Why I Upgraded My Art Materials. And How It Changed My Work

As an artist, I believe we are always evolving, not just in how we paint, but in how we think about our work, and even the tools we use.

For a long time, I painted with what I had on hand. Affordable canvases, basic acrylic paints, homemade mediums, whatever worked. And honestly? It taught me so much. I learned that art comes from the heart, not the shopping cart.

But as I kept creating especially with my fluid art, I started noticing something.

👉 The colors weren’t as vibrant as I wanted.

👉 Some canvases would sag or warp.

👉 My cells were inconsistent, and sometimes cracks would appear after drying.

At first, I thought maybe it was just my technique. But the more I read, experimented, and talked with other artists, I realized: sometimes the material really does make a difference.

So I made a decision: I was going to slowly upgrade my materials invest in tools that matched the level of care and creativity I was pouring into my work.

I started with paints. I bought a few tubes of Golden Heavy Body Acrylics and Liquitex Professional. The difference was immediate the pigments were richer, more luminous, more alive.

Next, I invested in professional-grade canvases. No more saggy edges or wobbly frames just sturdy, beautiful surfaces that respected the work I was putting on them.

And finally, I experimented with high-quality pouring mediums and proper silicone oil. My cells became clearer, my finishes smoother, and the drying process far more reliable.

If you’d like to see which materials I now use and love, check out my upcoming post where I share my favorite high-quality art supplies (with affiliate links so you can shop too) Stay tuned!