take it easel

Look what just arrived, my brand new easel.  I am going to take this as a sign to "take it easy" and paint.
Hope each of you are finding time in your day to take it easy and to do something you love.  I found the easel here.

my ink

 This is my pen & ink of choice.  Sakura micron archival pigma ink comes in a series of nibs or points depending on the thickness of line you desire.  Long ago I used a rapidiograph which I had to fill the ink in the cartridge and quite honestly it was a mess.

 Begin with a spiral bound journal and make it a goal to sketch once a day.  You can search around on line and fine scads of artists and aspiring artists who keep journals and post daily works, be sure and sign and date your work.  Soon you will begin to see your own line and style develop.

fresh set

Nothing like a fresh box of Pelikan paints found here while in Chicago.

A great set for travel.

These are hard to find and I would highly recommend a set if you feel inspired to paint.

My old set has been loved for years.

sharpen up

image Chardin

I must admit that I cannot draw until I sharpen up my pencil. There is something totally wrong about trying to execute any proper line or note without a sharpened tool.

In high school, I took lessons from an art teacher who taught us how to sharpen with a sanding block. First we had to use an exacto-knife to sharpen and then rub the pencil on the block to create a sharp point.

The dustings from the block may be saved to use for shading with a blending stump.

Did you ever stop to think about your passion and how the simplest of tools can drive you to feed your passion to join a sharp-set of sharp-shooters.

style-maniac

What sort of tool has helped you to sharpen up on your creative passion?

Nothing like a new supply of pencils to help me to create and sharpen up.

glitterati

"All that glitters is not gold." proverb

Confetti literally translates to "sweets" as it was originally candy thrown at weddings.

My ten year old would love waking up in the land of glitter.

She can never quite get enough sparkly glitter or rainbow sprinkles on ice cream.

Is it just a girl's thing, but do you love glitter too?

making your mark

Many readers ask me for my recommendation for art supplies for children. Never before has there been such a huge choice of materials available to the artist. Almost all media comes in a range of grades and prices. Spend time in an art supply shop to familiarize yourself with the variety of products and tools. The employees - often artists themselves - are usually knowledgeable about their stock and can guide you to the appropriate tools for you or your budding artist.

Little children always like to start with crayons and these are available on line. I happen to really like these "Stockmar soy crayons." They come in a set which is great for travel.
These blocks are easy for little fingers to grip and are washable. If you have travel plans, these provide a wonderful way to occupy time for your artist to make their mark. Artist's journals or simple pads of paper are a perfect start to a library or a gallery for your little master. Artwork may be simply framed or hung from clips to showcase a grouping.

Keep in mind that most artists make their mark with color. A gift of a journal or sketch pad and colorful crayons make the perfect gift for any age. Creating art or a travel journal can be a wonderful keepsake for years to come. Take time to create a journal and practice making your mark.

suggested art supplies found on-line at amazon