Sketchbook keeping on vacation/holiday is one of my favorite activities. This morning I woke up and sketched a corner of the living room on our Parisian apartment. Memories of this trip kept forever in a precious book.
Favorite Things: Silver Black Velvet Brushes
Vegans look away! A few months ago I discovered the joy that is painting with a squirrel mop. They can be expensive but the Harmony brand is great and so affordable it doesn't need to last as long as Da Vinci or Isabey. What I dislike about squirrel is the fragility of the hairs and they lack of snap. On a whim I picked up a size six Silver Black Velvet brush not knowing what to expect from a squirrel synthetic combination. It got great reviews and was on sale at a great price. Love at first stroke. It keeps the best point of any brush I own, feels great in my hand and is more rugged than a pure squirrel hair brush. I now have added a size 10 round with a few more shapes heading my way. I can get a full set of brushes for the price of a single Kolinsky brush!
And they now make travel brushes! I'm in trouble!
Collector
My paint pallet, brushes, ink and pen collection has exploded recently. They bring me joy to use and I do indeed use them. Experimenting with a new color or brush is always fun, but can I master them if I am constantly trying something new? Paint more.
Rainy Days
Drinking tea while listening to the wind and rain while painting in my cozy studio. Sunshine is great but sometimes I need the excuse to stay in and work indoors. Loving this stormy weather.
Learning to paint one sketchbook page at a time.
Yesterday I met with fellow buried creative that wants to start a sketchbook habit. I want to start a running habit so we are hoping to trade some positive habits that will benefit both of us. We started out sketching together at the pond and then stashed our stuff in her car and jogged around the pond together. I didn't burst into flames while running and have plans to do it again. She has plans to keep sketching. I'm still very much a beginner when it comes with drawing and painting on a regular basis. I did a little oil and acrylic painting in high school and college but never watercolor. As soon as I discovered printmaking painting was over for me. I was not a painter. Now years later I am finding that watercolor and drawing works well with printing. Once a week (or month in the summer months) I get to print and the rest of the time I draw and use watercolors. Six months ago I didn't draw much. Certainly not daily! Draw more. Paint more. Two surefire tricks to improve your skills. Start with a few pens and a cheap sketchbook. Maybe add some watercolors to that to see if you like them for splashes of color. Make an Altoid watercolor tin like mine.
My basic supplies.