Starving Artist Ink.

i thought i might share what i love, and use when i create!

so simple. see?

you don’t need anything fancy… you don’t need to spend tons of money on things. think outside the box. think simple. use what you have…

(of course the lovely things are always nice to have though, aren’t they?!)

so to begin-

composition notebooks- i love them because they are cheap. they don’t stress me out. i can do whatever in one without feeling like it has to be perfect. like i am wasting. plus– i like that they are lined, because sometimes a vast whiteness freaks me out and i can’t do anything. (using brown paper is also a good alternative to that scary white perfection) so they are perfect for journalling, and doodling, and sketching out greatness.
: )

watercolour paper- my faaaavourite paper is strathmore 400 series watercolour paper. now. i don’t know much about papers- i don’t know the difference between hot press and cold press watercolour papers. all i know is i have painted on really expensive paper and hated it… painted on really cheap paper and loved it. and painted on some medium range ones and felt blaaah.   but this paper has been so perfect and beautiful every time. i love it. (this paper is quite affordable. especially if you have a momma who buys in bulk when a sale is on at michaels arts and craft store. she’s the best.)

watercolour pencils- i have had this set of general’s kimberly watercolour pencils for a looooong time. i got a set of 12 from my aunt in a birthday present one year. it took me ages to really discover how amazing they are. and so, i still have the same set- and use them every.single.time.  i know that there are plenty of really expensive watercolour sets out there (which i have never used. so i have no idea if they are super amazingly better) but this set is very affordable… and i happen to absolutely LOVE them. get them…

i recommend watercolour pencils to everyone who wants to try water colouring, but is afraid of them- can’t let go with them… this helps a bit with the control issue- and is lovely to use to outline/sketch- before putting actual paint down.

watercolour- okay… here i am a bit spoiled. this set is a bit on the expensive side- but it is in no way the super high priced side i have seen (plus… i wait until i have a coupon to purchase!) mine are talens transparent watercolour set. i have two tins- one that i have had for a long time after an airline lost my baggage with my first set and then my mom sent me another tin (because she supports my craft… only so she can have paintings for her walls too. :-p) this set is a double decker- two shelves of paint pots. i love them… they’re just lovely. silky. nice range of colours. plain and simple. : )

pencils- i love fat pencils.  you know those pencils that little kids are encouraged to use- for their little hands.. it can be jumbo fat, or triangle. either way.. i love it. i haven’t used a normal size pencil in quite some time…  they do pose a problem sometimes- the lead is fatter, which means your lines are thick, soft. (which i love/hate/love)
another problem- you obviously need a pencil sharpener to deal with it.. but i use a knife to carve mine (much to steven’s dismay *see pencil shavings above….;-p)

camera- i shoot with a canon xti. the reason i mention my camera is not only because i love photography, i have supported myself in being a photographer for families and people on occasion. but also- it is a huge part in sharing my paintings. without it, you would never see them. muahahahaaaa… (seriously.. i need to get a scanner at some point.)

photo editing- adobe photoshop cs4, again. this is an editing program that most photographers use. when i first started out taking peoples photos (and charging. EEP!) i didn’t even know how to edit them… i did..nothing. with them. i had a fancy little program called photoshop- and knew nothing about it. over time i have taught myself a great deal- but i think i only know about 10% of what you can really really do with it!

–

my wish list includes…

an unlimited supply of art supplies.
a wacom bamboo tablet (to do digital paintings/designs/logos)
an old typewriter that works
a sewing machine
since this is a wish list….
a canon 5D mark II
a professional photo printer

–

what are your tools of the trade? what could you not live without?

and what would you like to add to yours?

*don’t forget to check out the giveaway/swap. i’m drawing names on sunday!*

thanks to those who passed on their bits of inspiration to me so far. i’d love to have any great links to things that really get the creative gods in you going. music, books, pictures… the process you have to go through.

last night i dug through deviant art, plucking bits of yum here and there.

1. wind n stuff 2. longest scarf award 3. war bonnet 4. strawberry mouse 5. your song 6. mandolinist 7. fire escape 8. lady 9. hat

my process begins by finding bits of inspiration- pulling it from wherever i find. it could be in the lyrics of a song, in a photograph, in a painting, in movie credits… anything. i am constantly collecting bits of information. if i had some magazines lying about, i’d take some scissors to them- and glue it all back together in a yummy arrangement in a journal. (the process in that alone is relaxing and uplifting)

so once i’ve found a piece that has jump started my mojo. i sharpen my pencil. (steven hates this part… it is true… i don’t shave the pencil over the bin, leaving bits of shavings and lead on the table) i only mention sharpening the pencil- because it’s a process in itself. i used to watch my papa sharpen his pencils with his pocket knife… my older brothers had pocket knives- so one christmas i asked for one. and that year a fat red swiss army knife awaited me. (i still remember dad teaching me carefully how to close it… i wonder if it was more delicate about it with me, since i was the girl- or if he was like that with the boys about it too.. hmmmm) i imagined myself carving sharp sticks-like i watched my brother do. but in the end, i used it to sharpen my pencils with.

now it’s just a kitchen knife. le sigh. where has the ceremony gone of that magic red swiss army?

you’re thinking. why not just use a pencil sharpener. OR you’re thinking why is she still going on about a fecking pencil?

well good point. on both counts.

fat pencils. and because they are important, damn it.

nothing like a big fat pencil in the hand. nice and sharp. smooth on the paper. mmm… and the smell of the pencil shavings brings you right back to elementary school days- when life was simple… and you were unafraid to ask your teachers anything… like. ‘why does your butt move when you walk?’

…i asked that to my second grade teacher.

i was memorized by her bum, apparently.

moving on.

then i get some music going!

i had grand intentions of creating a play list for you, a selection of the songs i have on my ‘create’ mix.  but. er. ehm.

well you just need to come over and paint with me and find out what’s on it. eh?

oooh oooh! i just had an idea. forgivemeforthinkingout…er.loud.

how about… an inspiration/creating/crafting/editing/muse erotica cd mix swap!

how it works:

you enter your name

i’ll draw a winner on sunday.

congratulations! if you win. i’m not sure what i am congratulating you for- because this isn’t the greatest thing ever. er… THEN you’ll put together a mixed cd that you listen to while you work. or whistle to while you work. whatever works…

i’ll put mine together, and throw in a little something special.

and we’ll post them to each other!

ta-daaaaaa

how does that sound?

are you interested?

tell me in the comments.