Bliss isn't new shoes, clothes, or accessories for me, bliss is new art supplies. I was hoping to cash out some of my Steemit tokens but the price took a dip a couple weeks after I signed on. No worries though, my husband is so happy with my new found Steemit creativity and friendships he bought me supplies. He was the one who told me about Steemit and it may be a good fit for my creative hobbies. He loathes FB and I find it depressing. I've tried Wordpress and it's nice, I'm going to start blogging there after taking a year off after moving to Oklahoma to help family.
I've never had a full palette of professional paints, 20 years ago I spent a $100.00 and bought some red sable brushes. I still have them, Princeton Art & Brush Co. And I really work my brushes. I also take good care of them, I use mild shampoo and give them a good wash every month or so. I found shampooing too often will cause brittle hair and breakage though, that's why I only wash every so often.
Artist Loft paints are sold at Micheals And are cheap, I bought a bunch when they went on sale for my Grandkids. I do splurge on paints but only primary colors made by Winsor and Newton. You will find with student watercolor paints, they do not rewet very well, they crumble and are chalky with faded colors. The kids and I don't mind the issue with our projects. But I loathe bad paints when I'm working on my more serious projects. Artist Loft paints Colbalt Blue is awful but the paints are cheap so no complaints.
I've never tried Shinhan Professional watercolors, so far the colors are true and very intense. A little goes a long way. I have yet to see any problems with rewetting, the Japanese really know their watercolors! I'll update if they start crumbling and become chalky. I also bought a 37ml tube of designer gouache permanent white. This white is the most opaque of all the whites. Winsor and Newton have left me no complaints in quality and rewetting abilities. I never used white in watercolor for years so this is a new experience, I love white outlines!
I bought new detail brushes, quality is important when a brush only has a few hairs and starts dropping hair or splitting at the tip. So far not an issue with AIT brushes, but I can tell they are not up to the standard of my favorite brushes. A watercolor brush is like a lover, it needs to hold its shape, be responsive to pressure and angle, hold water without premature dribbling. I keep my favorite and have a hard time letting go, I am a one brush type of woman! If you split on me I am going to throw you in the fireplace and burn you up!