Painting FAQ: Should I Use Student's Quality Paint?
Sunday November 5, 2006
When you start painting, should you buy student paints or artist's quality paints? Are you really saving money, or are you setting yourself up for failure by using inferior materials? Andrew H. emailed me about this, saying: "Somebody told me the paint I use is 'cheap and nasty'. But I have read elsewhere that its used by students as well as experienced artists. Should I buy another brand once I run out of this stuff? Or should I save my money and stick with what I first learned to paint with?" Read my answer in this Painting FAQ...
Image: ©2006 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc
Comments
Thanks Marion. Great article! I know when something is ‘going wrong’ with my painting but I did not think that the paint quality could be such an important factor in causing this. In future I will buy artists paint but what can I use up my student paint on?
Wow! This is my question! Thanks for your answer, Marion! And thank you very much for featuring my question in your FAQ. You have answered so many questions of mine. Next time I need some paint, I’m getting Liquitex Heavy Body’s!
Hi Peter — I’d use student paint up doing studies or practise pieces, for experimenting with new techniques e.g. painting with very watery paint, painting wet in wet, creating a monochrome painting to study tone, trying out a painting knife.
Hi Tuna — Indeed it is your question! I use many of the email queries I get to build up the painting FAQs because I’m sure that for every person who does actually ask a question there are several others who have wondered the same thing.