Hello. Mary here. I’m starting a summer drawing class in a couple of weeks, and the list of required materials arrived recently. I have most of the supplies already since I took a drawing class last year, but I need some new pencils, paper, etc., so I made a quick trip to a nearby art store during my lunch break yesterday.
Visiting an art store can be an overwhelming (and financially dangerous) endeavor. Fortunately, I was armed with my trusty list of specific necessities. Now just to resist the rows of gleaming supplies…
Mission accomplished! I managed to buy just the supplies I needed. Also, thanks to the advice of one of the store clerks, I managed to save a bundle by buying a metal ruler rather than a straight edge ($6.30 vs. $30!).
I’m not sure that I’d trust myself without my list “security blanket.” Sure, I’ve gone in and bought a sketchbook or a pencil or two. But I have a secret desire to go in and buy a bunch of pastels or colored pencils—something colorful for once! I’m not sure that I’d know where to start (or stop!).
How do you choose your art supplies? How do you resist buying everything on the shelf?
If you are a
professional designer or interior decorator who is interested in designing
furniture and accessories for the home décor market but is having trouble
discovering what the new trends will be, there is a wonderful publication
available that showcases up-and-coming design trends and publishes market
information and surveys.It’s
called Home Accents Today, and it’s a trade publication (not available to the general public)
that can show you what the furniture and home décor markets will be offering in
the next year or two.You can
subscribe to the magazine via email at subsmail@reedbusiness.com but remember, you must be a
professional in a line of work related to design, interior décor, retail,
manufacturing, etc., in order to subscribe. But it is a fantastic resource,
especially if you are starting out in your own design business and need all the
help you can get!
For those in the Cincinnati area, you have just two more days to catch “Rembrandt: Three Faces of the Master,” a small exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
My boyfriend and I went to see the show a few weeks ago, and I was really impressed by the quality of the three portraits included. The portraits, dating between 1629 and 1660, offer visitors a quick look at Rembrandt’s life and development as an artist. Self-Portrait at the Easel (1660), borrowed from the Louvre, is especially nice (the rich colors are gorgeous!).
Also included in the show are a few paintings by Rembrandt’s followers and several of Rembrandt etchings and engravings from the CAM’s excellent print collection. (If you can’t make it to the exhibition, make an appointment with the print room to see these etchings—they’re well worth the trip!)
I actually really liked that it was a small exhibit. We were able to really look at and take in each painting, without feeling absolutely exhausted afterwards. Plus, admission is just $5. This is a great chance to see Rembrandt paintings in Cincinnati—don’t miss it!
Find out more and buy tickets online at the Cincinnati Art Museum’s website.
I just wrapped up a photo shoot for a new book about painting
murals on both furniture and walls. With 19 projects to painting in just five
days, it was a whirlwind week. I’ll post an interview with the artist, Corie
Kline, soon.
The murals on the furniture wrap all the way around the
pieces, often treating dressers and cabinets as one solid surface instead of
individual units. Corie also often incorporates the drawer pulls and hardware
on the furniture into the mural. The effects are striking and create the feel
of a little, three dimension scene. You can check out her art on her web site, www.youreart.com. Corie’s book will be out
next year.
While I’m on the topic of mural painting, I might as well
plug a great new book about murals by Gary Lord. It’s titled Mural Painting
Secrets for Success. With the help of 23
industry-leading artists (including Pascal Amblard, William Cochran, Sean
Crosby, Pierre Finkelstein and Melanie Royals) Gary shares what it takes to
launch a successful career as a professional muralist. Each contributor
provides a step-by-step demonstration for painting great elements in a mural.
And there’s a 24 page gallery that is amazing! The realism, creativity and high
level of artistry in these gallery murals are incredible. They are sure to inspire you. You can check out the
book in the Mycraftivity shop by clicking here.
I’ve been thinking about color quite a bit lately. Since childhood, I’ve been strongly attracted to certain color combinations. I love the snap of complementary colors and the harmonious quality of an analogous color scheme. There are scientific explanations for why these combinations appeal to my eye, but sometimes it seems I just like what I like! Blue and vibrant yellow; yellow, orange, red and brown; and deep red and lavender are among my favorite combinations. Color gives me so much pleasure and has a profound affect on my daily life as well as on the art and crafts I create.
An avid museum-goer and art history buff, I know I’m definitely drawn to certain paintings and artists by their use of color. “Value does all the work and color gets all the credit,” is a common saying among artists, and it may technically be true. But, I have to say, it sure seems like it’s the color that’s attracting me! Some of my favorite colorists include Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse and Wolf Kahn. I also love many of the Fauvists (Les Fauves is French for “wild beasts”!), known for their exciting use of color.
Color is also the main idea and driving force behind most of my own art and craft projects. I always feel like a kid in a candy shop whenever I enter an art, stationary or yarn store. The sheer number of choices or combinations can be overwhelming, and it’s always difficult to make just a few selections.
I recently began knitting a messenger bag pattern from Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch Nation (visit the Knit Happens website for more information and free patterns). This is the first time I’ve tried changing colors in a knitting project, and I’m having so much fun! I’m loosely following the pattern, creating my own stripe combinations with navy, bright blue and lime green. I’m down to the strap now and can’t wait to finish.
What role does color play in your art? What color combinations appeal to you the most? Which colorists do you most admire?
