Dear readers,
today I have something really nice to start the New Year with, a giveaway! But before I start, I want to wish everyone a very inspired and colorful 2019, of course!
Unboxing request
A few weeks back I was asked if I’d like to unbox a Watercolor studio kit and give away two. I was a bit hesitant at first because I always work with artist grade paints myself. Not out of snobbery, but because artist grade paints each have their own character, which I use to create my art. The more affordable paints don’t have the characteristics I’m referring to.
Affordable paint for starters
But should I always just review artist grade paints then? Pigments are interesting, of course, but making art doesn’t require the most expensive supplies at all. And besides, the amount of questions I get about more affordable paint alone, says ‘no’ too. When you start out painting, what matters, is to become familiar with the joy of painting and to learn the feel of water and color. That doesn’t require artist quality at all. In fact, pigments will only confuse and probably frustrate beginners. But that being said, you also don’t want to start with a set from the toy store. There is a difference between affordable paint and garbage. Art supplies need to work well, feel comfortable and ooze color.
Unboxing
So I took a look at this watercolor studio kit and the first impression on their website was good. The instruction video looked inspiring and the paint didn’t seem too bad at all, but really nice affordable paint instead. So, I did the unboxing. As you will know from me by now, the video is a bit wordy, so I’ll stop talking here, so that you can watch the video. But not before I let you know how you can partake in the giveaway.
Giveaway Instructions
Simply leave a comment below this blogpost BEFORE 30 January 2019.
Preferably with a username that links to somewhere I can contact you or an e-mail address or something. Or…keep an eye on my blog and YouTube channel, because on that day I will post who the winners are. I will draw the two winners at noon CET, so Amsterdam Time.
Video
- Intro talk until 9:48
- Unboxing at 9:49
- Swatching and first experience at 23:32
Thank you for showing us this great watercolour set. Looks great for beginners. I love the little frog you drew
I simply love your work! Thank you for your generosity in the giveaway. I would truly treasure such a kit. I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your new year and I look forward to all the new things you will be doing that not only advise, but also inspire, and teach me to keep practicing and learning to be the best artist I can be.
I love your art! The picture at the being of the review was gorgeous! I have heard of the set you review. Great to know it great kit for a beginner!
Thank you for showing us love all the great inspiration I get newly subscribed just been getting into it here recently and would love a chance at starter kit before I dive in head-first I like to get my feet wet LOL thanks again
Leuk om altijd weer naar je filmpjes te kijken! Ik heb er al veel van geleerd.
Bedankt voor de kans om deze set te winnen. Ik doe graag mee!
I love this beautiful set of water colours it’s so pretty and unique thank you for giving me many inspiration and love wishing you the best these beautiful colours bring this world life
HI
I think you really helped me discover my artistic side and really helped my throgh tough times
xo
me
I really like your art. Hope I’ll be good like that someday.
Hi Mandy,
I’ve only just found your youtube channel and I really enjoy your videos. I’m more familiar with colour pencil and am only now starting to get into watercolour and I’m not quite sure yet what set to buy so I’m watching a lot on watercolour right now.
I love your videos and how you find a picture in a wash of color. I hope to see more of those videos too! I am Momgib2000 at gmail
Hello mam…. I am Roja from India & I love to watch videos related to art…. Your voice is so good… I love to get a gift from u ….because it help me to create and inspire me alot…. To do some beautiful art…. Hope I will WIN… Finger crossed…
Namastey Mandy, Moon glow monochromatic painting was intricate… I would love to keep looking at it and am sure there are depths to it, to be explored by the eyes….With The few minutes of glimpses I had of it, This focus on details gives me hopes…. What With so many spontaneous drawing videos/instructionals
….
Am a details OCD person… And keep hitting my head for it….
Now, i have forgiven myself….i will begin detailing in my artwork again…. When Mandy on youtube details… Let me too… Regards and respects to you
Thanks for being picky in your review process. It helps to know which paints are crap and which of the less expensive paints are worth a try.
Missed your videos Mandy! I just painted something quickly while watching this on my phone.
Hi Mandy thank you for her another superb honest review of this set. My 11 year old son has just won the Art scholarship at High school and I’m thinking this set would be ideal to get him into watercolours rather than “borrowing” my precious Daniel Smiths!! So nice to see you back on YouTube! Thank you for the chance to win! Jane
I love giveaways! I’d love to win. Thanks for the chance!
The starter kit looks nice and very interesting. Thank you for the review and information.
Thank you for the chance of getting this beautiful water color kit..is awesome my email is carmencasillas24@gmail.com
Happy New year to you too =) and Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with all of us Mandy. I would love to win this set as starting to learn the use of watercolours. I find them quite relaxing and a whole new world.
Greetings
Mitzi Miranda
I love how saturated that watercolor is! For a beginner set, it’s fairly good.
Just wanted to say how kind and generous this giveaway is…as a retired nurse, I’m dabbling in watercolor to keep me busy…that kit looks amazing, and I’m sure whomever wins it will have so much fun experimenting… I just love putting color to paper and watch the magic happen.
Congrats on almost reaching 5,000 subscribers
It would be interesting now to have a set of these watercolours, that I might compare my experience to yours. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reviewing this set for us. It looks like a good general set.
I would love a chance to use them. I may consider buying a set if I dont win one.
Good luck to everyone 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I’d love to get one of those
Hi, thank you for your thoughtful review on this set. I’m just learning how to watercolor and it does seem like this would be a good set for someone like me, just starting out. I’m particularly heartened by the fact that you like these brushes because, were I to win a set, I would be keen to try out a watercolor brush that is not an refillable water brush, which is what I have now. And though you were not too impressed with the hard stick pastels, I am blown away because I didn’t know watercolor pastels even existed. And it’s nice to hear also that the watercolor pencils are nice because my only experience with watercolor pencils left me wanting- the ones I had tried were super hard, unusable dry actually, and the only way I could use them was to dip them in water first, or run my water brush over them to pick up some color to paint with. Anyway, not to be too long winded, I could discuss supplies and technique all day long.
What I would love to see is a process video of the barren landscape you’ve posted above. Though the trunk of the tree is truly frightening (goosebumps and chills down my spine in a most unpleasant way), the texture of the branches and leaves is amazing. The tree alone is fascinating, placed in that landscape, the painting fantastic!
PS
I love your frogs in the sketchbook! So cute!
Hi Tosa, congratulations, you’ve won the giveaway!!!! Yay!!! Can you please e-mail me your snailmail address via the contact form on my page? Then I will make sure Homehobby gets it so they can send you your prize. Enjoy your paints!!!
Thank you for this beautiful giveaway. I like this watercolor set.
Thank you so much for a chance to win and the review of the products !
Thank you so much for the chance. All art supplies are gold to me since I lived on a very limited income.
Hi Mandy, Thanks for your try-out here. As I am mixing all kinds of art supplies in my work, I might be able to use some of the things in this box. Who knows, it might lead to another inspirational journey… ❤️
Thank you so much for a chance to win this kit , all art supplies are gold to me 🙂 !
In my opinion, this is a good beginner set which you have tested.
The colors look good and there are also bigger brushes.
I used hard pastels once in a while because scratching did not bother me at all.
I want to start painting again after many years and that’s where your giveaway comes in handy :-).
I have almost nothing left materials from the time when I have painted and drawing,
I had almost used up my things and not replaced it.
Very little money I have currently available and I think 10 times what I want to buy from it.
It has already become a bit better, than directly after Christmas.
By the way, AskiaLuna is my name on YouTube.
Many Greetings
AskiaLuna
I really love the Moonglow monochrome landscape, it’s beautiful! The Home Hobby kits look interesting, would love to share with my young nieces and nephews. Thanks for sharing your review.
Thank you for all your inspiration and allowing us to watch you grow. my username is xanaduartstudio
I’m going to try again. Thank you for all your sharing and inspiration and allowing us to watch you grow over the years. I was also wondering if you would like to try my Aquanut handcrafted watercolors and nothing is expected. If you like them, you may review only if you’d like and if not, please give me some feedback on how I can improve. My username for all accounts is xanaduartstudio.