New Goodies

HI

I came across a video on YouTube by Lindsay The Frugal Crafter and she was comparing Faber Castell Gelato's with Gel Sticks. Gel Sticks are a product actually aimed at kids by the same company Faber Castell.

You can see her video and what she discovered here. The Gel sticks only have a limited colour palette compared to the Gelato's but are much cheaper so I thought I would give them a try

.

I did some comparisons in y Moleskine sketchbook with my portfolio and sennelier oil pastels.

You can smudge them with your finger like the oil pastels but they are not as workable. 

This is both a pro and a con depending on what you are using them for. I did this quick drawing to try them out.

They are a useful addition to my art supplies. 

THANKS FOR VISITING

XXX

Linking to Paint Party Friday

A Sign of What's to Come

Hi

I have been doing a lot of soul searching recently regarding my art. I have decided to concentrate mainly on one medium and explore it in more depth. I like working with oil pastels most of all so this is the medium I have chosen to work with in the main.

I think I will stick to portraits but try and develop a more loose and more 'grown up' style instead of the more 'cutie' style I have been doing up to now. I have discovered that you can get larger sized oil pastels (who knew? not me) which is very exciting and although I have never had the courage to try oil paints perhaps I may graduate on to oil bars which are sticks of oil paint. But one step at a time.

I thought it was about time I concentrated on one thing and try and do it properly instead of getting distracted by different mediums and techniques. This is my latest page in my sketchbook  She is done in oil pastels and pencil. 

Hopefully a sign of whats to come.

Watch this space........

XXX

A Little Bit of Colour

Hi

Just a quick post today to share my last little sketch now with a touch of colour.

Keeping Mum.

The title has a personal meaning to me. It just came to me so I had to use it.

Since I have been working in my Moleskine I have been drawing cute little girls and I have come to

 the conclusion that this is not the type of art I really want to be creating.

I feel like a change but not sure in what direction .......something to think about.

XXX

Untitled

Hi

Since my last post I have tried to salvage my little watercolour pencil girl 

but alas I am sorry to say she has been binned.

Today I have a couple more pages to share.

I came across a technique on Pinterest about drawing hair and I used it here

 and I am quite pleased at the effect although there is room for improvement..

Little stray hairs make it look more natural.

I have more work to do on her and I will also be adding colour. 

XXX

Watercolour Pencil Comparisons

Hi

I have been comparing my new set of W H Smith Watercolour pencils with Derwent Inktense

and Caran D'Ache W/C pencils.

I found that there was not a lot of difference between the three

 which is a thumbs up for the cheaper set from W H Smith. However a great advantage with

 the Inktense pencils is that once diluted with water and when they are dry they are permanent.

Unfortunately my moleskine has sketchbook paper in it which does not stand up well to watercolour.

The paper was pilling badly and this page went downhill from here on in.

I may try and salvage it by adding some collage but not sure it can be saved.

I will let you know.

XXX

Pencil Comparison

Hi

As mentioned in my last post I have been swatching my Prismacolor Portrait Set of coloured pencils

 with my cheaper W H Smith set with pleasing results.

The only downside to the cheaper pencils was the limited palette compared to the Prismacolor's.

I am so impressed with the W H Smith pencils that I have invested in a set of 36 Watercolour pencils

 and I will share my thoughts on them in my next post.

Thank you to those of you who left comments in my last post telling me your thoughts on

       Inktense pencils and Gelato's.

XXX

Oops!

Hi 

Another page in my Moleskine sketchbook. 

This time sketching pencils and WH Smith colour pencil in red.

 I am still in pain with my leg and waiting for cortisone injection so by the time I have done my daily

 chores I haven't felt like working on anything major in my art room.  Therefore I have been spending my spare time looking at and comparing different art materials. I have a list as long as my arm of new materials I want to get my hands on.

I am currently looking at Derwent Inktense Blocks and Faber Castell Gelato's. I am just trying to decide what to invest in so if anyone has any thoughts I would love to hear them.

 For the above double page spread I did a swatch test to compare the reds in my WH Smith colour pencil set and my Derwent Academy pencils. My WH Smith set won hands down for me. I think they are such good quality for the price.

I have never been interested in making swatches of my paints and pencils but plan on doing a swatch test to compare my WH Smith set with my Prismacolor set. I only have a portrait set of Prismacolor's so will have to try and match up some colours from both sets to compare. I will post about my findings next time.

Thanks for visiting.

XXX