Wow. I wish I could roll around in that wealth of artistic splendor. Figuratively speaking.
Since you were so nice to peak my interest to peeking - though I guess that’s pique isn’t it? - I thought I’d share a couple more goodies I garnered from the world of art at large. Emphasis on large, you’ll see. First are these hors d’oeurves. A few tubes of Master’s Touch Premium Watercolor from Hobby Lobby, which I was brave enough to get after their acrylics proved so good. Indigo which I assume is within spitting of Indanthrene, Indian Red and Chinese Chartreuse - I mean White. Lord am I punch drunk after waking from a nap. They’re large for watercolors at 21ml, and $7 US which for good watercolors are a steal. Woops, and a Black Friday price of half that, good through tonight! But they have deals every month or so. Beneath is a nice white plastic watercolor pan, which I intend to put to good use soon.
Next are some treats which FedEx was mean and lost track of till yesterday when it showed up on the truck for delivery. I had a feeling that the Wednesday delivery from Blick was ridonkulous.
As you can see, this is a set of Caran d’Ache from Geneve, Suisserland. These are water soluble pastels in 84 colors, so lots of colors. A lot of watercolor artists have been gushing about them, so I intend to gush myself soon.
And finally, I trotted home last night from Hobby Lobby with an, ahem, tidy little canvas for a small study.
If you can’t quite make it out, it’s 36x48", one of the… upper medium sizes. It barely fit in the back seat of my car! I decided one day I would do a painting of something like a B-52, or some grand landscape or something. Something to challenge me, just not to the point of GRAH!!
I’m still writing away on another… tidy little chapter. So when I’m done, it will tidy everyone over till the serious stuff starts up next time. And then comes arts! And music if I can stand it.
Yes! I still have about twenty cardboard storage boxes that I haven’t unpacked from my last move over twenty years ago! I’m gradually moving those into plastic storage bins and what I don’t move to the Studio can reside in the crawlspace.
Another nice haul. Looks like you are getting ready to paint like a gathering storm!
I love my Caran d’Ache crayons. I use them in the studio as part of my “Getting to Know You…” stage of the painting process – the watercolour thumbnail sketch. That usually comes after making a few graphite and notan thumbnails.Though when outside sketching, I take along my tiny set of Winsor Newtons:
When closed, the half-pan holder measures two and a half by five inches and has a thumb loop on the bottom.
You probably recognise the water brushes in the pack on the right; synthetic brush hairs and filled with distilled water…
On the top under the elastic from left to right are a rubber-tipped stylus with both a round end and a triangular tip --great for scoring, laying down masking fluid, and scraping; a one-inch Raphael soft flat brush for laying down lots of water to get started; a Robert Simmons Sapphire pointed round brush (part synthetic, part sable; and finally, a synthetic bright, also soft.
What is missing in the photo is my small plastic bottle of distilled water, and my 8.5x5.5-inch wire-bound watercolour sketchbook. That kit lives in my knapsack, inside a large zip-loc bag so that whenever I leave the house, it is always with me.
The photo below is a segment from my fantasy “Winged Wyrm” I painted with this kit on a roughly 3x9-inch Arches watercolour block. I keep thinking it would make a very cool Wall Painting in a kid’s room or on a schoolyard wall --a kind of Guardian Dragon.
I was disappointed not to see it - yet. Of course I’m disappointed myself that three paintings started for me, three unfinished that I can’t see yet either. Wait, make that four as I have a landscape from 2011 barely started, with those marvelous water oils. I think it’s safe to say it’s cured by now…
I’m still writing as of yet, and dreading some real life stuff to deal with. Mostly an annoyance, but they vex me. I feel like I’m in a Bill Murphy movie. But after the chapter, I prooomisssed myself some artistic creative time with arts and musicals. If I can just woodshed myself into doing them all… oy.
I am thinking of Billy Crystal in Throw Momma from the Train. After he spends the entire movie with writer’s block over the opening lines to his new book, the woman he has come to hate looks up an delivers the very opening he has been looking for. Best part of the whole movie. He snaps and tries to commit the very murder he has been trying to avoid.
Ann Ramsey delivered an excellent performance. One of my all-time favorites.
That was one of Billy’s funnier movies! I remember it… barely. Just a scene here and there, but they were classic.
For the record, “Bill Murphy” is a stand-in for Bill Murray in my fic, as it takes place in a future down the road from our time. And it’s about time to get Nijol in some more hot water… bubble boil…
Very nice. I’ll have to return the favor - and see how to protect those Caran d’Aches and pencils. Hopefully waxing will work, but I have to check on that from online authorities…
I did not create these but I did take the Roger Tory Peterson prints to the girl who made them. She does paper tole. It reminded me of a pic my grandma gave me when I was very young. They hang in my bedroom and I love them. The girl who made them said she did not consider herself an artist. I told her I disagreed.
Just wanted to share them.
Speaking of Pâté, have any of you ever used the original Indian Yellow pigment (also known as Genuine Indian Yellow)?
Here is an intriguing essay from Golden Artists Colors:
It seems strange that the pigment originated (?) in India, where I believe cows are sacred?
Ithink that’s what they had in mind (even if it was also a sort of trigger) and we probably all thought of Jarre when trying to play with it Wow, I just realise he created the laser harp 40 years ago now…
Now ,when i have time and ideas, I play with a Mashine (mk3) and the Komplete Kontrol keyboard.
And then comes arts! And music if I can stand it.
I still have about twenty cardboard storage boxes that I haven’t unpacked from my last move over twenty years ago! I’m gradually moving those into plastic storage bins and what I don’t move to the Studio can reside in the crawlspace. 
Wow, I just realise he created the laser harp 40 years ago now…