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When should you upgrade from student to professional acrylics? a practical cost-and-performance checklist for emerging painters

Feb 06, 2026 • by Éloïse Martin

I remember the moment I debated swapping my familiar student tubes for a row of glossy pro bottles: standing in the art-supply shop, squeezing colour onto a scrap of primed board, watching how a cadmium-equivalent flattened out differently depending on which tube I’d purchased the week before. It...

what to look for when choosing student vs professional gouache for illustration work

Dec 02, 2025 • by Éloïse Martin

I often get asked whether student or professional gouache is the better choice for illustration work. It’s a practical question with no single correct answer — it depends on your goals, budget and the life you expect your work to lead. Over the years I’ve used both types extensively, teaching...