If you haven’t been blessed with talent or if you’re a complete beginner facing a steep learning curve, why would you add more hurdles to the learning process?

Student-grade paints, pencils, and markers are cheap because they have a low pigment load. Pigments are the expensive part of the recipe, so if a manufacturer can sneak in extra fillers at the factory, they can retail the product for less. A very top grade oil paint can contain up to 80% pure pigment. The rest will be made up with the oil added to bind the pigment. In contrast, cheap oil paint can contain as little as 23% pigment. Student-grade paint ranges will not only use a lower percentage of pigment in each tube but will also create their colours from cheaper pigments.

When you work with intense pigment-loaded inks and paints, your work will be more vibrant, complex, and sophisticated. Your layers will look much cleaner when you use coloured pencils that aren’t loaded with filler. Making beautiful lines, textures, and forms will be easier when you work with paper designed to match your medium.

Always purchase the best quality product your budget will allow, even if that means buying fewer colours.

With new advancements in technology, artist-grade mediums and paints are safer than the cheaper ones.