Waste Not, Paint More: Transitioning from Daniel Smith to Handmade Watercolors
My studio is currently in the middle of a big evolution. If you’ve visited my store or followed my work, you might notice a mix of textures and styles. This isn't an accident—it’s a conscious choice to honor the tools I have while building the studio I want.
The "Waste Not" Philosophy
I am a firm believer in not wasting high-quality materials. I still have a beautiful collection of Daniel Smith watercolor paints, and I intend to use every last drop. You will see these professional paints appearing in my standard backgrounds and blended into my artisan mixes. It’s my way of being a good steward of the resources I already own while I slowly transition my studio over to a completely handmade setup.
The Technical Edge: Why I Mull
There is a mechanical reason for this change that matters to every digital creator: Pigment Density. Commercial paints are often designed for transparent washes on paper. However, for digital backgrounds, I need substance. By mulling my own pigments into a custom medium, I achieve a heavy pigment load with no fillers.
Solid Scans: When I digitize these paintings, the colors stay "pure" and "solid."
Editor-Ready: For video editors and designers, this means the background doesn’t "fall apart" or look thin when you scale it or color-grade it. It holds its ground.
The Labor of the "Signature Series"
This process is incredibly work-intensive. For my Signature Backgrounds, like Amber Haze, the price reflects the hours of preparation and the specific techniques used. To create those colors, I had to mull four distinct earth pigments individually—ranging from deep ochres to natural greens—before they ever touched the paper. That was four hours of physical labor at the mulling slab just to prepare the paint!
Because of the time and the cost of raw materials, my store follows a clear path:
Signature Backgrounds ($5.00): These are 100% hand-mulled, often involving multiple pigments and complex painting techniques. They are the "heavyweights" for professional digital use.
Individual & Artisan Backgrounds ($2.00): These include my single-pigment mulls and my artisan blends (a mix of hand-mulls and Daniel Smith). These are a great way to get high-quality textures at an accessible price.
A Healthier Studio, A Healthier Earth
The real "why" behind this transition is my health and the planet. I am moving my studio over to pigments from Natural Earth Paints. They value the health of the artist and the environment, allowing me to create a toxic-free workspace. It takes time to switch a studio over completely, but every piece I paint brings me closer to that goal.
Why We Keep It Reasonable
Even with the $5.00 Signature items, we keep our prices fair for two reasons:
We Use These Assets: My husband and I use these exact files for the Serenity of the Mind blog and YouTube channel. We know they hold up under professional editing because we rely on them ourselves.
Helping Creators: I want to help other content creators and artist access professional-grade, hand-painted textures without a massive financial barrier.
By purchasing from the store, you aren’t just buying a background—you’re supporting a transition toward a more sustainable, mindful, and high-quality way of making art.
meta description: Discover why "Shy Artist" is transitioning from Daniel Smith to hand-mulled Natural Earth Paints. Learn about the 4-hour mulling process behind our $5.00 Signature Backgrounds and why pure pigment scans better for digital creators.
visit our store at https://store.
and our YouTube Channel: @serenityofthemind
This video shows you how we use our own backgrounds. https://youtube.
