Studio tools

The materials that shape my work

Welcome to my studio.
Every painting begins here, with layer upon layer, intuition, color and material that responds to feeling.
On this page, I share the paints, mediums, inks, and other tools I use daily. These aren't sponsored choices, but materials I've personally tested, discovered, and embraced because they support my expressive, intuitive style and bring out the emotion in my work.

This page grows with me. As my work deepens, my choice of materials also changes. So feel free to come back to follow new discoveries or refinements in my process.

🎨 PAINT

Golden Artist Colors – Acrylic Paint

Golden acrylic paint has deep pigmentation and responds beautifully to layering. I use Golden primarily in my initial layers to create movement, color energy, and expression. The paint remains vibrant and allows for both transparent and bold layers.

Winsor & Newton Galeria – Acrylic Paint

Galeria is a bit more affordable and combines well with mediums. I use this paint for lighter layers or when I want to build up a specific color tone without immediately using the intensity of Golden. It's great for balancing and mixing.

Amsterdam Acrylic Paint (Royal Talens)

I use specific Amsterdam colors for bright accents and intuitive additions. The paint works well with Golden and is ideal for quick bursts of color in the painting.

Gamblin – Oil painting

Gamblin feels soft, creamy, and professional to me. It blends effortlessly and retains its depth. I use Gamblin in top coats to create skin, light, and softness. The brand's philosophy (less toxic, environmentally conscious) aligns with how I want to approach my studio. Gamblin also has great additional colors, such as true warm and cool whites and the radiant series.

Van Gogh – Oil & Watercolor

Van Gogh oil paint is accessible and reliable. I use it for transparent layers and blends. I use Van Gogh watercolor for light accents and delicate transparent effects in my mixed-media works or for experimenting in my sketchbook.

✨ OIL PAINT MEDIUMS

Gamblin Galkyd

Adds shine and speeds up drying time. I use this in the first and middle coats to build energy and clarity. Because it's a bit thinner, it maintains the playfulness and creates beautiful drips.

Cold Wax Medium (Gamblin)

Adds subtle texture and matte depth. Ideal for soft, diffuse effects and layering with feeling. It's a great way to add thicker layers at the end, and it also helps the oil paint dry.

Solvent-Free Medium (Gamblin)

I use it when working with transparent underlayers without solvents. It keeps my studio cleaner and healthier. It does take a bit longer to dry, but it's definitely pleasant to work with.

Liquin (Winsor & Newton)

For the final refinement. Adds gloss and allows for fine details without making the paint feel heavy. Because it's slightly firmer than galkyd, it's perfect for creating those final details.

Gamvar (Gamblin)

Gamvar is a varnish that can be used over oil paint relatively quickly. It's pleasant to work with because it doesn't smell as bad as most varnishes. I like to use satin or gloss finishes for an immediate, beautiful sheen. It's nice to see the painting shine instantly.

⚡ MEDIUMS FOR ACRYLIC (Golden & Talens)

I use these mediums to add texture, sheen, transparency, and depth to my work. Each medium has its own function and contributes to the emotional and layered quality of my paintings.

Golden Gloss Gel

• Provides shine and transparency
• I use it to make light move through the underlayers
• I also use this when I work on paper, so that when I work with acrylic and/or oil paint it doesn't go through the paper.

Golden Glazing Medium

• Makes transparent glazes possible
• Ideal for soft transitions and subtle color shifts

Golden Retarder

• Slows down the drying time of acrylic paint
• Gives me space to work intuitively without the paint drying too quickly

Golden Heavy Gel Gloss

• Creates firm texture and build
• I use it to add relief, especially in flowers or symbolic elements.
• I use it to apply collage.

Golden Glass Bead Gel

• Contains glass beads for a sparkling, luminous effect
• Let the light reflect in a unique way on the surface
• or in the underlayers it gives a nice texture.

Golden Molding Paste

• Provides 3D structure and volume
• I use it as a base layer for sculptural elements in my paintings
• you can create a beautiful marble effect with it.
• finishing the edges with collage

🖋 INKS & MARKERS

On a blank canvas, I sometimes love to play with materials first, using markmaking or wet-on-wet techniques. It's fascinating to see how the colors interact and how they play together.

Talens Ecoline

Clear liquid ink that works perfectly for transparent, playful layers.

Liquitex ink

Highly pigmented and fluid, I use this for dynamic undertones and spontaneous movements.

Golden High Flow

Perfect for lines that naturally flow over texture. Ideal for intuitive markmaking or glazing in the acrylic phase.

Posca & Molotow acrylic markers

I use it for clear, expressive lines that should remain visible in the end result.

Krink & Sakura Solid Markers

For powerful marks with a raw edge. They add tension and contrast to my work.

Sennelier Oil Stick

Oil paint in solid form. I've been experimenting with this lately. I mainly use it in the final stages of my paintings for an extra touch, but who knows, I might use it differently.

🧵 CARRIERS

Canvas

• Gerstaecker and Van Beek canvases
  I use both standard canvases and extra-thick 3D canvases. I like the 3D canvases because the sides are part of the story, but that doesn't make them suitable for framing.

Paper

• Van Beek watercolor paper 300 grams
  I use this for mixed-media work. It holds moisture, ink, and paint well without warping.

🧽 CLEANING & TOOLS

• Zest-it – low-odor and safe solvent for oil paint
• Murphy's soap – I use it to thoroughly clean my brushes and keep them supple

🔍 BRUSHES – in development

I currently use a mix of different brands, including some affordable options. I'm actively testing which brushes best suit my style of working with layered texture and expressive movement. I'll be adding my favorites to this section soon.

🎨 Fine Art Prints & Print Studio

My prints are produced by The Print Space , an international print studio specializing in museum-quality fine art reproductions. I deliberately chose this studio because:

• the exceptional color fastness
• the luxurious paper types with a tangible, artistic look
• CO₂-neutral production and shipping
• perfect finish, so that my work retains its depth, feeling and light – even as a print

🌿 Want to have your own art printed?

Are you an artist and do you want to raise your work to the same quality level as museum collections?
With my personal referral code you will receive a 50% discount on your first order from €60.00

🔑 Code: L2NJ6XZ
(Enter this at checkout at theprintspace.co.uk or theprintspace.com)

This discount is specifically designed for artists who want professional print quality without a large upfront investment. The Print Space operates print-on-demand, so you don't need to maintain inventory.

Tip: If you're interested in how I prepare my print files, or which paper types I use most often, keep an eye on my blog, where I'll share this in detail soon.

🌱 Closure & Transparency

This page forms the foundation of my studio and my process. In the future, I'll provide links to some materials where you can purchase them yourself. If you buy something through such a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me further develop my work, studio, and creative freedom.

I only share what I use, trust, and is part of my artistic journey.

Get inspired. And feel free to come back later; this page will grow along with my work.