Basic Art Supplies

Time to clean the 'ole Palette

I'm not sure if I'm breaking a cardinal sin by not washing my palette every time I use it, but I feel a little guilty. It's one of those things they tried to hammer into my head back in College.

Unlike "Keep your pencil sharp", which I totally understand, cleaning the palette and using "new" paint every time feels like a waste to me. Maybe they were just making sure our paint wasn't getting "muddy", which does happen. The pigment does lose some of its sharpness, but, as I tend to use a lot of earth tones, it usually doesn't hurt my work too much.

I'm due for a trip to an art supply store. Unfortunately, the closest "affordable" shop (and I say that loosely, because I only go, coupon in-hand) is Michaels, which is really a craft store.

Not looking too bad in the paint department 

Are you ever looking for a pencil and all you find are the little 'nubs?

I need some new pencils. I have no idea where they wander off to, because I swear I just purchased a bunch not long ago. Also, HB? This must be an old guy, because as of late it's been H all the way!

A major pet peeve of mine is sharpening a pencil and the "lead" breaks. 

Sharpen, break. Sharpen, break. Just when I think I've got a great, sharp tip - - it falls out or breaks off, and then all of a sudden a perfectly new pencil is more than halfway gone and I haven't even used it yet! 

Have any of you returned a pencil for this reason? I'm thinking the next time it happens I'll bring the little 'nub back and complain. 

Can you imagine? LOL.

My fave three, getting a bit scruffy

Speaking of sharp tips...My fave three paintbrushes are starting to lose their tight, smooth bristles. They're getting a little scruffy. 

Heaven knows, you can't get sharp details with a scruffy brush. So, I will have to retire these guys to my brush box. 

I'm accumulating old brushes that are slightly worn, but I don't have the heart to let my kids use them, because I don't want them to be totally demolished.  I keep thinking, I'll use them again, but unless I get more painterly and less "tight" with my work, they'll have to stay in hibernation for a while. 

One of many vases of found feathers

As for tonight, I'm going to try to get some more feather studies done!

What basic supplies do you use for your work?