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?

New Series

Some of my "models" 

For a couple years now I have been painting little "nightly studies" of things I consider to be treasures.

Who doesn't have a little box that they have tucked away somewhere, full of tiny trinkets and items from their past? That's partly where my feather paintings began.
I was nursing my youngest son at the time and looking for something small I could paint between feedings at night. I found a feather, an antique key and some other little bits and bobs I'd tucked away and the "nightly studies" began.

I'm getting prepared for a new batch of summer art shows. Two summers ago I did my Foodies series. Last year I focused on my Feathers and this year, I'm getting ready to debut my Childhood Treasures series.

I think my new series is a natural progression from my nightly studies.  Most people get nostalgic about their childhood. I know I over-romanticize my own childhood - - ( but, maybe that's a blog post for another time. )

So, I'm going to be painting some of those small childhood treasures that were cherished, played with and fondly remembered. I have a huge list of things to paint and I can't wait to share them all with you, but for now, a look into some little things that are inspiring me!

Backstory

I am an artist.
I cannot think back on a time when I didn't think it was so. I always loved to draw as a child - - and for many, many years I dreamt that one day, I would "work for Disney".  Ahh, dreams.

Had a thing for birds, even then!

Me. Five years old. Already a serious artist.
(Nice Hair)

It wasn't until I was accepted into the Sheridan College Illustration program after high school that I realized, besides adoring those beloved Disney movies since childhood - - that I wasn't so sure why I wanted to become an animator. The Disney Dream was put to rest. It was no longer what I wanted.
For the first time, I wasn't sure what path I was going to take. An artist with no direction.

Don't get me wrong! The Illustration Program at Sheridan was great. I learned so much there. My love for watercolours, especially. It was also where I discovered Andrew Wyeth, the ultimate artist for me.

I met my husband at Sheridan. I met one of my best friends there and many other classmates that I keep in touch with and admire. But! Here it is...I felt a bit lost.

After I graduated I worked at jobs that had nothing to do with what I went to school for, always painting in my spare time.
I got married.
I had babies. All the while, painting away.
I started selling and showing work in small galleries. Slowly, slowly, I was finding my way.

Now, I am confident in my style. I finally realized, the way I painted WAS my style all along.
I paint what I love. It's that simple.
I have a little shop online - - I have clients, patrons, collectors, and new friends, all over the world who have helped me so much, and I am forever thankful to them for their support.

I have been doing nightly studies of "found" natural treasures for the last two years. Please stop into my Etsy shop to see what I've been up to: www.jodyvanb.etsy.com and stay tuned for my new series, coming this summer!

Freezies to Fair

Freezies ready to go in the freezer


I was putting the groceries away when I had one of those moments - - suddenly transported back in time as I went to put these freezies in the freezer.

When I was a kid, we went to the Brooklin Spring Fair, rain or shine, the first weekend in June, every year.

I liked going on the rides, but I would hover around the Midway all day if I was allowed.

The pressure of picking a prize!

Prizes that you could buy at a store for a dollar would cost you a months worth of hard-earned babysitting wages, but it was all worth it. Roll that ball, race your horse! Pop those balloons, win a prize! Bounce the ping pong ball the right way and ...kerplunk! You have a brand new goldfish you slosh around in a bag the rest of the day.

Check out this awesome photo. I love how the photographer caught that little fish in the corner. Anyone else remember this game?  http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcbeth/36242367/

That's what the colours of those freezies reminded me of - - that coloured water in those little goldfish bowls!

Quite possibly my favorite "ride" besides the Tilt-a-whirl. Yep. It's a giant slide.
If you're really lucky, you get to ride down on a potato sack that smells like a barn. 

Okay, if you haven't tried a square ice cream dipped in chocolate and rolled in rice crispies,
you haven't lived. Behind me is the entrance to the tractor pull. Very loud. 

Any sign that doesn't have coloured, flashing lights, does not belong on the Midway

The excitement, the smells, the lights, sounds, colours...carnies. Ahh, there's nothing like a fair! Are you going to any fairs this year?

Last year I spied the Artist Kelly Grace and her hubby, Artist Shaun Downey taking reference photos for some paintings at the Brooklin Fair. I felt like such a stalker, but I just couldn't get the courage up to go over to her. Check out some of her paintings here. So fun! :
http://kellective.com/Painting%20Gallery/streeetscenes/street8.htm

Hey, you!

Hey!
If you're reading this, I haven't thrown my MacBook through the window yet.
Just wait.
It's a possibility!
You are reading a blog, slowly typed by someone who is not computer-literate...actually not even technologically advanced really. I don't even own a cell phone.
I'm slowly realizing just how tantalizing a little phone would be though. Every time I see the obese Elvis impersonator at the grocery store, I wish I had an iPhone that I could pull out, snap a pic and tweet.
Oh, yes, I am on twitter! ( @jodyvanb) The mind boggles.