White Art Supplies I use for Colored Pencils and Drawing

These are the whites that I use to make my colored pencil artwork.

I use these for highlights, backlighting, and fixing errors.

Left to right:

1. Simple plastic eraser. Removes most of the pigment on the paper. Staedler Mars Brand.

2. Prismacolor white. The most opaque white pencil I've come across yet, by far out of my 8 whites. Used for brightest highlights in *some* drawings. Can desaturate colors though.

3. Uniball Signo 0.7mm or 1.0mm. Opaque white gel pen. Doesnt wipe off.

4. Sakura Gellyroll 08. I think 0.7mm tip also. Slightly less opaque but cheap and good. Doesnt wipe off.

5. FW acrylic ink by Daler Rowney. Used with a brush or dip pen fairly good for less opaque highlights. Takes time to dry.

6. Uni Posca White 2.5mm. Acrylic marker. Fairly opaque, rarely used unless I want to correct mistakes and contour a drawing. If you want to use it for fine lines, I suggest you get their 1.0mm to 1.5mm tipped marker. Doesnt wipe off.

-JT

Where to buy art supplies online?

 This question comes up A LOT in art circles. It is also answered a lot. This post is to amass a little information for beginners or otherwise who are unsure of their options.

There are plenty of places to buy decent art supplies, but it all depends on your budget, your distance, what quality you need, what type of art supply you want, and what quantity you need, amongst other factors.

You will always get the answer from me: "Support your Local Art Store" first.

I am a big supporter of supporting local businesses. To find your local art store, do a google search  of the term 'local art store'. It may take a bit of browsing but can be enlightening! You never know if you have one just 10 minutes away from you!

Local art stores often go above and beyond, because they love what they do: supplying art materials to artists.

Ok, now that I've interjected that (😉), I can tell you a few places online.

These are in no particular order.

In the US, Jerry's Artarama and Dick Blick are pretty standard places to get art supplies. You can get a variety of brands and qualities of art supplies from them. I tend to get my art supplies from them, whether it be paper, pencils, canvas, artist tape, paint, or conservation supplies. Cheapjoe's is another US based online art store.

There is Jackson's Art supply in the UK, 

In store "Brick and Mortar" locations:

Joanns Fabrics and Crafts, Michaels, and a place called Benjamin Franklin all sell scholastic grade to studio grade art supplies. They don't often carry artist or professional grade art supplies, but they are great if you don't have a small local art supply near you.

I encourage you to use their coupons when buying anything, as the markup on products is heavy. A pad of Arches brand watercolor paper can cost $50 or so at a big box art store, but $30 at an online store. If you use a very good coupon, you can get a decent price for an artist brand pad of paper.
(I am unsure as to why people in artist circles don't use the tactic of using coupons in big box art stores.) Using coupons in big box art stores is great if:

• you need the art material immediately
• an online store doesn't ship to your location
• You want to test out an art supply before you use it, by either using their testing paper in the store or buying a few pencils or markers.

I don't personally use Hobby Lobby. I would rather not make comment on their store, but it is an option for you, if you would like to do your own research on their merchandise and products.

I hope this helps for those who are somewhat confused as to what to buy and where!

-JTP

The Art Tools I use: Colored Pencils

Lately, some folks have been asking me what tools I use, what brands. In this case, people have asked me what colored pencils I use.

The answer is simple and complex. I use a multitude of brands.

Here is most of my collection. 

Some of the brands I use:

Caran d'ache Pablo

Prismacolor

Prismacolor verithin

Caran d'ache Luminance 

Koh I Noor wordless colored pencils

Faber Castell Polychromos

Koh I noor Polycolor

Sanford Colorific

Blick Studio pencils

Utrecht colored pencils 

Mitsubishi prussian blue

And I plan on getting more pencils from different brands! Theres probably some brands I've even missed!

I've amassed this collection over the years through curiosity and self guided research. My goal is to make art with these pencils, of course! I have years of experience with pencils and art materials. (Probably close to 20 years.)

I have secondary goals: to find the most archival pencils, to be able to describe the qualities of each brand I come across, and to share that knowledge with people!

Since I'm often on the move, I store my pencils in a handy plastic zipper art bag, with other materials I use to make colored pencil art.

I draw everything from illustrations, to reproductions of paintings, to abstract art, and even my comic art.

Colored pencils are NOT the only medium I use. But they sure are fun, and to get started with them, you only need about 8 to 12 pencils!

I hope to share more of the knowledge I have acquired over these years really soon!

Ffn

-JT

Frieze - Acrylic Painting on Canvas

Frieze, acrylic on canvas. Late 2018. 

This cute canvas is about 6"x6", and fits perfectly into small spaces. I love the vibrant stark black contrast, don't you? Sometimes playing with color is fun, sometimes playing with sharp contrasts and heavy lines is fun.

I love it so much that I might make similar ones, like a series. OMG, I'm a bit excited to do that! I might do it on paper though, and experiment with how much detail I could get into such a tiny painting.

All of my paintings are for sale, unless otherwise noted. Message me through Gmail or Etsy about it! Etsy.com/shop/jtphillpsmnr<3

-JTPMNR

Pineapple Table Runner in size 20 thread, wip

I am making a table runner/tablecloth for my mother. I'm testing out to see if I like the pattern. So far, I like the pattern, but not the thread and hook combo.
I'm using Aunt Lydia's Fine Crochet size 20 and a Boye size 10 hook. This might be too small for me: It will take forever to even make a table runner with this pattern! I've made about 4 motifs so far.

There's more info at my Ravelry project page.
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/murasakinoryuu/pineapple-square-s-742

jtp/mnr

October 15 abstract finished!

Finally finished this abstract drawing!

At the moment, i am calling it, "October 15 abstract".

11x14", india ink on bristol. I used markers, technical  pens, dip pens, and brushes for boath the broad lines and small detail.

To reiterate my last post,  each of these abstract drawings is organic and spontaneous in design and concept. This series examines the shape,  physically, mentally and spiritually, of the metropolis and its relation to the individual city dweller and the industrial/technological past, present and future. Each drawing is an abstract meditation on these concepts.

JTP/MNR

New abstract drawing, work in progress!

I felt it was time to get started on a new abstract drawing!

Keith Haring is a big influence in my art. Ive been told by viewers that they see his artistic influence in my work! While this is great, I always strive to bring my own perspective to the idea of stark, cartoonlike, glyph-like art!

My process
I may have mentioned before,  my abstract artwork is not planned. Each piece is an experiment in following the shapes and symbols. each stage of the piece is a choice, a decision in time, like a binary tree filled with decisions. My work is metitative and mathematical in its own way; since each line is a decision taking me down one path, what would happen if in that point of time rhat the line is made, i chose to put another symbol in its place? With this line of thinking, one drawing, in alternate decision pathways, has the potential to be a slightly different drawing, yielding an  infinite number of designs.

Unfortunately, i dont have infinite time to contemplate these designs nor create them,  which makes the designs i do discover and create much more unique. Fun, huh?

Jtp/Mnr

Wings - Oil on Canvas, Abstract, beginning of the series

Untitled, 8 x 5.5", ink and colored pencil on paper.

Justin (MNR) Phillips

This is the image that started my current series of abstract linework!
It was a 'doodle' in my sketchbook that happened to look great enough for me to put some color on. This is why you keep your sketchbook pictures! This was created a few years ago, and inspired dozens of paintings and drawings!

I'm always putting together new ideas to see how far I can take this series of paintings and drawings.

My painting, Wings, came as a result of this drawing and was the first of this series.

Wings, 16x20", oil on canvas 

Justin (MNR) Phillips

At first, I used this drawing as a direct guide for how to paint this painting, then I diverged from it and only used some of the design elements from the drawing. I have trouble creating the same exact piece over and over again! D; In the end, I just 'let the brush guide me'. I essentially make up each abstract piece spontaneously, finding a rhythm and harmony in each mark on the page, and then creating other marks that make sense.


-Justin Phillips/MNR

Abstract Landscape Village Drawing

This abstract/figurative landscape was created earlier this year. It is 11"x14", and drawn with india ink. Made by me, Justin (MNR) Phillips, 2016.

Like most of my ink drawings nowadays, I didn't plan this one.
Prints and merchandise of this piece are available on my Society6 page, here: https://society6.com/product/abstract-ink-village_print

This was rather a fun creation, I hope to make a series of this. In creating this, I was considering a book called 'Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions' by Edwin A Abbot. The gist of it is there are shape people who live on a 2 dimensional plane. The reader learns the culture and lifestyle of these 2D people, and basically how their villages are constructed. To us, the villages would look something like an architectural floor layout plan. Anyone in the '3rd' dimension would be able to see within the houses and within the bodies of the shape people.

Early video games, often called 2D sidescrollers, take on this principle, but a different variation of it. The "north-south" direction is where gravity acts upon everything, and most objects are solid, and have to either be destroyed or jumped over for a player character to progress.

Think: Super Mario Maker, Spelunky, early Rayman, and early Castlevania, if you are a gamer.

I look forward to playing with this design in the future!


-JTP/MNR

Pattern: Shells and V's Crochet Edging

I found this picture here on LaceForStudy.co.uk. Great website for all sorts of handmade and machine made vintage and antique lace.
Here is the link to the original lace. http://www.laceforstudy.org.uk/archives/purpose/16167/2193-english-domestic-crochet-edging/

Replicating antique and vintage crochet patterns is one of my hobbies, I really like antique lace, and would like to share this one here with you.

 Here is the pattern, please comment if you find any errors.

My Version of the Pattern:

Ch: chain

Sk: skip

**: repeat instructions between

Dc: double crochet

hdc: half double crochet

V stitch: hdc, ch 2, hdc

US crochet terms. Hook and thread of whatever suitable size.

1. Ch 27, skip 4ch, *4dc, ch2, 4dc in next space, sk 4 ch*, repeat instructions between * twice more. Ch 3, sk 4 ch, dc in 4th chains, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in 3rd, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in last chain.
2. Ch 5, turn, hdc, ch 2, hdc (V stitch made), ch 3, V stitch, ch 3, V stitch.
3. Ch 3, sk 4 ch, dc in 4th chains, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in 3rd, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in last chain.
4. Repeat from 2nd row.

I reserve the right to tweak the pattern if needed.

Here is the picture of the lace, borrowed from the website (and hosted here on my blogger). I created the pattern from the image.

-JTP/MNR

Tiny Scallops Edging

An edging that I improvised.  Great for using up scrap yarn/thread

Tiny Scallops Crochet Edging

• Size 10 thread, 
• size 5 1.9mm hook.
• US terms.

You will always have the flat part of the edging facing away from you.


Chain 5
Two Dc in 5th chain from the hook.
Repeat these two lines for the required length.

If desired:
Now to make the top edge:
Chain 5, *Sc in the middle of the horizontal dc of finished braid, chain 4, sc in the base of the horizontal dc of finished braid.*

Repeat instructions within * till the end.



-JTP/MNR

6/6/2016 Drawing comics/conceptart with Murasaki

I'm working on some #conceptart/comic art today! Please come and check out my #livestream here! #webcomics http://www.youtube.com/user/MagnoliaChan/live

Livestreaming: Working on character concept art

Come join me, I am livestreaming for at least half an hour here:
https://t.co/Pg8jQV3MhO

Working on character concept art. Right now.


jtp/mnr

Fruity Loops Artwork, Oil Pastel

I created this a few weeks ago, thought I would share it with y'all folks!

18 x 24, 70 lb drawing paper, mungyo oil pastels.
It is now framed, considering what to do with it. ;D

Here it is on instagram, please check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEwg9AhsQSD/

-JTP/MNR

Minecraft CTM Monstrosity Ep 3, Don't look at me that way.

My Art on Youtube! Sweet Lolita Geneva: Speed Sketch Art, Part 1

New moleskine! First moleskine

What should I draw in it?
I posted about it in my instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/p/_nTCQLsQa1/
I've never had one before... the pages are so blank and smooth and pretty...

Maybe I should start Dec 31st to draw in it?, as it is what I consider the boundary between the old and new year.

jtp/mnr

New Painting day!

I just finished a painting for  a possible gallery show at the Limner-Slow Art gallery in Hudson, NY.
Whee. Lets see if I will be in it. However, if anything, I'm proud I finished this piece, and it came out looking 'mighty fine'. Hhahahah.

This is essentially what it looks like. I need to take it outside and take a better picture of it. Oooh I really want a studio where I can set up lighting for photographs...

I am going to touch it up a bit but this is what it looks like.

Now to start a new painting!
I also have some unfinished acrylic paintings I need to work on...
Ugh.... but oil painting is fun! I still have the... unfortunate idea that oil painting takes a while to finish each stage. It takes SO long to dry. I took this photo a few days ago and its still drying...
I think I want to write a post in the future comparing and contrasting acrylic painting and oil painting. Just my thoughts on it for my own process.


-JTP/MNR

Read-along: The Witch of Salem, what inspired the Crucible (Librivox)

Hello folks. It is near Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, here in the US.
I don't really celebrate it. I think ghost stories and scary stories and supernatural and all that stuff, are for year round consumption!

A year or two ago, to get over my aggressive playing of MMORPGs, I began knitting or drawing and listening to audiobooks and youtube vids.
Librivox is a great place for free audiobooks, most in the public domain. A lot of them are books written prior to the 1900s, and many are from the 1800s. I love antique and period writings.

Anyway, I am currently reading a fiction called The Witch of Salem, by John R Musick. It's a lil' rough at times, as writers from before 1900 tended to blather on with flowery language. You get used to it after a while. However, the characters are interesting and it gives an interesting perspective into how people may have felt about that Witch Trial business while it was happening.
Best of all, it takes place in my home state, Massachusetts! I love stories that take place in New England and New York, particularly.

Anyway, here is the link to where you can 'read' it: https://librivox.org/the-witch-of-salem-by-john-r-musick/
Here is where I'm 'reading' it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCMdFElWEAc
I am 4 hrs and 45 minutes into the reading, out of a total of about 9 hours.

Word of warning, his opinion in his writing of Native Americans and African Americans is quite racist (and ironic, considering he is speaking of persecution!) If you can get past that, its a decent immersive tale about rising hysteria and bigotry in this small New England town.

Don't you miss the days when people read to you? Audiobooks are awesome like that.

-JTP/MNR

Bought art supplies: Turpenoid, Oct 20

Wheee.

I finally bought art supplies! I am trying to get my work out there, and so I am going to make youtube videos soon.
I want my first youtube video to be either my art supply purchase unboxing, or a timelapse of me drawing/painting something.

<3 p="">
This recent haul is from Jerry's Artarama. I'm trying out different art supply websites, now that I am doing more traditional drawings and paintings. I will post when I have some progress on this video stuff.

Anyway, I got this from Dick Blick off of Amazon for about $19. It is 16oz, Weber Natural Turpenoid. I already have a 32oz plastic container, but I"m running low. I thought 16oz would be... larger than this .But what can you do. Hahah.

-JTP/MNR