Product review objectivity

[LatteForZoey]

Take one from the science world and do a systematic review of an item’s reviews. What do most people say about an item? If a lot of people say that a paper let’s paint sink in too fast and you don’t like that, maybe give it a pass. I never trust reviews that just say if a product is “good”. What makes it good? What makes it bad?

I also tend to trust paper reviews more if I can see examples of what the artist can do. But always never take their word for it, dissect the review until you can pick out the unbiased details. For instance, “this paper is bad” tells me nothing. “I don’t like this paper because it doesn’t take scrubbing” tells me that the paper might be delicate. Then I’ll go find other reviews to confirm if this is a common trend.

[FONT="Book Antiqua"]-Zoey

[Ellen in Ont Timmins Ontario Canada]

I just remembered that when I started doing my experiments to find the right paper for my style, I bought a book called “The Watercolor Artist’s Paper Directory” ISBN 1-58180-034-7 that covers in depth analysis of 30 different papers and in the back is an envelope with 4 sample papers to try. I don’t know if you can still get this book but you might be interested in looking for it.

www.ellenspalette.com

[MarialenaS]

It is not about what paper to buy. I bought and tested countless papers in time.
The matter is that the art material companies and those who are making their living by reviewing their products are not consistent.
You buy for instance a paper now because -let’s say- you like it. Then you purchase again the same paper let’s say in a couple of years, and it is by then something completely different.
The company will not tell you that it changed the one or the other thing on the paper. The reviewers will not change their reviews that are not objective either way in some cases, if they have been gifted the samples.

Just think that Fabriano changed the setup of the machines that produced the Fabriano Artistico paper and it didn’t tell this to anyone. Until those who relied their work on this paper figured it out in vivo!!

They first bought the paper and then they realized that this wasn’t the same kind of paper with the one they used to favour. After they complained about this Fabriano told them that they had changed the setup of the machines.

Janinep posted the other day a review about Kilimanjaro paper ( I wish I could be able to find this post) where someone was complaining that the paper wasn’t of the same quality any more. Under this review the seller replied that they changed the company that produced their paper. But they didn’t mention this on the product description, they left their customers to figure it out by themselves, if they were able to do so, I mean they had worked on the paper and they were able to figure out the differences.

The art materials market lacks of specs and the reviews of any kind of objectivity.

You might think that this is not so important, but I bet that no one of you would accept something similar on any other category of products.
You wouldn’t accept this if we were talking about electronic appliances, an expensive camera f.e, cell phones etc. You wouldn’t buy a cell phone that it would come without specifications, and you would return a cell phone that it wouldn’t be able to do what its manufacturer claimed that is made up to do.

But in art materials we buy whatever is given to us, without knowing what the product is all about, without specs based on whatever biased or literally bought reviews we read online. :rolleyes:

https://www.marialenasarris.com/

[edmund ronald]

Marialena,

A question on a forum, or a scan of Amazon recent reviews usually tells one what’s going on. Restaurants have the same issue: the chef walks out and suddenly the cooking has changed although the place and the waiters look the same.

A friend told me, if I find paper I like I should wait until I am in funds and buy a stockpile. I followed his advice. I have a few palettes, some paper, some paints and brushes and could probably survive a year without needing to buy anything at all except that I would still need a few more sketchbooks and a bit of yellow paint.

Edmund

My virtual sketchbook, one a day https://www.instagram.com/edmundronald/

[provenceaquarelle]

Marialena,

I believe changing is the word that applies best to these modern times.
Makers, aand not only art material ones, are constantly looking for costs reduction, thus increasing their profit margins, and inevitably, this changes things, and quality – or at least material behaviour.

Even perfumes are changed (exception made to Joy de Patou – and that is why it is still the costliest perfume in the world), even when keeping their names. It is upseting, enraging, and absolutely dishonest because they will not accept a return eventhough nothing tells you the formula has changed, ergo your perfume is no longer your perfume.
And likewise with other things.

I understand you wanting to tell about it, but it is highly utopic to think art products makers will read what we write, and even less that that will make them change.

Sadly, it is always the same fight: David against Goliath. Only, nowadays, David’s chances to beat Goliath are infinitesimal.

Maria - Made in Portugal
"Really I don't like human nature unless all candied over with art" - Virginia Woolf

https://womenwagepeace.org.il/en/

[CharM Moderator Watercolour Forum]

Everything we purchase will experience some change of manufacture over time. That’s a given in this consumer climate. My Sunbeam toaster from 10 years ago is much different than the one I would purchase today. And I don’t question that fact. I may not like it, but I understand that it’s a fact of life.

Manufacturers of any/all products do not owe us an explanation of how and where they make our materials. Caveat emptor.

There are no specific standards in order for consumers to measure the quality of these items. That’s really a shame and I wish the Industry would sit up and take notice. But, Artists are small fish in a big pond as far as the dollars and cents are concerned. It’s forums such as this one that will facilitate any kind of recommendation for best product reviews.

An example of a questionable review could be from a former WC Member, Jean Haines. She is sponsored by one of the big name Brands and actually recommended the use of Opera Rose, recently. Really? A fugitive? How can I respect that, knowing full well that it will fade?

I do subscribe to the Doodlewash blog. Hahnemuhle paper[/URL] was reviewed a couple of days ago. I trust this review because multiple examples are provided in the testing process. I feel as though it’s a good example of how a review can/should be written.

Char --

CharMing Art -- "Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art." Leonardo DaVinci

[LuckyLaura]

It’s unfortunate when a cheap art supply company sell their craft grade products for sometimes more than similar craft grade, blitz the art channels with their free goods, and because the channels want to be seen as a good “endorser” they say the products are higher quality than they really are.

What’s the most unfortunate is artists with less income will spend money on these products, find they are not as good as the reviewer says they are, and get frustrated with the whole medium.

I lose respect for both the company and the reviewer when I see this. The whole rigmarole is more transparent than a fresh glass of painting water…

[MarialenaS]

Marialena,

A question on a forum, or a scan of Amazon recent reviews usually tells one what’s going on. Restaurants have the same issue: the chef walks out and suddenly the cooking has changed although the place and the waiters look the same.

Amazon’s reviews are not accurate either because you can never know the level of experience of each and everyone that is commenting there.
I’ve seen for example bad reviews of a product that the buyer didn’t know how to use properly.

Amazon accepts also reviews from people who didn’t buy a product. Some of them might be fake or written in purpose in order to upvote or downvote a product.

A friend told me, if I find paper I like I should wait until I am in funds and buy a stockpile. I followed his advice. I have a few palettes, some paper, some paints and brushes and could probably survive a year without needing to buy anything at all except that I would still need a few more sketchbooks and a bit of yellow paint.

Edmund

I would suggest to focus on using all these art materials before buying more. That is the only way to gain the needed experience in order to be able to know better what are your true needs.
You don’t need more sketchbooks, trust me on this. You need to fill completely with sketches those that you already have.

https://www.marialenasarris.com/

[Neeman]

…A friend told me, if I find paper I like I should wait until I am in funds and buy a stockpile…

Edmund

Stockpiling works when you can compare thru using different materials and you know this one is the one you want and works for you
Remember your style develops so will you need in material
So stockpiling fixes you into a material that might no longer serve your needs

I have stockpiled 1/4 sheet 90 lbs HP and Rough, Saunders, Fabriano, and Bockingford
Why?
That is what I carry when I backpack, and I just returned from a painting trip where I used 50 sheets

[edmund ronald]

Stockpiling works when you can compare thru using different materials and you know this one is the one you want and works for you
Remember your style develops so will you need in material
So stockpiling fixes you into a material that might no longer serve your needs

I have stockpiled 1/4 sheet 90 lbs HP and Rough, Saunders, Fabriano, and Bockingford
Why?
That is what I carry when I backpack, and I just returned from a painting trip where I used 50 sheets

You are correct – a friend and I each found ourselves with a stockpile of Monval which we’d outgrown. But owning a few packs of sheets of paper is not exactly a catastrophy, and I find an occasional use for it.

Edmund

My virtual sketchbook, one a day https://www.instagram.com/edmundronald/

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