Hi friends! Today I thought I’d show you how to use a dagger brush. I included a 1/2″ golden taklon dagger in my signature brush set with Craftamo and I want to make sure people know how to use this brush if they are new to it. If you already have a dagger in a similar size you can use that:)
Class SALE!!! You can save 40% on any full course in my Teachable School using the coupon code luckyyou22 through 3/20/22 *Full courses have lifetime access. **Coupon good on one-time payment and payment plans ***Click “add coupon” and paste in luckyyou22 to get your discount
You can see some photos from my trip over on Instagram but I did want to share this sketch I did looking out my hotel room window before work one day. Happy crafting!
Hi friends! There used to be a really cute commercial that ran on TV around Christmastime for a local bank that featured cute kittens playing under a Christmas Tree. I thought that it would make a sweet painting that could be used as a Christmas card so I played around with that idea today. Here was my first version that took about 40 minutes:
I liked it well enough that I decided to do a video on how to paint one, notice how dissimilar the cats look LOL! Also notice how much longer it takes when I have to talk and paint at the same time!
You can watch the tutorial in the player below. I also wanted to let you know that I just put 4 new handpainted card lessons and 3 tag projects (an extra 2 and a half hours of content) into my Handpainted Holiday class. If you purchased this class in the past you can log in and enjoy the bonus material. If you are not enrolled but would like to be you can click here to enroll and save 50%! *Use coupon code XMAS50 if the discount doesn’t appear automatically. Regular price is $39, with discount $19.50 (may be subject to tax) Offer good through 12/1/21
Don’t fret if you don’t have Inktense blocks, you can use watercolor crayons or pencils and your regular watercolor paint to follow along. Art is for everyone so use what you have! Happy crafting!
Hi friends! I have a Two-fer today! I have a comparison of the oil pastels brands I use and recommend and also a painting of a bunny using watercolor as the background and oil pastel over top.
The firmest oil pastels I use, and also the most budget-friendly, are the Pentel Arts set of 50. ***Some viewers told me that they reformulated these pastels and now have a very strong odor. You can get a set of 50 for $7.04 on blick or slightly more on Amazon and it’s a great start on your oil pastel journey. I even use them to block in areas or add detail at the end as they are firmer. Even tho they are harder than the other brands I mention they are very pigmented. These are great in sketchbooks as they don’t transfer much to the opposite page. The downside is that they are not lightfast so use them only in sketchbooks and for experiments if you are concerned about fading.
Mungyo Gallery Soft Oil Pastels: Mungyo makes many pastels for other companies including the Master’s touch at Hobby Lobby so if you wait for a 50% off sale you will pay the normal Mungyo price on Amazon. Mungyo makes a regular and a soft and I purchased the soft. They are really nice for learning and are a bit more lightfast than the Pentels so your work will not fade as quickly in the light. They are lovely to work with. Expect to pay between $20-$30 for a 48 piece set, they also offer a 72 wood box set
Paul Rubens Oil Pastels: this 48 set is a great option for the budget-conscious artist who also cares about lightfastness. Every stick has pigment info and a lightfast rating. These are soft and very nice to work with. They have also come out with a pastel color set an iridescent set and 6 pack of white pastels. These would be my top pick for budget and quality
The softest pastels I have are also the most lightfast and you can buy individual sticks but they come at a cost. The Sennelier oil pastels are spendy but awesome. They also have larger sticks if you want to work big. These are lipstick soft and so pigmented. They are truly a luxury art supply.
I also showed the eye-pencil like Dramasticks. I did not have a lot of luck with these but if you think they may be right for you you can see them here. They might be discontinued tho. Jane Davenport also has Power Pastels but they are more like a wax crayon than an oil pastel so I did not include them in this comparison. I do like the power pastels but I have not used them much, I think I will, stay tuned! They are a good price on Amazon right now.
Last but not least are the Winsor & Newton Oil Bar, these are paint in a stick, they dry just like oil paint, unlike oil pastels which never truly dry to a durable finish. I think these might be discontinued but the Shiva brand is available.
Wow, I think that was a lot of info but hopefully it is helpful if you are interested in oil pastels! If you are interested in soft pastels (the kind of pastels that feel chalky) I have my Soft Pastels For Beginners class on sale for 50% off this month by using the coupon code APRILSHOWERS or clicking the special discount link here. I am in a pastel mood lately! Happy crafting!
Hi friends! I am happy to report that I have finally finished the much anticipated Watercolor Glass Class! As always I want my blog friends to get the best price so use the coupon code SHINE or click any of the special discount links in this blog post to save 50% throughout the month of August 2020.Â
Thank you for being so patient waiting for this class. I have been working on it since January but finding quiet times to film with construction and then the kids home due to the pandemic has been challenging. But we did it and I think this might be my best class ever! With over 8 hours of in-depth step-by-step instruction, you will know the ins and outs of painting glass and how to deal with any unique variable you come across.
I’ll share 3 different approaches for creating transparent glass: We will start by learning how to use masking fluid and where it will give the best results as well as the pros, cons, and concerns of that product. I’ll show you an easy method of using white pen or gouache for quicker glass renderings perfect for sketchbooks or when you just want to jump in and start painting without a lot of planning and finally I will show you the heavily planned and methodical techniques of building up layers and painting around the whites for flashy, refined sparkle.
You will learn how to paint clear glass and colorful glass and learn how patterns and textures on the glass affect the other objects around, inside, and behind the glass. By the time you are done with this course, I am confident that you will be able to paint any translucent glass that comes your way!
In addition, I have added a bonus section with resources for finding interesting things to paint and shopping recommendations. I have even organized an archive of past still life tutorials featuring glass if you are looking for more to paint! As with all of my class you can ask me questions as you go along and upload your paintings for feedback. You get all that for $39.50 (That’s half off the normal price of $79) just for being an early bird. You can click here and enroll at a discount or learn more about this new exciting class!
And… …today (Friday, August 7) at 12:30 Eastern Time I will be having a live stream on YouTube where we will paint this sweet little railroad lantern perfume bottle. It’s a beautiful mix of glass and tarnished metal and so fun to paint! Join me for the free live painting lesson and you can ask me any questions you have about the new class too! Just make sure to tune in on YouTube at 12:30pm ET if you want to chat live.
A replay of the live stream will be available if you can’t join live. I have a pattern available for you here and a reference photo. Just grab your basic set of paints and watercolor brushes and you will be ready to roll!
I hope to see you later today for the live stream and maybe even in the Watercolor Glass Class! Happy crafting!
Hi friends! First off, Today is my 44th birthday and so as per tradition I am offering 44% off any course in my online school with coupon code LINDSAY44 (Offer good through 7/17/2020, click add coupon at checkout and apply the coupon code for 44% off any class.) Thanks!
Now, on to today’s video!
Supplies:
Watercolors and brushes (ohuhu) Colors used: Crimson, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Paynes Grey, Hooker’s green, Emerald Green and Burnt Umber
Watercolor paper
Colored pencils (optional)
Water buckets and credit card scraper
Have a great day and til next time happy crafting!
Howdy friends! Today I turn 43 so instead of dwelling on the creep towards my middle 40s (I say I’m still in my early 40’s, hubby say’s I’m in my mid-40s) I decided to celebrate by giving everyone 43% off the regular price of any of my classes in my Teachable School. Just use the coupon code HB43 at checkout. This coupon will work on payment plans as well so if you have been waiting for a sale now is the chance. The sale/coupon code is good through Sunday 7/14/19.
Today we are going to do something different, we are going to paint watercolor on black paper! What? Yes that’s right! I had some requests to paint a hummingbird after my failed attempt a couple of weeks ago so I decided to paint that bird again on black watercolor paper. I didn’t have high hopes for the paper. After all I like my watercolors transparent and that wouldn’t show up on black but then I realized that my metallic watercolors would look great on black and it would be nice to have a paper designed for that. I was able to request a free sample of the Stonehenge Aqua Black on their website (sadly that offer doesn’t seem to be available anymore) and that is what I will use in today’s demo.
Supplies (affiliate links used)
Black watercolor paper: Stonehenge Aqua Black *I looked for the free sample offer but it doesn’t seem to be available any more:(
If you click any of the photos above it will take you to the class with the discount applied. If for some reason you don’t see the sale price use coupon code HB43 at checkout. I only run this sale one a year so if you have been thinking about taking a class now is a great time. Here are some reasons why!
You have lifetime access! You can enroll now with the savings and enjoy the classes when you have the time.
Go at your own pace! My online classes are broken down into smaller lessons so you can work to your goal as you have the time. There is also a pause button and you can repeat a lesson as much as you like until you prefect the technique!
You can ask me questions as you go and upload your artwork for direct feedback from me.
The cost is much less than an in person class (these classes would cost $180 to take from me in person in a group class) and you can take it on your schedule.
Remember the coupon code HB43 is only good through Sunday July 14th, 2019 in my Teachable School so now is the time to snag that class you had your eye on! Thanks for stopping by and painting with me today! Are you going to try painting on black paper? It’s a lot of fun and I hope you do! Til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! Today I have a loose and free bouquet to paint.
I went with a red white and blue colorway in honor of Memorial Day. A day to remember fallen soldiers who served our country. I love seeing the flags on display in small Maine towns. There are many elder veterans who put these out every year prior to memorial day and leave them out through July 4th for the parades. This painting can be a reminder of what we have to be thankful for. I hope you enjoy a few peaceful moments of reflection while you paint along.
Supplies available at sponsor Jerry’s Artarama! Use coupon code: frugal20FS49 for 20% off $49 + Free Shipping (Excludes: Sale, Super Sale, Egift Cards, Buy It Try It’s and Vendor restricted items. Look for the green coupon eligible icon on the product listing.
***Memorial Day Sale: Take 40% off any class in my online school with coupon code: MEM2019 through 5/28/19. *Click the orange “add coupon” on the checkout page to enter your coupon code. If you enjoyed today’s tutorial you can learn more about this style of floral painting in my Watercolor Flower Workshop! You will learn how to paint a variety of flowers and how to arrange them so you can paint beautiful bouquets from your imagination! If flowers aren’t your thing I offer other classes too which you can grab for 40% off through Memorial day with coupon code MEM2019.
In case you wanted to see close up of my practice arrangement or demonstration version of today’s painting I have posted them below. There is no reference photo because I made up the arrangement. I hope you give it a try!
Hi, friends! This week I was inspired by some lovely flower arrangements at a funky restaurant. I snapped a photo of one before I left because I wanted to paint it. Here is the photo I took:
And here is the painting we will paint today!
You can follow along and do what I do or you can use the photo and paint it differently. Watch the video for the real-time lesson and paint along! I recommend sketching on scrap paper and then transferring it on your good watercolor paper so you don’t have to be worried about erasing and marring the good stuff plus if you don’t like your painting you have the sketch already done and you can try again!
If you have any friends who would enjoy learning to paint please share this blog with them! I hope you enjoyed this supersized lesson and til next time happy crafting!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 