DREAM BIG DREAMS FOR YOUR ART.

DREAM BIG DREAMS FOR YOUR ART.

by | Oct 7, 2023 | Pen and Ink, Watercolor Pens/Inks

I’ve had a thought about my art lately that’s been nagging at me, and I thought I’d drop it in  your head too—and see if it’s just me, or if it helps you to: we need to dream big dreams for our art. Small thinking is getting us nowhere.

Tutorial: Dream BIG dreams for your art

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Dream BIG dreams

I’ve realized recently that I’ve lost my BIG dreams of my youth. I had so much I wanted to accomplish artistically! But I had those dreams while I was doing life – working a job, volunteering, doing regular stuff. I saved those “big” ideas for one day when I’d be able to finally be a full time artist. 

But once that transition happened….I sort of lost it all. I didn’t know how hard it would be to cobble together an income, and how much of my time would get eaten up by minutia. (You know, that stuff that brings in the bacon!) 

Perhaps I “trained” myself to just make a lot of quick projects because I spent so many years in crafting where a few hours on anything was more than enough. And I never returned to those huge ideas I had when I was young. I wish they were at the tip of my mind and inspiring to get “back” to, but I’m a different person now—and I’ll be looking for my own big dreams for the artist I am now.

Don’t settle.

Don’t settle for what small dreams are right in front of you. And beware of all that “life” stuff that’s going to try to get in the way. The small stuff is always trying to get attention…maybe simply because it’s small stuff! See if you can find the big stuff out in the distance waiting for you.

Look out over the horizon: what’s out there? What might you need to get there? Training? Resources? Time? What baby step can you take right away that will move you even a few feet closer?

A little about this piece

This imaginary hot air balloon sports its own sail (lots of my big dreams happened when I was sailing on SF Bay) and wings….a crow’s nest with an umbrella to keep foul weather at bay while I watch out for those big ideas on the horizon. A weather vane is atop the balloon to keep me headed in the right direction. Signage reminds me to indulge in my fantasy – no practicality, just look for big ideas which won’t always make ssnse!

It’s created on terrible Strathmore 400 Cold press – it turns out terrible for watercolor, and even fought the Faber Castell Watercolor Markers (some of the permanent ink even lifted up when using the marker on it! gah!) so I’m glad I opted to make it a primarily pen and ink piece. And am glad I only had one sheet of this stuff in the studio.

Dream Big Hot Air Balloon

Created to inspire artists to dream BIG dreams for their art! Print it out and hang it up as is, or add some color. Use it for art projects like cards or journal pages, or frame and display!

 $5.00

SHOP

What’s your BIG dream?

Don’t worry if you don’t know it yet — some people try to make one up just to say they have a dream, and I think we’re safer if we just stay on the lookout and let it reveal itself. But if you’ve got one, lay it on me!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  1. TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen M
  2. Faber Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Markers • Blick • AMZ
  3. Winsor Newton Kolinsky Sable Series 7 Round #8 
  4. Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Round 4 

Subscribe to receive blog posts by email:

Creating soft textures in pen and ink?!?!

Creating soft textures in pen and ink?!?!

by | Oct 3, 2023 | Pen and Ink

Hey it’s Inktober – and that means time to get out the pen and ink! My Eco pen by TWSBI and a sheet of green paper (poor choice, it’s so hard to photograph!) and a few days worth of work….and I’ve got a kitten going for a walk!

This was inspired by my raccoon (below) for day one of Inktober; the drawing paper did some things I wasn’t fully expecting, and I decided to try it on some Mi Teintes paper and see if the same things happened.

Tutorial: Creating soft textures in pen and ink?!?!

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Main image

Whatever you want for your focal point, make sure the blacks are black – I used slower strokes and made sure there was plenty of contrast – blackest blacks next to whitest whites (or greens!). That’ll ensure the rest of the drawing doesn’t take away from your main image.

Foreground

Elements in the foreground of this scene were leaves – and had to be crisply drawn and of a good size, then get smaller in the midground until they ‘fuzzed out’ in the distance. I drew them with stippling to make the leaves different than the focal image.

Background

This was the biggest surprise – could crosshatching or tiling work? The first half had me skeptical, but when I came back into the studio the next morning with fresh eyes, I could see it working! It took far more time for the background than the rest of the drawing; while that could seem crazy, it also shows what can happen for the main image if we spend time creating a background that really highlights the foreground!

Variety

The background needed a little something….not anything that’ll detract from the kitten, but something so that it’s not just the same across the whole scene. That’s when the little weeds came in – and I kept knocking them back with light layers of cross hatching so they weren’t as bright as the kitten’s highlights, except for one or two little pieces catching some light.

That paper!

While it’s an interesting paper to draw on, it’s horrendous to photograph! But I do love how this came out, minus a little more blending work I need to do on the background trees. 

Have you ever tried pen and ink on colored paper?

What did you find was different? Did you mix it with another medium? I considered some white pen or pencil but didn’t want to ruin what I had going on here.

I think this will be a nice piece to take to a couple art fairs I’ll be selling at in the next couple months. Who doesn’t love cats, right? Then I don’t have to worry about selling it on my site and the buyer being bummed at the green not matching their living room. 🙂 

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  1. TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen EF
  2. Canson Mi Teintes Light Green 
  3. Platinum Carbon Fountain Pen Ink

Subscribe to receive blog posts by email:

What should you use practice papers for?

What should you use practice papers for?

by | Jun 20, 2023 | Pen and Ink, Watercolor

Whether watercolor papers or those appropriate for other mediums – what should you do with “terrible” ones designated as “practice-only”?

We all make mistakes when buying art supplies. I do that all the time, since I’m always curious if there’s something better out there, same quality but cheaper, or just something that’ll shake things up in the studio. That means I have a lot of stuff around here that doesn’t see the light of day much. What do you do with all that stuff?

Tutorial: What should you use practice papers for?

A few ideas in the video, with more detail written out below!

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Those awful papers

No paper in and of itself is necessarily awful. No art supply, for that matter. I’ve seen artists make amazing things with crayons and sharpies and cardboard! But lots of art supplies are not quite what we hoped when buying them. There’s a sweet spot for someone somewhere for that item, but maybe not us. So we call it “practice paper.”

But when using papers we don’t like, there’s a few risks:

The paper stays on the shelf or in the drawer. Because who wants to actively go grab a known-to-be-terrible paper when you’ve got limited studio time? That makes zero use of the money spent on the art supplies.

The paper is given to kiddos. While it encourages them in their art (and I do give lots of things to kids!) it doesn’t make use of your investment in the supplies. But if it’s a choice between sitting unused or getting used by a child – give it away!

The paper teaches you bad habits. That’s the biggest risk of all. Better not to use it than learn bad things! Let’s unpack that a bit.

 

Bad habits you learn 

Depending on how much of the paper you have, you may learn tricks to adapt to it: to change brushstrokes, alter the amount of pigment, the style of drawing or painting. Even when “just” practicing, we want to make something that looks good, and it’ll often take extra steps to get that to work.

But when you shift how you create, you’re embedding those habits in your brain and in your hand. After all, we practice SO that we can train our brain and hand, right? If we spend time practicing alternative techniques, we’re planting those in our subconscious. When we get back to “good” paper again, we’ll need to potentially unlearn those things with the new materials.

So what SHOULD we practice on these papers, or would it be better to give them away?

Practice these on awful papers

Focus on things that aren’t dependent on paper quality.

Color ideas. Juxtapose two or three colors you’ve never used before and see what they look like together. Ignore any “technique” things that might come up (ie if the way they blend is crucial, set that aside in your assessment.)

Pigment. Practice how much pigment to water is in a water media ratio – especially if you struggle with making paint thick enough or thin enough. Getting the “feel” for how loaded your brush should be to get strong color is very valuable even with bad papers. Or practice applying whatever pigments you’re using in whatever medium – with varying quantities of each color. 

Foundations. Use bad papers to work out the basics of shading for an upcoming project, or sketch out ideas for alternate layouts. Try creating your subject in a quick sketch mode in various perspectives. 

Line. Making marks is never a bad thing to practice. Use your brushes, markers, pencils, and pens to practice making thin lines, thick lines, varying lines. Practice creating strokes with a brush pen or marker that trail off to a point rather than end up chunky. Get your hand used to making motions that it needs to learn.   If you’re drawing on a terrible paper, there’s even less pressure to do “well”.  

Design. While doing any of the above, turn it into a “pattern” — then if your practice paper looks decent you can always chop it up to make bookmarks, cards, or gift wrap!

 

Selling a few sketches

I had 2 requests messaged to me for the paintings to be made available for purchase, so they’re over on my fine art website now – inexpensive, too! Tap on a photo to enlarge or text links below each to shop.

Abstraction

Leaf sketch

Desert sketch

Big Sky sketch

Bee and flower sketch

Waterfall sketch

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  1. Daniel Smith paints:
    1. New Gamboge
    2. Moonglow
  2. Brush:
    1. Da Vinci Mottler Flat Wash 
  3. Paper:
  4. Fluid Cold Press 8×8 Block, 300lb 
  5. Pen and ink:
    1. TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen M
    2. Platinum Carbon Fountain Pen Ink

Subscribe to receive blog posts by email:

Art vlog: How I refilled my empty creative tank

Art vlog: How I refilled my empty creative tank

by | Feb 21, 2023 | Pen and Ink, Vlogs & Misc

There are many ways to experience an empty creative tank – sometimes it’s just “I have no ideas.” Or “I don’t have the skills to create what’s in my head.” Any thoughts that paralyze you can result in a big blank page in front of you without any hope of that changing.

I experienced that empty creative hole inside me after last week’s epic alcohol marker series and a new class….and boy oh boy did that hit hard! I had to find my way out, and I think last night, I actually did.

Tutorial: How I refilled my creative tank

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Recreate old art

Find a piece of art you made a while back, whether a physical one or a digital photo of it. Remake it now with your current skill level. It’s a great way to visibly see what your growth has been! This is the original painting:

Change up the medium

You can use a current favorite; a few months ago I tried this in watercolor and made it a winter scene:

But last night, late in the studio when all was quiet, I got out a medium I haven’t used in a while…a ballpoint pen! It’s a super fine point so gives a thin line for excellent detail. This is in a sketchbook I picked up in an airport, by the way. Not even a brand name on it. Draw on anything! When it comes to JUST MAKING, that’s the idea. Sit down and do it.

More on Artventure

I have more of a personal post at Artventure right now, so I recommend having a read over there if you need a little encouragement when you’re stuck. The community there is growing and thriving, and they’re the ones that pulled me out of my hole last night. I’m so grateful for them!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  1. Uniball Signo Gel Pen .28 
  2. Sketchbook – a no name brand I picked up at an airport! Draw. On. Anything.

Subscribe to receive blog posts by email:

How to create a one-line musical drawing (Miles Davis-inspired part 2)

How to create a one-line musical drawing (Miles Davis-inspired part 2)

by | Feb 10, 2023 | Pen and Ink

Today’s weekend tutorial will teach you how to create a one-line musical drawing! My smokin hot pen is back for a tutorial with a technique that EVERYONE can create – and  you’ll find it very relaxing, I hope!

 

This post is going live a day early – to give you a heads up in case you’d like to join me for the Premiere of this video on YouTube! We can chat about pen and ink, if you have questions this is an opportunity to get them answered right away. 

The link below is NOT playable until after the video is live, but you can click here to go RSVP and have YT remind you with a notification.

You can choose your own soundtrack of course, but since it’s #blackhistorymonth and I drew Miles Davis earlier this week, I’ve picked Round Midnight recorded in 1955 at Newport Jazz. He played with some of the all stars of the day:  Thelonious Monk, who wrote the song, along with Connie Kay and Percy Heath, Zoot Sims, and Gerry Mulligan.

Davis was received to great acclaim — but his response was typical: “What are they talking about? I just played the way I always play.” He sounds like someone I’d get along with quite well! Just do what you do, huh! 

 

Restless genius … Miles Davis in 1955. Photograph: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo

Tutorial: How to create a one-line musical drawing

Many of you have asked HOW to loosen up your doodling. This is a great way to do it!

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Tips to loosen up and listen

It may help to listen through the music once to start with; just sit back, close your eyes, and see if anything “comes” to you for a line quality or a style. A staccato piece may be more geometric, and you’ll need to be prepared to move with the music; but a gentle jazz piece like the one I chose has soaring notes that lend themselves to soaring lines.

Use a pen and paper with good flow – a fountain pen with something smooth like marker paper is perfect. 

Take turns in your mind listening to the melody, an underlying bass, maybe an interesting bit of drums. Let yourself float between them.

I find that simply covering the whole page with lines can be dissatisfying as a finished work, but might be where you end up too, and that’s ok! Use a sketchbook so there’s less pressure either way.

The kinds of flowing lines I love to make lend themselves to traveling along a wide curved shape so that’s where many of my doodles like this have gone. I’ll back over to an area already drawn and add bits to it, join sections….but always moving. Keep the pen going.

Give it a try!

This is an exercise perfect for a short break from something else. Put a song on your headphones while the family watches tv, or as you sit in the doctor’s waiting room or an airplane terminal. Learning to loosen up and just go with the flow without THINKING is a great way to chill!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  1. Alcohol marker sketchbook 
  2. Visconti Mirage fountain pen 
  3. Platinum Carbon Fountain Pen Ink

Subscribe to receive blog posts by email:

How to enlarge a sketch or photo (Miles Davis-inspired part 1)

How to enlarge a sketch or photo (Miles Davis-inspired part 1)

by | Feb 7, 2023 | Pen and Ink

Have you ever wondered how to enlarge a sketch or photo without having a projector? Well there’s a simple technique artists have used for centuries. Low tech and do-able! 

In today’s tutorial I’ll show  you a simple way to do it – with the help of a website that I wish was around when I was in college! Plus the large piece today is also in honor of the great Miles Davis for #blackhistorymonth .

 

 

A SPECIAL REQUEST WHILE WATCHING THIS VIDEO: Open a new browser tab on your computer and open THIS link. If on a smart device, go grab another device to open the link. It’s a Miles Davis album, and it’s a great backdrop for my video!

Tutorial: How to enlarge a sketch or photo

In the first portion of the video, I’ll demo a sketchbook-sized sample of freehand and grid method enlargement; then a little look at how I used the technique for a large art piece.

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Step by step

The freehand method is to draw a loose “box” around the object, divide it into a few sections that make sense, no measuring – but use those blocks to sketch in shapes. It’s similar to what many artists do in breaking objects down into shapes – loose and blocky, then build in detail.

For the grid method, the grids need to have the same number of blocks. NOT measurements that “match” in an easy mathematical way. 

  1. Starting with the photo reference, upload it to Add a Grid, and create the grid atop the reference.
  2. Change the color to black (000) or white (fff) depending on the colors in the photo.
  3. Change the thickness of the lines as desired.
  4. Change the number of squares to one that’ll be replicated in the larger piece.

OR

  1. Start with the finished piece and draw a grid on it. Whatever the number of blocks (evenly spaced both horizontally and vertical), change the grid to match that number of blocks.

THEN

  1. To transfer the drawing, label one side with numbers, one with letters, on both the reference and drawing. (I write it on the tape).
  2. You can approach it square by square, looking at what lines and shapes appear in that square only, and move methodically across the page.
  3. OR you can approach it by elements, as I did. Look for the beginning and ending of a line, or the top/bottom/left/right of a shape. 
  4. Draw in as much detail as needed, then ink/color as desired.

Both of these were colored with Sketchmarkers.

Miles Davis Portrait

This large piece took about three 12-hour days. Or maybe more, it sure felt like it! Lots of stippling, some line work, and thankfully a big old brush for the black areas—although the paper didn’t like the wet ink much!

It’s….large!

I’m determined to get this large paper used up – pads and pads of 19″ x 24″ bristol that I hoarded since college! Some pads got yellowed so they’ll be paper to keep tables or counters clean when I do messy things, and some are just a little warpy after all these years. But I’m determined to USE it!

My recommendation: try this now.

Go make a tiny photo into a small sketch – and use the website to add a grid. Leave your grid drawn in the sketchbook, and tape that picture in it. Some day you’ll thank me for telling you to do this, making notes, writing down the title of my video, so you can go find it again if you need it someday!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

Subscribe to receive blog posts by email: