Hi Hazel! I'm happy you're here! I was just drawing with a Blackwing matte the other day, then switched to a Caran d'ache 9B and found myself missing the Blackwing a little bit!
The idea of painting on wood intrigues me! What kind of prep do you do to it before painting?
omg omg what a fun thread. Can't wait to see what everyone recommends! My favourite things to draw with are a col-rease red pencil, alcohol markers and fountain pen ink. I struggle mightily with jelly gouache but i still like to try in spite of my struggle
I've always wanted to try that jelly gouache! I hear Destiny's Child "Bootylicious" in my head every time I think about buying it haha. That's not a bad thing either. I'm afraid I'd neglect it and it would dry out but I guess it's reactivate-able, right?
I haven't tried it! What do you find challenging about it? Is it color mixing? Did you get the set from Amazon or Michael's? I wonder what I'd do with it! Now I kinda want one! 😆
Ooo I love this question because I really enjoy mixing materials. I find my current fave materials are dependent on what sketchbook paper I am working on; currently in my art talens sketchbooks it’s the delicious combination of gouache backgrounds and shapes overlayed with prismacolor or luminance pencil lines ✨ I’m eyeing the nova line of the stillman birn series next as I do love toned paper…
I am still struggling to learn how to use the neocolors ii better; I find they don’t quite fit my style so far (maybe ever) except for extremely quick studies 😩
Neocolors took me a minute to really get into too. Do you ever mix them with goauche? That can be fun. I like mixing them with markers too. They were my best friend in the 3 Materials Drawing Challenge! I go into detail a bit more here: https://www.introvertdrawingclub.com/p/international-drawing-challenge-day
I’ve tried mixing with water based markers, but not much with gouache! I feel that both are sorta creamy mediums and might be lovely when mixed together - thanks! I’ll check your post out 💕✨
I have recently started using my neocolor II’s with my paintbrush to add bits of color here and there. I hold the neocolors in my hand and run my wet paintbrush over the crayon picking up the color I need and painting it where I need. I also will use my neocolor II’s wet by dipping directly in water then drawing with them. It’s so fun experimenting until you find what suits your style! 😁
Ooooh fun! I love mixing them with gouache and markers. What are your top 3 colors? I think mine are Olive Brown, Jade Green, and Ochre, or maybe Burnt Sienna... I need to do a "You're on a desert island and can only choose three Neocolor II's" game haha.
Such an irresistible topic! I have been trying different materials this year but my all time favorite remains fude fountain pen with waterproof ink, unless I'm drawing at my own desk and can use dipping pen and acrylic ink 🥰
So one thing that I haven't played with in a while but really felt like fun was ink painting. Using a bamboo brush, some water-soluble ink and some heavy paper really felt good. I felt that I could really create something that could either be really detailed or free-flowing in a way other mediums never really captured.
Ooh! I have so many favourites 🙈 so let’s go for my current go to- my inktense pencils. I like to use them with my acrylic inks, watercolours, neocolors and fountain pens (post about my fountain pens dropping tomorrow).
And I have been wanting to try out soft pastels ever since I saw Paula Rego’s soft pastel paintings at an exhibition two years ago.
Noodler inks. The wackiest, most idiosyncratic and unpredictable inks I've ever used. I used to steer clear of them for those very reasons, but now I'm a convert and I'll never go back.
Take a look at their website... all of their inks are wildly different. Some are permanent, some not. Some are indestructible, and some will fade really quickly. Some have qualities that you have to use to experience... for example an undertone (or different colour even) that on wet paper will emerge "beneath" and around the edges of the main colour.
I worked at an art supply store for many years and we carried Noodlers, and you never knew what you'd get. There was not much consistency with the colours---they would change slightly with each shipment. I always pictured the manufacturer standing over a cauldron, stirring and throwing in eye-of-newt, etc 😅
Such a fun thread, thank you! I love using a mechanical pencil + watercolour! Really want to try watercolour brush pens (smth like Ecoline), should be so fun and convenient for a quick sketch when travelling. And I am not really friends with acrylic inks, because they dry so fast and don't reactivate, but probably should experiment more with them!
I've only seen demos by other artists, but I like that they work both as markers and watercolour paints (they can be activated with water and will behave just like paint!). That is why I want to try them :)
My LOVE goes to Luminance pencils, cliché but true. My life is happier with them on my desk 😄 I'm very CURIOUS to try acrylic ink this year 👀 although there's some fear that they may go to the same boat of my watercolour/guache tubes, which I rarely use 🤐 fabulous thread Beth! ❤️
I picked up a Luminance the other day and thought of you, Teresa! They are SO good. If I could find them at the art shop here, I'd have every single one of them. Definitely need to add a few to the cart soon. I haven't used my acrylic ink in ages since I've been painting more. And don't really like most of the stuff I made with them! 🙊
I'm in love with kraft paper en pencil and neocolor 2s on top. I use a brush pen to wet the neocolors and give them a smooth surface, so I can layer and layer and layer.
Oh, right, I hadn't thought of that, but now that you've articulated that, I see what you mean. And I love your drawings! They're so intricate! I especially loved the big-eyed nocturnal animals. I might be one of those. ;)
Welcome, Rebecca! I'm so glad you're here. Cats and chickens are always welcome too! Oil pastels are fun! I love the Caran D'ache ones and you can't beat those Neocolor II crayons!
Hi Hazel! I'm happy you're here! I was just drawing with a Blackwing matte the other day, then switched to a Caran d'ache 9B and found myself missing the Blackwing a little bit!
The idea of painting on wood intrigues me! What kind of prep do you do to it before painting?
pastel pencils or *adult*crayons on black paper
That sounds super fun! I like those Stabilo pastel pencils a lot. Now I’m going to have to try them on black paper soon! Thank you! 💖
Thank you both for sharing, I had never heard of pastel pencils and I just added a few to my list!
omg omg what a fun thread. Can't wait to see what everyone recommends! My favourite things to draw with are a col-rease red pencil, alcohol markers and fountain pen ink. I struggle mightily with jelly gouache but i still like to try in spite of my struggle
I've always wanted to try that jelly gouache! I hear Destiny's Child "Bootylicious" in my head every time I think about buying it haha. That's not a bad thing either. I'm afraid I'd neglect it and it would dry out but I guess it's reactivate-able, right?
lol! Yes, this is my fear as well. But it looks so inviting!
I don’t think i’m ready for that Jelly 🤣
I'm really not! 😜 Still trying to understand regular gouache but I do have fun with it!
😆
Jelly gouache still confounds me, but I struggle on!
I haven't tried it! What do you find challenging about it? Is it color mixing? Did you get the set from Amazon or Michael's? I wonder what I'd do with it! Now I kinda want one! 😆
I found it's texture hard to work with. I got a cheap set on Amazon that wasn't HIMI! I should get the good set!
I'm loving my HIMI gouache
I've always wanted to try it!
Conte black crayon.
Oooh are those on the harder side? I use the pink and tan ones almost every day!
Yes. They are charcoal-ish, but go on the paper nicely. Flatten one side and make a point. I draw from the shoulder with it.
Ooo I love this question because I really enjoy mixing materials. I find my current fave materials are dependent on what sketchbook paper I am working on; currently in my art talens sketchbooks it’s the delicious combination of gouache backgrounds and shapes overlayed with prismacolor or luminance pencil lines ✨ I’m eyeing the nova line of the stillman birn series next as I do love toned paper…
I am still struggling to learn how to use the neocolors ii better; I find they don’t quite fit my style so far (maybe ever) except for extremely quick studies 😩
Neocolors took me a minute to really get into too. Do you ever mix them with goauche? That can be fun. I like mixing them with markers too. They were my best friend in the 3 Materials Drawing Challenge! I go into detail a bit more here: https://www.introvertdrawingclub.com/p/international-drawing-challenge-day
I’ve tried mixing with water based markers, but not much with gouache! I feel that both are sorta creamy mediums and might be lovely when mixed together - thanks! I’ll check your post out 💕✨
I have recently started using my neocolor II’s with my paintbrush to add bits of color here and there. I hold the neocolors in my hand and run my wet paintbrush over the crayon picking up the color I need and painting it where I need. I also will use my neocolor II’s wet by dipping directly in water then drawing with them. It’s so fun experimenting until you find what suits your style! 😁
Ooooh fun! I love mixing them with gouache and markers. What are your top 3 colors? I think mine are Olive Brown, Jade Green, and Ochre, or maybe Burnt Sienna... I need to do a "You're on a desert island and can only choose three Neocolor II's" game haha.
Such an irresistible topic! I have been trying different materials this year but my all time favorite remains fude fountain pen with waterproof ink, unless I'm drawing at my own desk and can use dipping pen and acrylic ink 🥰
So one thing that I haven't played with in a while but really felt like fun was ink painting. Using a bamboo brush, some water-soluble ink and some heavy paper really felt good. I felt that I could really create something that could either be really detailed or free-flowing in a way other mediums never really captured.
This sounds so fun, thank you for sharing!
Wax crayons, pencils, gel pens, felt tips,
Ooh! I have so many favourites 🙈 so let’s go for my current go to- my inktense pencils. I like to use them with my acrylic inks, watercolours, neocolors and fountain pens (post about my fountain pens dropping tomorrow).
And I have been wanting to try out soft pastels ever since I saw Paula Rego’s soft pastel paintings at an exhibition two years ago.
Noodler inks. The wackiest, most idiosyncratic and unpredictable inks I've ever used. I used to steer clear of them for those very reasons, but now I'm a convert and I'll never go back.
I have been so tempted to try them and now I must! I love a surprise. ❤️ Thank you for sharing!
Take a look at their website... all of their inks are wildly different. Some are permanent, some not. Some are indestructible, and some will fade really quickly. Some have qualities that you have to use to experience... for example an undertone (or different colour even) that on wet paper will emerge "beneath" and around the edges of the main colour.
I worked at an art supply store for many years and we carried Noodlers, and you never knew what you'd get. There was not much consistency with the colours---they would change slightly with each shipment. I always pictured the manufacturer standing over a cauldron, stirring and throwing in eye-of-newt, etc 😅
This sounds exciting to me! I love playing with inks for interesting backgrounds
Such a fun thread, thank you! I love using a mechanical pencil + watercolour! Really want to try watercolour brush pens (smth like Ecoline), should be so fun and convenient for a quick sketch when travelling. And I am not really friends with acrylic inks, because they dry so fast and don't reactivate, but probably should experiment more with them!
I've never tried watercolor brush pens. What do you like about them?
I've only seen demos by other artists, but I like that they work both as markers and watercolour paints (they can be activated with water and will behave just like paint!). That is why I want to try them :)
Triangular 6 B PECILS AND BIG PAPER.
Kathleen Kelly!!! What a great name!!!
My LOVE goes to Luminance pencils, cliché but true. My life is happier with them on my desk 😄 I'm very CURIOUS to try acrylic ink this year 👀 although there's some fear that they may go to the same boat of my watercolour/guache tubes, which I rarely use 🤐 fabulous thread Beth! ❤️
I picked up a Luminance the other day and thought of you, Teresa! They are SO good. If I could find them at the art shop here, I'd have every single one of them. Definitely need to add a few to the cart soon. I haven't used my acrylic ink in ages since I've been painting more. And don't really like most of the stuff I made with them! 🙊
Ohh you are kindest Beth 🥰 well if I don't like the acrylic inks, I can always add them to the materials swap page 😉
Coming back to this thread when I have some birthday money! So many fun things to try.
Perfect, Heidi! I'm adding it to the Contents Page, so it'll be easy to find. 💝 https://www.introvertdrawingclub.com/p/directory-of-posts
I'm in love with kraft paper en pencil and neocolor 2s on top. I use a brush pen to wet the neocolors and give them a smooth surface, so I can layer and layer and layer.
I love kraft paper too. I like the weight of it.
Yes! And it isn’t one smooth colour but blended pieces of paper together so it makes a more interesting background
Oh, right, I hadn't thought of that, but now that you've articulated that, I see what you mean. And I love your drawings! They're so intricate! I especially loved the big-eyed nocturnal animals. I might be one of those. ;)
Oh thanks so much! And I’m a bit of a night owl myself, so I love meeting other nocturnal animals 😊😊
Your videos and art pieces have definitely inspired me to try kraft paper!
Hello, I'm new and so happy to be here. My name is Rebecca and I mostly draw cats. (And the occasional chicken.) I'm a writer by trade, but drawing is what I do when I need to bring some humor and light into my creative world. https://open.substack.com/pub/rebeccabarry/p/if-youre-having-a-bad-day-draw-a?r=1e46c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true I love working with watercolors. I'm curious about oil pastels, and I have a box of watercolor crayons that I can't figure out. And I love the storks you drew!
Welcome, Rebecca! I'm so glad you're here. Cats and chickens are always welcome too! Oil pastels are fun! I love the Caran D'ache ones and you can't beat those Neocolor II crayons!