Making Art: A Course In Allowing Your Creativity To Flourish; Introduction
For a description of the meaning of Phase One, go to:
Making Art: Phase One; Preparing Fertile Ground
To skip to a description of exercises, go to:
Making Art: Phase One; With Watercolors, Dyes, and Pastels (Exercises)
To skip to a description of exercises, go to:
Making Art: Phase One; With Watercolors, Dyes, and Pastels (Exercises)
Materials And Tools
CAUTION: You should always use non-toxic materials, when possible, and strictly adhere to directions, guidelines, and regulations on packaging. Read all instructions and warnings, and follow them carefully.
Most or all of these materials can be found at your local art store, Sam Flax (my favorite), or Dick Blick online, and some at Michael's, or Jo-Ann. I don't recommend too many brands here, because I don't have favorites in all of these supplies just yet. Browsing through the aisles of the art store is more fun and usually more productive at this stage. If you don't have a favorite art store yet, look for one!
The tools required will be those that allow you to work quickly, instinctively, and produce A LOT. Here, I am using the following:
-1 set of watercolors in various hues
-1 set of soft pastels in various hues
-Several watercolor brushes of varying size and shape
-1 sponge brush and 2 sponges
-1 container of water
-paper towels
-rags (or old T-shirts)
-1 sketchbook to record thoughts and ideas
-not pictured are several containers of powdered fabric dye (sorry, I was inspired while working and grabbed what I needed after the photo-shoot)
Have handy plenty of art paper of varying size and surface quality for maximum variety. My favorites are:
-Arches Watercolor (varying lbs, either hot or cold press)
-Arches Cover
-Rives BFK
Use both buff and white.
The above absorb water and receive color beautifully, but it's nice to try the opposite, too! I also keep on hand Bristol board or leftover scraps of art paper for variety.
One rule is to use thick, quality paper that will hold up to plenty of abuse and different materials.
Have plenty of stretched and primed canvases of varying size on hand. I prefer cotton canvas, primed with Liquitex gesso, but I will buy whatever is on sale at the local Sam Flax (they have such good deals!).
Canvas stretchers of 3/4" depth will eventually need to be framed to show or sell, so some artists opt for the gallery frame, which is much deeper and can hang beautifully on its own. I like to have both, but the latter is more expensive. The above links to Sam Flax or Dick Blick are great resources for stretched canvases, and even Michael's and Jo-Ann carry some.
Make sure to have large (24"X30" or 16"X20"), medium (11"X14" or 8"X10") and small (5"X7" or 4"X6") for maximum variety. You never know what you need until you reach for it and don't have it!
Floor Space
You need to be able to toss work aside quickly, and grab paints or other tools randomly or at a second's notice, so make sure that you have plenty of floor space.
However, you also want to have everything you need close-by, within grabbing distance.
So that you don't have to think too much, it's nice to know where your paints are without looking or where to reach for another canvas or paper to soak up a beautiful, opportunistic spill.
Some of my best starts arose from bumping my elbow against a canvas and just snatching it up, to use on a whim.
You don't need an art studio! Here, I am working in my living room, sitting on my heals on the floor, setting materials on the couch, the floor, the plastic Ikea toddler chair (my art table is the accompanying toddler table). BUT, if you are concerned about ruining your living room with permanent paint, please use a drop cloth, which can be purchased at Home Depot.
While you are shopping, if you see something similar or gregarious that you think could work well with these materials, try it at your own risk. We will be working quickly, wetly, and with spontaneity. Let's begin!
