Episode 59

Hello folks!

Do you ever feel lost about what to paint or sketch? Do you ever find yourself without inspiration? Today, I’ll be sharing some fall inspiration through photography!

Pictures courtesy of Google

 

What do you do to gain inspiration? Here’s what I usually do:

• browse the web
• look outside
• eat a snack (food is important)
• listen to music
• read art blogs
• flip thru old sketchbooks
• grab a magazine
• read a favorite book–Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Fablehaven
• take an artistic hiatus–DO THIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE!

I’ve created a special printable! To download, sign up for my newsletter here and grab it in my freebie library!

 

Mockup copyright bydawnnicole.com

 

Live creatively!

 

 

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Episode 55

Hello mates!

Today, we’ll be making alcohol ink. Alcohol ink art has been trending and I’ve been looking at buying alcohol ink but I decided to make some of my own.

You will need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Chopsticks
• old markers that don’t work anymore
• utility knife
• paper towels
• something to line your workspace with
• Plastic tubes, jars, something to store your ink
• gloves (optional)

1) Take apart the markers to get the cartridge out. I’m using some old calligraphy markers. Don’t be hesitant to use some force!

2) Make two small slices in the catridges. Don’t slice all the way through. It makes it harder the fish them out later.

3) Grab your two plastic containers and put the cartridges into them and fill the containers about 80% full. Leave some space on the top.

4) Leave the ink to “marinate” and set for at least a few hours or until the color has stopped changing.

5) With gloves on, use the chopsticks to fish out the cartridges and squeeze all the alcohol out of them. Give your inks a swirl. That’s it!

6) Make some art! I made the ATC’s below by placing drops of ink and using a heat gun to move them around and dry them.

TIP! Don’t use normal paper. Alchol ink will bleed right trhough. Use GLOSSY paper, like photo paper OR you can cover paper with some Elmer’s or Mod Podge which works well enough.

 

Let’s chat below! Will you try this tutorial? Have you ever tried alcohol inks?

 

 

Episode 52

Bonjour les amis!

How are you all doing? With school in sight, let’s focus on enjoying the rest of summer.

Our project today is DIY paint markers.

You will need:

• Empty and clean waterbrush
• Liquitex Flow-Aid (it will last you a long time!)
• Acrylic Paint
• Water
• Eyedropper or syringe
• A container with a tight lid
• Wipes
• Scratch paper (to test the ink)
• Gloves (optional)
• Patience

Step 1. Gather Materials

I’m using a rather worn Niji water brush and Liquitex Soft Body Acrylic paint in Blue, Black, and Titanium White.

Step 2. Squeeze about 1 teaspoon worth of paint into your lid-able container.

Step 3. Mix the paint up with a toothpick or chopstick.

Step 4. Pour about 3-5 drops of Liquitex Flow-Aid. It helps to dilute the acrylic paint without having the paint separate. Add about 1 tablespoon + of water until the solution is rather runny.

Step 5. Pour into your waterbrush.

It takes trial and error to make a solution that will work with a water brush. I would lean more on the watery side.

Live creatively!

 

Recruiting Artists

Hello there!

***THIS IS NOW CLOSED. WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING ANY APPLICATIONS***

Do you like to make art? Are you looking for a creative outlet? Have you followed the Art Lab for awhile and dreamed for the chance to join us? Your chance is here! We currently have two spots open.

Requirements:

1. You must have a personal blog, where you post about art-related topics rather often. (It can not be a private blog)
2. You have a personal email, where we can easily contact you.
3. You must have a hobby of doing art.
4. You must be at least 12 years old. (Please don’t apply if you are under. We are not discriminating based on age but as most under this age don’t have enough maturity to fulfill commitments, such as posting and checking the schedule regularly, we are limiting applicants to 12 and older).

How to apply:

1. Make sure you fulfill ALL the requirements.
2. Fill out the form in this page.
3. Send three to five high-quality photos (which you have taken) of your artwork to theartlabblog@gmail.com.
4. Wait for our email.

Deadline to submit is September 1. We will announce the new members soon afterward.

Good luck folks!

Episode 47

Hello lovelies!

As a big fan of Pixar movies and in honor of Incredibles 2 coming out last Thursday, I decided to make fan art of one of my favorite characters: Violet Parr!

You will need: a pencil (I’m using a Blackwing Pearl), watercolor paper/mix media paper (I’m using a Canson Mix Media Sketchbook), watercolor (Using Windsor and Newton Cotman Watercolors), brushes, eraser, black waterproof artist pens (I’m using Micron Pigma 03)

Step 1.

Taking out a sketchbook and pencil, start by sketching out the rough outline of a face with pencil. Center the face on the paper. Where will the nose go? the eyes? If you are curious, I’m using a Blackwing Pearl pencil and a Canson XL Mix Media Sketchbook.

Step 2.

Finish sketching the face and add tiny details like eyelashes. I googled “Violet Parr” and used a photo as a basis for my interpretation. I love her big eyes and jet black hair! 😁

Step 3.

Once you’ve completed the final touches, start tracing the pencil lines with a black waterproof pen. I don’t recommend using a ballpoint pen or any gel pens since we will be adding watercolor on top.

Step 4.

After you finish lining the whole sketch, let it dry for a minute or so to prevent possible smearing. Erase well with a high quality eraser that doesn’t smudge. Remove any sign of pencil marks!

Step 6.

Here’s the fun part! 🎊😊 Begin adding watercolor to your masterpiece. I colored Violet’s hair with Payne’s Grey from my Winsor and Newton Cotman set. Don’t add too much water or the paper might begin to pill.

Step 7.

Finish adding color and observe. Do you need to add anything else? Don’t forget to label your artwork!

 

How did you like this tutorial? Do you like the Incredibles as much as I do?

Live creatively!