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Buying art materials

04/02/2010

• This can be a joy for many, and a minefield for others. It can be a joy for seasoned artists like myself, who still feel like a child in a sweet shop when I cast a wide eye over all the 'goodies' on display. For others, and I think not just of beginners, but many who have a tight budget and have to agonize over the choice of buying a No. 5 or a No. 10 brush.
  
  Quality materials
  
  If you've just taken up drawing and painting as a hobby, or more seriously, you may have enrolled in an evening art class, and been given a list of things to get (or if you're fortunate, you have them included!), in which case you will just have to trust the tutor's judgement.  The important thing is to have the materials and equipment that will not give the kind of inferior results that could easily discourage you from continuing with your new interest - yes it could be much to do with dodgy brushes as well as early days. I've seen folk turn up at adult  classes with brush and paint sets that I wouldn't give to a Five year old.
  
  The thing is, you don't have to spend a fortune on brushes and paints. If you are going to concentrate on watercolour or acrylic painting, three brushes should be enough.  The sizes you need say:  2,  5,  8.  If you are going to paint on a bigger scale than say, A4 then maybe you can add one bigger brush such as a 10 or 12; these are good for putting on washes covering a larger area. Also you can buy reaonably priced nylon/sable mix brushes. You don't have to buy the best pure sable brushes. The quality of synthetic materials have become so much better over recent years. 
  
  I will continue next time talking about Drawing and associated materials.