What Paint Do You Use? (And Why That’s Often Not the Right Question)
One of the questions I get asked most — whether online or in the gallery — is:
“What paint do you use?”
If you don’t know much about paint, I get it — it’s natural to ask.
But if you don’t know much about yourself as a painter, that’s often the real reason the question comes up.
Because what you’re really looking for is a shortcut.
And trust me — I’ve looked for them too.
But here’s the thing:
I use so many different brands. So many different types.
Acrylics. Watercolours. Gouache.
Heavy-bodied. Translucent. Matte. Glossy.
Some that cost more than a bottle of eau de parfum, and some cheap little pots that just sing when I open them.
But knowing what another artist uses is only useful if you're treating it as a breadcrumb — a starting point. From there, you still need to track it down, buy it, squeeze it out, move it around, let it dry. Try it on different brushes. Try it on different substrates.
Because the truth is:
That yellow that glows like a sunrise for one artist might look muddy and flat in your hands —
if you're not painting like you yet.
And you can’t buy your way into that kind of knowing.
So instead — go play.
See a paint brand online? Google it. Buy it.
Walk into an art store and spend $20, $50, $100 — maybe on one brand, or on the same colour across four different brands. Or just pick four colours that speak to you.
If money’s tight, check places like Marketplace — you can score big bundles of mixed supplies perfect for experimenting.
Bring them home.
Try them.
Don’t overthink it.
Just start making marks.
Because it’s not about the paint itself.
It’s about what the paint does when you touch it.
How it behaves in your hands.
How it dries in your studio light.
How it looks beside your other marks.
My experience with paint is completely unique to me — just like yours will be to you.
And the only way to build that experience is through use.
Yes, I’ve used pigment charts, flow mediums, and homemade swatches.
I’ve made formulas and recipe notes.
And yes — this all becomes part of how I decide which colours to use, or how I choose a palette.
But even that only works after you’ve put the hours in.
The charts are just memory joggers — until you “just know.”
It’s not about collecting every colour someone else has.
It’s not about copying their palette and hoping their brilliance transfers.
If you're following a thread — chasing a recommendation, testing something new, following curiosity — that’s exploration. That’s beautiful.
But if you're asking because you think someone else’s supplies will unlock your style,
you’re just postponing your own magic.
You might get lucky and find something that feels right early. I did with a few brands — some of their colours just felt alive to me. But even then, not every pot worked. Not because the paint was bad, but because it didn’t suit how I was using it. So I tweaked it. Mixed it. Adjusted it. Found my rhythm.
(The brands were Amsterdam and Atelier, for those of you itching to know!)
These days, I have over 140 colours in my studio.
No single brand offers a range like that — I built it over time.
Choose paint. Mix paint. Immerse yourself in paint.
That’s the work.
That’s the joy.
The goal isn’t to know what I use.
The goal is to know what you love.
And the only way to get there is to paint.
B x
I’d love to hear what paint brands you’ve loved (or hated!), and any quirky techniques you’ve tried along the way. Leave a comment below — let’s keep this creative playground open.
