Household Stuff for Art

During this transaction time, I'm writing a smaller article than usual. Next month, you can expect one with much more information, such as single line drawing. See you then.

What art tools are hidden in your home?

Doing art can be expensive. Within the past twenty years, I have witnessed the rise of paper products alone go from reasonable to absolutely ridiculous. I used to buy 20 x 30 watercolor paper for around $3.00 a sheet, today it's over $8.00. Wow, more than doubled. In these times we have to find ways to save money. Some may be sitting right inside your house.

Let's stop in the kitchen.

Dish drying mat

A couple of years ago, I was washing dishes and put them on one of those dish drying mats and then, I had an inspiration. Why not use the mat to wipe my brush when painting? I've been doing that ever since. I also use the mat to clean my erasers from left over graphite. It's a perfect companion to my work table. Yes, when it gets to dirty, I just put it in the laundry.

Spoons, forks or knives. 

I've used all. The spoon is great for getting paint our of paint tubs or making impressions on your paper. Forks can provide an imprint for pathways in your paint and knives of course can help smear the paint down on your canvas as well as create fun marks.

Here are some more ideas:

Bath sponges: For water color textures, clean away pencil/eraser debris, soaking up water from my brush when watercolor paintng outside. I usually pick up mine at Albertsons for under $5.

Empty toilet or paper towel rolls: dip the edge in paint and you have perfect circles.

Bubble wrap: place in paint for wild texture.

Crumbled foil or plastic wrap: again place in paint for interesting patterns.

Cotton swaps: use for blending colored pencil. I use these along with the pencil blenders. You can get the long wooden ones at Walmart.

Toothbrush: great for splattering and creating paths with paint. 

Credit card: lay some paint out and spread it with the card.

Hair picks and forks: lay some thicker paint and use the prongs for even path.

Plastic knife: use as a palette knife or creating designs.

Straws: blow through them to move paint, use tips for patterns.

Toothpicks: make interesting stippling dots, roll them on the side for a different design.

Clear plastic cutting boards: are perfect palettes and easy to wash after your project is done.

Large make-up brushes: are good for as art brushes to clear debris, cheap at Dollar Tree, Target 

My all-time favorite is the #2 Pencil: which is the same as the HB pencil and easy to find. I bet you have several in some drawers at home.

And this is just a short list. There are plenty of "tools" you can find in the household section of the Dollar Tree or any variety store. Just walk down the aisle and look at items that may help you create a texture you never saw before.

What's coming up in the Studio?

5-Week Online Classes

Perspective

An easy approach

Tuesdays July 6-August 3 or

Wednesday July 7-August 4

$90 per five-week session

As we approach the first days of summer, it will be nice to do some drawing and sketching outside. That's when perspective can help. Do you know that perspective can be found in cloud formations, river streams and buildings (of course) like old farm shacks? The next session starting just after Independence Day, will demonstrate how simple perspective can be.

Topics

• One-point perspective, two point perspective
• More one-point perspective: clouds, fences, arches
• More two-perspective: buildings, animals
• Perspective in nature
• Surprise project

One point perspective

Next issue: Single line drawing. It's not as easy as it looks!