A box of new art supplies brings out the kid in most artists. It is a treat to go over all the new colors in unbent tubes or handle the brushes lovingly. The new palette is sparkling white and the paper is velvety to the touch.

It takes a while to get to know the personality of a new brush. No matter that it may be the same style and size that you have used before, each brush has its own temperment. Unfortunately brushes do change over time and heavy use so you have to get reaquainted even with brush brands and sizes that are old friends.

Watercolor paper batches too seem to vary slightly, depending on humidity, sizing and other conditions. The new paint colors will have to be tried out on the bright white palette and a piece of the new paper.

Materials are the artists partner in creating a painting. You have to spend some time in the studio getting aquainted. It may look like playing with new toys but it is serious work…. really!

This entry was posted on Friday, June 30th, 2006 at 6:54 am and is filed under Artists Journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.