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5 Art Supplies I Wouldn't Buy Again... and What I Use Instead || Autumn Sketchbook Page

Elm & Bee Art

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I've bought A LOT of art supplies over the years… and while some have become absolute favourites, there are a few that I simply don't reach for anymore.

So in this video I'm sharing 5 art supplies I regret buying - why they didn't work for me, what I would use instead, and whether I still feel the same way after actually using them again.

But rather than just sitting here talking about them, I decided to give every single one another chance.

Throughout the video I'm creating a brand new autumn sketchbook spread in my cosy magical woodland style, using the 5 supplies I wouldn't buy again alongside the 5 alternatives I actually reach for.

And here's the interesting bit…

Did making the painting change my mind about any of them?

Some of these supplies aren't bad at all. They're just not right for the way I make art - and I think that's something we don't talk about enough when it comes to buying art supplies.

Sometimes the problem isn't the art supply.

It's simply that it doesn't fit YOU.

So if you've got art supplies sitting in a drawer that you bought ages ago and never reach for, perhaps it's time to get them out and have another play. You might still hate them… or you might discover you like them more than you remembered!

🎨 THE ART SUPPLIES MENTIONED:

1. Chunky solid graphite pencil → Faber-Castell mechanical pencil
2. Winsor & Newton ProMarkers → Deco Time acrylic paint markers
3. Mont Marte Water-soluble pens → Faber-Castell Aqua pencils
4. Metallic watercolour set → Winsor & Newton watercolours
5. Gelly Roll White gel pen → fine-tip white Posca acrylic paint pen

Some of these are things I genuinely wouldn't buy again, while others surprised me when I gave them another chance!

🎨 COME AND CREATE WITH ME

Elm & Bee Studio - Learn with Lisa
My cosy online painting membership, with painting sessions, gentle guidance and a creative community to paint alongside.

https://www.elmandbee.co.uk/ebstudio/...

🌱 Free 2-hour Taster Class:
https://www.elmandbee.co.uk/free-pain...

💌 GET A LITTLE MAGIC IN YOUR LETTERBOX

Letters from Faefern Forest / Mushwood Mail

A little monthly piece of magical snail mail, created to give you a tiny moment to stop, slow down and escape into another world.

https://www.elmandbee.co.uk/magical-m...

🖼️ ORIGINAL ART & SHOP

Find my original paintings, prints and other magical bits and pieces here:

https://www.elmandbee.co.uk/originals

🌱 Free creative resources:
https://www.elmandbee.co.uk/a-gentle-...

🍄 ABOUT ELM & BEE ART

I'm Lisa, an artist from Scotland creating cosy, magical woodland art and helping adults reconnect with their creativity through painting, sketchbooks and making art without the pressure to be perfect.

Here you'll find acrylic painting, sketchbook inspiration, art supplies, creative experiments, cosy creative living and a little bit of magic from the woodland.

If you're an adult who wants to make more art but keeps putting it off, you're very welcome here. 🌿

#ArtSupplies #ArtHaul #Sketchbook #ArtSuppliesForArtists #ArtForAdults #SketchbookArt #AutumnArt #AcrylicPainting #Watercolour #ElmAndBeeArt

20 Comments

@OrganizeCreateDecorate 2 weeks ago

What a cute painting you created while playing around with art supplies you haven't enjoyed in the past along with your favorite supplies. It shows how beautiful art can even be made with things that aren't your favorites.

@Valeriewells1965 2 weeks ago

I agree with the gel pens. The picture you finished is adorable.

@bluehippo5 2 weeks ago

My goodness...this piece is just beautiful!

@nbenefiel 13 days ago

I have paper stacks taller than I am, hundreds of stamps and dies, ink pads, pens, sprays, gels, sequins, to the point of total ridiculousness, but every one of them is beautiful.

@unhiddenhistory 2 weeks ago

Your autumn art piece came out so pretty! You definitely know how to create worlds I wish I could magically step into and explore like Mary Poppins, lol. 😂 Many artists have great skills, but not all of them can create art from scratch right out of their heads like you can. It's a great skill to have.

@jaimieceesatm 2 weeks ago

Theres a trick thats spose to help gel pens work and its putting a lil bit of a kneaded eraser or sticy tak in the end of the pen insert and it gets it going again. Hope it helps.

@poppythecat454 2 weeks ago

I have the same white jelly roll pen. I don't live in a humid (or overly dry) environment and it does exactly the same as yours does. It drives me loopy when it doesn't work :) Another absolutely beautiful wee piece of art!!

@keithbanks5757 2 weeks ago

Graphite pencils can be sharpened with sandpaper or a sandpaper block.

@rj7282 2 weeks ago

White sigma pen works well most of the time. But sometimes i jusr use doc martens bleed proof white with fine brush or other tool like toothpick etc

@tigerdeathl9 2 weeks ago

love you both elm and bee

@mdf0713 2 weeks ago

Try dipping the tip of the gel pen in little rubbing alcohol… sometimes that gets them going by unclogging the tip. 💕

@BobbieStudio 2 weeks ago (edited)

You should try the uniball signo white gel pen it is way better than the jelly roll and it works best for mixed media for me.

@lovemyferals 2 weeks ago

Ahhh, the white gel pen - the name of many a colorist and artist😂

@1RealRoyalPain 2 weeks ago

Watercolor marker trick:
Scribble the marker onto a piece of plastic (a palette, sleeve, or scrap of acetate works). Then use a water and a watercolor brush to pick up the pigment like paint. You can blend colors, mix new shades on the plastic, and get that loose drip effect without fighting the marker on the paper.

@HappyknitDogo5173 2 weeks ago

I used to use Letraset alcohol promarkers back when they first became a craze for card makers it was around 12-15 years ago now. The way I learned to use them was to stamp an image to be coloured on super smooth card with water based ink ( always use very smooth card like Bristol with alcohol pens). Then each colour you are going to to use you need a light medium and dark to get a good blend. I would use the darkest first, then quickly go over the dark with the medium extending the colour beyond just the darkest area then quickly go over the whole area with the lightest colour and work it in as much as you can but don't over saturate the area too much or the ink spreads beyond the lines you stamped.
You can get some beautiful blends they look so professional and i always found the blends smoother than copics. I believe Windsor and Newton bought them from Letraset. Prices seem to have increased, but a lot of time has passed since I bought mine. They still worked last time I checked tho.

@LesleyARoberts 2 weeks ago

I have just found your lovely channel. I really love the Posca fine pens and use the white and black a lot. I have the Jelly roll pens and have the same issues as you. I live in the very opposite end of the UK and Cornwall is a very damp place to live too, (past summer excepted) so maybe that is why. I love you whimsical work, thank you for sharing.

@GrahamThompson-c7x 2 weeks ago

I would agree with all you said in this video, especially Pro Markers. Years ago I spent a fortune on a set of Pro Markers and just couldn’t use them. Fortunately, one of the granddaughters was starting an illustration course as part of her college education so I gave them to her and she was over the moon and produced some great poster style art with them.

However, and I would be surprised if you didn’t expect me to comment on this, the woodless graphite pencils……. I had to go and console my set of woodless graphite pencils just in case they thought I was going to ditch them 🤣. Yes they are a bit odd and yes they are difficult to get a sharp point. However, they are not really designed to be used with a sharp point, they are more ‘broad strokes using the side of the point’ type of pencil.

Still agree with everything else though😊

@Ohdakkeinen 2 weeks ago (edited)

I have a few Promarkers that have the original Letraset branding, meaning that they are over a decade old. Still functional and no issues with drying out.

I use them quite often for small drawings, or colouring in b/w cross stitch patterns (on printer paper).

They’re not cheap, but in my use they’ve been very reliable pens. I don’t use them on top of other paints or on wet paper etc.

I’ve also tried metallic and watercolour Promarkers but I didn’t enjoy those so much. The metallic line has nice colour shades but I didn’t like drawing with them. Instead I’ve used them to paint the edges of cardboard boardgame tokens and some such.

Watercolour pens feel quite gimmicky. IMO the only pro is the uniform linework you can create with them.

@angelinamounsey2429 2 weeks ago

Yeah pro markers don't play well with others 😉. They do make a blender pen (clear essentially) also the two brand names are same company the letraset was the original brand name so maybe they're the ones drying as older potentially). Love watching this, I'm glad I'm not alone with dislikes of graphite pencil 😂