Tip #101 is up--Restoring a Favorite Paintbox
Sent Tuesday, March 9, 2010View as plaintext
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ART TIP #101--Restoring a favorite paintbox
We all fall in love with the latest paintbox out there...one we see in a catalog or a demo, one recommended by an artist friend...but there's something really satisfying about rescuing an old favorite--not to mention keeping one more thing out of a landfill!
I had a pair of metal Winsor Newton paintboxes from when I first began using watercolors (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.) They'd traveled all over with me, gone camping and hiking, and were in even worse shape than my knees! It was retire or rehab time, and I just couldn't put them out to pasture. Tip #101 is on how to rehab one of these old favorites--whether your own or one you luck into, a treasure from an artist relative, a junk store or eBay!
Saving one of these old boxes is very satisfying, and it works! (Of course if it's a genuine antique, I leave it as is...and add it to the Watercolor Museum!)
You'll find the tip on my website, as usual--address in the sidebar at right!
*Tip # 102 will be a demo on using string with watercolors--the final step appeared in my new North Light book, below!
And in other news...
MY NEW BOOK IS OUT!
As I mentioned in Tip #99's newsletter, my new North Light book, Watercolor Tricks & Techniques , came out a month earlier than expected, and people seem very pleased with it. I'd be delighted if you took a look, on my catalog at the above link, or on Amazon (sorry, can't seem to link to it there! Duh...) Or if you already own it, it would be great if you offered a review there--feedback is SO important, and I need to know what you think. (So do other prospective buyers!)
It's available from my website catalog, too, if you'd like a signed copy.
THE SKETCHING FORUM
If you're fond of sketching, especially on the spot, you may enjoy Russ Stutler's Sketching Forum. It's a goldmine of information, and a lot of fun. I joined it years ago, and then couldn't find my way back--but I finally did, and have learned a great deal about inks, pens, locales and more...
SKETCHCRAWL!
You may be unfamiliar with that term, but basically it just means a group of artists getting together in one place--wherever you are is fine, or travel to a location to meet with others--and sketching their brains out! It is FUN...we've been doing it locally for several years now, and have made some wonderful friendships along the way.
If you'd like to hook up with Enrico Casarosa's International SketchCrawl group check out this link. We had a wonderful time at the recent 26th International crawl, and there's another coming up in a month or so. Join us!
SHARING...
I love to share my techniques and adventures...that's the real why of the Art Tips, books, and magazine articles I've done over the years. If you'd like to explore my Flickr sets, I often add notes that explain what I've done or why...here's the Watercolor set, and here you'll find the General set of tutorials. I hope you enjoy them!
BOOKBINDING and other paper pastimes...
I really enjoy binding my own books (as you could probably tell from my Flickr set and the easy, no-sew bookbinding CD I did for those who don't feel ready to jump into casebound books.)
I just discovered a new paper source you may want to explore, if you Share my passion: it's Hollander's, and it looks good!
ARTIST JOURNALS for NON-BOOKBINDERS
I normally prefer to bind my own, but recently I found one I couldn't resist--it was from Moon Moth Press, and they describe exactly what they offer--I knew I liked the paper (Arches hot press) and the covers, recycled from old books, were just irresistible.
They ARE small books, and it'll go all too quickly, but it's gorgeous and I love it--well worth the money!
OIL PAINTING--ONLINE
My friend Nelda Jansen
teaches oil painting online, similar to my watercolor, drawing, and
journaling classes. Her past students have raved about her! (If I
weren't allergic, I'd be tempted to sign up, myself!) Check them out
here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OilPaintingOnline/
I own several of Nel's paintings, and LOVE them...
NATURAL PIGMENTS WORKSHOPS
I wrote an article for Watercolor
Artist a while back about these interesting watercolors from Natural
Pigments/Rublev--they make mineral and traditional paints that are fun to
explore. Now they're giving workshops! I found icon painting and
true fresco painting; their website is always a font of information, as
well. Find them HERE.
About Kate--and this newsletter!
As most of you probably know, my nickname is Kate-you're welcome to use it, we're all friends here.
We've been doing these art tips for years now, and sending
newsletters to you-some subscribers have been with us for almost 8
years! We like to include website links, artists you may enjoy, new
products, news, and information about upcoming classes, books, CDs and
more-so stick around!
* They're in PDF format, so feel free to download them, print
them out, share them with a friend-that's what they're there for.
* I also make CDs of these tips, 25 at a time (so you can see we'll have a new one soon!)
-click on the link at upper left to find the current tip, as well as
all the archived tips that came before--you'll see the list of those in
the column on the right! (#4 is out, since we just hit 100 tips recently!)
They're in my website catalog, and also in my store at Cathy Johnson's CafePress,
along with a lot of other CDs for artists. You'll find tutorials,
slideshows, and copyright-free photo-resource CDs, along with lots of
other goodies to tempt you!
And do let us know what you'd like to
hear about in the tips or the newsletter. Feel free to share new
products or art you like, too-I get lots of ideas from you and I enjoy
responding to my readers
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