Derwent Pencil Rant

I've gotta take a second and tell everyone about Derwent Pencils. As far as graphite encased in wood is concerned I love Derwent. I like to make hash marks more than I like to shade so I use the Graphic line because I feel like the lead is less smudgy. But for people that like to shade more than hash I'd recommend the Sketch line. I recently ran out of 2b pencils and it was torturous. I love using 2b pencils, it's my favorite hardness. I finally got out and bought a few and drawing with them is like curling up on a couch with a hot chocolate. It's like riding a bike, like playing with your dog, like good food. It just feels awesome. Had to get that rant in there.
Alright, below I'm including two works I've done in ink. One of the ways I passed the time between not having a healthy supply of pencils and having one is using pens. I think ink can make me a more confident artist and every once in a while I use them. The first is from a picture I found on the internet and the second is a panel from League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 2. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it. Don't let the movie ruin it for you. Thank you for reading about my brainsplosion.

Reflections

Teaching Horror

Who Would Pay That Much For Markers? I Would.

I thought I'd post a little review again just to keep things fresh. I had an great night last night and this weekend should prove to be pretty damn awesome as well. As I've informed you all I will be going in for some routine surgery this Monday and have to spend at least two days in the hospital but it could be more. So this is me continuing my burst of posts before a possible week of silence. Anyway, here is another one of those posts in which I review a product I use or have used. I previously reviewed Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Pads and Moleskine Notebooks. This time around I'm gonna tell you about my little collection of Prismacolor Double Ended Art Markers and how awesome they are to work with.

Prismacolor markers come in a huge array of colors of which I currently only own seven. I know, I know, not really a collection worthy bragging about but I don't have tons of money and so I tend to buy them one at a time. The lack of local art supply stores in my vicinity forces me to shop at Michael's but you can print out a 40% off coupon pretty consistently. Their regular price is $4.49 per marker. It's not much worse than Amazon's price and with the 40% off it becomes even cheaper than Amazon. Expensive? I think so. Worth it? I know so.

These markers come in a huge variety of colors but I think the best thing about them is the ability to mix colors on a palette. That's right, rub the marker on a plastic palette, I use a plastic plate, and use the colorless blender marker to lift the colors like you would with a paint brush. Mix them elsewhere on the plate and then simply draw. Cleaning the colorless blender is as simple as wiping it off on a paper towel. So even with only seven colors, I feel like I have more. But wait! There's more! These markers have fantastically vibrant ink. It'll bleed through drawing paper or sketch paper so I've been using them in a small watercolor pad where the paper is thicker. Oh, and did I mention they're double ended? One end is a fine point and is great for detail work while the other end is a chisel tip suitable for multiple tasks.

In short, these markers are the best I've used so far. If you use cheap markers, like I still do sometimes, that can be fine for practice but if you want to make something truly beautiful, use Prismacolor Double Ended Art Markers. They're pretty awesome. Now on to the bonus drawing.

Steampunk Flying Tugboat

BONUS SKETCH
I included this drawing for two reasons. First off, I think its pretty good. Secondly, I copied this picture from the same magazine I got the dragon from in my last review so it's not my concept. Copying from pictures in magazines and from photos is good practice. Drawing from life is much better but where am I ever going to see a flying tugboat or a dragon. Use the internet, magazines, pictures, TV, movies, comics, books, cards, anything. Just don't copy something and claim it's your own idea. It may be your hand that drew it but it's not your mind that came up with it. Thanks for reading about my brainsplosion.

Links

Prismacolor Double Ended Art Markers

My First Strathmore and Moleskine

I never really paid attention to what paper I was drawing on until this past August when I decided to take a more deliberate and serious approach to my art. I was in the hospital and you can only watch so many movies and TV shows, play so many card games and board games, and sleep so many hours before you feel you're going to quietly die of boredom in your sleep. I had some ideas I wanted to put to paper and asked my parents for a notebook, a sketchpad, a pencil, and a pen. They came back with a Moleskine notebook and a Strathmore 400 Series 6"x8" drawing pad.

The Strathmore 400 Series drawing pad is great. Spiral bound so it lays flat and pages aren't easily removed. It's the perfect pad to take with you everywhere. Amazing with pencil drawings and India Ink. I've used it for markers (crayola because Prismacolor and Sharpie will bleed through), color pencils, and charcoal. I find that 6"x8" is a great size as it's not too small but small enough that it's portable. I also have pads of other sizes for less portable applications. I've bought other drawing pads and sketch books but the weight and texture of this paper is my favorite.

Now a quick note on the Molskine brand notebooks. Moleskine pads and books has several great aspects to them that make them worth their elevated price. They have usually have a built-in book mark, an elastic band attached to the cover that helps keep it closed, it always lays flat, and it has an expandable pocket that is useful for storing scraps of paper. I only possess a ruled notebook but I've seen and felt their watercolor paper and I have wanted one ever since then. I use Strathmore Windpower and 400 Series for my watercolor and mixed media works but the Moleskine watercolor paper seems a little heavier and smoother. I'll let you know more about it when I purchase my own.

Gesture Dragon

BONUS SKETCH
Did this from a picture in a magazine. I used a graphite stick and didn't erase. If you've never tried it, don't erase at all in a sketch or two. I find that it's a good exercise in building confidence.Thanks for reading about my Brainsplosion.

Links

Strathmore

Moleskine

Sharpie

Prismacolor