Many of my students have noticed that I have been working on many new surfaces this year and for many artists that is something an artist doesn't like doing, To change and try new surfaces seems for many something foreign and takes them out of their comfort zone. Most artists get very comfortable with their supplies and will never use anything except what they are used to. That also goes along with doing the same medium and style over and over again. That, however, is what artists are taught and are told they should be doing, and that's painting things over and over to get good at that particular way of painting. But there comes a time when I feel every artist should try something new. I tried many new surfaces this year and I think it makes you really excel in so many wonderful ways. 

 

For many many years all I ever used was Arches and Strathmore Bristol Board... the Arches my teachers recommended and the Bristol Board I got for free because the advertising industry started doing everything on a computer and there was no more key-line and paste-up being done on real Bristol board paper. So as the agencies were throwing away the Bristol board I was snatching it all up and using it for watercolor.

 

Last year the paint company Holbein suggested I try and help test some of this new watercolor paper that the Legion paper company was making called Stonehenge Aqua... of course at first I was just like every other artist and was stuck in my ways. Then the Legion company sent me some samples and after testing it I loved it.

Why did I love the Stonehenge Coldpress 300lb watercolor paper, because it took my 2 favorite papers at that time which were Arches and Bristol board and turned a watercolor paper that I felt put 2 papers into one. I loved the texture and how it absorbed but also how perfect the surface worked for me, I loved how the paint would sit on the surface a little like a bristol board but with texture. I felt like I was getting 2 papers in one. For me it felt like they made this paper just for me, it compliments my style like no other I had ever tried before. If I wouldn't have tried a new paper I would have never known how much I loved it.

 

Then the Legion company came out with another Stonehenge Aqua but this time in Black. This seems strange at first and I had the reaction I'm sure every transparent watercolorist has when they hear Black watercolor paper, and that is how do I use watercolor on it. Well, I have to tell you it's very easy and you can get some of the best watercolor effects using watercolors on Black Watercolor paper. See work below.

Golden also makes a product called Gesso Absorbent Ground and if you like doing watercolors on different kinds of objects then this is the product for you. I have used Golden's Absorbent ground on coffee tables and it actually works great.

Then there is a paper that isn't paper but Plastic called Yupo and they make 3 different versions. Again as a watercolorist, you think how is it possible to paint on this paper. Well, it is very possible and again you can get some amazing effects on it. See below to some of my work on Yupo.

 

So when you get to that point in your paintings where you need some change, try something new it can do you wonders!

David

Questioned Answered: 
Short answer: NO

 

The products that I have been promoting with the Product of the Week link is my Amazon affiliate program where I get a cut of the sales of anything you buy on Amazon. The company that makes those products don't pay me for these links to Amazon. This is a way to defer my costs of my payments to put out this newsletter.

I represent a few companies like Holbein, Legion Papers and I also have worked with a few other art companies because I love many of their products, but what I get from these companies are free products to try and use. 

I have been paid to demonstrate for some of these companies but I get paid because I am working with them at an event, it's for my work I do at the events they hire me for. The product that I love and talk about I do because I love the products and want to pass that info on to my students.

There are a lot of great products out there, I just so happen to love these products that I endorse here in this newsletter and again I do it because my students always ask me about what products I love.