Recently, I've been looking at various Graphic Drawing Tablets online so that I can explore new ways of making art.
Many of the tablets out there are quite pricey. Then, I found out about the Monoprice Graphics Tablet - 10" x 6.25." The latter tablet sells for $49.60. That's a bargain when you compare it to graphic tablets that go for a couple of hundred dollars or more.
There seems to be a lot of good buzz about the Monoprice Tablet. Check out their site for more information.
When I'm traveling, or sketching on the go, I used to pack my pens and pencils in a generic pencil pouch. Sometimes, I even tossed my pencils and pens in a ziplock storage bag. Either way, I was always digging around into the bag, or pouch, to find the right implement. In the storage bag, the pens would become soiled from my graphite pencils.
Well, I recently purchased the Nomadic Triple Pouch Pen Case (in red) from Tokyo Pen Shop and I am thrilled with their product. The cost is good too - only $10.50. The Japanese folks really make smart products. Not only can I separate my pens and pencils in my pen case, but I also don't have to hunt for the needed tool.
What Japanese products do you like?
I periodically like to check in with The Empty Easel site. I always find inspiring articles with practical advice, ideas, tips, and tutorials for creating and selling art.
Today, I found an article on How to Make a Tortillon (blending stick) written by Kim "Gordie" Carver. She includes template instructions. At first I thought, "Why make a Tortillon when I can just as easily purchase one?" But then I read how Kim uses her blending sticks.
Here is her explanation in her own words: "I use Prismacolor Pencils a lot. The colors are vibrant, and they are beautifully transparent when I use a Tortillon to blend them, allowing the colors below them to show through."
Now, to me, that was a new use for a Tortillon. I had always used these blending sticks for shading when I did pencil sketches. All of a sudden the Tortillon appeared to be a more versatile tool than I realized. Check out Kim's Tortillon Tutorial and then try making one for yourself.
Are there other artist tools that you use for alternate purposes?
I received my first order from JetPens and what customers say about them is true. Delivery is fast. They take great care in packing their orders. And the product quality is excellent. I love my new purchases.
As you can see, I seem to be in a Blue Phase - and all of the pen/pencil shades of blue that I purchased are lovely. Here's what I ordered:
When I placed my last online order with Jerry's Artarama, I looked in the new product section and saw this Vanish 4-in-1 Artist Eraser. I always (like to have an excuse) to buy new art supplies so I ordered one eraser. I wasn't expecting much.
Wow - was I surprised. I love this eraser and I wish I had ordered more than one. I had never been happy with any erasers that I bought in the past. But Vanish is my new Go To eraser. Here's part of the product description:
"The Vanish 4-in-1 Eraser has a unique, flexible composition that can erase anything from graphite to charcoal, colored pencil to pastels! Strong enough to erase sharp graphite lines from hard papers, but gentle enough to remove charcoal strokes from soft papers, the Vanish Eraser not only cleans the paper, it cleans up after itself! Instead of creating piles of crumbs for every line erased, the Vanish rolls with the stroke, leaving only a nice clean strip at the end."
Have you purchased this eraser? What do you think of it?
Today, the FedEx guy delivered a wonderful surprise. In the recent ArtistsNetwork Holiday Contest, I won an Edgmon Easel Box. It can be used for both Field and Studio use. The Easel Box was designed by Artist and Workshop Teacher, Susan Edgmon. You view Susan's award-winning paintings at SusanEdgmon.
As you can see by the picture, the Easel Box is a beautiful piece of equipment. The Boxes are handcrafted and manufactured in NorthWest Arkansas. They are compact and lightweight, only 7.4 lbs. Setup takes less than two minutes. So, this product is a convenient traveling companion. You can see a video demonstration of the Easel Box here.
I can't wait to fill my Easel Box with tubes of watercolor paint - and to start creating.
I wanted to create some fabric transfers using Citra Solv. I went to the company's site - and it looked like four stores in my area carried the product. After some driving, and many phone calls, I found out that none of the listed stores actually had the product. I don't live near a big city.
The local store owners weren't even familiar with Citra Solv. Luckily, Jerry's Artarama (online site) has the product - and at a good price ($9.79 for 16 oz.). However, shipping is around $8.00. The good news is: Citra Solv will soon be shipped to my home. Note: The product is considered flammable or hazardous so it is not available for rush or air service.
On the instructables site, there's an excellent tutorial on Fabric Printing with Citra Solv. I can't wait to try it.
Among a million other artistic endeavors, I've been wanting to try soldering jewelry for a long time now.
I recently saw this soldering tool kit, in Michaels, for $16.00. It might be a good kit to experiment with just to see if I'm really interested in soldering.
Here's the product description: "Soldering iron heats to 950 degrees Fahrenheit. Includes Cone Point, Square Point, 10ft lead-free solder with rosin core, 10ft adhesive back copper foil tape, stand, and instructions. Designed especially for women's hands, Non-slip comfort grip. Works with replacement tips that have 8-32 threads."
YAY! My D. Blumchen & Company order arrived this afternoon. For the past year, I have been experimenting with creating vintage and spun cotton ornaments. I am very pleased with the quality of the supplies that I received today.
Hopefully, I will soon be posting some of these ornaments on my blog. If you love vintage, and enjoy creating, Blumchen offers the most tempting eye candy. Why not check them out. (The slight cloudiness, at the bottom of the picture, comes from the plastic bags.)
I just purchased these Scrubber Brushes, online, from Dick Blick. They are used in watercolor painting to correct mistakes.
According to the Dick Blick site, you simply re-wet the area you want corrected, wait a few seconds, then scrub the paper with the brush, blot and rework. I purchased the set of three, in sizes 2, 6 and 12.
If you have used these brushes, let me know what you think of them. I can't wait to try them out.
It may have been the July 4th weekend (with less antique vendors) - or the hot weather - but I didn't find any vintage items, at the Raleigh Flea Market, that caught my attention.
However, we also visited The Scrap Exchange in Durham and I found some lovely decorative paper. The black & white paper is 24 1/2" x 36." I should have purchased more of it. I think the paper will make a nice background for a collage.
I enjoyed hunting through The Scrap Exchange which is a nonprofit, creative reuse center. Their "mission is to promote creativity, environmental awareness and community through reuse." The Center receives new material daily and sells it at 50-75% off their original retail price.
What can you find there? Depending on the day of the week, anything from ceramic tiles to decorative paper, matte board, fabric, buttons, glass beakers, test tubes - and much, much more.
They also have an Artists' Marketplace, featuring items from local craftspeople and artists who use reclaimed materials in their work. If you live too far away from the Center, you can purchase items online.
Check out their site for more interesting information about all of their activities.
If you're a mixed-media artist, now is the time to stock up on those supplies that can add that extra bling to your future projects. During the Holiday season you can find items, such as sparkling stars, that may not be available during the year. And the best part is these supplies are on sale right now.
Check out Craft, Department, and Discount stores. Pay a visit to Book, Stationery and Dollar stores too. Here are some of the supplies I recently picked up.
I recently placed an order with Retro Cafe' Art Gallery. The vendor caught my attention because of the unique supplies that they offer.
I can't wait to begin working with the Stencils and Tim Holtz Concerto Mask. I really needed (yes, I know - a created need) the Inchie 30-Pocket Binder Page. I plan to use the Clear Acrylic Inchies to make charms. And the Collage Sheet came just in time for the holiday season!
This was my first order from Kristin and I am very happy with my new supplies. Everything was nicely packaged and my order arrived so quickly. Check out her shop.
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