Austin Gallery
The Journal
Deep-dive buying guides, Austin stories, collector advice, and editorials on the art of living well — 596+ articles, browsable by topic below.
Every article596 posts
6 Best Gessos of 2026 — Canvas & Panel Primers Ranked
Golden for solids and coverage, Liquitex BASICS for volume priming. Six gessos ranked on absorbency, sandability, tooth, and black and clear variants.
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5 Best Screen Printing Kits of 2026 — Ranked
Speedball's photo-emulsion kits print real halftones; stencil kits print flat shapes. Five screen printing kits ranked by what each can actually reproduce.
Austin Weekend Getaways: 6 Trips Locals Actually Take
The best weekend getaways from Austin are Hill Country cabins, Lake Travis lake houses, New Braunfels river trips, Fredericksburg wine country, the Port Aransas coast, and the in-town staycation. Here are all six ranked, with drive times, typical costs, and when each one wins.
5 Best Soft Pastels of 2026 — Artist Grade, Ranked
Rembrandt for structure, Sennelier for the final marks. Five artist-grade soft pastel sets ranked on hardness, pigment load, and half vs full stick value.
5 Best Canvas Panels & Painting Boards of 2026 — Ranked
August 29, 2026 · 5 minOtherHow to Make Money Selling Art Online: The Artist's Guide to Starting a Real Business
July 8, 2026 · 17 minHow-To5 Best Oil Pastels of 2026 — Artist Grade, Ranked
August 29, 2026 · 5 minHow-ToArches vs Fabriano vs Strathmore Watercolor Paper (2026)
August 29, 2026 · 5 minAustinBest Art Supply Stores in Austin: Where Locals Actually Shop (2026)
June 19, 2026 · 9 min
6 Best Brush Pens of 2026 — Lettering, Ink & Colour
Tombow Fudenosuke for lettering, Pentel Pocket Brush for ink drawing, Dual Brush for colour. Six brush pens ranked by tip type and what each is really for.
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7 Best Colored Pencils of 2026 — Wax vs Oil, Ranked
Prismacolor blends, Polychromos sharpens, Luminance lasts. 7 artist-grade colored pencil sets ranked on core type, lightfastness, and price per pencil.
Acrylic vs Glass for Framing Art: Which Glazing Wins?
Acrylic or glass for framing art? An honest comparison of weight, shatter risk, UV protection, glare, and cost — with a verdict for every situation.
5 Best Self-Healing Cutting Mats of 2026 — Ranked
Olfa's 3-ply mats self-heal properly and last years. Five cutting mats ranked on construction, blade wear, warping, and the right size for matting and craft work.
6 Best Polymer Clays of 2026 — Sculpey vs Fimo, Ranked
August 29, 2026 · 6 minHome & LivingCustom Framing Cost in 2026: Real Prices by Size
June 12, 2026 · 5 minHow-ToPrismacolor vs Polychromos 2026: Which Should You Buy?
August 29, 2026 · 4 minHow-ToBest Office Chair Under $200 (2026): 5 Real Picks
August 23, 2026 · 4 minHome & LivingCan You Hang Framed Art in a Bathroom? What Humidity Does
June 12, 2026 · 3 min
Best Router Table 2026: Kreg PRS2100 vs Bosch RA1181
The Kreg PRS2100 (about $299) is the best router table of 2026; Bosch RA1181 (about $199) is the value pick. Benchtop, full-size, lifts, motors compared.
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Best Scanner for Watercolor Paintings (2026)
The Epson V39 II ($120) is the best scanner for watercolor paintings up to letter size; Plustek A320E ($649) for larger sheets. CCD vs CIS, dpi, stitching.
What Is a Giclée Print? Definition, Process & Value
A giclée (zhee-CLAY) is a fine-art inkjet print made with pigment inks on archival paper or canvas — how it's made, how it differs, and what it's worth.
Best Scroll Saw 2026: DeWalt DW788 Wins, 4 Compared
The DeWalt DW788 (about $551) is the best scroll saw of 2026; the WEN 3922 (about $100) is the budget pick. Four saws, blades and a stand compared.
