What art supplies have you bought recently?

[16ga]

Right - I don't think I've ever seen them open stock. If you're not too concerned about price, their color profile is nearly identical to Neopastels, from Caran d'Ache. Those sticks are smaller. But they are available open stock, plus they have a higher lightfast grade than do the Mungyos.

Besides color how close are? Could I replace used up Mungyo sticks with neopastels without issue?

Also Bongo that's a really good deal on canvases. someone probably screwed up placing the sign.

 

[Bongo]

I adore using dip pens but I had to stop because I became too good at knocking the ink bottle over. I ruined a pair of jeans, got the floor and table more than once (luckily it wiped clean) and I had to re-paint part of my living room wall! Now I just don't trust myself.

I feel your pain. Knocking over a cup of coffee has become a daily occurrence. Sometimes twice a day.

16ga - the everyday price at Joann's is actually pretty good too.

 

[Terri]

Could I replace used up Mungyo sticks with neopastels without issue?

By and large, yes. Greens are very close, and so are the grays. Mungyo pinks run a bit cold (blue). There are some differences in the browns, and I prefer the Mungyo ochre to the Neopastel but that's just me. Overall I can't think you'd have any significant issues with colors clashing.

 

[Marc]

One by two foot unused canvas from a second-hand shop for three dollars, and from the same place, a city gallery published book gifted as a prize to an art student in 2007. Hope they're doing well and just doing a clean out.

 

[16ga]

I had decided against it but then changed my mind and got theses for $7.

I know they're not supposed to be light fast but this gives me a variety of colors to play with until I get around to getting a slightly better set.

 

[Artyczar]

I used to have those. I liked them!

 

[Rich53]

Pentels are fine for me, an art dabbler. I don't expect to sell my work, nor for it to last for tens of years after I'm gone. For me, the fun is in the doing.

 

[JennieJo]

As per title ...

I thought it might be fun and interesting to see what we're all buying ourselves from the art department.

I just got this ceramic palette delivered today. The wells are small but I'll be using it for putting my watercolours in straight from the tube rather than for mixing.

View attachment 14242

Anyone else want to share?

I decided a new set of pallet knives was in order. Bought a mid-range set from a local art shop. Got them to the car. Haven't seen them since. Darn. Will have to keep using my old favourites until next week.

Edit: I did buy a few angular brushes to replace some well used ones. Didn't lose them.

 

[Artyczar]

I bought a few "art supplies," but you'd never guess what they are for: pieces of metal mesh and pantyhose.

 

[JennieJo]

I bought a few "art supplies," but you'd never guess what they are for: pieces of metal mesh and pantyhose.

I intrigued. Mu mind is creating many things.

 

[Rich53]

I bought a few "art supplies," but you'd never guess what they are for: pieces of metal mesh and pantyhose.

I have used both in photography. The metal mesh (aka "screen") will give four "rays" to point sources of light. The pantyhose can be used as a softening filter that also adds a little tint to the photo. (Preferably after trimming them to a more realistic size.)

DIY - the best way to go!

 

[stlukesguild]

I committed the cardinal sin of leaving a number of my brushes soaking (in water... using acrylics). I went such a long time without doing any painting and all the water evaporated and the brushes were toast. I had to order some fine lettering brushes for painting the details... especially in the gold leaf. These arrived yesterday and I'm just starting to use them today.

 

[Artyczar]

I committed the cardinal sin of leaving a number of my brushes soaking (in water... using acrylics). I went such a long time without doing any painting and all the water evaporated and the brushes were toast. I had to order some fine lettering brushes for painting the details... especially in the gold leaf. These arrived yesterday and I'm just starting to use them today.

View attachment 41298

Hope they weren't too expensive--the ones you lost anyway.

 

[stlukesguild]

Arty... luckily not. I learned from an art school professor that acrylic paint eats up brushes fast (to say nothing of those gunked up by gold leaf adhesive) and so the best inexpensive brushes are the way to go. Some years ago, I watched a documentary on the Rockabilly movement: the pinup girls, the bikers, the cars, the tattoos, etc... Part of the documentary looked at the artists painting pinstripes and other designs on cars and motorcycles. They used quite expensive lettering brushes made for enamels. An artist friend pointed out that there was a manufacturer locally that specialized in such brushes. One of these days I'll need to give them a try.

 

[Artyczar]

Interesting. I find certain cheap craft brushes are excellent for some jobs, but other really expensive brushes are the best for others. It always depends. Trial and error. But you know that.

 

[turnpikesteve]

Ooo, I've been scouring the local craft stores for some of the house-brand acrylics & gouache to try some new mediums without a big financial commitment. I recently got back into oil painting, so I splurged on a couple of colors like cadmium green and vermillion.

 

[Rikard]

A handful of conte sanguine pencils and some Hahnenmuhle Ingres paper. The plan is to do a bunch of figure drawings of my wife. I got the tools, now I only have to convince her to pose.

 

[Marksmomagain]

Hello some recent finds in a thrift store, an art store, a big hardware store and an estate sale:

Two Fredrix 16x20 (IIRC) canvases (unwrapped but spotless) for $3ea.
A Mabef table-top French-type easel (used but clean) for $10. Needed a handle, I put on a leather horse bridle curb strap.
The watercolor book "Splash 2" for $3.50.
A nice sturdy bookcase for $18.
A like-new folding wagon for $12. A plein aire/cooler and camp chair wagon for my Mom and me.
An opened, returned box of Sennelier Paris pastels 120pcs (somewhat messy, but not too bad) for $37.
2 off-white duck cloth aprons for free.

 

[Artyczar]

I just got a new tripod because my old one broke after 15 years. Here's the new one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1672331-REG/magnus_lm_700_lateral_tripod_with.html/

 

[stlukesguild]

For years I have used the old string method to draw the circles in my paintings.

This is a bit of a pain in the ass when you are drawing circles within circles as I do:

I have a new compass coming today that can draw circles with a diameter of 7r cm (almost 30").

I am looking at a second more expensive compass that can be used to draw circles 50" in diameter... which would be more than enough for the large central "halos" in my current paintings... or even my larger paintings from a few years back with 45/46" halos.