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

Super FUN Draw Along of a Castle Ruin in Elegant Writer!

24/5/2023

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Hey there!! Are you ready for a creative adventure? Today we're delving into the world of water-soluble drawing supplies and are gonna have a blast creating our very own craggy castle ruins!

I'm going to be using an elegant writer (felt tip calligraphy pen), but you can use any kind of water-soluble marker or pen you have lying around at home. ​Not sure if you've got any water-soluble art supplies at home? Keep reading, because I'm gonna help ya find one!! 
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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.
In less than one hour, I'm going to go over NINE key concepts
in this FREE mixed media art lesson including:
  1. What IS water-solubility?
  2. How do you tell if your writing instrument or art supply IS water-soluble?
  3. What is the Elegant Writer and how does it work?
  4. What can I use if I DON'T have an Elegant Writer??
  5. What paper should I use for this?
  6. How do I do this project if all I have is a pencil?
  7. How to draw a castle ruin and rocks!
  8. How to depict realistic shading (and light sources)...
  9. How to strategically use water to create the look of depth and dimension when using water-soluble art supplies.
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Let's set the mood for a relaxed and enjoyable experience, shall we?

Forget about perfection and masterpieces – today, it's all about having fun and exploring the amazing properties of water-soluble materials. We're gonna let our inner second-grader shine through, embracing the joy of creating without any pressure.
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Not sure if you have any water soluble drawing supplies lying around the house? How about a felt tip pen? Most of us have one of those hiding in a drawer somewhere, and guess what?

They're water soluble! Yep, just draw a line and add water to it with a paintbrush  – it will melt like magic!

​Now, let's talk about the materials that can take our creativity to the next level. If you happen to be an artsy, fartsy person with a collection of art supplies (lucky you!), there are some fantastic options to consider.
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​​One of my personal favorites is the Elegant Writer (above, which I'll be using today) – a watersoluble calligraphy pen.  It does come in a variety of colors, but trust me, I've played with them all, and the only one well worth your time is BLACK.

Mixed media art supply lovers may also have Fineliners, Tombow markers, Neo Color IIs, watercolor pencils, watercolor markers, or a  Stabilo all black pencil (if you've been hanging with me for a while - you definitely have one of these!!). Any of these supplies are an excellent choice for today's castle ruin project.


Don't have any fancy art supplies? You can still have a TON of fun using any regular old pencil!  
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When it comes to paper, anytime you're doing a mixed media project that involves water, I suggest you work on watercolor paper because it can take way more layering than mixed media paper and holds up beautifully.

As far as watercolor paper goes, you've got choices. Cold press watercolor paper or hot press watercolor paper would both work beautifully for this activity. Cold press offers more texture and holds more water, so I'd go with this option if you plan to do multiple layers. Hot press doesn't really have any texture to it, and is super smooth.

What you choose today is 
entirely up to you, and your artistic preference!
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To learn more about watercolor paper and see each type of paper in action, check out this recent video.
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​Alright, let's dive into the techniques we'll be using to bring our craggy castle ruins to life. No rulers or erasers allowed – we want those wonky lines, uneven shapes, and rustic charm. Embrace the imperfections!

Make sure you watch today's video so you can draw along with me in real-time. Then, get ready for the magic – we're gonna activate the elegant writer ink by applying water selectively to just one side of our drawing using a watercolor brush!! 

​You're gonna LOVE watching the ink melt into stunning shadows, adding depth and sophistication to your work!
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As you can see in the above pic, I'm using my FAVORITE watercolor brushes by Polina Bright. Learn more about why I'm obsessed with them here, or get a set for yourself ​at 10% off here when you enter my name (KarenCampbell) as the coupon code at checkout. 

For all you pencil lovers out there, fear not! A blending stump, cuetip, or your finger does an amazing job of adding dimension to your drawing when you're ready to start shading.
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​Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Embrace the process, enjoy the unpredictability of your water soluble marker if you've got one, and let your creativity guide you.

​There's no right or wrong way to approach this – it's all about exploring, playing with your supplies, and adding your personal touch to those craggy castle ruins.
​Once you've completed your masterpiece, don't keep it to yourself! I'd LOVE to see your work!! 

?www.facebook.com/groups/awesomeartschoolPost a pic of your craggy castle ruins in my Facebook group

?Or tag me on Instagram @KarenCampbellartist 

​I'm genuinely excited to see what you create!! 

Want Another FREE Elegant Writer Project?

I thought you'd never ask... here ya go!! 
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Loved This Castle Project & Want MORE?

You might just LOVE my Celtic Collective art club with Lucy Brydon over at Awesome Art School. EVERY project in this club is inspired by castle ruins like today's piece, fairies, mythical creatures and fantasy!

?Check out The Celtic Collective & add your name to the waitlist to be notified next time we're taking on new members! 
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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​
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EASY Martini Glass Drawing Lesson on YouTube

16/5/2023

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While I was creating a lesson for the Fun Fab Drawing Club the other day, I was having so much fun, I decided to do a similar lesson as a Draw Along party in my Facebook Group! 

In case you missed that, or aren't on Facebook, I'm dropping the video on my YouTube Drawing channel as well :)

Today's FREE martini glass drawing lesson has a little twist to give us a teensy challenge...

1. No drawing in pencil
2. No drawing freehand

Sound fun?! Let's get started!!
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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.

Drawing Supplies for Today

Since we're not drawing in pencil, you might want to grab a few fineliners in different nibs (thicknesses). My favorite fineliner set is by Molotow, below.
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Since I plan to use alcohol markers to color in my martini glass drawing, I'm working on a super smooth sheet of cardstock that is similar to Bristol (but waaaaay cheaper).  

Next, you're gonna want a straight edge. You can easily use the edge of a book, or whatever you have lying around. Try NOT to reach for a ruler, because I don't want you to start measuring stuff :) I'm using a triangle for my straight edge and NOT measuring on purpose to keep the vibe FUN and wonky! 
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I've also got my ellipse and circle templates nearby. I use BOTH of these constantly when drawing faces. 

The ellipses are perfect for dropping in facial feature placeholders when I'm sketching in my face drawing guidelines at the beginning of a project. I love using the circle template whenever I'm drawing eyes to help me draw quick irises and pupils (because who wants to spend forever trying to draw a perfect circle?! NOT ME!!).
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If you don't have templates like this, it's totally fine! Use whatever you have lying around in the shape of a circle that you can trace. 

My last "supply" for today is seriously just a bunch of cocktail drawing reference images to provide me with a little inspiration and get my creative juices flowing.
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After you've grabbed your supplies, make sure to click over to the video because everything in today's FREE drawing tutorial is step-by-step, and in real-time so you can draw along with me from home :) ​

How to Make Your Line Drawing Even COOLER!

​Once you've got your basic martini glass drawing done, it's time to take your drawing from simple and plain... to awesome! We do that by varying LINE WEIGHT throughout the drawing.

Line variation is super easy to achieve. You can either use fineliners in a variety of nibs (thicknesses), or you can add some wonky lines with a straight edge like I'm doing in today's video, and then color them in! You're definitely gonna wanna see this in action! 
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Once you've got some line variation going on in your drawing, you can add even more interest with the addition of a few action lines. ​Action lines are common in cartoons and anime drawings to indicate movement or energy. I like to use a thinner fineliner for these, like a 0.4. 
HOT TIP: Make sure you wipe your straight edge off BEFORE adding action lines around the martini glass because we don't want any excess ink smearing onto your drawing once your template hits the page again. 
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Once the action lines are in place, it's time for some fruity embellishments, because who doesn't love a little fruit inside a sassy drink?!
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Let's Add Color

The first rule of thumb for coloring ANYTHING is to swatch! You can use a piece of scrap paper off to the side of your drawing, or download my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet to make things even more interesting!
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I used to hate swatching and think it was boring, but trust me, there's nothing worse than grabbing a marker or tube of paint based on the cap, only to find a completely unexpected color popping onto your page! I've learned this the hard way time and again!

Your future self will thank you for swatching!!
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If you don't have any alcohol markers at home, don't sweat it. Use whatever art supply you have from colored pencils to watercolor! 

Wanna Learn MORE About Alcohol Markers?

In case you don't know this about me yet, I'm OBSESSED with alcohol marker art!! I love using my Copics and Ohuhus for shading faces, fairies, art deco fashions, and everything in between!!

Over the years, I've tried just about every alcohol marker brand from dollar store cheapies to my beloved Copics, and have learned a ton along the way. Check out this playlist to watch my BEST ALCOHOL MARKER COLORING TIPS in action, learn about blending, mixing alcohol markers with other media, and SO MUCH MORE!! 
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Need More Real-Time Drawing Lessons?

I've got TONS!! Go check out the Fun Fab Drawing Club over at Awesome Art School. There are SO many fun lessons just waiting for you to enjoy!! 
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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
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3 AWESOME Ways to Build a Custom Travel Watercolor Palette!

25/4/2023

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People ask me this question ALL the time, "How do you decide which watercolors to take along with you when you're traveling?" Is it better to work from tubes, pans, or to create your own custom travel watercolor palette?

​Today I'm diving into ALL these questions, and can't wait to show you not one, but THREE ways to decide which colors are coming along for your next trip! 
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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.
Some artists prefer to purchase a palette that's already been prepared by a brand specifically for travel, like the one below, from Field Artist. 
Typically palettes like this come with around 12 colors in them, including the primaries, so in theory, you can mix whatever additional colors in the rainbow you'd like to! 
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Personally, I hate mixing colors ALWAYS and prefer to just dip right into my palette to grab the perfect color. And, I find going with a standard out-of-the-box palette like the one above ... BORING!

There, I said it!! LOL.

One of the AWESOME ways I totally enjoy choosing which watercolors get to come on a trip is by looking to my DESTINATION for inspiration! This is especially important if you plan to do landscapes and cityscapes.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. If you're headed to the beach, you'll want a palette filled with colors like this to paint those gorgeous waves, skies and cocktails you'll be sipping (or I would be sipping, LOL!).
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If you're headed to a place like Iceland, you're gonna want to include cool blues and grays like this to capture the moody skies, glaciers, and seas...
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Or, maybe you don't even care about colors inspired by your destination... you'd rather just bring your favorites!! That's cool too!!
I tend to do a combo of bringing my faves and thinking about colors inspired by where I'm going.

​When it comes to which colors I choose or recommend YOU choose, it's personal. I'm NOT gonna tell ya what to bring, and there are NO WRONG ANSWERS :) Just bring what YOU LOVE, and don't worry about anyone else!

For me, Daniel Smith Serpentine Genuine (below), goes wherever I go!
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Since I love choosing specific colors to bring with me, I prefer to create my own custom travel watercolor palettes. I've done videos on this before, but today's demo is a little different, so make sure you click over to watch this new process unfold. 
I recently discovered some cute PARTIALLY FILLED travel palettes by Daniel Smith (see below). Each palette has 15 half pans, 9 of which are totally empty - ready and waiting for YOU to add your fave colors to, and 6 of the half pans come pre-filled with color families like blues, purples, neutrals, etc. Cool, right? Best of both worlds! 
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The brand QoR also has a similar travel palette that's been pre-filled with 6 colors, and has 6 empty half pans ready and waiting to hold YOUR favorites!

​Just look at how beautiful these color selections are!! 
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I've really been enjoying the vibrancy of QoR watercolors lately. I recently purchased this QoR set of 24 5ml watercolor tubes and am planning on adding 15 of them into a baby watercolor palette that will clip onto my journal. Its' SO adorable. Make sure you stay tuned till the end for a sneak peek at THAT! 
Once I've filled my empty half pans in each palette, I swatch my colors inside a little travel watercolor journal so I know what's inside each palette. 
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These cute skinny watercolor journals are awesome for swatching! 

If you're NOT getting ready for a trip and just want something to make swatching a little more fun, make sure you download my FREE Swatch Sheet! ​You can use it for watercolors, markers, colored pencils, you name it!! 
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I hope you found today's video helpful for your next trip!

And if you DON'T have any travel plans right now, who cares?!! You can STILL create some little custom watercolor palettes for yourself. 
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This baby mini travel watercolor palette is completely ADORABLE, wooden, and even clamps onto your journal!! It's perfect for moving your watercolor supplies easily around your house, into your backyard, or for an artsy walk in the park! I can't wait to use mine!! ​

Need Some Awesome Watercolor Lessons? 

Of course you can't just have a set of gorgeous watercolors and NOT use them, RIGHT?! Check out ​the Celtic Collective art club over at Awesome Art School. It's like Netflix for watercolor and drawing lessons and are all FANTASY themed! So tons of mythical creatures from fairies (good & bad!!) to mermaids, unicorns and more!

​Lucy Brydon and I are having a blast with our students, and would LOVE for you to join us!! You don't have to have ANY watercolor skills to join. We'll teach you everything you need to know from the ground up!! 

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​Join the waitlist here to be notified the next time enrollment opens:)

Wanna Watch Another Video?

I thought you'd never ask ;) This one's a goodie about ... surprise, surprise... how to make a teeny tiny travel watercolor palette!! It's SOO fun and soo cute!!
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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
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How to Learn from the Masters + Fantasy Art Drawing Tutorial

11/4/2023

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Have you ever looked at art by a master artist and tried to just GUESS at how s/he created something? I have learned SO much from doing this over the years!

I recently developed a fantasy art drawing lesson for my Celtic Collective art club using this process and took inspiration from one of my favorite fantasy artists, Brian Froud. Stay with me till the end for some magical fountain pen ink painting!!
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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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Just look at THE NECK on my face drawing reference today!! Isn't she gorgeous?! I'm using this copyright-free profile photo to guide me on the angle of the head and facial feature placement for my own drawing. 
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If you're not sure how to draw a side profile, the drawing portion of today's lesson is in real-time, so make sure you click over to watch, and draw along with me, step-by-step. 

Profile guidelines get sketched in first (as always). If you have a copy of my How to Draw & Find Your Style book, I'm using the realistic profile drawing guidelines found on page 174, and starting off by sketching a circle and square onto my own paper. 
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Next, I add in guidlines for the eyes, nose and lips, and begin to pencil in placeholder ovals where these facial features will go. As you may have noticed, I'm using a mechanical pencil for today's tutorial. This set by Pentel is my favorite.
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Next, I begin connecting the features and erasing my guidelines. Once this part is done, I start looking to a gorgeous piece by Brian Froud for inspiration on how to draw a killer headpiece. I'll also be studying Brian's piece to guide me on shading, which I CAN'T WAIT to get started on!! 
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I've decided to paint my drawing using fountain pen ink.  If you're new to this technique, it's amazing and super similar to working with watercolor. 

As always, I'm working with my favorite watercolor brushes by Polina Bright. You can learn more about why I'm obsessed with them here, or get 10% off for yourself in Polina's shop here. These work beautifully with fountain pen ink painting as well because they hold SO MUCH ink!! 
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​The painting part of today's project is timelapsed for your enjoyment, so kick back, relax, and watch this warrior chick come to life in minutes!!

Wanna Do the FULL Lesson in Real-Time with Me?

​It's in the Celtic Collective art club over at Awesome Art School. Join the waitlist here to be notified the next time enrollment opens :) Lucy Brydon and I are having a blast over here with our students, and would LOVE for you to join us!!
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Wanna Learn MORE About Fountain Pen Ink Painting?

I thought you'd never ask! Check out this playlist for MY BEST FOUNTAIN PEN INK PAINTING TIPS, or press play below...​
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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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Massive DRAWING ERASER Review!

20/3/2023

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I've been using my Vanish eraser faithfully for a decade, and think it's by far the best drawing eraser out there. I can always find them at my local Jerry's Artarama for $2 each, but I know they're not always easy to find, and can't get over how Amazon charges around $7 a pop for them!

Today I'm on the hunt for a vanish eraser alternative that produces awesome results, is more readily available worldwide, and CHEAPER.

Let's get to it!! 
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To get us started, I've laid some shading down on drawing paper in graphite, charcoal, black colored pencil, India ink and pastel. Lots of the erasers I've picked up for today's test claim to ERASE India ink! Who knew that was a thing?! Let's see how they do...
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​As you'll see in the video, I tested my Vanish eraser first. It leaves behind larger chunks of eraser shavings and no dust once used, which I find super easy to clean up.

​It did a beautiful job lifting graphite (as always), and even removed a bit of the India ink and pastel - which I never would've guessed was possible!
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​The Prismacolor Magic Rub did fairly well, but tended to smear on all mediums tested. It also left behind a LOT of eraser shavings that either made a mess or tried to kinda work their way into the texture of the paper wherever it was used. The price point on Amazon for the Magic Rub was just right at $1-2 each, but overall, I wasn't impressed with its results.
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The pentel Hi-Polymer eraser tended to smear like the Magic Rub and also left behind too many eraser bits for me. I found it on Amazon for only about $1/eraser, but felt it was only slightly better than the Prismacolor in performance.
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The first one to slightly impress me was by Faber-Castell. It didn't perform drastically different from the others, but didn't smear or leave behind a huge mess, and cost less than $1 on Amazon - so at this point is a contender.
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The Factis two-toned eraser by Generals was the first eraser in today's test to give me a noticeable difference from the rest. It left behind large "crumbles" after each use (which I prefer), and seemed to leave the page slightly whiter than my Vanish when erasing graphite!

The downside of this one is price point. I had a hard time finding it for less than $9 each on Amazon. It performed beautifully though, so if you see one at your local craft store for less, I highly recommend grabbing it!
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The Tombow Mono sanded eraser "for ink" (below) has a sanded edge to it, which is kinda unique. I didn't know erasing india ink was a thing before today! 
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Out of all the erasers tested, the Mono definitely worked best at lifting India ink shading, but it was a little rough on the paper. I felt like if I'd been working on watercolor paper it would've shredded it, so handle with care if you pick one of these up.
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The Staedtler Mars plastic eraser did a fantastic job. It was the best at lifting pastel, and did pretty well at lifting India ink. It's got a really nice shape and feels comfortable to hold, is widely available, and only about $1-2 all over Amazon. So far, this might be my fave!! 
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Make sure you click over to watch the video to see the remaining erasers I tested, and to get my FINAL recommendation if I had to choose an alternative to my beloved Vanish eraser! 

Wanna Learn How to Draw a Face? 

Feel like you've been putting your erasers to the test trying to draw a face?! I get it!!

If you're not sure how to draw a face, or have just started drawing faces, THIS IS MY JAM!! I'd love to make face drawing easier for you with my 
FREE whimsical face drawing guidelines. They're super easy to follow and will help you draw proportional facial features every time.

​Simply click the button below to request your free guidelines cheatsheet, and I'll email it right over!
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Once you print your guidelines out, check out this playlist and I'll teach ya how to use them while we draw and shade an easy face in pencil together, step-by-step.
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​
​Obsessed with Drawing?

Me toooooo! We're having THE BEST time over in my Fun Fab Drawing Club over at Awesome Art School and would LOVE for you to join us!!!

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

14/3/2023

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

8/3/2023

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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. ?
​
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!
​

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
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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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Thank you for the encouragement to get back into my drawing and painting. After being away for 35 years.  THANK YOU.

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