When I first started painting I used the cheapest paints I could afford. I had a list of colors I was supposed to purchase for my painting class. I remember pondering for hours. I went from paint display to display comparing the Windsor & Newton ultra marine blue with Gamblin. I had no idea what series 1, 2 and 3 meant. Some tubes said artist grade, while others said professional grade. I was confused and ended up buying a hodgepodge of brands, qualities and grade paints.
One of my classmates painted the most beautiful vivid fantasy oil paintings. Her dragons glowed. Her clouds shimmered. I studied my own paintings only to see them as flat. Lackluster. Sad.
Somewhere along my painting journey I tried old holland oil paints. I immediately fell into a deep unbreakable and true love. I am now committed to the brand. I use old holland oil colors exclusively. I love their buttery texture. I love the saturation of pure pigment. I love their rich history. You can read all about them and the history here.
I will never regret learning to paint using less pricey and, in my humble opinion, lower quality paints. I learned to paint using them and most of those paintings are long gone and embarrassing; I hope they never resurface. Instead, feast your eyes on these beauties.
Thank you for checking out my paintings.
Emily Warren 