Tools of the Trade
What do I use to make my art?
Realistically, I’ve only really just started being an artist. I’m at the start of my (hopefully lifelong) career, and I think as a result, I like to play around with a lot of different mediums.
Maybe that’s just a me thing?
In saying that, I do have a few mediums that I tend to gravitate to more.
Finished works always start out as pencil sketches. Always. There’s no rushing the process. Sketching is great for messing around and establishing the linework that a finished piece will follow.
Do these look familiar?
If you’ve had a look at the artworks on my website, you’ll recognise that these sketches look a lot like these works.
Some of the lines may not be exact, but the basis is there (plus colour!).
I find a trusty visual art diary is great for this kind of stuff.
I love a light and soft HB pencil, and a good, solid eraser (Officeworks sells Milan brand two-in-one erasers and sharpeners and they are honestly the best thing since dairy-free ice cream!)
Also, if you’ve read my previous blog post you’ll know that I love a good A5 size journal, but I’m coming to appreciate the A4 size – not as portable, but more wiggle room is nice.
I think watercolour is the medium I’ve been working with for the longest.
Once I finally invested in a decent set of watercolour paints, I never looked back (Those terrible no-brand paints that leave powdery residue everywhere are a no-go. Windsor and Newton paints all the way, I don’t care if my bank account suffers!).
These paints have lasted a fair while, too. I’ve had this set for a few years and I’ve only had to replace the light green and light blue (sensing some favourite colours?).
I usually stick with the same three brushes, with a ratty drying cloth that was a tea towel in its former life. Plus an old yoghurt container for paintbrush rinsing water (Yoghurt containers are so handy, hang onto them because they might be useful for something!).
Gouache is a relatively new medium for me, and I’m discovering it’s kind of halfway between watercolour and acrylic paints. It has the same brightness and opacity that watercolour does, but it’s mixing and blending capabilities are more like acrylic.
When I paint with gouache, I usually use the same set up as watercolour painting, plus a handy-dandy mixing tray, seeing as the gouache comes in tubes and not pans.
(The Reeves gouache paints aren’t actually too bad – thank you Officeworks, again!)
Lino printing is kind of the black sheep for me. For a long time, it was inaccessible for one reason or another.
Thankfully, the materials barrier has now been semi-broken. This time Spotlight came to my rescue! I found a decent carving multi-tool that didn’t hurt hand, plus this ‘speedy carve’ lino that is fantastic (It’s like cutting butter, it’s so smooth).
After being gifted a brayer for my birthday (a regular paint roller doesn’t cut it) and finding some decent printing ink (black oil paint also doesn’t cut it), I was ready to go! Unfortunately, the only thing I now don’t have is a printing press, but that doesn’t stop me from hand-burnishing prints in my kitchen!
I have these old overhead projector slides that I tape down to the kitchen bench so I can roll out the printing ink. I’m sure there’s a better way to go about it, but sometimes you’ve got to do what works for you.
You never know, maybe someday I’ll have a beautiful studio with lots of open space and all the materials my heart desires… I’ve only just started, after all!
(But you’ll definitely still catch me using yoghurt containers!)
Keep up to date with my art journey!
