Month: December 2021

Paint this Snowy Scene with me!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Last week I shot a video for Instagram during my snowy walk after an icestorm. The trees were all coated with ice and it was beautiful. Many folks asked me to paint a scene from it. Sadly I didn’t take any still photos but I did snag a screenshot from my Instagram video!

Classy huh LOL! Between that and my memory (I walk this route several times a week), I was able to paint it and it was such fun. I hope you will join me and paint along to the video below! Feel free to pause the video if you need to and skip past any parts that do not interest you.

Supplies: I am going to use a smattering of products but feel free to substitute (affiliate links used)

I also wanted to mention that I am offering yearly collections of past Critique Club tutorials in my Teachable school. These are real-time, in-depth more advanced tutorials that were released in the Critique Club membership group. Each collection contains 24 lessons (and over 30 hours of content) and you get lifetime access. I am putting these on launch special from now through January for 50% off so if you would like to grab any of these collections you can at the lowest price. If you are a Critique Club member, don’t worry, nothing has changed for you 🙂 this is just a way for students who prefer to purchase the lessons only, as opposed to a subscription, to do that. Click on the thumbnails below for a discounted link to learn more or enroll in the class.

*Regular price $60, with coupon $30. Offer good through 1/31/22 Use coupon code LAUNCH50 if the discount doesn’t appear. *Additional sales/VAT tax may apply in some countries/states. **Each yearly archive compilation contains the 24 real-time tutorials posted in the Critique club during the specified year. Prompts and original art critiques are not included in the archives.

Thanks so much for stopping by and painting with me today. Happy New Year, be safe, and as always happy crafting!

Review: Marco Tribute Colored Pencils

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I know this week’s posting schedule has been a bit erratic but before I get into today’s post I want to let you know I am planning on doing a Livestream tomorrow, probably around noon, so keep an eye on my YouTube channel so you can join me! Now, on to the video!

Today we are going to look at the Marco Tribute set of 120 colored pencils in a tin. You may have seen these pencils packaged in a book format by color families as well. These were sent to be by Anstal Stationary shop for review. They have an “oil color” version and a watercolor version of these pencils. The oil color is what I am reviewing today. To me, these pencils feel more wax heavy than oil heavy as they are very water-resistant and opaque on dark paper as you will see in the review. These are a touch firmer than Holbein pencils but remind me very much of those.

Pros:

  • Opaque/shows up well on dark papers
  • Great color selection
  • Good pencil build quality (they are not too skinny like budget pencils)
  • The tin is sturdy and good quality
  • Colors layered and blended well
  • They arrived well packaged
  • The font is easy to read on the barrel

Cons:

  • I did experience some crumbling when I first used them but sharpening them seemed to fix the issue.
  • No open stock availability
  • No lightfast information provided

Other info: At the time I filmed the 120 set was around $120. These pencils have a color payout similar to a Prismacolor but are firmer, closer in hardness to Holbein. They do put out nice color in light layers with little to no pressure applied but you do need to exert pressure to burnish and it may bother people with hand fatigue or arthritis.

Bottom line: These pencils are lovely, the build quality and packaging give them a premium feel. That said they are very similar to Arteza and Markart which are about half the price, on the other hand, they are similar to Holbien at 4x the price so keep that in mind when considering these. Honestly I really enjoyed working with them and look forward to using them again.

Happy crafting!

Podcast: Things to Consider Before you declutter your art supplies

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! How are you doing during this odd week between Christmas and New Year? I find myself puttering around in my studio, tidying up, organizing, and doing loose inventories of my stash. I put away the Christmas craft supplies and get ready for the new year. I like to take this time to go through every drawer and shelf and see exactly what I have. Doesn’t it seem like your supplies multiply when you’re not looking?

I recently heard that there was a paint shortage (they talk about shortages of everything these days) and in particular, a shortage of titanium white and ultramarine blue pigments. My first reaction was panic! I use more Ultramarine blue than any other watercolor and I would really miss it if I ran out. I actually thought about placing an order but I calmed down and counted how many tubes I currently had in backstock. Let’s just say I won’t be running out anytime soon and if the supply chain problems last as long as my Ultramarine blue stash we have bigger problems as a planet! I’ve noticed since the start of the pandemic that art supply prices have risen. Products began selling out and some products went away completely. This phenomenon has slowed my shopping (although let’s be frank, I have a lot and am frequently sent products to review) and decluttering. I don’t think it is a bad thing tho. Hanging on to useful stuff and making it work rather than buying the next new “perfect” thing is something we all might want to embrace when “storing it at the store” is no longer as reliable as it was 2 years ago. I tend to do this by default living in a part of the world where you may be snowed in for days. As you go through your supplies contemplating decluttering ask yourself if you will use them before it goes bad. If it’s not something you even like anymore or if you know it will dry out before you can use it feel free to pass it on. Do what’s best for you but don’t feel bad about holding onto “just in case” supplies for a bit longer. You might be glad to have that extra tube of white paint (that might not be your favorite) when you run out and the store is out of stock.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to declutter and organize but don’t throw out today what you will need to rebuy tomorrow. Also, I don’t have it all figured out. I probably hold on to too much because it gives me comfort to know that no matter what life throws at me I can at least make art. Then again, what’s wrong with a bit of comfort clutter in the middle of a pandemic? (As long as it is organized, you can find what you need quickly, and acquiring it didn’t put you in debt.)

What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments below and enjoy the podcast! Happy crafting!

Winter Botanicals

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

OK friends, I admit I forgot to post this on my blog before Christmas so I am calling this a winter botanical instead of a Christmas card, of course, you could get a jump start on next year and use this as a Christmas card if you want!

I hope you enjoy this fun watercolor card!

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

Happy crafting!

Merry Christmas! Santa in Colored pencils!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I figured I’d take this time while my family is showering and getting ready to venture to my sister’s house to wish you a merry Christmas. I hope you are enjoying some time with your family today and if you can’t in person hopefully virtually. It’s been a challenging year and I am hoping 2022 will be more normal!

I hope you relax with a cozy drink and snack and enjoy this colored pencils video I have prepared for you.

Supplies:

  • Marco Tribute colored pencils (I am using the 120 oil based set from Andstal stationary shop sent to me for review)
  • Canson Mi Tintes pastel paper: I like the convenience of the pads for small colored pencil work but they no longer sell the assortment that I have but here is what is available in pads. Here are the per sheet options. The sheets are large so you will need a place to store them or you will need to cut them down when you receive them. *Actually they are now selling 25 sheet packs of 8.5″x11″ of single colors if that is more convenient for you and there is a color you want a lot of. I used the textured side.

Stay safe, be kind, merry Christmas, and until next time happy crafting!

Using Masking Fluid on Wet Paper: What Happens?

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I wanted to get the look of soft, clumpy snowflakes in the paintings so I experimented with masking fluid on wet paper.

If you would like to see a real-time version of this painting you can find it in Critique Club! *Critique club is a membership group that allows you to upload 2 paintings a month for feedback from me. There are also 2 new in-depth, real-time tutorials and a creative prompt posted every month. What’s more, you get assess to the complete archive of past tutorials during your membership for only $5 a month. Click here to learn more. On to the Time-lapse!

Supplies (affiliate links used)

So, are you going to give it a try? Let me know in the comments below and until next time happy crafting!

The Same Paint, A different Name…

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I am going to review the Artify 48 set of watercolor paint and 12 piece brush set. You can purchase them individually or in a bundle (At the time of writing the bundle is the same price as the paint without the brush set so if you were just going to buy the paint you might as well get the bundle because you get the brushes for free.) Paints alone, Brushes alone *Affiliate links used

A quick overview: The brushes are a steal. They hold a lot of water and you get a 3/4″ cat’s tongue in the set of 12. This is a wonderful value. The only downside is the sizing is a bit off, the 1″ flat is really 3/4″ and the 3/4″ cat’s tongue is more like a 5/8″. The largest round says it is a size 7 but it’s more like a #10. The rounds seem to be a size bigger than their numbers, with the smallest 0 being more like a #1 or #2, the liner is similar to a #1. That is my only complaint. Buy them before they realize that they should be more expensive LOL!

The paints feel, look and act like Superior paints out of China. If you like those (which I do, I think they are one of the best budget paint manufacturers) You get 48 colors but many of the reds and yellows are similar so if you run out you have a replacement. That may or may not be what you want tho. That said they mix cleanly except for the hot pink and pale lavender which is bound to be chalky. The palette is thick and sturdy plastic and the paint doesn’t bead up on it. It comes with 3 water brushes. The half pans can be reused after the paint is used up increasing the longevity of the palette. I like the palette, it is similar to the Sakura Koi but you get half pans in durable plastic (instead of the thin, brittle plastic Koi uses) and the paint is a better quality in my opinion.

That’s all for today! I hope you enjoyed the review and til next time happy crafting!

A refreshing sketchbook Sunday!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I have a drawing I did with the Phoenixcolor student grade pencils I reviewed earlier.

I hope you enjoy seeing this drawing come together.

Supplies:

I hope you enjoyed this video and til next time happy crafting!

Sat Chat 12/18/21 One week till christmas!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I hope you are having a lovely week! I probably won’t have a sat chat next week because it will be Christmas day so here is a very merry Sat Chat to tide you over LOL!

Stuff I mentioned:

That’s all for today! I hope you have a great weekend and I’ll be back tomorrow with a Sketchbook Sunday. Till then Happy crafting!