If you’re an artist, I’m sure you’ve noticed the decreasing quality of art supplies over the last few years.  Even before the economy dumped, art supplies were getting worse and now it is just pitiful.  Less and less pigment is being loaded into mediums.  Whether you’re using acrylic, oil, or watercolor it is taking me twice the paint to get the same effect.   Companies are adding too much junk and sicatifs.  The color is drained.  The texture is sticky and there is too much gum, oils and glaze.  It is terrible.  You have to apply multiple layers because the paint is transparent.   If you want to buy a decent paint like Hollander, they charge you an arm and a leg, hundreds of dollars for one tube and it is still not good.  Frankly, I don’t know what to do.  Do we need an art tribunal to bring Grumbacher and Winsor & Newton to court for letting down the artists and the quality of art in general?  I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.  I was lucky enough to inherit some old oils that I am treating like gold right now.  I don’t know what I’m going to do when I run out.