Pastels and Watercolors (and a few other art media)

[snowbear]

Nice haul!!! it doesn’t look like you got any, but just for future reference stay away from the Blick brand watercolor paper. We used it in class a couple of weeks ago and it was horrible.

Good to know. I have a pad but the cat tossed a hairball on it so the bottom needs to be trimmed off.. We'll see what the mixed media paper is like.

 

[SquarePeg]

Good to know. I have a pad but the cat tossed a hairball on it so the bottom needs to be trimmed off.. We'll see what the mixed media paper is like.

I really like the Fabriano student grade paper for practice and experimenting. It’s 25% cotton. Holds water well.

 

[CherylL]

Nice. Now I'm going to have to get a tube and try it. Lazy lobster may have some; they gave me all their Colo-aid paper, though I doubt I'll use it.


I got a care package from Blick, this week: seven sketch pads, a mixed-media pad, fluid acrylics, acrylic airbrush medium (think thinner) and some tech pens. I'll add on to the fluids once I see how these work together and with the tube paints.

View attachment 285813
The sketch pads are for paper testing. There are two 60 pound papers (the Fabriano 1264 and the brown Strathmore 400 series) and fice 50 pound papers (the two Cansons, the white Strathmore 200 series, the yellow Strathmore 300 series and the Faber-Castell). I want to do similar works in each one for comparisons. The Mixed media is for practice with the airbrush and markers.

That should keep you busy!

I started on dollar store paper then moved to Canson. Now I use the Arches 100% cotton and it does make a difference. I cut the paper into 4 pieces.

 

[snowbear]

That should keep you busy!

I started on dollar store paper then moved to Canson. Now I use the Arches 100% cotton and it does make a difference. I cut the paper into 4 pieces.

When I was a little bear, my father used to bring home blank sheets of the old green bar computer paper which I would draw on.

 

[terri]

That should keep you busy!

I started on dollar store paper then moved to Canson. Now I use the Arches 100% cotton and it does make a difference. I cut the paper into 4 pieces.

Arches paper is fantastic. A bit pricey, but you can still buy the large sheets from the paper drawers at Blick, and cut them down as you like. Beautiful stuff.

 

[SquarePeg]

Michaels has occasional sales on Arches paper. Stock up then. But keep in mind old watercolor paper can cause issues. The sizing can break down which can make the water absorption patchy.

 

[CherylL]

Michaels has occasional sales on Arches paper. Stock up then. But keep in mind old watercolor paper can cause issues. The sizing can break down which can make the water absorption patchy.

Last time I used a coupon. Printed two and had husband check out separately to buy a brush for me. Good to know on the shelf life of the paper.

 

[CherylL]

When I was a little bear, my father used to bring home blank sheets of the old green bar computer paper which I would draw on.

My grandfather was a pressman at a newspaper and would give me blank newspaper pages.

 

[terri]

My grandfather was a pressman at a newspaper and would give me blank newspaper pages.

It's funny how they package and sell "newsprint" paper now. I have a pack - it's actually not bad for trying things on, but it is thin and has a distinctive grayish tone that can be off-putting for trying colors. That said, I practiced a LOT with it when I first got my Gelli plate. Very useful to have around.

 

[snowbear]

Newsprint is good for practicing with (vine) charcoal, and for wrapping things.

 

[SquarePeg]

Latest painting that I’ve been working on in my landscape class. From a photo I took on the Charles River Esplanade in Boston a few years ago. Went with a bit of a softer color palette. I’m happy with the way it turned out, especially the reflections, so I probably won’t make any changes but always open to suggestions for improvement! Acrylics on canvas.

 

[snowbear]

Looks good just as it is

 

[terri]

Really nice job with the bridge - that arch would have driven me nuts.

What a beautiful palette. I love the greens with those orangey reds. Be happy with this one!

 

[SquarePeg]

Looks good just as it is

Thank you.

Really nice job with the bridge - that arch would have driven me nuts.

What a beautiful palette. I love the greens with those orangey reds. Be happy with this one!

Thanks! I sketched the bridge with a soft pastel first which helped because it took me 3 or 4 tries to get it the way I wanted.

 

[terri]

Thank you.


Thanks! I sketched the bridge with a soft pastel first which helped because it took me 3 or 4 tries to get it the way I wanted.

Exactly. I always sketch out first. Once you're happy with the sketch the painting is the fun part. Heck, even Picasso reached for a piece of charcoal.