Tools of the Trade
Wishing you a good weekend filled with art, art supplies, or both.
Tips & Techniques– I recently made a sketch of my art supplies using sepia ink. I was happy with the way it came out, but also eager to do it again in color. I always learn a lot from painting ordinary objects. They force me to figure out how to approach different textures or consider new layouts. Doing a page like this is sort of like putting together a puzzle– figuring out what the picture will look like as you go. Always a fun challenge! (Materials: Handbook Journal Co 140lb Watercolor Sketchbook, Micron 02 and 005 pens, and the paints you see here…plus a few more.)
Coming up! I’ve just posted a new online workshop for spring, Warblers in Watercolor. There are still openings in my in person workshops this summer at Sofia at Monsaraz in Portugal in June and Madeline Island School of the Arts in Wisconsin in July. Find descriptions and links on the WORKSHOPS page.
Drawn In 
Sketching, inking, and now painting art tools that’re constantly under our noses is always a “duh” moment for me! Your undertaking, with bits of nature, is and always is brilliant! A beautiful job with your selections, the party colors, and layout. Do you actually keep butterflies and moths in your cabinet of curiosities?! Thanks so much for sharing, Jean!
Hi Barb- I do have a box of pinned specimens that someone gave me, so I pulled it out for this. I also have a variety of shells. I don’t keep eggs, so those are from a reference photo. Have you tried sketching your own art supplies?
ah ha! What a wonderful gift of pinned specimens. I do have 1 emu egg and 1 ostrich egg – gifts, large jars stuffed with collected shells, and after sketching some particularly cool bugs – they were popped in the freezer, for future study. I have not tried (in the memorable past) to sketch my supplies, but have added it to my to-do project list. By the way, the post you shared with the idig.bio link …… thanks!!! I had no idea this was such an amazing digital database! Have been spending hours browsing (they have diatoms!) and golly-bill! ….. pollen grains! You have no idea how much that link means! Have an amazing week, Jean!
Glad you found your way to the idigbio treasure trove!
What an inspiring exercise to try, thank you Jean.
It’s a good one! Hope you enjoy it.
I love the spatter of brown near the stiff-bristled brush, very evocative. And I could almost feel that crumpled tube of Windsor brown… even smell it. Really well-done, and what a lovely way to celebrate the tools of your trade 🙂
Thanks much! It’s fun to mix it up with a piece like this.