I just flew back from 10 days on the East Coast visiting my parents in Western New York. It was the first time I’ve flown since Covid, and it was definitely different. Usually when I fly back home I am off visiting my friends and going here and there, this time I was mostly low-key and enjoyed a nice chunk of quiet time. I was pampered and taken of (I will definitely miss that!).
I brought lots of work to do, and did none of it. Which happens every time I travel. It takes me a few days to let go of any “to-do” lists in my head for work and just enjoy the time in the present moment. Chatting and catching up. Taking walks. Checking out the old neighborhood and taking drives.
However I did go to Hyatts - an amazing, huge art supply store! Wow, they have everything. I bought a few things back in my suitcase...
I love making handmade journals, and found this beautiful zipper pouch for transporting them around.
I like using Fabriano watercolor hot press paper 140lb to make my journals. They come in 22"x30" sheets so I bought a couple at Hyatts (for some reason they were much cheaper than when I have found them on the West Coast). With one sheet of paper (and some math!) I made 2 small journals with no leftover pieces. It's so cute, and I can't wait to start creating in it.
Stencils - now these brushes I did not get at Hyatts, but my mom gave them to me! Yeah, I love scoring brushes from my mom because she takes such good care of them!
She also gave me a little lesson on how to stencil with them: Use a dry stencil brush, dip into paint and then rub paint off on palette paper until most of it is off - and then in a circular motion go over the stencil and pull off.
I'm finding amazing stencils at Stencil Girl products! I'd love to create one for this company - maybe in 2021!
I also found these cool new mixed media tools, Marabu Art Crayons - they are so soft and creamy. As well as being lightfast and water soluble. Like the Neo Color II and Stabilo Woodies but creamier!
Then I found my new favorite pen - I LOVE the way it writes in my art journal. Never heard of this brand, Rotring, and then I started researching to find out they also make caligraphy pens! No wonder I love this marker.
I marvel at my mom's brushes and how clean they are! Mine are a wreck. She schooled me while I was visiting and gave me a few tips on brush maintenance:
Always dip your brush in water before using (which I never did! lol) This protects the ferrule.
Don't leave in a water bucket for long (oops!)
Wash with soap (her favorite is the Masters brush cleaner) or with and sanitizer in a pinch.
My mom also turned me on to a place where she buys her brushes - Kingart. Wow. I am very impressed. I ordered a set of brushes - Finesse Kolinsky Sable Synthetic Blend Brushes, Set of 8, as well as Original Gold® 9400 Series, Golden Taklon Angular Shader and Original Gold® 9000 Series, Golden Taklon Round. I used a coupon and everything was under $50! Such a great deal.
And what I LOVE the most is their customer service. They sent me an email thanking me for ordering and that they would be sending me a sample (yay!) Super fast shipping, and I was happily surprised when I saw the sample (and I was expecting something small) they sent me a 9x12 sketchbook! How awesome is that?
I also picked up at Hyatts a Magic Palette Color Mixer – great for finding your perfect color. There are 841 color combinations from 18 paint colors. So fun!
While I was back home I did a Q+A with my mom, Heather. She's a fabulous artist painting in a style called Tole Painting. Listen to her chat while I show off some of her amazing pieces she has painted during Covid. You can watch this episode here:
Also I just finished another Live doing a demo on the above art supplies mentioned in this blog - except the Kingart brushes - haven't had a chance to paint since I've been home. Planning on that later today!
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