The Archive
Reporting, comparisons, and field notes — newest first.
paints-and-pigments
Ready to move beyond student-grade watercolors? This guide explains pigment codes, lightfastness ratings, and exactly which Daniel Smith tubes are worth the
·8 min read
paints-and-pigments
If you're selling watercolor paintings, the pigments you choose today determine whether your collector's piece looks the same in ten years. Here's how to read
·8 min read
paper-and-surfaces
Arches makes some of the most respected watercolor paper in the world, but the block, pad, and travel pad formats each serve a different painter. Here's how to
·10 min read
paper-and-surfaces
The paper under your brush matters as much as the paint on top of it. Here's how to match your surface to your work — and stop burning premium pigment on the
·9 min read
paints-and-pigments
Not all acrylic paints cover equally — and the gap between a $15 set and a $12 single tube matters more than you'd expect. Here's how opacity actually breaks
·12 min read
paints-and-pigments
Three popular acrylic paints, one real decision: here's how Galeria, Liquitex BASICS, and Liquitex Heavy Body actually differ — and which one belongs in your
·10 min read