About watercolor and influencers.
I fell in love with Gansai Tambi. This is the best watercolor I have ever worked with, and I absolutely want to get the 100-color set, even though I have their 48-color set.
I used these paints for my latest piece, as well as a commission I haven't yet revealed. The main thing about them for me is that they behave. I even feel brave enough to try hot-pressed paper again, because these darlings are incredibly consistent with their pigment and do not require insane amounts of layering, because color shift is almost nonexistent.
They fit my style, and I really shouldn't have listened to artfluencers, many of whom disliked them a lot, because "meh, this is something in between gouache and watercolor." Well, yes, it is, and no, it isn't at the same time. At least these are not trying to be a cheaper version of some other old art materials brand for you to go tappity-tapping with your insanely long nails and say, "Oh em gee, you guys, they are even better, but for half the priceeee!"
Fuck influencers, I guess. You should be the one you listen to.