Category Archives: Art Supplies

Black Beauty

Happy Thanksgiving! Here we are again in the midst of another holiday season…
To put a new spin on the black in Black Friday (and maybe to give you an idea of something to add to your holiday wishlist), I’m saluting one of my trustiest art supplies.

Platinum Carbon Ink

Blacker than black, lightfast, and quick-drying, Platinum Carbon ink has become indispensable to my daily drawing ritual. I have a converter in my Lamy Safari fountain pen which allows me to refill the pen directly from the bottle, a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to cartridges. Reviews mention that because this ink is pigment based it contains fine particles of carbon, meaning you should clean your pens frequently.

Hmmm… I haven’t done that. Maybe I’ve escaped any issues because I use my pen pretty much daily, but it would probably be smart for me to follow through on that chore before refilling the next time.

There is a lot to be said for the beauty and deceptive simplicity of a black line. It has the power to sensitively convey weight, value, texture, and gesture while supplying a lifetime of lessons for those willing to delve into its nuances. For a jump-start, explore this link to 10 pen and ink drawing techniques and tips. Also, Alphonso Dunn’s book Pen & Ink Drawing is a terrific beginner’s resource.

As time has passed I’m seeing how much what I’ve learned through my drawings has influenced and benefitted my textile work. Exploring the relationship between marks made with ink and those created via stitches is the fertile ground where discoveries take place.

❖

It wouldn’t be right to let you go without thanking you for continuing to check in with me here week after week, and for letting me know when a point of discussion strikes a chord with you in one way or another. Whether you weigh in publicly or privately, I am always grateful for your thoughts. The greatest reward of this blog has been knowing how much company I have on this journey.

Hard as it is to believe, this marks my 155th uninterrupted week of posts. If you have found Eye of the Needle helpful, please share it! As a special thank you, enjoy this free download of important resources that have been the most fruitful in guiding me in my practice.

A Mixed Bag of Reasons to Love Chicago

First of all, were you aware that the name “Chicago” is derived from a French interpretation of the Native American (Miami-Illinois language) word shikaakwa, a plant known to botanists as Allium ticoccum? More commonly referred to as ramps by Vermonters, Allium ticoccum is a species of wild onion with garlicky overtones that is a spring specialty here, soon to be foraged and served on home and restaurant tables all over our state.

Sunrise over Lake Michigan

The genesis of the city’s name as we know it today appears to be French explorer Robert de LaSalle’s September 1687 journal, in which he noted, “…we arrived at the said place called Chicagou which, according to what we were able to learn of it, has taken this name because of the quantity of garlic which grows in the forests in this region.” Now that’s my kind of place!

A decade ago our daughter moved to Chicago for school and never left, so at this point we’ve visited enough times that it has become comfortably familiar while still maintaining plenty of novel opportunities and sites to explore. Just back from a long spring weekend where the forsythia is already starting to bloom (but no ramp sightings), I’ve been thinking this week how great it is to have a place to visit just frequently/infrequently enough to maintain a list of favorites to see time and again, which still somehow always seem fresh.

Millennium Park is a special place and easy to get to as it’s right next to the Art Institute. Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate may be the main attraction for most but, to me, Frank Gehry’s Pritzker Pavillion is the jewel in the park’s crown.

Marc Chagall’s large stained glass America Windows at the Art Institute of Chicago always take my breath away and are well-worth the hike to the farthest corner of the museum to see. Secular in theme, they bring together symbols of American history, the Chicago skyline, and a representation of the arts. Please save ten minutes to watch this wonderful video from the Art Institute about the history, creation, conservation and reinstallation of this treasure.

Marc Chagall, America Windows 1975-77; Left panel representing Music and Painting

Marc Chagall, America Windows 1975-77; Middle panel representing Literature and Architecture

Marc Chagall, America Windows, 1975-77; Right panel representing Theater and Dance

Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 * (Whistler’s Mother) by James McNeill Whistler has returned to Chicago for the first time in 60 years. As I found was also true of the Mona Lisa, its subject appears warmer and lovelier in person. Contrary to the Mona Lisa, which was much smaller than I’d expected, it was a surprise that Whistler’s Mother is almost life-size. All that said, I was much more attracted to this relatively small painting of Whistler’s brother, appreciating it for its painterly brushstrokes and unconventional placement of the figure. The added bonus was I had it all to myself while everyone else crowded around Mrs. Whistler.

Portrait of Dr. William McNeill Whistler, 1871/73, Oil on panel, 43.7 x 34.8 cm (17 3/16 x 13 11/16 in.)

It’s hard to resist a visit to Dick Blick even if just to wander the aisles, but I usually keep any purchases to a minimum because of the hefty Chicago 10.25% sales tax. I’ve been on the lookout for a larger format, soft-cover sketchbook that would open flat for a double spread, yet be thin and light enough to easily tuck into a carry-on. I found two possibilities. The staplebound Fabriano EcoQua is really meant for writing, but the paper is pretty similar to a Moleskine and takes the ink from a Micron pen without bleeding.

The other selection I brought home is the 8.5″x11″ RendR Lay Flat sketchbook made by Crescent. It boasts ‘no show thru’ paper, which was a major attraction, and I also liked the idea that it is supposed to accept all media. Despite promising a lot, now that I’ve had a chance to try it I don’t think it was worth the cost. Perhaps acrylics work better than watercolors as a wet media, but I found the paper tends to buckle and it’s hard to move wet pigment around on the page. The paper is a nice weight, has a smooth surface for pen or pencil, and doesn’t bleed. But overall, I don’t think I would buy one again.

Rendr Sketchbook

There wasn’t much time to sketch over the weekend – too many other fun things to see and do. But once back on the plane to fly home, I could bring out my trusty OPUS sketchbook, purchased on another trip in another city, and get back in the saddle.

* Worth a read: 14 Things You Might Not Know About Whistler’s Mother

Outside the Studio

My friend Quinn was spayed this week. She’s bouncing back quickly, so the real challenge will be to make sure she avoids any other type of bouncing while she heals over the next two weeks. A rather tough ask for an energy-packed dog who loves to spring through our woods on patrol twice a day.

Snooze Study © Elizabeth Fram

I’m trying to keep her from climbing the stairs to the studio during these first post-surgery days, so thank goodness for the portability of drawing materials and a laptop, both of which allow me to be productive despite being displaced.

While we’re on the subject of portability… I love reading other artists’ supply lists and suggestions, especially their travel solutions for paring materials down as much as possible while on-the-go. Sketchers tend to haul their gear everywhere, meaning they usually want to get by with as little and as lightly as possible. I’ve picked up some great tips that are both inexpensive and incredibly space efficient from the following:

Marc Taro Holmes; best hint: 4 oz Nalgene bottles for carrying ink or water
Shari Blaukopf; best hint: 8″x8″ Fluid Watercolor blocks
Suhita Shirodkar; best hint: Noodler’s Ink

inkblocksnalgene

And a couple of my own:

Nomadic pencil cases hold an amazing amount of gear considering their modest size. The model I have is no longer available, but this option is very close.
Masters Whiskey Painters Standard Palette is tiny at only 2.5″ x 3″. Extra half pans allow you to expand to a dozen colors.

pencil-case-travel-paints

Of course one could get by with just a pencil and a small sketchbook, but where is the fun in that?

Travel Sketchbooks

It’s raining as I write this and looks pretty dreary outside. Mud season has arrived. But March is passing quickly and it’s time to start thinking about upcoming vacations. Anticipating a trip is half the fun, and planning which art supplies to bring is way more interesting than deciding what clothes to pack!

As I wrote about in this post, my tendency is to overpack, but finding the right mix is a challenge I enjoy. Of all the various travel sketchbooks I’ve tried, I finally found one that I really liked: a 6″ x 4.25″ version made by Winsor & Newton. It has a faux leather cover that has taken a beating with no sign of wear. Its white paper has enough heft to take a light wash and it’s the perfect size and weight to fit in my bag. I’ve taken it to Paris, Switzerland and Vancouver, BC, but sadly, haven’t been able to find another one to replace it; they don’t seem to be available anymore.

Winsor & Newton 6″ x 4.25″, left Hand Book Artist Journal 5.5″ x 5.5″, right

As an alternative, I tried a 5.5″ square Hand Book Artist Journal a couple of years ago. I really liked it, so much so that I made the larger 8.25″ x 5.5″ version my go-to, everyday sketchbook as well. The paper has minimal tooth and is heavy enough to stand up to dense pen work and light watercolor washes. There is less of a “jump” in the binding between pages, so drawing across a double page spread is easier. The only minor complaint I had at the beginning was that the paper is a buff color rather than bright white, but I’ve gotten used to it. It’s not as dingy as the scan below would have you believe.

This week, in his blog Citizen Sketcher, Marc Taro Holmes offered another really interesting idea that you might want to consider: an accordion-style sketchbook you can make yourself in about 5-10 minutes out of a single sheet of watercolor paper.

Accordian-Sketchbook-Folding-Pattern

It seems like a great option on a number of different levels:

You can choose whatever paper you like.
You can devote one sheet to a particular series, categorizing and separating sketches from one outing/session, rather than having them bundled in the middle of a sketchbook filled with a variety of other work.
It’s lighter and easier to tuck into a travel bag or pocket than a full sketchbook.
With experimentation, you can vary the dimensions of your finished pages – and potentially change the number of pages.
If you tend to be forgetful, it eliminates the fear of misplacing your regular sketchbook & risking the loss of a full vacation’s collection of drawings. Carry only one day’s worth at a time, leaving work from previous days in your hotel room.
If you don’t mind cutting it up, individual rectangles can be separated to use as postcards or, as Marc points out in his post, you also have the option of painting panoramas which can be trimmed from the whole sheet later.

Here is a link to a pdf of the above pattern that Marc Taro Holmes generously uploaded and encouraged his readers to use and share.

Please take the time to fully check out his blog/website; there is a ton of useful information to be found there including other free downloads. He is based in Montreal and is a correspondent and board member of Urban Sketchers. I highly recommend his book The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location.

And, since it’s always helpful to hear personal feedback on materials, it would be great if you would weigh in with your preferred travel sketchbook.

No Small Thing

I have a new-ish tool that is proving to be indispensable. It certainly isn’t fancy; all it cost me was about 5 minutes of my time. I have been using it every day and wonder why I waited so long before adding it to my arsenal.

It’s a simple frame viewfinder – or “ViewCatcher”, as most art suppliers call it.

You can get a snazzier version for less than $10 that will allow you to change the size of the window, replicating 5 standard proportions. According to the sales pitch, the adjacent tiny hole and neutral gray color will also allow you to isolate and judge color values.

ViewCatcher

But my homemade version works fine for me. Using a piece of heavy card stock that’s not quite 6” x 9”, I cut 2 windows: one is a 2” x 3” rectangle and the other is 2” square. I spaced them so that I could fold the card in half, allowing me to easily fit it in the back of a small sketchbook.

Looking through the opening gives me a chance to gauge various options in pulling together a composition, and it eliminates the headache of realizing I need to reconfigure my edges once the drawing is already underway.

I like that it helps me see the subject more abstractly, allowing me to concentrate on shapes and the way they interact with the edges of each drawing. As tools go it may be small and simple, but the benefits are huge.

❖

Did you know it’s “Inktober”? Begun in 2009 by Jake Parker, it’s a challenge to artists all over the world to create an ink drawing each day in the month of October. You can read more about it here. Are you game?

Glorious October colors from the studio window

Confessions of an Overpacker

When you travel do you, like me, bring supplies to keep the momentum going? Or do you find it more restful to take a break from your work?

Before we left for Maine I put a lot of thought into what art supplies and books to bring along. A trip that involves a flight is a no-brainer because space and weight are such an issue. In that case I’m pretty good about paring down to a workable minimum, having devised a convenient, lightweight art travel kit.

I have been reading about these sketchbooks for months and decided it was time to give one a try. The heavyweight paper will take light washes of water media in addition to pen & ink.

But journeys in the car are another beast altogether. Heading to Maine other years, my accepting husband has said nothing as I lugged assorted weighty bags of materials and reading matter to cram in with the clothes, food, bike and kayak gear. There is usually at least one rainy day when I can get lost in art — and I want to be sure to be prepared.

Extra space means I can be liberal with the pens and brushes I include, and can even stick in a largish collapsible water container.

This time I was trying to be more conservative with what I brought, not knowing how much time there would be to work, or space for doing it. Books, however, are my Achilles’ heel; I can’t imagine a vacation without plenty to read! Here’s a taste of what came with me:

I am a devoted fan of Katherine Tyrrell’s work and her blog Making a Mark. She is an English artist who is unsurpassed in her generosity with information. Her relatively new book is one you can dive into on any page to be off and running. It lends itself well to short windows of reading time.

I learned about this book from one of the artist interviews on Antrese Wood’s Savvy Painter podcast. It’s every bit as informative as promised. And I was happy to discover that author Richard Scott was also interviewed by Wood. If you have time, give it a listen — especially if you are working on your drawing habit.

My one splurge, weight-wise, was this wonderful survey of David Hockney’s pictures – it’s exactly the type of book I like to bring or find on vacation!

Bottom line: I still over-packed. We had glorious weather and much to do, so I was limited to squeezing quick sketches in around other activities, and only had a few isolated hours to really buckle down. But I found a bonus in the cottage we rented: a wonderful book about Degas that went into great depth surrounding the back story of his life and paintings. How great to have the time one evening to soak it up! That’s what vacation is all about.

5 Studio Essentials

I have subscribed to Fine Gardening magazine for a number of years now. It is filled with photos of gorgeous gardens, design ideas, reviews and advice regarding a myriad of plants and planting conditions, all pulled together by a roster of horticultural experts.

But my favorite part of the magazine, the one I flip to first, comes from other readers. Every month I find some tidbit that is so smart and so simple that it completely justifies the price of my subscription. These suggestions are all the more appreciated because they come from everyday gardeners like myself, who are using their ingenuity to find an inexpensive solution to a pesky problem.

That said, I’d like to share a list with you that outlines five relatively simple things (with several sub-categories) that I’d be hard-pressed to give up. My studio is filled with all sorts of supplies in addition to the basics of fabric, thread, paint, and dye; some I use regularly and others rarely. But it’s these items, which aren’t fancy or unusual, that I couldn’t do without.

1. Sketchbook Actually, I have three different kinds, all of which I use constantly.

Garden-variety sketchbooks for daily drawing.

A 3-ring notebook/ log. I add pages back-to-front, stamping the date at the top of each entry. I use this to make basic sketches of on-going projects, to jot down ideas that crop up while I’m working, and for logging hours when needed.

A reference book where I paste all sorts of materials for inspiration. You can read more about this book in this post about color.

2. My Laptop Could any of us live without a computer? More specifically, I have found 2 programs that I use daily, both free and downloadable from the internet. 1. Evernote: This is like a virtual filing cabinet / workspace and is “organization-central” for me. 2. Pocket: Use it to save articles that you don’t have time to read in the moment, but want to be sure to get back to when your schedule allows. One click and they’re all in one place — fantastic!

3. Rolls of Tracing Paper My father, a retired architect, gave me my first roll of tracing paper years ago. I wouldn’t be without one now. You just can’t beat being able to have a length as long as you need.

4. A favorite writing pen This is an inexpensive luxury that makes everyday tasks a pleasure. I am very partial to the Koh-I-Noor Nexus Studio pen (less than $3.00).

and finally…

5. Compression Gloves These gloves work wonders to relieve hand/wrist strain from repetitive movements. They are lightweight and my hands don’t get hot so I forget I’m wearing them, but they definitely make a world of difference for long stretches of hand-stitching or computer work.

You must also have favorite tools in your arsenal that you think are share-worthy. Would you be willing to let us know what they are?