Watercolor Palette Talk and Art Video Channel Recommendations

Watercolor inspiration, half pans, Case for Making, and keeping a delightful stream of videos playing in the background

I like the quiet, sometimes, but I find more and more that I really appreciate background noise. I watch TV or listen to an audiobook while I draw (or paint). I do one or the other when I go for a while or need to drive somewhere. And I tend to keep videos on while I’m working.

Because I’m working and really focused on what I’m doing for long stretches of time, having a video playing in the background doesn’t always mean I hear or see 100% of the goodness, but I like to have the background noise, and I find it to be a particularly good way to catch a bit of creative talk while I’m working my day job.

I’ve been using a lot of paint, fitting using paint into my daily and weekly illustrated journal practice, thinking a lot about paint, pining over paint, and watching lots of videos about paint. I thought I would share some of that with you here, especially a few of the channels I’ve watched. I think we need to be sharing more of the goodness and inspiration we find.

This rather long and winding post has a few key sections:

• Watercolor old and new (and some indie makers)

• Inspiring video fodder (a few I enjoyed this week)

• A side-note on Gansai Tambi paints

From Pen and Ink to Watercolor — Videos in the Background

One of the first videos I watched this way was the weekly Goulet Pencast. I still look forward to it on Fridays. When that wasn’t enough (it’s only once a week, after all), I added in the Anderson Pens shows (they have several iterations). It’s quirky in a different way (compared to Brian and Drew), but for what I’m after while working, it was also a good pick.

For a while, I obsessively kept Brandon Sanderson’s show, Intentionally Blank playing. That’s still a go-to show for me in the background. I enjoy their banter when I tune in, the shows are long, and when I zone out while working, it’s okay if I didn’t catch every word.

I watch all kinds of other assorted videos, including lots of videos about writing, productivity, creativity, and journals and planners, but recently, I’ve been really hooked on watching videos about painting and watercolor.

I’ve been using watercolor in my illustrated journal this year for #illustrateyourweek, and I am really enjoying it. It is a major shift from my longstanding black and white and even from the last few years when I’ve used multiple colors of fountain pen ink.

Watercolor Old and New

I have Winsor and Newton half pans from years and years ago (right around the start of the Creativity Matters Podcast), but I am also now using some Case for Making paints I received in December as a gift.

I love them!

Half pans are soooooo compelling and so tempting. And there are so many out there. I see different indie (handmade) watercolor makers all the time in my Instagram feed. I’m sure you do, too. I’ve admired some of them for years even though I wasn’t even using paint. But now…. now I’m really looking with new eyes and, yes, drooling just a bit. From Beam to Poems About You to 31 Purple Fish and Blue Pine Arts, there are so many cute little palettes floating around to tease at the part of you that always wants something new. I learned about a bunch of other indie makers this week after watching some of the videos I’ve linked below, too, and I found this list (which is mind-bogglingly massive).

(The winding path: There was a Blue Pine Arts palette last fall that I saw on Instagram that may have been what really pushed me to decide to go ahead and start using color again. It wasn’t a color range I typically use, but I loved it soooo much. I think it also fits in nicely with how When Wanderers Cease to Roam (by Vivian Swift) makes me feel. I talked again about that book in episode 482 of the CMP. I think at this point, the idea of that palette is really driving my desire to pick up a few other specific colors, and for some reason, I think my 100-day series is going to be really a nice way to explore a different color range.)

So, half pans have been on my brain.

In the spirit of minimalism, I probably have far more than I need. (I also don’t have any expendable budget, so most of the video watching is a really distanced and non-actionable form of window shopping.)

But, in the spirit of “I really want to treat myself to something now and then,” watercolor is my current go-to for wishful thinking (right alongside endless pondering about all of the fountain pen inks I would like — although my shift to watercolor has changed my focus on a zillion shades of purple, mint, and gray ink to waterproof inks…. and those aren’t as accessible and seem to have all kinds of caveats that complicate the landscape. I’m happy using my standard Carbon black for my drawing and lettering and letting the watercolor be the experiment for now.).

I’m lucky that Case for Making is only a few miles away from where I am. But, as someone prone to overthinking and someone who has real difficulty making decisions between things, it’s hard to sort out what half-pan I might want to pick up next. (But I think I know exactly what I want. I’m making some deals with myself about when I might go down and get just one half-pan. It will probably mean getting two. Maybe two-ish?)

UPDATE: After this initial deep-dive, I kept tunneling. After spending a lot of time looking at the information talked about in the “Rabbit Hole” post, I am approaching paint in a different way and with more intentionality. (That feels much better and less chaotic to me.) I am really considering what “few” colors I might buy (probably Daniel Smith tubes) to further fuel my explorations with paint and mixing. I wanted to note that here because I think my mindset has changed from much of what is below. As for Case for Making, however….. I still probably want more and more and more. But I am resisting that. Newer post: Colorful Rabbit Hole.

Simply Sunday - A colorful rabbit hole for March 19

A Treat Deferred + Good Video Fodder

While happily adding more color to my pages and fantasizing about what paints I might buy next or what paints I might buy in a different life, I’ve been watching “paint” videos in the background recently.

These have been very entertaining, educational, and inspiring, and I thought I would share a few of these channels with you. You likely already know some of these artists, but if you also enjoy casual, friendly, creative talk in the background, you might find these artists good company:

• “I Tried All the Watercolors and These 7 Are the Best!” (by Paint Crush with Kristy Rice): I really enjoyed this video and feel like I need to go watch it again and make notes! Seeing this one led to me watch a number of hers back to back. I really enjoy her style and approach, and I definitely am amazed by (and possibly jealous of) her collection. In addition to this video, she has a bunch of other swatch videos, including one on popular inexpensive palettes from Amazon and one on handmade watercolor makers. (I was looking for videos on Gansai Tambi watercolors when I first found her channel. She does talk about them in the video on palettes you can pick up at Amazon.)

• “Swatching 36 Kuretake watercolours” (by Lily Moon Art): I really enjoyed having this long video on. Another of her videos that I found particularly wonderful recently was this one on mixing greys.

• “How To Get BETTER At ART - See How I've Grown Over 3 Years” (Sandi Hester): I watched this one and another one on faces a while back. Her videos are really well done.

• The Unexpected Gypsy: I haven’t watched many of these yet, but I think this is a good one to mention here, too, even though the videos are a bit different than the others I’ve listed.

I’m not getting overly technical with how I use paint. It’s really important to me to just keep it loose and even a bit messy in my journal. I’m enjoying the feeling of working with it and the real pivot it represents in my work. But I’m being careful not to get overly precious about what I’m doing. At the same time, I’m a researcher by nature, and I’m feeling like a sponge. I’m soaking up all kinds of info I didn’t know about watercolor. I’ve learned a lot this week just from listening to some of these artists talk about various factors and variables related to watercolor.

What are Your Favorite Art Video Channels?

I have lots of other favorites. What are your favorite art or paint-themed video channels?

You can also pull up episodes of the CMP, of course! There are hundreds of shows there for your listening pleasure. I’m happy to be background noise for someone else. It’s okay if you don’t catch every word.

A Side-note on Gansai Tambi Paints

Speaking of the Gansai Tambi watercolors…. I think I’m going to have to try some. The more videos I watched, the more I realized there are probably better choices, but they are somehow captivating. (And I know I’ve seen people talk about them for years.) The color I am most enchanted by doesn’t come in the smaller sets (typical). But it does come in the 24 or larger. I don’t know that I really want a big set, so I’m still thinking about what makes the most sense. Most of the large sets seem to have so many colors that are similar. I enjoy mixing, so I don’t need a half dozen super similar shades or convenience colors or colors in color ranges that I’m just not really using right now. Lots to think about, and, thankfully, lots of awesome videos to keep playing in the background while I think about what I want.

If you have used these paints, let me know what you think! (There are many options, including sets of 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48. Plus, there is a “starry” set of golds and a graphite set. When I first saw the graphite set, I thought it might be perfect for my 100-day project. But then I started to think it might be too heavy. (Then I learned that the paint will smudge, like graphite….. that’s a huge no for me.) Then I thought the golds might be a good fit. But then I thought, maybe I just need to try a regular color set. This is how the rabbit hole unfolds!)

(Update: I gave in and bought the golds, justifying them for my 100-day project.)

I’m still experimenting with the substack format. If something really doesn’t work well, don’t hesitate to let me know! I’m also doubting myself about sending full posts this way. Do you like it? Hate it? Don’t leave! Just tell me what you think.

(Please note: links to books and paints and supplies at Amazon are affiliate links that help support my writing and the podcast.)