I am a professional artist, and I HATE varnishing. I hate it because of the toxicity; having to mask up, cover up, do it outside, etc. This varnish changes everything. Not only does it not smell bad it, almost smells nice. It went on smooth and thin, perfect for multiple coats when needed. I have attempted over the years to learn how to paint without paint thinners and other toxic ingredients. This is one more addition to my quest. Thank you Natural Earth Paint for making this product.
I have purchased and used two of these. One with oil and one with Acryliks. I find them to be very high quality. They are sturdy, well made and don't bend on me. I would not hesitate to try these out. I find the unfinished wood handle comfortable to grip.
I used my pigments for the first time and my only regret is that I didn't just get the sample pack to start with. A little bit goes a long way, and the first color I tested with was so lovely now I want them all!
The product itself works well. However, the cap on the 8oz bottle almost immediately broke when I accidentally over-tightened it. Personally I'd love to have more guidance on how to use/dispose of this properly. But overall I am pleased with my purchase
I am very new to mixing my own inks (for block printing) and WOW -- this tool made it very easy, and I'm extremely pleased with the results. Beautiful color, smooth ink, and best of all -- the inks don't dry out in 10 minutes like the typical pre-mixed variety!
I have not used this for making paint, but I use the palette and knife everyday for oil painting. You can tell these are high quality materials. I think the knife will last a good long time. I really am hard on it. The palette fits inside the Masterson's Artist Palette Seal container with the blue lid. I put some clove oil on a cotton pad in there when I seal it up to make the paint stay wet longer. Don't let it touch your paint or it will never dry, though!
