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When Your Pen Leaks Make It a Feature
Here’s a sketch from 2018 when I was doing some experiments to find my favorite toned paper for mixed media. I was testing a bunch of different chipboards. They soak up watercolor and gouache but you can use acrylic markers on them. Most I found were too expensive (when you locate them and pay postage) […]
Upgrading Your Paper Choices for Sketchbooks, Visual Journals, and Art
To get the best results when sketching and painting it makes sense to use the best quality materials that you can afford. Then upgrade those materials as your budget allows. Recently a blog reader wrote in saying that she had upgraded her art supplies to artist level watercolors (mostly Daniel Smith), purchased some quality […]
Another Watercolor Sketch in an Arteza Watercolor Book
I’m still working my way through an Arteza Watercolor book. It’s 8.3 x 11.7 inches. I wrote a review of this journal and paper in a ninepart series (I think it was only nine). You can enter the words “Arteza Watercolor Book” in my blog’s search engine and all the posts will […]
Bookbinding: Registration closes August 2 for Simple Round Back Spine Class
Registration for “The Simple Round Back Spine” online bookbinding class closes August 2, 2019. Class begins on August 3, 2019 with all lessons dropping at once so that students can work at their own pace during the month. I’ll be available to answer your questions. (I recommend that students aim to make two books during […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 9
Doing a Tape Test in the Arteza Watercolor Book I use Nichiban Artist’s tape 99.9 percent of the time when I want to tape something. It works well on my favorite papers—it’s one of the reasons those papers are my favorite papers, I’ve found a tape that works with them. But many watercolorists like to […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 8
Again I didn’t write anything on this journal page, so it’s a bit weird for “In Context” but it’s one more in my series of mini review comments on the Arteza Watercolor Book. What I enjoyed on this spread was the manner in which I could get some delicate wash techniques. I was using a […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 7
This is me using up left over watercolor paint and working opaquely (for the most part) in the Arteza Watercolor Book. This paper is fine for working opaquely with either watercolor or gouache. I find the paper is a bit draggy when working opaquely, especially with my watercolor flats. I find myself wishing I’d chosen […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 5
On this page of my Arteza Watercolor Book I was testing fountain pens—using my Sailor Fude Fountain pen with Platinum Carbon Black ink. The pen moves well on the slightly textured paper. The ink settles quickly and doesn’t bleed when you add your washes. (I go in pretty quickly with my washes so I […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 4
Since there is no writing on this page in my Arteza Watercolor Book—direct brush painting with watercolor. I used a 5/8 inch flat wash brush and also a size 10 watercolor round for some of this. I should have worked a little harder to make enough wash for the background to not […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 3
Here’s a page from the large Arteza Watercolor Book I’m reviewing. Nothing written on this page, so I’ll just spell it out. I started with direct brush ink wash, but wanted more, so continued with watercolor (with some white gouache added to some of the colors). Now you can’t see any of the ink wash. […]