08/13/2026
“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.”
~ Edward Hopper
Finding your artistic voice isn’t just about what you paint. It’s also about discovering the materials that help you say it.
Over the years, my supplies have evolved right alongside my work.
I moved from cold press to hot press paper. More recently, I made the switch from a beloved old French paper to Twinrocker’s, small-batch watercolor paper (crafted right here in Indiana!). That change has had a profound impact on the way I paint.
My brushes have changed, too. I used to complete an entire painting with just one or two. Now I reach for a whole range throughout the process. Some of my favorite marks even come from brushes intended for oil or acrylic painting because they create exactly the texture and edge I’m after.
One thing that hasn’t changed is my paint. I’ve loved Winsor & Newton professional watercolors since the beginning. I’ve experimented with other brands along the way, and I’ve been happy with Daniel Smith as well. But Winsor & Newton still feels like home.
None of these choices are about finding the “best” materials. They’re about finding the materials that best support my way of seeing and painting.
The right paper changes how washes settle. The right brush changes the character of a mark. The right pigments influence the mood of a painting. Little by little, those choices become part of your artistic voice.
As artists, we spend years learning to see. It’s only natural that we also spend years learning which tools help us express what we see.
Pictured is “Daydream (Asylum Series, No. 2)” — currently at the 45th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY.
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