KAREN CAMPBELL, ARTIST
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Let's Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!!!

I'm so glad I tried ARTGRAF TAILOR SHAPE in my Mixed Media Art Journal!!

14/3/2023

2 Comments

 
Today I'm RIDICULOUSLY excited to share a super fun project that I created in my mixed media art journal using a square of tailor shape by Art Graf. 

I picked this up randomly at Jerry's Artarama a while ago and finally decided to play with it today. I had NO IDEA what to expect from this product, and am SO EXCITED about the results!
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​Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
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So this thing is actually a chunk of solid carbon and it's completely watersoluble. You can grab one on Amazon for about $12 if you wanna play along with me at home.

​It's got a few names - some call it tailor's shape, others call it tailor's "chalk." It's actually NOT CHALK, but carbon that has been formed into a rectangular disc in the shape of tailor's chalk!
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For today's demo, I decided to transfer a previous drawing (if you're not sure how to transfer a drawing, watch this video) into my Strathmore watercolor sketchbook to get this project started. 

HOT TIP: Remember if you're working with ANY type of water-soluble art supplies, you need to be working on watercolor paper.  
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This is the watercolor sketchbook I'm working in today. It's an 11x14 because I LOVE to work big, and hard cover, which makes it perfect for traveling. 

This is typically what I work in for pretty much anything art journal related. It's filled with 140# cold press (textured) watercolor paper. It's of course amazing at accepting watercolor and all watersoluble art supplies from watercolor pencils to the ArtGraf tailor shape I'm using today.

I think the paper in this sketchbook is also amazing for drawing because of the gorgeous texture. It's also hearty enough to accept full on "hamburger style" mixed media projects like the one below!
​
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Not familiar with my Hamburger System? It's my signature mixed media process! Grab my FREE Hamburger System cheatsheet to help you understand your mixed media art supplies and start layering them like a pro. 
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After you grab your cheatsheet, watch this playlist to see how I create each layer of the Hamburger System from collage to acrylic painting, finishing and sealing to create my mixed media masterpieces!
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Back to TODAY's project :) So as I mentioned, I've never drawn with anything like the watersoluble tailors shape by ArtGraf before! It honestly worked pretty well tracing over the lines of my transferred drawing.

​When it was time to activate my drawn lines, I was a little shocked at how water soluble this stuff was!! At the same time, I immediately felt like I was in familiar territory.
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The effects were IDENTICAL to my beloved black stabilo all pencil! So much so, that I'm seriously wondering if this stuff is what's actually inside the black stabilo!

If you're not familiar with the black stabilo all pencil, it's one of my FAVE art supplies - watch this video to learn all about it!
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While I played for today's project, I discovered there were two ways to activate the lines drawn by the ArtGraf tailor shape disc. The first way was simply to add a wet watercolor brush to the dry, drawn lines and drag the melty pigment around like watercolor.

As you can see in the video, I'm using my favorite watercolor brushes by Polina Bright. If you want to learn more about WHY I love them so much, watch this video. If you'd like to get one of Polina's brushes too, use this link to get a 10% discount on your purchase. 
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The second way to activate Art Graf tailors shape is by sweeping a wet watercolor brush directly across the disc to lift some of the carbon, and then painting with it just like you would with watercolor! Cool, right?! 
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As you'll see in the video, I added lots of new lines and layers into the hair using this "watercolor wash technique." If you're not sure how to paint hair in a mixed media or watercolor portrait, today's video is a GREAT demo of my favorite hair painting techniques. 
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If you play along at home with this disc for the first time and want to activate it to shade a face, I suggest you start by activating the lines in the hair first so you can get the feel of how the product works before you move onto the face. Remember it will KEEP ACTIVATING on you too - every time you add a wet brush to previously activated lines. I LOVE that, but I know it freaks some of my students out :) 

HOT TIP: If anything ever gets TOO BLACK for you when you activate your dry lines, dab it with a dry paper towel to lighten things up and lift away some of that darkness. 
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Stay with me till the end of today's video to see how I tied this new journal page to the facing page to make a fun art journal spread using these AWESOME, chunky acrylic paint pens by Liquitex. They are seriously SO fun to play with!! ​
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If you're interested in learning how to draw a 3/4 view portrait from scratch like the one in today's video, watch this playlist, or check out my book How to Draw MORE Fun Fab Faces ​on Amazon. 
This "cartoony" or whimsical drawing style is super fun, way less intimidating than realism, but also an excellent runway INTO realism if that's something you're interested in achieving later! ​
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Need the real-time version of today's lesson? I've dropped it for you in the Mixed Media Society. Not a member yet, but curious? Learn more and add your name to the waitlist to get notified next time I'm open for enrollment! 

​Thanks for watching!! 

Need More Resources?

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
2 Comments

How I Create SPARKLY Looking Vintage PERFUME BOTTLES on BLACK PAPER [for Mixed Media Artists!!]

8/3/2023

0 Comments

 
I know just how much mixed media artists LOVE stamping, stenciling, and painting - but how many of us really take the time to work on our plain old drawing skills? 

Today we're gonna do just that with a FUN & EASY black paper drawing lesson in real-time, over on my Mixed Media YouTube channel! 
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​Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
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Supplies are minimal today! You just need a sheet of black paper (or toned paper) and some white drawing instruments. I'm using a white colored pencil, white gel pen, white sharpie, and white posca pens. 
If you watched last week's video, or you've been following me for a while, you already know I'm OBSESSED with fountain pen ink painting and collecting vintage glass perfume bottles to store my inks in. ​
Those same gorgeous bottles inspired today's drawing practice for mix mixed media artists!
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As you'll see in today's black paper drawing lesson, I'm keeping things super loose and kinda messy ON PURPOSE. It's no fun to get all stressed out about a drawing project, especially if you're just learning how to draw, or coming back to it after time away.
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After my three vintage perfume bottles are sketched in with white colored pencil, I grabbed my white gel pen to start outlining and doodling in some details. To me, this feels a lot like zentangling.

​It's totally chill, and very relaxing (as long as your pen works!?)
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When I'm ready to add some thicker lines in, my white poscas are awesome for some line variation and the fun designs give our perfume bottles some character. 

How to Add Action Lines & Sparkles to Your Drawings

Adding highlights to the faces I draw and mixed media paintings I create is always one of my FAVORITE parts of the project. 
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For this particular drawing, I added thicker lines using a paint pen with a larger nib to strengthen the edges of the bottles, the ground they're sitting on, etc. 
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Next, grab a straight edge to help you draw a straight line wherever you want to add some sparkle. This can be a little tricky to do with paint pens because they're SUPER EASY to smudge, so be careful!!
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Isn't that gorgeous?! I LOVE this part!! 

Loved Today's Drawing Lesson & Need More?

Check out the Fun Fab Drawing Club over at Awesome Art School!! We are having a blast over here and would LOVE for you to join us. Learn how to draw and shade faces, figures, fashions, animals and SO MUCH MORE!! It's so much FUN and so easy, once someone shows ya how :)
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Missed My Last Mixed Media Art Video?​

See exactly where the inspiration for today's free drawing lesson on YouTube came from, as I demo a glass dip pen for the first time and play with my favorite fountain pen inks! I can't get over how VIRAL this video is going!! It's jumped to OVER 130K views already!!

​Check it out here:


​Wanna Stay in the Loop?

Grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines and you'll hear from me every time I publish a new video on YouTube! ​

Need More Resources?

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
​

Thanks for hanging out with me today!! ​
0 Comments

The Ridiculous Adventures of Unboxing Blackwing Vol. 192!

7/2/2023

2 Comments

 


​I'm OBSESSED With Blackwing Pencils!

If you're new to my world, Blackwing pencils are my absolute favorite drawing pencils! I love the weight of them, the feel of them, and how magical they are for shading faces!
One Blackwing pencil basically gives you the power of an entire pencil set all wrapped up into ONE pencil.

Because I love Blackwings SO much, I subscribed to Blackwing Volumes to get a limited edition box of Blackwings four times a year :)
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​​Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
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LAST TIME I unboxed my Blackwing Volumes subscription box, my nice, relaxing Saturday night turned into a horrendous CRAFT project!!  Not at ALL what I'd expected. ?
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So... I've been sitting on my unopened subscription box for a couple of months because I just don't wanna do any more crafts!! (Check this video out if you want a laugh!)

Fingers crossed Blackwing Vol 192  is craft-free...
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As soon as I opened the box, I was really intrigued by the bold color scheme and the words "Don't carry the world upon your shoulders," inscribed on one of the pencils pictured on the box. 
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As I turned the box around, I noticed a list of songs and quickly discovered this month's theme: Lennon & McCartney!! YAY!! 
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Wanna Try Blackwing Pencils?

I hear ya!! I rarely reach for anything else when I sit down to draw (except my mechanical pencil when I need a super fine line).  Blackwings are expensive, and cheaper by the dozen. If you wanna give them a try, you can grab a box of 12 on Amazon for around $35. If you've got an artsy friend or two, you could also go in on a box together. I've also occasionally seen a pack of 3 floating around Amazon.

If Blackwings just feel totally out of reach for you (I get that too!!), pick up a smaller pencil set by another quality brand like Faber-Castell for less than half the price, or simply play with whatever #2 pencil you have lying around the house! Seriously!! The most important thing is what you DO with a pencil, not which brand you use!!

Wanna Learn How to Draw
​Paul McCartney & John Lennon?

So you're NOT gonna believe this crazy coincidence. I literally JUST wrapped up lessons for the Fun Fab Drawing Club on how to draw John Lennon & Paul McCartney in the style of Simon Chow, so I can't believe how timely these Lennon & McCartney Blackwings are!!
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To enjoy these drawing lessons, join me over at Awesome Art School in my Fun Fab Drawing Club! I'll show you step by step, start to finish how to draw Paul McCartney and John Lennon from scratch. 

You HAVE TO SEE what some of my Fun Fab Drawing Club students have been posting in the Facebook Group from these lessons. 
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Amazing, right?! I love how each one looks so unique!! I'm also a little surprised to see how many more John pix are trending in the group right now! He seems to be the group fave at the moment :)

Drawing Idea for When You're On the Go

​I started the little watercolor journal spread below on a recent flight. It's not finished, so it's the perfect opportunity to show you how my Blackwing Vol 192 pencils work!
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​I don't know what it is about being on a plane that makes me feel a little self-conscious, but I don't love art-ing in front of the people next to me. I know it's weird because I have people watching my videos and doing lessons with me all the time in my art clubs, but when I'm in the middle of creating and filming - I'm totally alone. No one is watching me in the moment. 

If you ever feel like that, but still want to art on a plane or anywhere on the go - I've got a fun drawing idea for you.
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Use a template and just shade and/or watercolor some shapes! I've got this awesome circle template that fits right into my travel art journal, and for whatever reason, I don't feel weird tracing a bunch of circles onto the page (even if someone is watching!). It's super low-stress and takes the pressure off. 
Use a blending stump to add a little shading to your shapes, or even better - try a little watercolor over graphite. Watercolor locks IN your graphite layer and accentuates it.  Not long ago I reviewed a fun watercolor palette by Derwent called Graphitint. 
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If you're not familiar with Graphitints, they're watercolors with graphite mixed in, so the colors look a little dirty and edgy (shown above), which I kinda love. Derwent's Graphitint Paint Pan Pocket Set is a small palette, and perfect for travel, especially if you're thinking about doing any moody fairies, landscapes, or cityscapes! 
Watch my full review on Graphitints over pencil here:
And my ridiculous unboxing of Blackwing Vol. 7 here:

​Wanna Stay in the Loop?

And get notified EVERY TIME I publish a new video on YouTube? ​Join my Email Newsletter!

​As my way of saying thanks - grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines! ​

Need More Resources?

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
​

Thanks for hanging out with me today!! ​
2 Comments

I was given a glass dip pen and OMG I wish I had known?!

31/1/2023

12 Comments

 
I feel absolutely horrible...

One of my students, Stephne Nash, sent me a gorgeous glass dip pen last summer and I haven't even had time to play with it until now. First of all, THANK YOU STEPHANIE for the extremely thoughtful gift! Today's video is for YOU and ALL the fountain pen ink lovers out there!
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If you're new to my world, I'm OBSESSED with fountain pen ink, have a zillion colors, and use them exactly like watercolors!

That's right, I create fountain pen ink paintings!! If you didn't know this was a thing, and love watercolor, this whole concept might just blow your mind!! If that's you, check out this Fountain Pen Ink Painting playlist to see how I do this, get tips on how I store my inks in vintage perfume bottles, plus even do a fountain pen ink painting tutorial right along with me!
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​Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.

How to Use a Glass Dip Pen

Truth be told, I've NEVER worked with a glass dip pen before today. I KNOW!! This is another reason I felt it was important to do a video on the subject.

​Whenever I'm learning something new, I LOVE to share it in case it inspires you to get creative or try something new too! 
The glass dip pen I'm working with today is by Luxiv. Right out of the gate, I'm in love because not only is the pen itself gorgeous, there's a magical unicorn on the box!! It's like a sign :)
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I've planned to play with my new dip pen on a sheet of Fabriano hot press watercolor paper (smooth, without texture) because I already know my non-glass dip pens work best on smooth paper like bristol. 
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As soon as I dip my pen into the ink and get going, I see the whole process is SUPER SIMPLE (yay for us!!). All you have to do is dip the tip of the pen into your ink, give it a tap on the side of your ink bottle to tap off the drips, and then just go to town. 
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As you can see in the pic above, this particular glass dip pen has all these swirlies that extend up and around from the tip. These are what hold the ink, and you're supposed to kinda turn the pen as you use it to empty out all the ink from each dip. 
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You've gotta see the demo today, because I was seriously shocked at HOW WELL this dip pen both held the ink from one dip, and HOW LONG it lasted!! I wrote and doodled all over a single sheet of paper from just one dip into my fountain pen ink!

Drawing with Fountain Pen Ink

After I discovered how much fun it was to write and doodle with my glass dip pen, I decided to pull out a fresh sheet of hot press watercolor paper to just play!!
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I've got a new apothecary lesson I'm working on for the Celtic Collective (my fantasy art membership with Lucy Brydon over at Awesome Art School). Since I have glass bottles on my mind, I decided to doodle a few onto my page using my glass dip pen and some permanent, black ink. 
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After I covered the page in fun bottles, I pulled out my Polina Bright watercolor brush (the ONLY watercolor brushes I use now - learn more about why in this video; grab one for yourself and get 10% off here), and a few of my favorite fountain pen ink shades to paint liquid into each bottle illustration: Meadow by Diamine (green), Noodler's Ink Blue, Noodler's Ink Atlantic Salmon (pink), Noodler's Ink Saguaro Wine (dark pink), Noodler's Ink Purple Martin. 
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I seriously had SO much fun just playing today. I hope you will give this a try at home. I think you'll just love it!
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Wanna TAKE AN ONLINE ART CLASS
About Fountain Pen Ink Painting?

I thought you'd never ask :)

Check out the Mixed Media Society with me over at Awesome Art School! I've got an entire classroom dedicated to fountain pen ink painting with SUPER FUN projects ready and waiting for you to create!

In the Mixed Media Society, you'll also learn about a TON of other mixed media art supplies and more importantly HOW TO USE THEM to create mixed media masterpieces 
you can be proud of!

We're having a blast and would love you to join us... but don't take my word for it :) Check out this beautiful piece by one of my amazing students...
​
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​Wanna Stay in the Loop?

And get notified EVERY TIME I publish a new video on YouTube? ​Join my Email Newsletter!

​As my way of saying thanks - grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines! ​

Need More Resources?

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
​

Thanks for hanging out with me today!! ​
12 Comments

My Honest Review of Hippie Crafter Paint Pens

24/1/2023

1 Comment

 
I LOVE paint pens and use them ALL THE TIME in my mixed media art! So, naturally, I was thrilled when Hippie Crafter reached out to me to review their set of 25. 

I'm always up for trying new art supplies so you don't have to, AND so I can continually recommend art supplies with the best value to my students. Press play to see what I think about Hippie Crafter paint pens, or just keep on scrollin'!
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​Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.

Hippie Craft Paint Pens Set of 25 Cost

Right off the bat, I'm in love with the packaging (SO FUN!!), and love the colors included in this set. Each paint pen comes individually wrapped, with a replaceable nib attached. Additionally, Hippie Crafter included a little package of replacement nibs, plus chisel nibs if you're in the mood to switch things up.

The barrels on these pens are a bit basic in my opinion, but when you're only paying around $1/ marker, who cares?! 
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Never Used Paint Markers Before?

Or unsure how to activate paint markers? No problem. Watch the video to see this process in action. It's really simple and my recommendations are the same no matter which brand of paint pens you're working with.
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First of all, you need to get the acrylic ink flowing inside the marker itself before it will come out onto your paper. Shake the paint pen, then depress the nib onto a piece of scratch paper till you start getting little blobs of color out. Alternate between shaking the pen and depressing the nib until you can get a full stream of color you're able to draw with. Easy, right?!
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What to Look for in Quality Paint Pens

As a mixed media artist, I typically use paint pens for highlights and outlining. Therefore, the opacity of the acrylic ink inside each pen is super important to me. It has to be able to show up boldly on top of my previous layers.
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The very first green I tested from the Hippie Crafter set was pretty translucent (see above left), but as I started testing more of the other markers, the opacity was pretty good overall.
Compared to Posca Pens, Hippie Crafters are definitely not as opaque in terms of coverage. However, they're also like half the cost. So this comes down to a personal preference in terms of what is most important to you. Cost or coverage?
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White Paint Markers for Mixed Media Artists

​As a mixed media artist, white is kinda everything when it comes to paint markers. It's the color I use most often when I reach for my paint pens near the end of a project for highlights (see eye shine line extending from the pupils below). 
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​Because of that, the opacity of white paint markers is super important to me. I need my white layer of highlights to be able to boldly sit on top of whatever art supply I previously created with - whether that's collage, acrylic paint, watercolor, alcohol markers, pencil, you name it!
Since white paint markers are so important to me, I'm always trying new ones to be sure I can continually recommend the best products to my students. 
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Check out this recent video if you want to know My FAVORITE Mixed Media White Pencils, Paint Pens & Inks for Creating Dazzling Highlights. 


​Final Thoughts on Hippie Crafter Paint Pens

​I really love the Hippie Crafter set of 25 paint pens for beginners, kids, or anyone who wants all the colors and doesn't wanna break the bank!

But I told you I'd be honest.
I've got two drawbacks with this set. The first is the opacity and quality of the white pen.  White is the most important color to me when it comes to paint markers.

That being said, you can totally buy this set and supplement it with a higher-quality white paint pen by Posca, since white is a shade available for sale individually or in sets of 3 with varying nib sizes (highly recommend!).

The second drawback on the Hippie Crafter set is how they feel on my paper. The nibs feel a bit scratchy and rugged overall. I felt like it was harder to get a fine line from them. 
I hope you found this review helpful! Happy art-ing!!
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Wanna Create Today's Project at Home?

​If you need a simple art project for kids, or if you've got a little swatching of your own to do, you might want to try the little mixed media fish painting shown in today's video. I simply dropped blobs of watercolor in various sizes onto a sheet of watercolor paper (during last week's Mei Liang Watercolor Set Review video), and today added paint pen doodles on top to create cute little fish!
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​Ready to REALLY Get Creative with Me?

Check out the Mixed Media Society with me over at Awesome Art School! You'll learn even more about the myriad of art supplies on the market and more importantly HOW TO USE THEM to create mixed media masterpieces you can be proud of! We're having a blast and would love you to join us!! ​
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LOVE Product Reviews?

And art supply demos? ME TOO!!! Binge this next! You'll find my two cents on everything from alcohol markers to gelatos, watercolors, paint brushes, sealers and SOOOO much more!
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​Wanna Stay in the Loop?

And get notified EVERY TIME I publish a new video on YouTube? ​Join my Email Newsletter!

​As my way of saying thanks - grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines! ​

Need More Resources?​​

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
​

Thanks for hanging out with me today!! ​
1 Comment

Alcohol Marker Face Shading Tips for Scaredy-Cats

17/1/2023

0 Comments

 
I recently recieved an awesome question from one of my Wonder Bundlers (member of ALL THREE art memberships) at Awesome Art School. 

Her question to me was:
Can you shade a face with just ONE alcohol marker? 

The short answer is YES. But... I've got a few tips for you to make this technique work EVEN BETTER for you! Watch today's video to see exactly what I mean :) 
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​New to shading faces? Click the button below to grab my FREE Face Shading Guide! It will TOTALLY help you take your drawings to the next  level, no matter what art supply you're using. 
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This cheatsheet shows you 6 EASY shading patterns you can copy onto your own forward-facing face drawings to make them look more realistic.
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​Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
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My FREE Face Shading Guide is a page directly from my very first book, How to Draw Fun Fab Faces. ​
Another great reference used in today's video is one of my latest art books, Skin Tone Secrets.​
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This book is SUPER helpful for learning how to shade semi-realistic faces with alcohol markers. It takes ALL the guesswork out of choosing which markers go well together to create beautiful skin tones, and will have you creating gorgeous faces you can be proud of in NO TIME! ​


​What Paper is Best for Alcohol Marker Drawings? 

If you're new to alcohol markers, using the right paper for your drawing projects is SUPER IMPORTANT. 

HOT TIP: NEVER shade with alcohol markers on a super-absorbent surface like watercolor paper. It will totally wreck your markers! Always use bristol or something like my favorite card stock, which is a cheaper bristol alternative. 
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​Which Skin Tone Markers Are Best for Shading Faces? 

For today's dark skin tone face drawing demo, I'm using Ohuhu alcohol marker YR148 / Thin Persimmon.

If you don't have alcohol markers and want to shade the faces you draw, I recommend the Ohuhu Alcohol Markers Set of 24 or 36, it's excellent quality and super affordable!
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​How to Blend Alcohol Marker Streaking

​Here's what my drawing looked like when I tried to shade it as I normally would, except that I only used one marker.
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See how you can see EVEY streak and stroke, especially in the lightest areas? This is tough to combat if we limit ourselves to one marker. 

Click over to the video to see how the Ohuhu colorless blender worked to blend the streakiness above.
For comparison's sake, I also shaded a light-skinned face. Instead of using the colorless blender, I tried blending the streaks by using a marker one shade LIGHTER than the one I originally used. 
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I feel like this alcohol marker blending technique worked WAY BETTER than the colorless blender (by the way- today's demo is a great example of why I NEVER use the colorless blender to blend my alcohol marker shading).  ​
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If you're NEW to shading faces with alcohol markers or a scaredy-pants about shading, here's what I recommend... USE TWO MARKERS.
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1. Shade the face two complete times - once horizontally in one color and once vertically in ONE SHADE LIGHTER (this lighter marker is your "blending friend" and will help eliminate streaks).

2. Add shadows to your drawing using marker #1 to show depth.

This alcohol marker blending technique will give you a smooth and super subtle look...
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❤️Watch today's video to see these alcohol marker tips in action! 

❤️Ready to dive into shading faces with 3-4 alcohol markers per face? Check out my book,Skin Tone Secrets. 
❤️WANT MORE alcohol marker shading tips? Check out this playlist! 


​Wanna Stay in the Loop?

And get notified EVERY TIME I publish a new video on YouTube? ​Join my Email Newsletter!

​As my way of saying thanks - grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines! ​

Need More Resources?​​

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
​

Thanks for hanging out with me today!! 
0 Comments

My HONEST Opinion of the MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set of 48

10/1/2023

2 Comments

 
Today on my mixed media YouTube channel, I'm testing out a new watercolor set by MeiLiang. If you're new to the brand, MeiLiang is a sister company of Paul Rubens, a very well-established and respected fine art brand. 

I'm excited to try these out and show you what I think! Join me for the full MeiLiang watercolor review and demo on YouTube, or scroll on down to learn more.
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​Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.

MeiLiang Watercolor Set of 48 Cost

The MeilLiang watercolor paint set of 48 vivid colors will run you just under $30 on Amazon if you'd like to try it. To me, that's an AWESOME VALUE, because it costs me the exact same amount to get ONLY TWO shades of Daniel Smith watercolor tubes!! 
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What's Included by MeiLiang in the Set of 48?

Inside this set, you'll find a really cool acetate sampler of all the shades included (which is actually its own teensy travel palette in case you didn't know)!
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They've also included a really nice swatch card (below) for you to use with a label pre-printed for each shade so you can swatch the set on your own as well. Super helpful!!
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​MeiLiang also threw a water brush in with this set of 48 colors, which is super nice if you don't already have one. 

Typically I only use Pentel water brushes because I'm super picky, but I did test the MeiLiang water brush pen out. Click over to watch the video so you can see what I think.
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Never Used a Waterbrush Before?​

No problem. There's a first time for everything. Click over to the video because I've got a little waterbrush demo for you in real time (no timelapse, starting at 2:04). I show you exactly how to fill a water brush with water, and how to use it. You'll also see a quick comparison of the MeiLiang waterbrush vs. my favorite Pentel water brush pen. 
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Why it's SO Important to Swatch Watercolors

If you've been following me for a while, you KNOW what a huge fan of swatching I am. It's super important to do whenever you get a new art supply with multiple colors - whether it's watercolors, markers, you name it. 

I've been burned way too many times in the past and learned the hard way that color names, marker caps, or what a watercolor shade looks like in the pan are MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, nothing like what you will get on actual paper! Case in point...
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The color called "Flash Red" in this set doesn't look red at all to me! It's more of a gray-purple, kind of like lunar violet by Daniel Smith.

If I had been doing a painting and wanted to add red, dipped into Flash Red, and put it on my paper, I would've been really upset because this is totally purple. 

Swatching BEFORE you paint, will prevent this from happening to you. Trust me, your future self will thank you! 
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How gorgeous is that watercolor brush in the pic above? It's my absolute favorite watercolor brush by Polina Bright. Here's more about WHY I love Polina Bright watercolor brushes and work with them exclusively now. Wanna get one too? Use this link to take 10% off (thanks Polina!!).

Final Thoughts

The bang for your buck in this MeiLiang watercolor set is seriously undeniable. To get 48 gorgeous colors for less than $30 is totally worth it.

​I feel like the colors in this palette are bright, cheery, and remind me of summertime! There's also a really nice sampling of shades from each color family, which I really like. MeiLiang wasn't stingy on the neutrals they included. I feel like the entire rainbow is well represented in this palette, AND you get a BONUS row of metallics on the bottom row! So fun!! 
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I highly recommend MeiLiang's set of 48 watercolors. It's the perfect palette - especially for beginners who want to play with a LOT of colors but not invest a million dollars into their first watercolor set!

​Ready to REALLY Get Creative with Me?

Check out the Mixed Media Society with me over at Awesome Art School! You'll learn even more about the myriad of art supplies on the market and more importantly HOW TO USE THEM to create mixed media masterpieces you can be proud of! We're having a blast and would love you to join us!! 
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Need MORE Art Supply Reviews?

Binge this playlist! You'll find my opinions and demos of everything from gelatos to pencils, markers, paint brushes, art books by other people and SO MUCH MORE!!

Wanna Stay in the Loop?

And get notified EVERY TIME I publish a new video on YouTube? ​Join my Email Newsletter!

​As my way of saying thanks - grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines! 
​

​Need More Resources? 

​❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
Thanks for hanging out with me today!! 
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How to STOP Fineliners From Smearing Once & For All!!

14/12/2022

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I LOVE outlining my drawings in fineliners, but I HATE it when my outline starts to bleed into the shading I add with alcohol markers or watercolor.

Wanna learn WHY this happens and how YOU CAN PREVENT it from happening ever again? Join me in the studio for today's video!
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Got a new set of fineliners or markers you need to swatch? I used to think swatching was boring and a big waste of time, but TRUST ME, your future drawings will thank you because marker caps and color names can be deceiving!! 

To make swatching MORE FUN I've created a FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet for you to print out at home! Simply click the button below and I'll send it straight to your inbox.
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Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
Back to today's demo...

I don't know about you, but I've got about a zillion different black fineliners, fineliner pens, fineliner markers and fineliner sets I could choose from when it comes to outlining the faces and figures I love drawing!

How do you know which one to grab, when?!
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I decided to show you 25 of them on both watercolor and bristol paper. After I give the ink a second to dry on both papers, I'll add some watercolor marker to the watercolor paper, and alcohol marker to the bristol paper to see which fineliners smear.

​The results are more than a little surprising!!
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Click over to the video to see which black fineliners you might want to add to your collection and WHY so you can prevent smearing once and for all. 
LOVE alcohol marker art or WANNA LEARN how to draw and shade gorgeous faces in all ethnicities using alcohol markers? Check out my recent book, Skin Tone Marker Secrets on Amazon. 
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In this book I share ALL my best tips for shading faces in alcohol markers and tell you EXACTLY which skin tone marker combos go well together to create flawless skin tones EVERY TIME!
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​​It's SO fun and easy - once someone shows ya how!! 

My absolute FAVORITE black fineliner set to use while working with alcohol markers is by Molotow:
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NEED MORE alcohol marker drawing videos to get your creative juices flowing?  Check out this playlist and draw along with me!

​Thanks for hanging out with me today!!
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
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Art Studio Makeover 2023 + EASY Art Supply Storage at Home with Karen Campbell

14/12/2022

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I get asked ALL the time about how I deal with art supply storage in my home studio. Typically, my studio and I are a hot mess! Lately though, I've been working hard on a huge reorganization of my space, so felt like it was the perfect time to show you my latest setup. 
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I love hoarding art supplies as much as the next girl, BUT what I care about MOST is making sure we all know how to USE the art supplies we already have!

If you're new to mixed media art, or struggling with how to layer your art supplies so you create a MASTERPIECE instead of a mess - 
download my FREE Cheatsheet outlining my signature mixed media layering process, called the Hamburger System. 
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It's simple, step-by-step, tells ya exactly WHICH supplies you need, and did I mention it's SO MUCH FUN?! 

​Wanna see the Hamburger System step-by-step, in action for FREE on YouTube? Check out my 
Hamburger System series on this playlist.
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​Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
I loved creating my Hamburger System series on YouTube so much, I turned it into a book, and it became a huge part of my art club called The Mixed Media Society over at Awesome Art School.
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Ok! Back to today's home art studio re-org!! Here's my studio...
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When we moved into this house in 2013, my husband Sean told me to just go ahead and take the guest room as my studio space because in our previous house, I had completely taken over our dining room and living room with ALL my art stuff! LOL. He gently suggested I needed a door I could close because I'm basically a hot mess express​?
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I LOVE my giant art table. My in-laws actually made this for me years ago when I used to teach in-person classes to kids and adults. It's about 7 feet long. Since moving Awesome Art School online, the entire space on this table is all for me! It holds my camera setup for recording lessons and YouTube videos, while still giving me tons of room to work. 
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Today I'm laying down a new rug in the studio (above), which I shopped for, for all of ONE minute! LOL!! It was called "Watercolor" (which made me love it even more), and the colors were a perfect match with my new acoustic panels on the wall behind my desk.

​Isn't it gorgeous?! 
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As you can see, my go-to art supply storage is simply clear, plastic bins! ​How easy is that?! It's also super affordable. I totally prefer bins over the original packaging for my supplies because I like to combine similar supplies into one bin, and they're easy to stack.

This system feels both flexible and accessible to me.


I store my finished drawings in little black portfolio books on this shelf so they're easy to pull out while I'm teaching. Art books, altered books, finished art journals, art journals in progress, and my favorite alcohol marker paper also "live" on this bookshelf. 

Check out this antique sewing box I found thrifting one day! I use it to store all my Daniel Smith watercolors. 
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I store all my fountain pen inks in vintage perfume bottles on a beautiful shelf in my studio too. Check out this video if you wanna learn more about fountain pen ink painting and my storage system. Aren't these bottles exquisite?! 
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Another thing I'm finishing up today in my studio is alcohol marker organization! I've got a zillion of these flying around my studio in all brands, and finally decided to give a wooden marker shelf I found on Amazon a whirl.
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​Make sure you watch the video to see what I think, and how it all looks when I'm done!! Thanks for hanging out with me today :)
NEED MORE resources to get your creative juices flowing?
​
❤️ CHECK OUT MORE of my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
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CHEAP & AWESOME Brush Tip Alcohol Markers for Shading Faces by ArtBeek

12/12/2022

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I'm OBSESSED with using brush-tip alcohol markers to shade the faces and figures I draw! If you've never tried shading your drawings with alcohol markers, or if you've been holding out on trying them because you're worried about the cost of copics - I can't wait to introduce you to Alcohol Markers by ArtBeek in today's video!
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Whenever you get a new art supply with multiple colors, PLEASE make sure you take the time to swatch your colors. It might feel like a tedious job, but it's honestly super relaxing and your future self will thank you because marker caps and color names can be deceiving!!

I've created a FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet for you to print out at home to make this process a bit more fun. 
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Simply click the button above and I'll send your FREE Swatch Sheet straight to your inbox. 
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​Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
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If you've been thinking about starting an alcohol marker collection, but have been intimidated by the price of Copic markers, I HEAR YOU!

​I've made it my mission over the last few years to test as many alcohol brands as I can, so I can recommend the BEST VALUE brands (including Copic marker alternatives) to my students over at Awesome Art School. 

It's ridiculous to expect everyone can afford to spend around $10/marker to have a little fun at their art table (even if I STILL LOVE my Copics!!). 
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If you've been hanging out with me for a while, you know I love the Ohuhu skin tone marker set (and really anything by Ohuhu!). But I also discovered an even CHEAPER brand of alcohol markers on Amazon that I also recommend you check out by ArtBeek - especially if you're looking to save a buck. 
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This is a screenshot of the ArtBeek Alcohol brush markers set of 120 colors for just $60!! I know!!! Who doesn't want 120 colors?! AND, at only 50 cents/per marker ?? - you can't go wrong!! 
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A couple of weeks ago I did the above face chart inspired drawing tutorial and used a ton of my ArtBeeks alongside a variety of more expensive alcohol marker brands from Copic to Winsor Newton, and felt the ArtBeeks performed beautifully. 

The brush nibs on the ArtBeeks are just right- not too firm or too soft. The ink is perfectly juicy!! I've used mine for everything from shading faces to creating Christmas cards (full-length lesson for the card below & MORE in The Fun Fab Drawing Club over at Awesome Art School).
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My only little complaint about this ArtBeek set is that they really should've included more PURPLES in this set (you only get 3). But, they do redeem themselves a bit with the giant collection of skin tone markers included (I think there are 24) - making the set of 120 perfect for anyone just starting an alcohol marker collection to shade faces. ​
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I highly recommend dropping them in your cart for yourself or as a gift for an artsy friend for the holidays. Check out today's video to see them in action!
And remember, if you've got a TON of new colors to swatch, use my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet, or pick up a copy of my Fun Fab Swatch Pad over on Amazon.​
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I created this book with my beloved Facebook Group a couple of years ago and still use it ALL THE TIME (as you can see in today's video!). 

​Thanks for hanging out with me today!!
​
After today's video, make sure you watch this one because it gives you MY BEST skin tone marker secrets for shading faces with alcohol markers! ENJOY!! 

​NEED MORE resources
 to get your creative juices flowing?
​
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
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    Karen Campbell

    Founder of Awesome Art School.  Mixed Media Artist.  Author of 18 Instructional Art Books!

    Posting on YouTube every single Wednesday of the year!  

    The Alliance of Independent Authors - Author Member

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"Karen is flipping hilarious and she's very real...I like the way she teaches in a way that really gives you confidence, whether you're a beginner or advanced there's always something new to learn!"

- Elizabeth W.

What Fans Are Saying

Karen, you are absolutely fabulous! You make me feel like I can draw anything. I have recently retired and finally have the time to do some of the art that I have loved since I was in school. I am really at the beginning of my art journey and I hope to learn as much as I can. Thank you for all you do.

​-Jill Y.

I ordered your Fun Fab Faces book and loved it! I was having a little trouble getting the noses I wanted and now it's easy! Also, I love how you stressed how important having the three tones in your drawing is. Thanks a bunch!

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Thank you Karen! I never though I could do faces. You broke it down so it was understandable! And I love your book! I got it yesterday! Can't wait to start practicing! It's so much fun!!!!!

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