There have been a few things that I feel better about, as far as the quality of my painting. While this was the year I got determined to spend enough time on something I love to see results, and I know skill and practice are huge, materials are too. Discovering the Moleskine watercolor notebooks was one thing. The paper isn't the best quality, and I prefer Canson Monteval, there's something about a Moleskine that makes me want to paint and to be more free to create.
Switching from Cottman to artist quality paints has been another thing. I've currently limited myself to twelve pans, instead of the multitude of Cottman tubes I have. This has forced me to become more adept at mixing. Besides, I love playing with color.
Switching from Cottman to artist quality paints has been another thing. I've currently limited myself to twelve pans, instead of the multitude of Cottman tubes I have. This has forced me to become more adept at mixing. Besides, I love playing with color.
Finally, after using the top of an old metal paintbox from years ago, it seems there reallly is a difference between metal and plastic for color mixing. Maybe it's my imagination, but the blend seems smoother. I looked at some empty metal paintboxes at various online dealers, but they were usually 23 half pan size. So, I made my own. The large metal one is a Cretacolor opaque box, I just pried the paint out and added my own from tubes. I LOVE it! I know it looks sort of messy, but it works!
The other box I found in a retro candy display at Michael's. The pans are ones from a Cottman pocket set. I had changed the paint in it to artist quality. It's a little deep, but I also have room in the box for water, in a plastic bottle that once held diabetic test strips. very tight fitting top. Also my small travel brush and a paper towel for etc. All of this fits in a small cosmetic case, along with a pocket Moleskine watercolor notebook, a #2b pencil , kneaded eraser and Pitt Artist's pen.
I'm pretty happy with this basic set up, and feel good about using what I had. The Cretacolor box is very sturdy and heavier but not terribly so, than plastic ones. I also have a nice set of opague paint to use with my niece who's 2 and my nephew, who's seven. Katie walked in this morning and immediately demanded to paint. She was slow talking, but what a change, even knows a lot of colors. O'nge is a favorite, so is pupoople.
The little one makes me grin, just to look at it. Fun stuff!
2 comments:
Orange and purple remind me of my childhood obsession with Fanta sodas. Love your boxes! The candy box is a hoot ... handy too.
I know I should be practicing on "real" watercolor paper, and I have Monteval paper, but I agree that there is something about the Moleskine paper that is attractive.
Very inventive and creative
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