Materials pt. I

As promised, lets talk about some of my materials. Since the previous post was on works from my sketchbook, I might as well talk about what I use to make that piece. This is one of those cheap pencil cases that usually comes with pencils, erasers, and a sharpener. Generally meant for beginning student use. Actually, (enter jingle) "I got it at Ross!" for around $3 give or take. Not sure what I did with the pencils, but I immediately knew I was going to use it for other sketching materials. 

So I got the basic stuff in here: tubes of gouache, brushes, a pen, and a folding plastic palette. The case measures 10 1/2 x 12 inches when opened and 10 1/2 x 6 when closed. I've switched out materials plenty of times, but this is what's current.

A detail shot of some things. I got a tube of M. Graham gouache. I like their brand of paint. Their pigments are strong, archival, for watercolors they use honey as one of their vehicles to keep it from drying. Can't say the same for gouache because of its heavy body, but they are economical and stand strong against the higher big brand names. Got some flats that are withering away and other cheap round brushes along with a few riggers.

I've noticed that I'm starting to collect folding palettes. However, most of the ones I have are standard ones you can find at any art store. This is the Yasutomo Niji folding palette. You can get it for $6 at Blick or Utrecht stores. Before I would use it for watercolors until I got a bigger palette. Now I use this for gouache. You can see how much caked up in the wells and mixing areas. On the right I have a Lukas tube of titanium white, and a couple of small tubes of M. Graham Viridian & Cad Red.

Detail of stickers I collect on my palette. Shout to Cookiebar in Alameda. Get your ice cream sandwich fix from them. They make all their own products. Super fresh, super creamy. Local guys making it happen. Thumbs down to CREAM that just opened up near Target. Support LOCAL!
That was my advertising for the day.

I'm pretty sure everyone knows these books. This is the Moleskine sketchbook. They have a wide variety of books from watercolor, storyboarding, note taking, etc. This is the one meant for drawing. Paper is an off white smooth almost like bristol? It's a pretty versatile sketchbook. You can paint in any medium (with the formal preparation), draw, glue stuff, whatever, throw it at somebody. Kinda lazy to get the measurements cause I'm typing away on my bed and the book is way across the room. but its like 5 x 8, give or take. Comes with an elastic band, pocket at the end, and a stringed bookmark.

Here's another plug. Went over to PKC today to get our sweet fix. Horchata is our fav, and just had to try their Maple Bacon flavor, which is quite darn swell. Another local business who marked their first year at their store front in the Laurel District of Oakland. 

Anywho, reminder that the reception for the Emerging Artist Show is tomorrow from 5-7pm at the Marin MOCA in Novato, CA. Hope to see some familiar faces there. I will bring my camera, so You can check back here on Monday in case you missed it!

Enjoy the weekend!  with sweet treats from locally owned Cookiebar Creamery (where you can't buy happiness but you can buy cookies and ice cream!) and Peter's Kettle Corn, Popped Fresh Daily! 


















wheres my free stuff.