I ordered a bunch of stuff from Cheap Joe’s and Dick Blick over the last couple of days. I also ordered a book and DVD from Amazon by Jean Haines.
I normally only use 3-6 paint colors. I used to use a dirty palette of yellow ochre, prussian blue, and brown madder. (All Winsor & Newton.) However, the last several years I have used French ultra marine, permanent alizarin crimson, and new gamboge. I also have neutral tint and some kind of green for blacks.
I’ve ordered several new tubes of paint so I can play around with different colors and really get a sense of what is out there. I clearly love the colors I use now, but I wouldn’t mind having more options.
I went to Michael’s (which I normally avoid like the plague for paint supplies, price and the fact that all their watercolor paper is filthy) to look for a small watercolor sketch book for watercolor theory. I found a couple of half off wire bound options, but I wasn’t thrilled. Then, as I was walking in a different section, I came across exactly what I wanted, half off. It was $15 at Michael’s, but normally $32. I bought the 8.5 x 11 size.
I’m so excited this is a hard bound book since I want to use it for color theory. It has 140 lb paper, although it is cold press. It can’t be perfect I guess. I’m still thrilled. Pages and pages of color.