For me, the problem with having nice and expensive art supplies like those is that I can't bring myself to use them, fearing I would "ruin" them lol. Nowadays I just get the cheapest but decent stuff I can find. Also I used to hoard art supplies a little bit, now I do it with art books.

The haul videos are exhausting to me, so much so that I have unsubscribed from a LOT of art channels. Art channels used to be about doing art and sharing it, or teaching a technique. Now most videos feel like long commercials. Thanks for this video, Teoh! You’re one of my favorite channels

Great topic and I struggle too! As artists we see potential in everything, even free stuff, and coupled with the 3ndowment effect we attribute move value to things we own making it hard to part with it. As an art supply reviewer I get lots of products in which adds to it (I bet you can relate!) And the price hikes and supply chain issues have made me wary to get rid of decent supplies. It's a whole thing! 😆

Dear Teoh, we need to consider that sketching, drawing, and painting are actually separate and entirely different hobbies from collecting art supplies. Once I see anything laid out in rainbow order (ROYGBIV) I'm compelled to stare at it, salivating.

For me, I had bought a lot of paint, paper and large brushes, but I was timid about using them (especially the large brushes) until I started thinking of my painting as art therapy, rather than "creating art." If I can stop caring about how it looks, and just concentrate on how it FEELS to paint, it's super fun to make big marks on big paper!! So ironically I am using my supplies more now that I care less about making good art. I know Teoh will like this attitude, I love when he says "who cares if I make bad art?"

YES. With the prices of everything (food, fuel, art supplies!) increasing so much (including shipping fees and free shipping requirements), I'm realizing that not only have I bought too many art supplies, previously, but buying more just is not wise. The prices are much higher, and I need that money for other, necessary, expenses. So I've been gathering my stuff (I'm not very organized), and sorting out my favorites. The rest I will store nicely, and when I have the urge to use something different, I will "shop" from my stash. I did get great prices on what I have, but those days are over.

I HAD that problem. It was getting out of control. So, months ago I sat down and decided to retest every single art supply I had. Then I began to identify many tools that I didn't really need, or I had duplicates. Like for example, why do I need two sets of palette knives? I had the plastic ones that were the first ones I ever bought, and at some point I upgraded them to metal, but kept the plastic ones. That made me decide to keep quality instead of quantity. That conclusion led me to: colored pencils! I HAD SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY BRANDS OF COLORED PENCILS!!!! SOOOOO MANY IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE! So, I started there. I keep only 4 wax based pencils brands, 1 oil based brand, 4 water soluble brands, and 3 pastels pencils brands. All the rest, I either donated or sell. Then, more time passed by (this was a VERY difficult process), I realized that I wasn't really enjoying painting with acrylics anymore, and to keep my acrylics and acrylic tools was nonsense. So I got rid of all, also either by donating or selling. I also discovered that I enjoy so much more using watercolor based products than wax, oil, or pastels pencils... and here was when I had to make a tough choice. The wax/oil/pastel brands that I kept, from that HUGE amount of brands, I had, were: Luminance, Derwent Drawing, Pablo, Polychromos, Prismacolors, Pitt Pastels, CarbOthello, and the Conté a Paris... well, I created a personal palette from the Luminance and kept this as my main set, kept the Derwent Drawing as a complementary set, created a portrait set with the polychromos, kept my favorite colors from the Prismacolors, created one set of pastel pencils by combining the 3 sets I had, and finally created a small, very concise, color range with the Pablos, and all the pencils that I wasn't needing anymore, I gift away. That led me with a total of 292 pencils (between wax, oil, and pastels) and they all fit together perfectly in one 300 slots pencils case. I can't begin to explain the comfort I feel to just have that one pencil case. I had more that 5 thousands pencils!!! So I am proud of myself! 🥰 Now, the watercolor pencils are a different beast. Those are my babies and those I won't give away. But I did gave away many brands I had. But these 4, I have the full sets of each and I won't cut back. Albrecht Dürer, General Kimberly, Inktense and Graphitint... and I do have a some (not even 10) single pencils from other brands. Then there were the other art supplies that, like the acrylics, I really wasn't enjoying anymore. And I used to use them, just cause they were there, but I wasn't happy and I felt I was wasting my time, working with something just because I had it, instead of using my water based supplies which are my cup of tea! So I let go of the soft pastels, the gouache, the charcoal, the markers, and the gel pens. I also minimized my watercolor collection, cause I rather use the watercolor pencils, the Neocolor II, and the Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks. Now, all of this wasn't possible for me to do quickly, it took me almost a year to be able to get rid of all that stuff! Now I only have: 1. A fairly decent amount of wax/oil/pastels colored pencils in a single pencils case. 2. My beloved watercolor pencils 3. The Neocolor II full set 4. Some Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks 5. A 18 watercolor set, that includes the Daniel Smith Essentials and the rest I picked to my liking. 6. And a drawer with a mix of oil pastels that includes the 2 sets of Paul Rubens, the Cray Pas, and the Pentel.... Oh and some whites from Sennelier cause that is the best white. The feeling of cleanliness, accessibility, and space I have in my craft room, I wouldn't change for anything. Now I only spend on the supplies I run out of and on paper! I'm sorry for the LOOOOONNNGGGGG comment, but I hadn't had the opportunity to share this experience with anyone! Thanks for the opportunity... love your videos!!! By the way, one of your videos was the reason I bought some of the Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks! 😅😅😅😅 Man! Are they expensive! Thanks for that! 😂😂😂😂😂 But I love them! 🥰

I have art supplies from several decades ago. When I bought them I had an actual vision of what I would use them for, and in most cases did use them, but the thing no one ever tells you about art supplies is that you are ALWAYS buying far more than you need, for instance buying a full set of something when realistically you will only use a few colours to the end, if that. Art supplies go a long way mostly, and making art is hours of your life. The ratio of use to supply is therefore completely out of whack! I love to look at vintage art supplies too and it is really common to see a watercolour box that has been bought for a specific purpose, but then never used again, maybe someone made Christmas cards or wedding invitations and only the colours they needed for it are gone, the worst things in this respect are any type of pencils, coloured and graphite. I have several sets of them unused for several years. I tend only to buy on offer or a good dupe. My best advice is do not buy in sets, buy open stock and for purpose. Those sets are too perfect and untouchable. My next best advice is whatever you get allow them to get messy. Then you will not have fear of using them. I have two very expensive pastels sets I have never used because I fear failure with them, but have older scruffy pastels I have used very successfully. If you love the packing and image of your art supply more than you love the thought of using them then really you are collecting (hoarding) them. The way prices of art materials are going up be sure to look after the ones you have collected and make sure they will be mentioned in your will and will have a recipient! Actually using good art supplies is one of the hardest things in the world, they bring out all the worst in procrastination and self doubt. Make them messy and unprecious then you will get somewhere with them. If in doubt try and make art alongside other artists, it helps with the addiction, and while you are making art you are not shopping for supplies. Lastly of all sign off from all your favourite online art supply vendors. Break the habit.

As long as they bring you joy, I think it’s not a bad thing. More like a collection than hoarding. Once you feel bad about buying art supplies, then it’s time to cut back, I think.

I first became self-conscious about hoarding art supplies when I noticed I had more supplies than some professional artists whose studios I visited. But I think that might be natural since I'm just starting to experiment with mediums on my own as a hobby, whereas they probably tried lots of different things in art school/during their training. My supply is not too overwhelming yet, but I've learned to stop buying full sets of things when I want to try out a new product. 😆

I definitely have this problem. I keep buying more art supplies because something new and exciting comes along, when I could spend time getting to know the materials I already own instead!

Every once in a while, I pack my unused art supplies in boxes and take them to a young art teacher at the local high school. She is always so grateful to have them for her students to try.

I do not have an art supply hoarding issue. I'm a professional artist. I do however occasionally purchase products for a project and they don't work for me at all and would end up stuck with them wasting space. So about 6 or 7yrs ago I started keeping all the supplies that don't work for me in one spot in my studio. Then when I would come across someone who was just getting into art I would give them a set of supplies to get started with. Someone will soon be getting a full set of intense pencils.🤣

Personally I think it's a compulsion that stems from childhood. Whereby these stuff used to be scarce/novel to have when one was a child. This in turn causes an innate desire to collect and hoard said stuff when one is an adult and is capable of acquire said sacred goods. Part nostalgia, part compulsion. At least, that's what some of my hobbies usually entails

I stopped buying art supplies altogether. I told myself that I should use up at least 1 of my art supplies to completion (I chose the 72 prism a color set) and got stressed out. Art supplies are like gaining weight: easy to accumulate, difficult to get rid of.

There’s a lot of people out there that would be very happy to buy everyone’s unwanted and unused supplies second hand

We seem to be living through the golden age of watercolor art. There are so many great watercolor set manufacturers. I have about 20 different sets. They are really affordable as well. Which is why I have so many. I also have many graphite and charcoal pencil sets. A lifetime supply of brushes etc. It can get crazy.

Hoarding art supplies, you say…*Quietly closes the door to my overflowing studio*…nope, nothing to see here! 😂

Id say I'm an art supply collector, they give me much joy

Yes, I definitely have this problem, BUT you mentioned a few times in the video how happy looking at a few of your supplies makes you feel, and I have that same thing over here. My art supplies make me happy. I am NOT going to buy any more this year, but I do have a few things on my wish list for Christmas-time. Great video subject, Teoh!

I went on an year-long art supply no-buy to help end my hoarding and it was so helpful. I really got to know my existing supplies during that time and appreciate them more. I decided to go with a low-buy this year, to grant myself one new small palette and one new sketchbook but nothing else. There's just too many shiny, exciting supplies and media out there that distracts me from putting in that brush mileage and improving with my current supplies. So yeah, recovering hoarder here 😆

A friend and I started a no-buy for 6 months starting this January. We're allowed to replenish specific items that we use up (certain tube of paint, a sketchbook we love, etc) So far, I've only bought a set of Art Toolkit Palettes from her seconds sale. I won a palette from your giveaway and fell in love with them. The no-buy has made me "shop" from my stash. I rediscovered some really nice handmade watercolors I bought a couple of years ago and started using them again. I've cut back on watching haul videos and that's curbed the want monster. I'm glad to have done it because instead of spending time watching review and haul videos, I'm watching tutorials and making more art.

I cant imagine having wonderful expensive art supplies and then not using them!! I have about 15 fabulous premium palettes and i rotate them and use them all. Life is good 😌.

I am an art professor and a professional printmaker. And growing up I was super frugal except with art supplies because I needed them for my career. So I kind of have a blind spot when it comes to art supplies. But I am realizing that there are different categories of art supplies. The tried and true "boring" quality supplies. Like your charcoal, your kneaded erasers, black sumi ink, a set of oil based printmaking inks. And then the "fun" art supplies that feel like an addiction. Look I can mix any color I want from a very basic color set. I LITERALLY do a drawing assignment where I make the students render in full color by just layering 3 primary colored pencils. But still I like to hoard supplies T_T Side Note: Teoh. I love it when you use your battered old paint sets and dirty old pens that work great. I think that for some of us we try to keep everything pristine and that gets in the way of actually making art. So as much as you have a little extra stuff. You have other things that you use all the way up. I am trying to embrace the look of used art supplies because it's better than it sitting in a drawer looking perfect.

I'm a minimalist by nature and don't like having too many things. When I started getting into watercolor I did buy more things because just because some KZfaqr recommends something doesn't mean it's going to be a good fit for you and I didn't realize this at first. I learned my lesson and became more selective and started asking myself the same question I do with everything else I might want. That is "will I use this" or "do I really need this". Also, I only buy things I can get open stalk unless it's really cheap to begin with. However, I have noticed this trend of people being judgemental and down right rude to other average people about what they "collect". My thought is that if your not going to go tell the rich people that way too many idolize, who seem to think they can tell the average people what is good for them or what they need to give up, that they need to give up the 16 cars parked in their 4th mansions garage or the shoes collections that is so big it has its own specialized temperature controlled closet then you should just leave the average person alone. Personally, I don't care what people collect. Just because I don't like a lot of things doesn't mean I'm going to tell others what to do with their money, rich or not. I watch art hauls, reviews and swatching videos. I like them. I get multiple opinions, get to see the products in use and get to see some get so happy about their new items. Now that I have a small list of favorite supplies I generally only replace items I've used up and when I get the rare urge to buy something I've seen I ask myself my buying questions and if I'm not sure after that I buy one or two to try. For instance, I have polychromos and I like them and I also have Caran 'd Ache Museum watercolor pencils but I didn't have their Luminance so I bought a few in my favorite colors from the Museum. They aren't really my thing. I will use them, the few I have, but I won't replace them. Sample before you go all out and you will have far less things you won't use if one is worried about that.

Years ago, when my local art shop closed, I found myself looking to KZfaq reviews for new products. Needless to say this sent me down a rabbit hole of buying mediums I never tried (or would ever use) and new watercolor products I didn't really need. You see, at my local art shop I was able to try the products out before I bought them. This saved me a lot of money and space because I rarely had "buyer's remorse". My art supplies went from a small box to a wall of supplies in just a few years. I probably now have enough for several lifetimes. Tfs.

Aaah the luscious colors of capitalism ^^' I'm actually working on a disposable pen project, but I feel art supplies in general just look so pretty, so buying them is between a collection and actually using them. You have to fight of the temptation of buying more. It's really a sort of trap. You have to consciously fill your life with others things (using the supplies you have for instance XD) instead of buying more stuff. I think I have too much, however I use what I have, so I suppose it's debatable :)

My perception of you Teoh, has been that you only have supplies that you need-This video showed me that you own just as many supplies as I do-for the same reason-it makes me happy. I’m a professional artist. I have my supplies narrowed down to one medium-watercolor. And I have two categories of watercolor supplies-professional archival grade paper & paint that I use for commission and commercial work. Then I have practice paint & paper for experimenting and practice. So I have that under control but I do love colored pencils-it’s a problem-there is something addictive about the full spectrum of colors and that smell of the wood…..I never saw a colored pencil I didn’t like.

Hoarding is definitely a problem for many artists out there (especially for me). For example I own a huge set of Polycromos (I think it's the biggest one Faber Castell is selling) which I used just once or twice. Thank you for talking about it Theo!

I'm definitely an art supply hoarder. They always make me happy and content. Just so attracted to color and trying new brands out. I used to just look at them and they gathered dust. Those days are over though because I've been putting most of the supplies to use drawing and painting as my hobby again. I think I just got caught up in this perfection phase and grew afraid of having to draw to a perfect degree. I can draw or paint anything I see in meticulous detail and likeness. Then I got busy with a career, then kids and still wanted to feed the art, but had no time for it due to these demands. Now my kids are teens and I'm coming back into my own as a means of self expression and learning new methods like painting gouache. Never did that before. I own probably most supplies on the market and I enjoy collecting them. Husband complains there is no room and he's right, so I have to set up a dedicated studio in the next year or so. Artist daughter will sure get a strange inheritance!

I don't have a huge collection or anything, but I definitely have more than necessary. That said, having extras of everything has made me a lot more comfortable to use my art supplies since I'm no longer worried of running out. So imo it's good to have a mountain of art supplies in the background 🤣

Excellent video!!! Polychromos are my most prized possession also, along with the albrecht durer watercolor pencils. I get that same feeling when I open the pack! I think in general, my art supplies bring me that same happiness you feel when you hold some of yours, and that's all that matters to me. I don't get to use them all very often, and some are brand new, but I am happy they are in my collection and I didnt go into debt buying them. Now that have them, it's much easier to watch videos without feeling FOMO, and I can focus on the art being created instead of the tools being used to create art.

Oh, I SO recognize this. Because of my youtube reviews I had WAY too much. I gave away more than half to charity a few years ago. It was a huge relief. Since, my stock has begun to pile up again. And it's a weight on my shoulders. For me, inspiration comes with having space and a slightly limited stash of art supplies...although in my case that means that I don't have full ranges of supplies and that I "only" have like 10 brands of watercolor, for example. I am on a no-buy regime now and the only things I allow myself to purchase are replacements of necessary things, like an eraser, and paper plus notebooks. No new paints! I broke through the addiction 😁 It's just that every successful artist and illustrator I know personally laughs at my stash and says I own a store. They work with a limited amount of supplies and wouldn't want to own that much as it would inhibit their work process. I am taking that lesson to heart. I'm going to use it all up and try not to buy. I am going to let myself - at some point - be limited by what I have to work with.

I had this issue about a year ago when I started knowing and doing more art. The joy of having a lot of supplies and using them... let's say they can be separate hobbies. 😅 However, due to limited space and budget, shopping and watching reviews of art supplies aren't much my thing anymore. I get overwhelmed when I have a lot of art supplies. Oh btw, one art supply I bought and haven't used is the famous Himi Miya gouache. I bought those a year and a half ago and I feel intimidated using them. I'm worried they'll dry out as I don't paint much often.

I definitely noticed this happening with my makeup collection over the years! When I noticed it becoming a problem, I focused on shrinking what I had to a more manageable, versatile collection of unique items/colours. Thinking of them as art supplies for my face made it easy to be more experimental and really learn how to use what I have, which in turn changed how I thought of actual art supplies. I probably (definitely) have the same problem with my art supplies, but at least most of them have a much longer shelf life - although that makes it easier to justify acquiring more items, oops! I still enjoy looking at new items through vlogs or in the store, but just like makeup, I've been focusing more on new techniques instead of new supplies.

I'm on a no buy/budgeted buy since last year. I've literally started using my stuff more and buying minimally every since I realised that I was hoarding things. It hit me last year when I was moving that I have too much stuff and a lot of it is unused!!! I don't use my good supplies because I feel like I'll waste them or run out but I buy them and end up with dried up markers, acrylic paint etc or boxes of tube paint and pencils, some even duplicate sets and I understand how stupid that logic is now... They look beautiful but it's wasteful if they aren't used. I just tell myself that it hurts their feelings and they feel ignored if I don't use them now so I use them more 😂

As with many things, owning something always seems to hold out the promise of using it or enjoying it, yet this so often just doesn’t happen. That Kayak you bought never finds its way to the river, those home improvement supplies don’t find their way into completed house projects, those many books never seem to get read, and finally, that box of art supplies sits unused. I am tempted to buy something as a surrogate for the time and energy it would take to actually use it. That can be a salve or a frustration! Enjoy your supplies, and share or give away what you are not using- there are plenty of folks who can’t afford nice supplies and would really treasure them and put them to use!

I’m glad you are talking about this. KZfaq art videos seem to focus on products and always getting more rather than making art. Some channels seem like they have a haul every other video. I understand that viewers want the haul videos, but I hope the creators do more with the haul than swatch. I love learning about new supplies, but I’d like to hear an opinion based on use. I like how you talk about sketchbooks when you’re almost done or completely finished. The only supplies I haven’t used that I’ve had a while are a set of rapidiograph technical pens. I bought them on a whim and a sale about ten years ago. I’m intimidated by having to clean the pens properly and I press down really hard (I can’t help it) and I’m scared I’ll ruin the tips.🤣 I would also like to caution: watercolor paper goes bad people! Be careful hoarding and storing. I have half of a roll of arches watercolor paper that has lost its sizing. The roll is a little over ten years old. I will use the paper with other materials but I wish I had just hurried through it.

I have too much!. I have FULL SETS OF: Polychromos, Luminance, Museum Aquarelles and the Wooden box full sex of Neo Color ll. I just started with Sennelier soft pastels and of course I’m buying the 120 $300 set. It’s insanity. Don’t get me started on my Daniel Smith watercolor paint. I’m about 90 markers short of the 358 full set of Copic Markers. I’m OBSESSED with everything.

I’ve definitely become more careful and discerning about what I buy. I try to share (make half pan palettes or journals for people getting started). I’ve been making my journals to use up my paper rather than buying new ones. I don’t like hoarding; it makes me feel selfish with my resources. But I love using all my supplies and try to not get precious with them. It’s so easy to go overboard! And like few others have stated, I grow weary of haul videos. What I do like are “favorites” -people showing what they like from their current supplies and how they use them.

i think that hoarding is not limited to art supplies anymore .. i think it's a huge problem with many , because of the constant marketing , the constant self imposed need to buy something new, that rush of adrenaline , etc .. i think that it has definitely gotten to be very big issue for many people .. it's such waste , on many levels .. it's also a habit , that takes conscious effort to break it to slow it down .. i've been trying for almost a year to not buy any more supplies , unless i run out of a specific color that i use .. i have sooo much , already, and want to explore all the supplies that i already own .. thanks for this video , teoh !! norakag , here

I remember you saying something like "if I see a pretty watercolor set I buy it" 😄

I love that you admit that you feel good just looking at your art supplies, and some of them have "aged well." I was going to suggest that you give away some of the unused sets to your viewers, but I guess that would be difficult in terms of shipping. The one supply I'm surprised to see here is the Daniel Smith set since you do use your DS paints! I would love to see a review on the set.

Amazing supplies. I am not a hoarder, quite the opposite. It is hard for me to shop. So I am using my supplies in the sake of actually use the up. I bought 12 set of Polychromas and using them everyday since Christmas no regrets at all. I only care about expensive paper, I can't make myself use it on the daily bases. I have a set of White Nights watercolors sitting in my desk for 2 years, so I start using them since the beginning of the year and love them. I think I accumulated a good selection of art supplies I am happy about. So I don't need to shop untill I actually run out.

I like buying just one colour to mess around with the new product. Comparatively speaking, we haven’t seen any great advances in products.

I was one of those beginning artist that wanted to use the same brush or pen my favorite KZfaq artists were using in the videos. And it did not make my art look any more like theirs 😂 So I have some extra pens and brushes but not too many. And now that I make art a little bit longer I start to learn what colors or brushes I like.

I tend to get interested in a new medium and be really into it for an intense period, and then find some other medium I then get really invested in... so on, so forth. I've got two big plastic bins of supplies thanks to that! Haha. Thankfully, the interest in the mediums I already own tends to return eventually. I've also noticed that going through my supplies and using something I've not used in a while alleviates the desire to buy new things.

This is a great topic and an issue I have. I get excited by all the new shiny toys I see online or in the stores. Now I have option paralysis when it comes to starting artwork because of too many choices. Less is def more. Work with what one has.

This is so timely. I bought a lot of supplies over the pandemic and I have to give some away and donate things I know I won't use, but I feel guilty because it seems like such a waste. But it's a bigger waste if I never use it and someone else will. I'm sometimes tempted to buy new things but there's only so much space. Also, having too many supplies and options sort of stunts my creativity, but I am also dazzled by beautiful packaging and vibrant colors.

I definitely have more art supplies than I can use in this lifetime! I especially love colored pencils, watercolor, watercolor pencils and crayons, and art instruction books.

Oh yeah. I can totally relate! I love the new boxes, the new colors, the new everything. I most certainly get a dopamine bump off of seeing, touching, and using new art supplies. I have somewhat successfully set limits on my purchases by getting out the supplies I haven't used in awhile. It feels like visiting old friends, and I relate to them with that attitude as I explore their qualities. Mostly though, the challenge is the dopamine and craving for more dopamine. Like any other addiction, we have to take one day at a time and find joy in what we have. And... oh the joy of shiney new art supplies. Good luck everyone. ❤

I think you nailed it when you said it makes you feel good. I love all mine and even when I haven't used something for a while it's nice to know they're there. Life is short, why not treat yourself if you can? :)

Ya I seem to think that I NEED every art supply out there. Instead of just focusing on watercolor, I'm buying sets and sets, then the big set of colored pensils. Tried to blend a couple of times, but too much in a hurry. Now I GOT TO have some brusho too. I'm so glad to hear that it's common for everyone. I thought I had a hoarding art supply problem.

Decided at the beginning of the year that I would not buy any art supplies this year. Instead use what I already have on hand. It's not as hard as I thought it would be.

Gosh, after reading the comments, I must be one of the few who truly can’t overbuy. In fact, it drives me nuts watching KZfaq art videos when it is just about pushing supplies as I don’t have the dollars for anything but the basics, and cheap basics at that. For example, I have to use the cheapest watercolour paper, crappy Cotman watercolours, Walmart brushes, etc. But I guess this topic is about hoarding, right? I guess what I am saying is consider yourself fortunate if you have the opportunity to hoard. Be grateful for your supplies.

If I have too many similar options, the decision paralysis gets me. I was reading in Draw Your World that you only really need maybe three different pencil hardnesses, and this feels true. If I limited myself to say one hard, HB, and one 4B or 6B I could be set and not have to be like oh no which pencil do I use. So sometimes getting rid of (donating or regifting) supplies actually helps me make more art. The thing I like about following people who have tried a lot of things is getting honest comparisons between products. I found your channel because of your recommendations on what ink to use in a brush pen, and I like that I can just get what you recommend and not have to go through the trial and error process myself unless what works for you doesn't work for me. (TBD. I still have a cartridge left before I switch to ink and a converter.) But I also think that imagining drawing can be easier than actually doing it, which is who some of us, or at least I, sometimes spend a lot of time looking at supplies and tutorials. Especially when way too tired to sit down and get to work.

A friend recently suggested to me that acquiring art and craft supplies is a whole different hobbie to actually creating art

Yes, I think particularly when you are new to painting and excited you can go way overboard and think that somehow a product will make your advancement quicker - it's a trap - it still comes down to hard work and practice. I've stopped doing that, too. Note to self: enjoy the journey! Also, Teoh, did you have a video that showed an exercise connecting rich, juicy strokes into a rainbow of colors. I loved the different strokes you made to connect them and would like to watch the video again. Any idea which one I might have watched? Your work is so nice!

This video came just in time. I'm not a professional artist but I have the 120 set of both Faber Castell Albretch Durer and Caran D'Ache Supracolor watercolor pencils, the costliest art supplies I own. I also have Daler Rowney, Lyra, and Arteza watercolor pencils. That used to be my obsession before. Now that I have all that, I moved on to professional watercolor sets/ tubes. EBay is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to buying art supplies. You find something at an amazing price and you'll have to have it. I just organized all my supplies and decided I'm not spending on it anymore. Hopefully I'll stick to that. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Great video. I don’t paint with watercolor but oils and yes, I buy supplies quite often. Mostly panels and paint but I don’t use them as much. For a while I had an obsession for brushes, not anymore. Other items I bought are easels to display in progress paintings. I finally found a couple I really like and use to keep the mess away. I mainly buy on sale stuff that I know I will need. So, at this moment, I have decided not to buy anymore. At times when I find I don’t have a particular oil color, instead of buying it, I look for a similar color and I’m happy with it. Very interesting video. I appreciate your time and effort. Blessings and take care.

Yes, I was beginning to worry about myself. I'm a bit more careful these days; I only buy what I think I can really use, and it's of good quality. However, I could definitely stand to spend more time doing art and improving my skills, and less time looking for beautiful supplies on the web and buying them because they are "on sale." Thanks for posting this video. It will make me think twice before buying in future. You do have some beautiful art supplies there, Teoh! I'm a fan of the Polychromos myself and I use them frequently.

I have lots of alcohol markers and markers in general that I don’t use much at all. I have this art supply hoarding thing too lol, I love watercolours and paper. I love to make my own sketchbooks so collect all kinds of decorative papers and stickers. But mostly watercolour paints and palettes. Coloured pencils and pens have been my addiction since childhood lol. I love art supplies. I think buying them gives you a rush of feel,good hormones or something.

Ironically, I want to buy more art supplies after watching your video! Especially those things of yours that I think I need!! I definitely have SAS

I am an art supplies hoarder. Got plenty of watercolor paint, Schminke, and plenty of Acrylic professional paint, and a lot of other art supplies. The most costly supplies I am afraid to use. Every artbook, or Patreon on KZfaq (I loved seeing the big art supplies hauls) , demands to buy more art supplies. I am also for the past year, too anxious to paint and I got an illness that limits my painting time. Now I am on a "NO buy art supplies" journey. I do not have the money or the space for the arty stuff that I never use.. This is like a crazy addiction. Thank you Theo for addressing this subject.

Yes, I have this problem. My painting/drawing stuff all fits into one large dresser drawer, but my textiles and fiber stash have reached SABLE (Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy). I really ought to sell some.

There are worse "addictions" :) Whether you are a knitter, person who enjoys sewing, artist etc., there is a tendency to buy more than we actually currently need. Someone mentioned art books - I think that is a good investment and, if you don't like them or decide you no longer want them, gift them to your local library.

Oh, I have this same problem. Though I like to think I’ve found ways to curb it and even reduce my collection. For example, If I have found that I am not using something for a really long time, I try to use it again. To see if it can spark some creative joy. If not, I ask my friends if they could use it or know anyone who likes that brand or product. So it can bring joy to someone else. I think the reason why we creatives have an art supply hoarding problem is that we get inspired by so many things, be it the product its self on a shelf as we walk by or videos of other artists using the supplies. That we think, oh yah, I have some ideas where I could use that. Plus, when you are starting out, its hard to know what you like and don’t like which can lead to a collection of supplies.

I've definitely become an art supply hoarder, mainly because when I find supplies I like I fall for the "complete set syndrome" and want them all in every color before I've used up the first one. The upside is I at least have more than enough to where when my friends come over, they know they can use and try out what I have to try before they buy anything.

We actually went through our stash last October and donated what I won’t use to my daughter’s school’s art department. A lot of it was acrylics and alcohol markers that I had gotten in art subscription boxes and a brand of watercolour tubes that I didn’t need and wouldn’t use and I hadn’t opened those tubes because I had the same colours from other brands. Art subscription boxes can be great for introducing you to a new product that you would have otherwise bought, and I know that other people would have been excited to get alcohol markers and heavy body acrylics and they wouldn’t have been as pleased with charcoals and chalks as I was. At least they went to a good home and I know that the teacher in the art department can make sure that they get used and they can get donated to one of the students that maybe does want to try these things. So at least they went to a good home and the art teacher was grateful; I got a lovely thank you note.

I think most if not all artists have this issue. There’s just so many wonderful things to buy 😅 I suffered the most with color pens and sketchbooks. But eventually the same kind of items started piling up and I only triggered my anxiety and buyers guilt. Nowadays, I am trying to finish ALL my books before I buy anything again. Wish me luck ✌🏻

Thank you for creating this video as it was a must/reality check for me. I don’t think I’m a “hoarder” of art supplies but I do get influenced by art hauls. Recently, I’ve fallen in love with Roman Szmal watercolours and polychromos pencils but I’ve convinced myself to only buy them through open shelves instead of the whole set.

FOUNTAIN PEN INK!!! I have enough for 22 lifetimes 🤣 those iroshizuku bottles are just so beautiful. I’ll try to cure my ASAS next year. 🥳

If you think polychromos are wonderful you’d love their watercolor counterpart the albrecht Durer watercolor pencils are a dream

I learned long ago that it’s best to buy the best you can afford because you will be happiest using the product and will use more often. Shoes, clothes, art supplies. If you can afford all those crappy sets you can afford fewer premium quality art supplies and wouldn’t have so much junk….🤷🏻‍♀️

I have put the brakes on buying art supplies. I have quite some stuff, so I really don't need any more to create art. There is one exception: I am "allowed" to upgrade my current student grade watercolor paints to artist grade, but no hurry there.(I am a bit jealous of those nice watercolor sets you show there...) Living in the Icelandic country side does help, no well stocked tempting art stores in the vicinity, and online ordering is quite a pain. So temptations are kept in check...

First of all unpack the Luminance, there even better than Polychromos in my opinion. And yes, I am guilty of buying to much art supplies ( and don’t even ask about the craft supplies …) I try to fight hoarding them with some „rules“ 1. You can only use one at a time, so chose the best you have 2. You are worth using them no matter how „talented“ „good“ or whatever artist you are because art is not about the result but the process, expressing your inner self and you a worth to chose whatever tool works best for you 3. Find out how the supplies suit your way best, e.g. I need my supplies out of the box to use them. Maybe you enjoy a big set of paints or pencils or (like me) you are better of using your supplies when you have a limited palette aproach. 4. When you don’t use it find a new home, gift it, sell it, donate it. Or share them with the little artists around you 😃 They are made for using them not for lying in your drawers.

You have very nice “extra” supplies. I would definitely keep them all. I am trying to buy all of the things I think I need because my husband will be retiring soon and our income will be reduced. 😁

gave you a like as soon as you said “there is no reason to sugarcoat this” 👍

Lol - you are right on - realize I am addicted to art supplies! I working hard to SLOW down. Nothing will go to waste 😂

Going to an art supply store is a hoarder's dream. So many beautiful packaging of these art supplies...the suppliers know that if the packing is good it will catch your eye and u may buy it. So now when i go to an art supply store (which i don't do much often now) i bring a list and try to keep to it and i will only buy new stuff if it is related to or helps with what's on my list.

I can’t wait for your Roman Szmal review! 🌸🌸🌸 I have the urge to hoard and buy more but that’s because i feel like the world will realise how insane it is to make excessive consumirism so easy and everything will be more rare and expensive again.

I think I'm at the point of having too many art supplies (every medium but soft pastel), so I'm trying to stop buying them. I love having them and using them -- two separate pleasures, I think. KZfaq videos, the pandemic, and aging and not being able to do as much are definitely factors, as is the fact that I have a whole room for art and art supplies (though they're starting to leak out into other rooms as well!).

Art supply shopping is whole hobby for itself, I started to use my more expensive stuff,because it's there to use it!! If you don't use it,you can sell it on ebay. If you really have a huuuge colletion,try to only buy something new,if you get rid of something old

I used to have so many art supplies. It's nice to experiment on different materials to find out what you are comfortable using. And also to find your art style. I ended up giving away materials like watercolors, acrylics, gouache and craypass. I did not enjoy using those... haha. I found out that I really like working with calligraphy/manga tools, fountain pens, inks and Procreate in iPad.

I have been doing a bit of hoarding recently, yes. While this was never my thing in the past, and I was always quite happy just owning what I actually needed to work with, during the pandemic I changed. I suddenly had so much time to spend at home, and I started watching a lot of art related content... You know where this is going. While I discovered some supplies that I genuinely am glad to have found and love to use, I mostly purchased a bunch of supplies that I have paid way to little attention to and do not actually need, at least not at this point in time. I have had a serious talk about this with myself and have decided to spend this year only buying things that I need, like when I need to replace a specific color or something like that.

When I started out I fell victim to gear acquisition syndrome also. For me, it was specifically driven by the ‘better value’ offered by larger sets. But then I found I was ending up with items I didn’t really like. So now my rule is that if I am interested in a supply I can purchase a presentative sample, I.e. a red, yellow, blue..and then only buy more of them if I really like them. The supplies I thought I would never use I gave to a colleague who is an excellent artist with different taste in supplies for him to play with, with the understanding that anything he didn’t like he similarly passed on to someone else to try. Recently I’ve seen a lot more KZfaqr artists trade supplies amongst themselves to try which is a nicer way to go about it and has the advantage of continually introducing me to new artists. I thinks it’s also important to acknowledge that collecting art supplies can be a valid hobby, just like collecting anything else. But it’s mentally healthier to acknowledge which it is we are doing.

A great topic to talk about! Thank you for your perspective on this one😀

I have sketchbooks from years I didn't use them yet and now the color of the papers of these sketchbooks is becoming yellow instead of white I don't like to draw on them like this, and I don't like to buy lot of art supplies because this is like throwing your money for nothing I buy only the things that I need

I like how you say "I feel good looking at this". I know that feeling SO WELL as I buy another watercolor tube of paint or palette or brush...oh, and the smell of opening a new pack of colored pencils! :). (Maybe I should just get a cedar). I have both Faber Castell Polychromous and Prismacolor and eyeing Caran D'Ache but I definitely don't "need" them. Resisting for now. (but if anyone asks me what I want for a present I know what to say...ha :) What a NICE set of DaVinci brushes! Feeling SAS=sy.

Yeah. But it’s comforting to know that in the event of a zombie apocalypse I‘ll still be able to paint…

I love this topic! It's so easy and fun to buy attractive, different art supplies. No wonder so many of us succumb from time to time. Once we possess these things, many of us feel that niggling worry of possible future scarcity (plus the endowment effect) which can turn getting rid of excess supplies into a strangely emotionally-charged process. Drawers got full and I had to make sure that anything new coming in had to be balanced by something old being taken out and even stuck to a no-new-supplies policy for a couple of years EXCEPT to replace or buy an item needed to complete an already-started project. It was, to me, an empowering mindset and worked well. Things got used up and projects got completed. It was great. I also know I will do better using new supplies if I swatch them properly so I make a point of taking care of that. When I know better how they work, I can more easily integrate new things into the supplies I typically use. These steps don't eliminate the problem but do improve the situation. It was fun to see your extra, un/under-used supplies. 😉

I try not to buy anything unnecessarily. I did a big house declutter a few years ago so I’m mindful about what comes into the house now. I got rid of duplicate art supplies but I’m still experimenting so I still own various different mediums, some of which I’m not as keen on but while I’m still learning they stay. I try not to go after whatever is currently trending on KZfaq. For example those metallic watercolours I’ve seen a lot of people buy are gorgeous looking but I can’t think what I would use them for so they would just sit in the cupboard and get looked at once in a while. On the other hand I don’t want to be too strict with myself and not try out something which I may end up loving. I mainly try to avoid buying different brands of the same medium. I think it’s easy to end up with duplicates over the years as you slowly upgrade your supplies. That’s when for me, it’s a good idea to start donating the older stuff to others who can use them.

Oh! A tour of your art supplies! Loved it.

I can absolutely relate to this. My supplies run wild in my home. I drive my wife crazy with them. She is the one who made me finally think about actually getting an art studio so she can have the house back. How many fountain pens do i actually need for drawing??? it doesnt matter. im addicted. Great video, as usual.

If you EVER want to lighten your hoard and help out a poor artist in the process (that loves your channel/videos, longtime subscriber!) I would LOVE to trade or buy some WC paint from you! lol! Thank you for sharing, i used to have quite a large hoard before the pandemic but have since gone through and used almost all of it! I started using things I never liked before but because I was running low on my usual supplies and forced me to step out of my comfort zone which actually has resulted in a lot of fun and different types of work, in the end helping me grow on the whole as an artist. Especially at the beginning of the pandemic through the first year or so when we had so much time indoors. Not to mention your channel has helped me learn new techniques and I thank you for all the information you have shared! Thanks again for another great video!

This is too true. I started buying my art supplies second hand a couple years ago. This honesty made my hoarding worse because when something cool comes up on eBay or Facebook it gives me a sense of urgency I don’t have if I was just buying from blick or Jackson’s. I’ve gotten some joy out of sharing my unused supplies with neighbors and friends. I still have quite the hoard of supplies that I’ll probably never use it up, but I truly enjoy using all of them in turn.

I’ve hoarded Art supplies. Of every possible medium. And YES, it mostly sits around. I’m slowly but surely using them. But decided that 2022 is a No Buy Paint year. Did I buy a few thing? Yes I did. Mostly Sketchbooks & papers except paints.

Yes, very tempted always to buy things but over the past few years only replacing what finishes and very few new things. My favourite supplies are gouache and Polychromos pencils.

OMG, I have several of the same art supplies Teoh mentions, and, like him, I've never used them or only once or twice! I have so many watercolor tubes, sets, pans to last me the rest of my life, not to mention sheets of watercolor paper, blocks, and pads. Also, I have pastel sets, including a full set of Winsor & Newton Pastels and Polychromos (neither of which is available in US), oil painting supplies, colored pencils, inks, and drawing pencils. Since I take art classes at the local university, I have been giving away some art supplies I know I will never use to other students.

You have many good art supplies watercolor paints and pencils brushes, your storage for them reminds me a lot of my storage places, but you have really good quality items paint and more, I like looking thru art supplies, thanks for sharing this with us,