Artist Tips from Orbisplanis August 2008

Today’s Image
Golden Bridge
Pastel on canvas panel
10 x 8in/26 x 21cm
2008


In the Studio

Rather than rush into my next project, even if I knew what it was going to be, I decided to work on a quick piece using pastels and a canvas panel that I had painted over with gesso some time back. I’ve heard the best way to be ‘green’ is to re-use what you already have, so I feel good about that.

I haven’t worked with pastels since last fall, but it was fun to use the medium again. Before I started painting with acrylics last year, I first tried pastels. For this piece, I used my old beat-up set of Mungyo Soft Pastel(s) for Artists. These are mini-pastels; that is, each stick is only 1 in/2.5 cm long.

I just happened to see a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on the back of a travel guide and decided to draw that. I had previously applied the gesso on the canvas panel rather thickly, and I like the texture it gives to the piece, which is 10 x 8 in/26 x 21 cm. It’s Today’s Image.

August in Review

Although I usually review a book or some similar art literature on Friday, this being the last blog in the month, I give a brief review of the month’s blogs in case you missed any or, as I always say, to relive the memory.

In the Art Library will return next Friday. In addition to installments of In the Studio with every blog, here goes:

• How to Draw Anything – August 1 was a Friday, so In the Art Library reviewed a book about how to draw anything (wow)-- a good book for beginner’s with tips on getting started and a lot of encouragement


• So What Is Oil Pastel? – This began a series on using oil pastels when I discovered my old (really old) box of oil pastels and wondered what they were for


• Oil Pastel Learning (Curve) – I experimented with oil pastels and questioned their validity as a real medium


• The 'Secret' of Oil Pastel – after learning a thing or two, I discovered the “secret”


• Painting With Oil Pastels – With my apologies to the Oil Pastel Society, I endorsed oil pastels and told why you must use odorless mineral spirits


• A Book About Art in Santa Fe and Taos – Another Friday and reviewed this great book with a history of painters in Santa Fe and Taos along with their beautiful paintings


• 4 Steps to Renew Your Interest in Art (Make Your Art a Priority – Step 1) – This began a two-week series of blogs on renewing your interest in art beginning with suggestions on how to find time for your art


• Renew Your Interest in Art - Step 2 (Invest in a Few Art Supplies) – With only seven different items, you can start to draw with very good results


• Explore Art - Step 3 (Explore Your Local Art Venues) – Some reminders on where you to find art in your community but may have forgotten


• Explore Art Galleries & Art Festivals – A discussion of how art galleries work and the fun you can have by exploring the many kinds of art festivals


• Learn to Paint and Draw - Friday again, so I reviewed another ‘learning- how’ book, but this one gives specifics on the subjects you’re drawing rather than just how to draw


• Explore Art Supply Stores – Shopping for art supplies can be fun
  Explore Art Online – This blog gives just a few examples of what’s out there online on the millions of art websites


• Art Educate Yourself (Step 4) – The last blog on renewing your interest in art suggests places and ways to enhance your knowledge


• Varnishing Acrylics - A blog about varnishing acrylics with a varnish that I found that works well


• A Visionary Impressionist – In the Art Library reviewed a beautiful coffee-table book on the work of Manet; it’s worth a look


• What Is Creativity? – This blog began an unexpected series on the subject of creativity


• A Definition of Creativity – I found a definition I like


• What Artists Had to Say – Includes quotes from 10 well-known artists on what inspired them
• Seven Ways to Stimulate Creativity – Orbisplanis’ very own ways to get those creative juices flowing again
  

So that was Orbisplanis in August 2008 in a nutshell. We’ll do this again at the end of September.

Cheers!

Seven Ways to Stimulate Creativity

Today’s Image

In the Studio

Well, I think it’s finished, the acrylic I’ve been working on this week, that is, and Today’s Image. It took a bit more than I had anticipated to complete, but I persevered.

First I worked on the flowering shrubs on the left, which I’m sure are azaleas. As you may recall from last blog, I had already painted a diluted wash of Liquitex Heavy Body Alizarin Crimson and Van Gogh Warm Grey to cut the white of the canvas. Then I painted the base coat of the shrubs with Fundamentals Cadmium Red Light Hue, which I had found on sale at a ridiculously low price and wanted to see how it worked (fine). Then for a knockout punch I used Winsor & Newton Galeria Opera Rose for the visible azaleas. If you’re not familiar with Opera Rose, I will tell you, it’s the hottest pink I’ve seen in a paint color and the only one that comes close to the real color in nature. I researched this, and you can’t mix any combination of anything to get that color—you have to buy it.

When the shrubs were done I evaluated the canvas and decided the sky was a little too blue. So I mixed up some more of the Van Gogh Sky Blue Light and a greater proportion of Winsor & Newton Galeria Titanium White and filled in between what you can see of a horizon and the tree tops. Because the ‘new’ sky impinged on the edges of some of the leaves and branches I had to touch up those with a mixture of greens described in the last blog.

Next I added some W & N Titanium White to Liquitex Heavy Body Brilliant Yellow Green to make it more brilliant, if possible, and I added that to the very sunniest spot and for dappled shade.

The last step was to add the darkest areas for contrast in shaded areas. For this I used a mixture of Liquitex Heavy Body Green Gold and Grumbacher Payne’s Gray. This makes a realistic looking shadow (I think) for the tree bark and wall since, as we all know, shadows are not black. If you’re familiar with printing, I liken it to adding the fourth color black in the printing process to provide depth.

As I said, it took a bit more than anticipated, but I think it turned out OK. (I may touch up one more branch…)

Stimulate Your Creativity

Since this turned out to be Creativity Week at Orbisplanis, I thought why not give you Orbisplanis’ tried-and-true methods for stimulating creativity. They are:

1. Take a Get-Away Weekend - if you live in the city, go to the country; if you live in a small town, go to the big city; if you live in the mountains, go to the prairie; if you live on the coast, go to the mountains; or even better, take a vacation.
   
2. Take a Walk by Yourself - for no less than 30 minutes, did I mention alone; or better, take a walk a day.
   
3. Watch a Movie - with either a) a rip-roaring car/vehicle chase sequence or b) a fantasy almost, but not quite, beyond belief; examples of a) are It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and RV; examples of b) are Innerspace and the remake of The Time Machine.
   
4. Turn Off the News – Do not watch and/or listen to any local news broadcasts for at least one week (or ever again); national and world news, while not ideal, is permissible.
   
5. Listen to Classical Music – if you already do this, great; if not, you must listen for at least 15 minutes every day for at least a week.
   
6. Eat at the Most Ethnic Restaurant in Your Area – It really doesn’t matter which one or what kind of food it is, but it’s better if you have never eaten there before.
   
7. Visit the Most Contemporary Arts Museum in Your Area – I hope there’s a really avant garde one nearby; if not, then visit your local high school and ask to see the students’ latest art projects.
   

You should attempt to do every one of these. If not, do as many as you can. Even one is better than none. You may have noticed, these were chosen to get you out of your ‘element’ whatever that may be. And all but one, visiting a contemporary arts museum, have nothing to do with art. What they do have to do with is stimulating your senses and your brain, to open up your mind to be ready and receptive to conceive of new ideas and explore creative vistas.

Cheers!

What Artists Had to Say

Today’s Image

In the Studio

Still working on my acrylic of a backyard scene here in the studio. I made good progress since last blog as shown in Today’s Image.

I filled in more of the foliage and shrubbery using mixtures in various proportions of Liquitex Basics Hooker’s Green Hue Permanent and Grumbacher Cadmium Yellow Medium. These two provided quite a range of shades. I also used these to fill in the grassy areas and added Liquitex Heavy Body Brilliant Yellow Green for the sunniest areas. I painted one of the main shrubs, which is on the right, using mixtures in various proportions of Liquitex Heavy Body Alizarin Crimson Hue Permanent, Liquitex Heavy Body Red Oxide, and Van Gogh Warm Grey. As with the foliage, these colors provided a good array of dark to light contrasts on the plant’s leaves. Using this same mixture, but diluted with water, I washed over the area on the left that will be bright flowering shrubs to neutralize the white of the canvas.

I think I only need to add the flowering shrubs and put in some finishing touches of highlight and shadow.

Artists’ Quotes

I want to bring the blogging on creativity back around to art after saying how creativity is universal and that you can be creative in many forms and aspects of life. So, I wondered what artists of note had to say, if anything. Wouldn’t you know there’s a website devoted to artists' quotes, Artquotes.net? Using that site as the source, I randomly looked up a few artists’ quotes and culled out a few in no particular order as interesting if not insightful:

• Pablo Picasso – “The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place; from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”
• Gustave Courbet – “The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered under the most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers it.”
• Marc Chagall – “I am out to introduce a psychic shock into my painting, one that is always motivated by pictorial reasoning: that is to say, a fourth dimension.”
• Grant Wood – “I realized that all the really good ideas I'd ever had came to me while I was milking a cow. So I went back to Iowa.”
• Georgia O’Keeffe – “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for.”
• Eugene Delacroix – “What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.”
• Francisco Goya – “Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters; united with it, she is the mother of the arts and the origin of marvels.”
• Berthe Morisot – “It is important to express oneself...provided the feelings are real and are taken from you own experience.”
• Claude Monet – “It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.”
• Henri Matisse – “Creativity takes courage.”

Cheers!

A Definition of Creativity

Today’s Image

In the Studio

Happy to be spending my afternoons painting in the studio. It’s most relaxing to me when you are finally ‘in the zone’ as I call it—that period in a drawing or painting when you are well into it and know where every object will be placed, what the hues will be, and where the light and shadows fall.

Yesterday I moved into the zone on my acrylic of a backyard scene. With a palette knife I added some dark areas to the wall with Liquitex Basics Raw Umber. I lightened the sky somewhat with Van Gogh Sky Blue Light and added some puffy clouds with Winsor & Newton Titanium White. Then I started working on the foliage. I began with a dot-stipple effect for the closer leaves using Winsor & Newton Finity Olive Green. Then using the same color and a stiffer bristle brush I thinly applied a layer for darker tones near the ground and for darker distant foliage. I smudged it around so that it looks out of focus. Next I used Liquitex Heavy Body Chromium Oxide Green (COG) for leaves that are a shade lighter in green and for grass that is in shadow. I think COG comes closest to looking like ‘grass green’ of many types of grasses that grow in warmer climates-- just the right amount of yellow in it. Finally I mixed COG and Liquitex Heavy Body Yellow Light Hansa for leaves and grass that is yet a shade or two lighter.

Today’s Image shows the progress I made. I’m not sure how many sessions it will take to finish but will show you progress.

Creativity Defined

Somewhat unexpectedly, last blog the Art Blog Orbisplanis took a turn into the subject of creativity this week. I had loosely planned to get into pastels, which haven’t really been discussed much since the blog started. However, as I mentioned I opened a fortune cookie with such a great and timely fortune that it set me off in this direction—somewhat mysteriously, like the way a Ouija Board works.

To recap, the fortune is ‘your creativity takes you to great heights.’ Last blog I talked about my perceptions of creativity, and why I think it should be developed not only in ‘art’ but also other realms in life.

There are probably as many definitions of creativity as there are artists, so that would be a whole lot. I decided to go back to a book I had discussed in a previous blog about learning to draw by learning to see. The book is Betty Edwards’ The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, and I wanted to see what she had to say about it.

In the Glossary, she defines it as: “the ability to find new solutions to a problem or new modes of expression; the bringing into existence of something new to the individual and to the culture; writer Arthur Koestler added the requirement that the new creation should be socially useful.” I like it.

Do you see how she didn’t limit the definition just to things ‘art’ but also expanded it to include finding new solutions and modes of expression? That’s what I was getting at last blog when I said, ”You can be creative in a thousand different ways that have nothing to do with art.”

I especially like the part about bringing into existence of something new. That’s about as real as it gets and what you do every time you begin to draw or to paint.

Cheers!

What Is Creativity?

Today’s Image

In the Studio

If today’s image looks unfinished to you, that’s because it is. I thought I’d show you a work in progress (aka a WIP in online art lingo, I found out). The acrylic I’m working on is a backyard scene, and although you can't tell it from this, it’s a bright Spring day with lots of green tree leaves and grass and flowers in bloom, or it will be eventually. Since last blog I added some detail to the wall and started painting the tree, which is a focal point, along with some of the branches, which will be hidden with leaves. For the tree and branches, I used the same colors as on the wall: Liquitex Basics Raw Umber, Van Gogh Warm Grey, and Winsor & Newton Titanium White. I thought some of you may want to see my painting process in progress.

Point of Order—for those of you who are subscribers (and thank you!), that is, you receive the blog automatically through RSS or Atom via a reader service. I noticed that what you’re receiving is the main blog content (what I’m writing at this moment), but you’re not getting to see all the sidebar content on a daily basis unless you actually link to http://orbisplanis.blogspot.com/. I just wanted to let you know there is new content there as well. For instance, every week I add a new blurb to Artist “Factoids.” This week I added Mi-Tientes ™ if you’re at all interested in what that is.

Just What Is Creativity?

I haven’t said much about creativity in the Orbisplanis art blog because I do not hold any credentials that qualify me as any authority on the subject. Be that as it may, I am broaching the subject today. I actually don’t think you have to have any qualifications to speak (or write) about creativity. It’s one of those things that just is what it is—like a law of nature or universal truth or something.

I do believe that creativity is of the utmost importance, however, and I firmly believe that. It’s like an inalienable right that you have, and no one can take it away from you. I hear people say (or read online), “I’m not creative.” What I think they mean is, “I really don’t understand what creativity is, but I know I can’t draw a lick; therefore, I’m not creative.”

Is that you? If so, you are not only mistaken, you are selling yourself way, way short.
Creativity is not the singular domain of art and all things ‘art.’ Creativity is a part of every individual’s make up, their inner being, that on occasion, and when the stars are aligned just so, makes an appearance that can and will surprise you. You can be creative in a thousand different ways that may have nothing to do with art.

Why did I bring this up? Well, what got this ball rolling was a ‘fortune’ in a fortune cookie I opened at PeiWei. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to stake my future (or lottery numbers) on fortune-telling or similar endeavors (not that there’s anything wrong with fortune-telling, etc.), I’m just usually on the side of individual self-reliance. But this ‘fortune’ seems so universally apt , especially for art blog viewers, that I couldn’t resist. I like it so much I’m going to add it to the Orbisplanis sidebar. Here it is:

Your Creativity Takes You to Great Heights

More on this…

Cheers!

A Visionary Impressionist

Today’s Image

In the Studio

I finished my varnishing, for this round anyway. And I got started on my next project, an acrylic of a backyard garden from a family reference photo. I sketched out the main features, which include a terraced wall and a tree. I painted the sky using s mixture of Liquitex Basics Cerulean Blue and Winsor & Newton Galeria Titanium White. Then I started painting the wall using a mixture of Liquitex Basics Raw Umber, Van Gogh Warm Grey, and the W&N Titanium. I’m pleased so far and will keep you posted on progress. I used another digital image from my 'vault' for Today's Image. It's a pastel on paper, and called it Sunbaked.

In the Art Library

Friday has rolled around again, so I’m talking about an art book. I just finished reading this one on Wednesday, so thought I’d tell you about it. It’s called Manet The Visionary Impressionist by Henri Lallemand. It’s another large format, coffee table book with a beautiful jacket sleeve with his painting Argenteuil on the front cover. You’ve probably seen this painting. It’s the one with a man and woman sitting in a sailboat on a colorful summer day. The woman is on the left in a striped dress and fancy hat with white tie on it. The man is on the right half facing her, and he’s wearing a red striped T-shirt and a yellow hat with red band. It’s a beautiful painting.

In fact all the paintings are beautiful in the book, and it’s full of them; although I didn’t count, it must include every major work. There seems to be more artwork than text (fine by me), and the content is divided into Manet’s early work, his foray in Impressionism, his working with friends, and lastly still lifes and landscapes. He did a lot of portrait work, which I don’t think I had realized before. The still lifes of flowers in the last section are glowing. Look up his painting called White Lilacs. The caption in this book says the white petals shimmer…and they do.

With the large format of the book you can really get a good look at all the art. I bought the book used, but I’m thinking it must have been fairly expensive when new because the paper is thick and glossy coated, which makes the artwork shine. If you’re a fan of Manet, you should look for this in your library or (used) bookstore.

Cheers!

Varnishing Acrylics

Today’s Image

In the Studio

I didn’t work on my last post-card size canvas, but decided to save it for next week, so it’s not today’s image. There are days in the studio that I like to call housekeeping days, and yesterday was one of those days. I didn’t do any actual artwork. What I did do was to apply varnish to several acrylic paintings that were finished and in line for varnishing. I like to do it assembly-line style where I do several at a time in one go. Since you have to set up for it with the various varnishes and brushes, I only do it about once every two weeks or so. I found a brand I really like--J.W. etc.'s Right-Step. I like it because it is water base, which makes it very easy to clean up brushes. It goes on smoothly and comes in gloss, satin, and matt, and is also economical.

Anyway, no artwork done, but I still have a feeling of accomplishment.

Today I will get back to deciding on my next project , and I hope to get started on it. Since I like every blog to have a Today’s Image, I looked in my ‘vault’ of digitized images and found the one above to use today. It’s done in pastels on paper. The original is 8.5 x 11in/22 x 28 cm. I did it in 2007 and call it Golden Apples.

Cheers!

Art Educate Yourself (Step 4)

Today’s Image

In the Studio

I guess I was intrigued enough by the first post-card size canvas painting from the last blog that I did another, this one of southwestern pottery. I used Liquitex Basics Red Oxide for the base, Winsor & Newton Galeria Pale Terracotta for the mid-section, and Liquitex Basics Raw Sienna for the top. The decoration was painted with a mixture of Winsor & Newton Finity Davy’s Gray, Grumbacher Payne’s Gray and Winsor & Newton Galeria Titanium White. I also used the titanium white for highlights and background, and Davy’s Gray for the shadow. It’s Today’s Image.

Not sure what I’ll start on next, but I'll let you know. I have one more post-card size canvas.

Art Educate Yourself

Well, I finally got to Step 4 in the series on 4 Steps to Renew Your Interest in Art. Here are the four steps:

• Step 1-Make Your Art a Priority


• Step 2 - Invest in a Few Art Supplies


• Step 3 - Explore Art


• Step 4 - Art Educate Yourself

It took me four blogs to cover Step 3-Explore Art. In hindsight, maybe I should have divided up the steps better, but what the heck, we're finally here at Step 4.

Nothing happens without some initial effort as I mentioned in Step 1. And sometimes it takes even more than overcoming inertia to meet your goals. That’s what I think Step 4 is about—expending some extra effort for your interest in art by getting yourself a little education on the subject.

Now wait, I don’t mean going back to university and enrolling in a fine arts degree necessarily, although if that’s your goal, great. What I’m talking about is looking for places that can impart: basic art information, tried-and-true exercises, new ideas, new techniques, intellectual stimuli—all of the above and more.

I’m no art educator, and won’t pretend to be, but here a few of the places I’ve run into since I began to renew my interest in art in my leisure time. This is not to recommend that you look into all of these. We all have different learning styles, not to mention different personalities and traits (to put it mildly), that may or may not lend themselves to any of these. Following are suggestions in no particular order on how you may be able to take your art to the next level.

• Online tutorials – many websites have links to professional artists who provide excellent training. And have you seen some of the art lessons on You Tube where someone paints a picture in five minutes or so?
  
• Art Supply Stores – I noticed all the art supply stores in my area have an area in the store where people post signs and cards, etc., many that provide art lessons . One vendor even provides space for art lessons in the back of their store—the easels are all set up, and you can see the paintings in progress. Some museums may also have areas for postings.
  
• Private Art Lessons-as mentioned above, look for cards or bulletins in art supply stores or you may know an artist who does this either for a living or ‘on the side.’
  
• Local Art Groups-I haven’t mentioned this in the previous steps, but there is probably at least one local art group in your area. I’m talking about an ad hoc group of interested individuals who have gotten together to promote their art in their area. There’s probably an online Google Group even if they don’t hold physical meetings . Several of the members probably give art lessons. In my area I have already run across no less than four of these groups.
  
• Local Art Schools (Art Institutes) -you may be fortunate enough to live in an area that has a thriving art school. You can find one in your area at this find-an-art-school site. If you are, you should definitely look into it. It may be affiliated with your local art museum or independent. You will find a high degree of interest in art and art education that will make you want to enroll.
  
• Community Colleges-depending on the size of your area, most have at least one art course, and many have a complete two-year art curriculum. Many also provide continuing education non-degree courses of interest in art.
  
• Universities-For the very motivated, there’s always returning to university to get a full-blown degree in any number of artistic subjects that will give you ‘credentials.’
  

So, that’s it! I hope you Renew Your Interest in Art and find your next step in your art journey.

Cheers!

Explore Art Online

Today’s Image

In The Studio

I mentioned wanting to work on something small for my next project, and I did. I bought several canvases that are postcard size; that is, 4 x 6 in/10.2 x 15.2 cm. I read a story online about artists who paint on small canvases this size and even smaller, and I wanted to try it. I will say, it doesn’t take long to do one, so I understand how they’re able to do one every day. I'm pretty sure you can crank out several a day, so I see the attraction if you're trying to sell them. It's like working in miniature and you have to squint to see the tiny details. It's today's image--what do you think?--email or leave a comment.

Explore Online

If you’ve been keeping up, I’ve been blogging about the 4 Steps to Renew Your Interest in Art.

• Step 1 is Make Your Art a Priority
  


• Step 2 is Invest in a Few Art Supplies
  


• Step 3 is Explore Art: explore art museums , explore art galleries and art festivals; explore art supply stores, and today Step 3 wraps up with explore online

Since you’re reading this online, you probably already know all that’s available on the WWW about art. If you Google the word ’art,’ you will get 1,760,000,000 matches. That’s one billion, 760 million! The trick is to narrow that down into something useful, which means you’ll be able to pick and choose exactly what you want in the online world of art.

Following up on art supplies, last blog I said you should explore your local art supply stores in person and some reasons why. But if wide assortment and price comparing are your thing, then you can shop online ‘til your heart’s content’ and find exactly what you’re looking for at a price you want to pay. Without plugging any one site, there are plenty of big online art supply sites from which to choose. All the major (and most minor) manufacturers of art materials also have their own sites to tout their goods. In my blog of July 23 I talked about pencils and mentioned a site about pencils that contained more than you ever wanted to know about them. You just have to find the right site.

If you like to know what’s going on in the ‘art world,’ you can virtually travel to all the major art museums worldwide and find out what’s being exhibited. There are also art ‘news’ sites that report on daily happenings, for example Artnews and the Art Newspaper, not to mention the art sections of major newspapers and sites devoted to art, such as ArtSlant.

There are sites where artists can post their artwork for sale or just to look at, ArtFlock and MyArtSpace, just to name a couple. But don’t get me started on buying /selling art online. Have you shopped at eBay? They have so much it’s been subdivided on whether it’s direct from the artist, from a gallery, or from wholesale distributors. Then it’s categorized even further. Here’s an example, you can look for original acrylic paintings direct from the artist created since 2000 in Europe in the Abstract style over 30 in/77cm and you will still have 22 from which to select. What a selection (and a lot of competition).

There are what I call how-to art websites that specialize in art techniques and targeted subject matter for artists.

I think Empty Easel does a good job.

Then there are the art blogs like this one. Need I say more?

Cheers!

Explore Art Supply Stores

In The Studio

Over the weekend I spent some time shopping around for frames for my paintings. Some of my paintings wrap around the edges and don’t require frames, but some do. I try to have some frames on hand for people who want them framed regardless. I try to find frames that are attractive and will not overwhelm the artwork and are also not prohibitively expensive. Anyway, one of the larger arts & crafts stores in our area had a half-price sale on frames that I couldn’t pass up. I picked up some very nice frames at a great price. Email me if you have any framing advice.


I’m looking for my next subject to paint, and think I’ll try something on the small side. Will let you know.

Explore Art Supply Stores


The blog for the last few days has been about 4 Steps to Renew Your Interest in Art. Step 1 is to Make Your Art a Priority, Step 2 is to Invest in a Few Art Supplies; Step3 is to Explore Art, which is taking several blogs to cover. First was Explore Local Art Venues, and the most recent blog was on Exploring Art Galleries and Art Festivals.

Today’s topic (in Step 3-Explore Art) is Explore Art Supply Stores. I’m referring to the brick and mortar kind of art supply store; the place you go to and physically shop for your pencils, pastels, paint, paper, canvases, etc.

Second to exploring art museums, I think exploring art supply stores is the next best thing to being there (in your studio drawing or painting, that is). I don’t know about you, but I think going to the art supply store is fun, educational, and can even be exciting—especially if there’s a big sale like there was on frames that I mentioned above.

When I’m shopping for art supplies I’m like the kid in a candy store. Where else can you roam around at will looking at art supplies? You can shop online, but I don’t think you get the same ‘thrill’ as you do in a real store. You can pick up the brushes, and you can hold the tubes of paint in your hand, see the colors and read the labels and literature. You may hear yourself saying, “wow, I did not know that,” or “so that’s what that means,” and not even know you’re talking out loud. Someone even struck up a conversation in the aisle asking me about acrylic paint.

I suppose it’s seeing all the art supplies lined up on or hanging from shelves just waiting for you to put them in the shopping cart and take them home. It’s the expectation and the potential for what you can do with them—like the thrill of the chase.

To the ‘professional’ artist or to those who have made art a career choice, shopping for art supplies may be a bit passé. But, let me tell you, for the rest of us, it is not passé. It can open new doors.

Cheers!