Hello Zawarudo

Welcome

You’re here, you found my first blog post. Well other than the test posts. Those were basically me prodding the WordPress interface like a child poking a frog with a stick to see if it jumps.

This is probably gonna be as rough for you to read as it is for me to write, but everyone’s gotta start somewhere.

I plan to set up a gallery page on this website soon to show off my mad art skills, but for now let’s take a moment to cover what the blog is for.

reasons why I’m making a blog

• I want to connect with people who share my interests, without feeding all of my data into an endless scrolling money machine. I want you to read what I have to say because it interests you, not because an algorithm shoved it in your face.
• I want control over my own content. I’m currently running head first into the learning curve of the setup process, but the intent here is that I’ll be able to choose how my articles and images are presented.
• I hope to share information, detailing the tools and materials I like to use, and why.
• By talking about the difficulties I’ve experienced with building my skills, and how I’ve overcome them, I hope to save you time and energy. You’ll be able to jump right over such pitfalls.
• There are all sorts of resources I can recommend. From courses and books, to my favourite YouTube channels. I’d like to share why I found them helpful, and how they might help you too.

Watercolour testing

Over the years I’ve accumulated a small mountain of watercolour paint, like a dragon with a blonde mullet, sitting on a hoard of gold.

Some of these paints I’ve used extensively, others barely at all. One of the first projects I want to put together for you is to run tests on each brand or set, one by one, and share my findings.

I have no intention of producing a common or garden first impressions set of reviews. You know, basically glorified unboxing and swatching posts. Instead I plan to give each type of paint what I’d call “a fair go”.

By this I mean actually using the paint as my main set for a full month. Then I’ll really be able to tell if the product suits my needs and how the paints behave when the chips are down.

There’s a lot to get to here, so I’m prepared to cut a review short if I run out of a key colour. Or if the paint gets on my tits so much that it puts me off creating.

By the end of the test period I should be familiar enough with the paint to use it on the fly, without second guessing how it will behave. Or I’ll realise that it is not the right paint for me, and lose it by donating it, so someone else can enjoy it, and prevent wasting it by leaving it gathering dust.

I’ll be starting with the box of White Nights full pans, as this is the set that I’ve used most. It is also a set where I’ve run out of a few colours already, so I expect to be back with that post in less than a month.

After that, the order is more flexible. So, if there’s something in the pile that you’d like to see reviewed let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll prioritise it for you.