefore won’t like it! It makes sense to set yourself up for success so that you can truly give it your best go .” – Nancy (community member)
Inferior quality materials limit the results you can achieve
Suppose, for a moment, that you want to make yourself a jacket to wear.
You’ve been inspired by a photo of one made out of a beautiful, soft linen fabric and you’d like yours to look the same. You’ve found clear instructions to follow.
But the material you have to work with is a synthetic, scratchy nylon.
No matter how well you stitch, and how closely you follow the instructions, the quality of your jacket can never match the look or feel of the one that inspired you. Your nylon behaves in a difficult way when you’re handling it and doesn’t feel nice to handle or wear.
You wonder why your jacket isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as the linen one you were inspired by. You put it down to your lack of skill, and decide that maybe sewing isn’t something you’ll be good at.
So you give up on that idea and move on to something else you might be better at. Your sewing things get relegated to the back of a cupboard for ‘one day’.
But of course, it wasn’t you.
The quality of the materials greatly limited the potential quality of the results you could ever have achieved.
This is the case with watercolour. And not using the best watercolor supplies is one of the reasons many people give up with it.
“ “[I agree it’s] important for beginners to have good paper and professional paints from the start. It’s so easy to be demotivated and put ‘failures’ down to perceived lack of talent when you have actually been let down by the products used .” – David (community member)
You need to know that there are two main categories of watercolor paint: student grade and artist grade.
And the difference between them is like night and day.
Artist grade paints are like the linen in our above example. They have more pigment in them, which makes them brighter. You can get them in ‘transparent’ colors, which let you paint in layers, allowing colours and details beneath to show through in beautiful ways.
Artist grade paints are a joy to paint with. And when you’re painting in my style, they last years.
Student grade paints are like the nylon in our example. They’re cheaper because they have less pigment in them, and are bulked out with ‘filler’ ingredients. It’s much harder to work in layers with this paint and the colours tend not to be as vibrant.
Which means student grade paints can feel really frustrating to work with. And they greatly limit the results you’ll be able to achieve.
“I played with student paints for a while… What a HUGE difference in my final results by using Quality Paper and Artist grade Pigments! My cheap paper, brushes and student grade paints sit in a drawer unused…. a waste of money and time…..” – Nancy P
So if you can avoid it, please don’t go out and buy student grade paints especially, as once you’ve got the bug, you’ll soon want to replace them, so it will end up costing you more in the long run.
Using quality paper and brushes also extends the potential of what you can achieve. Although when you’re starting, when it comes to paper, a decent sketchbook is all you need.
What supplies are needed for spray paint art
Spray paint art is no longer just for the streets, it has now been taken as a respected new form of art which brings modern perspectives and designs into both small and large scale visual expressions. Spray paint art is far more common than it once was, graffiti is now much more respected and in some cities it can often be some of the most visited tourist destinations.
You will need numerous spray paint supplies which will allow you to create spray paint art freely. The range of items you will need is the spray paint its self, posterboards (if this is what you want to spray paint if you choose wood or a wall you can use that too), newspaper or magazine sheets, stencils and protective wear.
When you first start out, it can sometimes seem a little expensive. But it is like any other hobby, once you start you will soon realise how inexpensive it is to keep your hobby going.
Protective clothing
Before we go any further, you must ensure you have the right protective wear before using any spray paints. While spray painting can be fun, what many people do not realise is the number of solvent vapours come from spray paints once you start using them. It is paramount you have the right mask and goggles if you want to ensure you are adequately protected we highly recommend using a respirator with goggles from Graff City. You should also ensure when you are spray painting your arms and legs are adequately covered. Spray paints can irritate the skin, so it is best to keep them covered while using them.
Spray paints
There is a range of spray paint cans you can use for spray paint art. Ral Colour Aerosols, Pantone Colour Aerosols and British Standard all have a wide variation of colours and are great for art.
Make sure when you purchase spray paints you check out the different colour variations. We also recommend having a couple of cans of the same colour as you may run out halfway through. Most aerosols will come with a cap already attached to the bottle, make sure you know what caps the can have on it. Smaller ones will be more of a consistent flow of paint whereas wider ones will have more of a dispersed spraying action. Some cans also have adjustable ones; if you are unsure when buy, we suggest giving the supplier a call.
Posterboards
If you are choosing to make your art on a nice canvas or posterboard make sure you get a good quality one. It will hold the paint well and will also be less likely to rip. Posterboards are a cross between paper and card, but it has a gloss finish over the top. If you are looking for a range of sized canvases, we recommend taking a look at Hobby Craft.
Tools
If you are wanting to make a range of patterns or templates you may want to look at purchasing a craft knife, palette knife and any other type of blade. These will all help you wield a range of patterns into the paint.
Newspapers or Magazines
You may be wondering why we put this on our list, but the last thing you will want to do is have your spray paint all over the floor where you did not intend it to go.
A newspaper is also a great way of you adding texture to your designs, other items such as a thin brush or sponge can also be great in helping create different surfaces.
Cleaning
No matter how good you are at spray painting, there is always a little chance you may make a bit of a mess. It is absolutely fine; however, you will need the right cleaning products to remove the paint effectively. White spirit is a great option, it helps to remove paint from your tools and can also be used to remove paint from your skin however we would like to mention that you do need to be careful when using this.
Stencils
If you are not good at painting yourself why not consider using stencils. Stencils are a great way of achieving the look you want to go for; they are also perfect for adding little details to a landscape.
Spray painting
When it comes to spray painting, there are a few safety tips you need to consider. If you are spray painting indoors you need to make sure that the room is well ventilated, if you are doing outside, ensure there is no wind as this may pick up paint particles and transfer them onto surfaces. Before you start spray painting you must ensure you are well covered, all safety gear is on, and eyes are covered.
Take your time when spray painting, we always recommend doing a test of each spray paint colour before you go ahead with your artwork. If they are not tested, there could be a small chance the nozzle does not quite work the way you wanted it to and could damage the painting.
Apply each coat in layers, if you want to build up the colour we recommend giving it a good couple of minutes before applying the next coat. If you are looking for a little inspiration we recommend taking a look at these 10 Ways to DIY Modern Art with Spray Paint.
Be artistic
Do not be afraid to show off your artistic side. Creating spray paint art is a great way of showing self-expression, but it is also a fantastic way of decorating a room. Whether you do it for fun, pleasure or want to decorate, why not try a couple of things out.
Spray painting may seem expensive at first, but once you have all of the relevant tools, you can create a cracking piece of art for a fraction of the price of a gallery item. We love seeing spray paint art, so feel free to share yours with us here at DC Paint Solutions.
Painting supplies checklist-Everything you need when painting your home
Before you start with your house painting project, you need to gather everything you need first. If you’re new to DIY painting, you’ll realise that the challenge doesn’t just end with picking the right color…
Before you start with your house painting project, you need to gather everything you need first. If you’re new to DIY painting, you’ll realise that the challenge doesn’t just end with picking the right color for your house. The options for the supplies you need is endless!
Through this article, we’ll give you a quick run through of the things you’ll need–from preparation up to the painting process itself.
Pre-painting process
You don’t just jump to painting. You need to set up and clear the area first. With this, you’ll need a couple of tools to make sure you remove all the obstructions in the room.
Metal paint scraper
Aside from patching any holes and dents, you also need to scrape off the old paint in your wall to make sure the area is clean and free from anything that can ruin the consistency of your new paint. This metal paint scraper has a flat steel blade with a metal handle. You can also find some paint scrapers with plastic or wooden handles.
Palette knife
Before starting to paint, you need to ensure there are no holes in the wall. In case there are some, you must patch it with a drywall compound using a spatula or a palette knife.
A palette knife almost looks like a paint scraper. The only difference is that a palette knife is commonly used to patch a surface’s imperfections before starting on your painting project.
Painter’s tape
A painter’s tape is used to cover surfaces so paint doesn’t drip to areas that shouldn’t be painted. You can tape off your windows, door frames and outlets if you prefer not removing them during the painting process.
Painting process
After ensuring that the surface is all clean and free from any obstruction, it’s time to prepare the materials to start painting. Below is the list of the things you need for your painting project.
Paint
Of course, this is the primary supply you’ll need. There are different types of paint you can choose from depending on your preferences.
- Flat – also known as matte paints and has the least amount of glossiness. Best used in low-traffic areas and surfaces that are not touched often.
- Eggshell – more lustrous compared to flat paints. Perfect for places with medium traffic such as hallways and living rooms.
- Satin – easy to clean paints with velvety finish suitable for high traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
- Semi-gloss – paints with shiny finish best used in areas that get a lot of moisture.
- High gloss – paints with the shiniest finish perfect for doors and cabinets.
Paint brushes and rollers
These will serve as your applicator when working on your painting project. You’ll need different types of brushes depending on your painting technique. For example, you can use an angled brush to paint the doors, ceilings and windows. You can also use a small craft brush for edges and hard to reach areas.
Painting trays
Painting trays are used as a container of small portions of paint. This is also useful to avoid dipping your paint brushes directly to the paint cans which can contaminate the paint with dirt.
Canvas tarp
This will serve as your floor and furniture’s protection. Some people use newspapers, but it’s not recommended if you’re working in a carpeted area.
Ladder
A ladder is very useful especially when painting tall walls and ceilings. Instead of using chairs, this is a safer tool to reach high areas.
Each of these materials is important when repainting your home. Take this painting supplies checklist and see if you’re missing something before starting on your painting project.
