Journey Art Supplies Blog
Tips, Tricks, Thoughts, and inspiration from across the art spectrum.
Marker Showdown: Copic vs Koda
Copic markers have long been considered the gold standard when it comes to alcohol-based markers – but will Cheap Joe’s brand Koda markers give them a run for their money?
Marker Showdown: Copic vs Koda
Copic markers have long been considered the gold standard when it comes to alcohol-based markers – but will Cheap Joe’s brand Koda markers give them a run for their money?
Mastering the Watercolor Pouring Technique
Watercolor painting has long been celebrated for its delicate and luminous qualities. Among the many techniques available to watercolor artists, the watercolor pouring technique stands out as a captivating method that yields mesmerizing results. This technique allows artists to create vibrant, fluid, and unpredictable compositions, giving life to unique and captivating pieces. For today’s post, we thought we’d explore the intricacies of the watercolor pouring technique and walk you through the process of creating your own masterpiece. You’ll learn which materials are necessary, and enjoy a step-by-step instruction process for mastering the pouring technique. Understanding the Watercolor Pouring Technique The watercolor pouring technique involves the controlled application of liquid watercolor pigments onto wet paper to create spontaneous and captivating effects. Unlike traditional watercolor painting methods where colors are built up gradually through layers, pouring involves the use of gravity to guide pigments across the paper, resulting in a free-flowing, organic appearance. This technique enables artists to achieve stunning gradients, unexpected color interactions, and a sense of movement that can't be replicated with other methods. Materials Required Before exploring into the technique itself, it's important to gather the necessary materials. In the instructional Linda Baker Watercolor Techniques – The Pouring Process video, Linda uses the following materials: Watercolor Paper: Choose a high-quality, heavy-weight watercolor paper that can handle the wet-on-wet application of pigments without warping or buckling. Liquid Watercolor Paints: Liquid watercolors provide intense color saturation and are ideal for the pouring technique. Water Containers: Prepare containers of clean water for wetting the paper and diluting the pigments. Watercolor Brushes: Have a variety of brushes on hand for wetting the paper, blending colors, and making minor adjustments. Masking Tape: Use masking tape to secure the edges of the paper and create a clean border. Paint Palettes and Mixing Trays: These are used to mix and control the consistency of the liquid watercolors. Pipettes or Droppers: These tools allow for precise control when pouring the pigments. Step-by-Step ProcessOnce you’ve gathered your materials, it’s time to start painting: Just follow these steps: Preparation: Stretch and tape the watercolor paper to a sturdy surface to prevent warping. Ensure a clean working area and have all your materials ready. Wetting the Paper: Use a large brush or spray bottle to wet the entire surface of the paper. This creates an environment for the pigments to flow and blend seamlessly. Mixing Pigments: In the video, Linda uses plastic sheets as a mixing surface. Squeeze liquid watercolors onto the palette and experiment with various color combinations and dilutions. This step allows you to predict how colors will interact on the paper. Pouring the Pigments: With a pipette or dropper, carefully drop your diluted pigments onto the wet paper. Start with lighter colors and gradually introduce darker shades. Experiment with pouring from different heights and angles to achieve various effects. Tilting and Blending: Tilt the paper in different directions to guide the flow of pigments. Use a clean brush to blend colors, creating smooth transitions and avoiding harsh lines. Embrace the unpredictable nature of the technique while maintaining some control over the outcome. Drying and Adjustments: Allow the painting to dry completely. Once dry, assess the composition and make any necessary adjustments. You can add finer details using traditional watercolor techniques. You can also use masking fluid to mask areas where you want to preserve layers: Tips and ConsiderationsMastering the watercolor pouring technique requires a delicate balance between embracing experimentation and maintaining control. Begin by choosing a high-quality paper to withstand the pigments' saturation and understand that while controlled chaos is essential, intentional decisions through color selection and blending guide the artwork's direction. Patience during drying is crucial for preserving the envisioned outcome, and protecting your workspace ensures focus without distractions. Capturing the technique's essence lies in letting pigments flow naturally to evoke movement while learning from mistakes and unexpected results cultivates valuable insights for future improvements. This delicate interplay ultimately leads to the creation of mesmerizing artworks that embody the fluid beauty and dynamic energy intrinsic to the watercolor pouring technique. Elevate Your Creations with Watercolor Pouring The watercolor pouring technique is a captivating and experimental method that invites artists to relinquish some control while producing astonishingly beautiful results. By leveraging the power of gravity and fluid dynamics, artists can create unique and dynamic compositions that capture the essence of the medium. As you embark on your own watercolor painting journey, remember that every pour is a step towards uncovering the untamed beauty that emerges from the dance of water and color. For more tips on mastering this medium, check out the Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Blog. Posts like “How to Master Watercolor Painting” and “Getting Started with Watercolors” both feature plenty of beneficial advice that will have you on your way to being an expert at the craft. And don’t forget to shop Cheap Joe’s for all your watercolor supplies – we have an impressive selection of high-quality products for painters of all skill levels!
Mastering the Watercolor Pouring Technique
Watercolor painting has long been celebrated for its delicate and luminous qualities. Among the many techniques available to watercolor artists, the watercolor pouring technique stands out as a captivating method...
Unleash Your Creativity with Sketchbook Journaling
In a world full of digital distractions, there's something inherently captivating about putting pen to paper to capture thoughts and emotions through the art of sketchbook journaling. This creative outlet not only serves as a visual diary but also fosters self-expression and artistic growth – which is why we wanted to cover the topic in today’s installment of a virtual art workshop! In this post, we'll delve into the captivating world of sketchbook journaling, exploring its benefits and providing step-by-step instructions to kick-start your artistic journey, all with the aid of high-quality art supplies from Cheap Joe's. Understanding the Essence of Sketchbook Journaling Sketchbook journaling is more than just doodles and scribbles on paper. It's a blend of words and visuals, a means to narrate your personal story through art. Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner taking your first steps into the world of creativity, sketchbook journaling offers a unique platform to capture the essence of your life, thoughts, dreams, and surroundings. It's a window into your emotions, a tactile reflection of your experiences, and a sanctuary of self-discovery. That’s the beauty of journaling: when you look back, you wonder how you ever had the time to do it all. Journaling is inch by inch and not mile by mile – each entry or drawing collects a moment in time, and over the years, that kind of dedication certainly adds up. The Benefits of Sketchbook Journaling The act of keeping a sketchbook journal boasts a multitude of benefits, transcending the artistic realm. Engaging in sketchbook journaling encourages you to see the world with an artist's eye, noticing intricate details that might otherwise go unobserved. Immersing yourself in the process of sketching and journaling can also be incredibly therapeutic, helping relieve stress and anxiety. Over time, your sketchbook becomes a visual record of your artistic evolution, showcasing your progress and growth as an artist. At the same time, a sketchbook journal is a treasure trove of memories, capturing moments in time. Finally, the act of putting pen to paper in sketchbook journaling can unlock the floodgates of creativity, inspiring new ideas and artistic experiments. Step-by-Step Guide to Embracing Your Inner Creativity Embarking on your sketchbook journaling journey is an exciting endeavor that requires no special expertise, only a willingness to explore your inner creativity. You can participate in this installment of our virtual art workshops by following these simple instructions: Step 1: Choose the Right SketchbookSelecting the right sketchbook is crucial, but it doesn’t have to be anything expensive. We recommend starting small, something like a 7” by 7” or 5 ½ x 8 ½ because it takes less time to fill a page. Choose one with good-quality paper that can handle various mediums, such as watercolors, pens, pencils, and markers. At Cheap Joe’s, we offer a wide variety of sketchbooks and journal books tailored to different artistic needs. Step 2: Gather Your Art SuppliesAssemble an assortment of art supplies that resonate with you. There is nothing wrong with just using #2 pencils, although we have found that a mechanical pencil is much easier to use. We recommend a beginner paint set; something portable and simple. Our instructor Leslie Fehling does most of her sketches with an ink line and likes the Pigma Micron 01 size pen because it is waterproof and can be water-colored over. Some basic synthetic watercolor brushes are also a good way to start. Cheap Joe's Art Stuff boasts an array of affordable yet high-quality art supplies to fuel your creative fire. Step 3: Craft a Creative RitualTransform your sketchbook journaling into a cherished ritual by designating a dedicated space and time to create. Choose an inspiring environment, whether it's a cozy corner at home or a serene outdoor spot. This space becomes a sanctuary where creativity flourishes. Set a regular schedule, fostering consistency that deepens your artistic connection. As you settle into your creative space, take mindful breaths to center your focus and release distractions to get yourself in a creative headspace. Step 4: Embrace ImperfectionRemember, sketchbook journaling is not about creating perfect masterpieces. Embracing imperfection is a celebration of authenticity and a catalyst for artistic growth. Every smudge, stray line, or unplanned element adds a personal touch to your work. Recognize that imperfections tell a story of your artistic journey, infusing your sketches with character and depth. By embracing imperfection, you not only liberate your creativity but also nurture a unique and authentic artistic voice. Step 5: Observe and DocumentIn sketchbook journaling, observation becomes an art form as you train your senses to perceive the world with heightened awareness. Embrace the play of light and shadow, textures, and emotions in your surroundings. Capture not only visual elements but also context—jotting down notes and thoughts that create a dialogue between your art and insights. Blend words with images, jotting down thoughts, quotes, or anecdotes alongside your artwork. This fusion adds depth and context to your journal. Step 6: Reflect and RevisitThe act of reflecting on and revisiting your past sketches becomes a profound source of inspiration and self-discovery. By flipping through the pages, you witness your artistic growth, from improved techniques to evolving use of color. Embrace the emotions tied to each piece, recognizing how they breathe life into your artwork. Your sketchbook becomes more than a collection of art; it transforms into a living testament to your dedication, creativity, and the ever-unfolding story of your artistic evolution. Improve Your Craft With These Additional Resources Sketchbook journaling is a captivating avenue for self-expression, personal growth, and artistic exploration. If you’re looking for some extra guidance for your journaling, you can find more tutorials on the website for Leslie Fehling. She also recommends a wonderful book on sketchbook journaling by Cathy Johnson called “Artist Journal Workshop”. Some online resources can be used as well. But don’t spend too much time reading books or watching videos; it is better to just begin sketching, and the techniques you need to create will come along.
Unleash Your Creativity with Sketchbook Journaling
In a world full of digital distractions, there's something inherently captivating about putting pen to paper to capture thoughts and emotions through the art of sketchbook journaling. This creative outlet...
Five Unexpected Health Benefits of Being Creative
I must study politics and war, that our sons (and daughters) may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons (and daughters) ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.” From the Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife - May 12, 1780
Five Unexpected Health Benefits of Being Creative
I must study politics and war, that our sons (and daughters) may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons (and daughters) ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography,...
Group Art Ideas to Inspire and Challenge
Sometimes at Cheap Joe's, we love tackling unique group art ideas. We also understand that coming up with those group art ideas can be challenging whether you are an art teacher, student, or simply encouraging creativity around you. You might have noticed that I've been absent lately, and I apologize for that! We've been busy working hard here at Cheap Joes, but now that I have a moment, I have something exciting to share that might inspire you! For the past month, we've also been working on a group art idea centered around the beautiful painting, A Wheatfield with Cypresses, by Vincent Van Gogh. Our group art idea was to re-imagine this gorgeous classic painting into a collaborative project done between 36 different artists, and it's finally finished! So how did we do it, and how can you do something similar? 1. PlanningFirst, we chose a famous painting. In this case, A Wheatfield with Cypresses, by Vincent Van Gogh. Next, one of our talented Graphic Designers, Erin, collected the names of all the artists interested in participating and divided the painting into equivalent sections. You can see the divided section of the artwork that I chose, circled below. 2. SectioningOnce every artist was assigned a section, we sent each of them an 11"x14" Joe's Prime Cradled Painting Panel along with a printout of their section, and then the painting as a whole for further reference. We chose to-scale printouts of each section to help us ensure that our edges would line up as seamlessly as possible without a mess of crooked designs. Here's Erin, hard at work, distributing panels and printouts for all the artists. And below, here's one of our fantastic Marketing Assistants, Lori, providing much-needed group art support and unique flare. 3. Create!This part of the process is, in my opinion, the most fun. Each artist is free to recreate their painting section in their style or medium of choice. In my case, I decided that I wanted to make sure my panel lined up with its neighbors as much as possible, so I grabbed a piece of Saral Wax-Free Transfer Paper. Next, I placed the transfer paper between the panel and my printout to trace the major lines to get a good basic shape, paying attention to the bars along the edges the most. Though you can't really see it well in the image above due to the angle, the lines came out perfectly crisp, which is excellent. I've got a solid base down and am ready to choose paints. I decided to go with acrylic paints and grabbed an assortment of our Joe's Prime Really Good Lightfast Acrylic colors that mostly matched the colors I saw in my panel. (I say mostly because I knew to match better, I needed to mix colors for the perfect shades I wanted.) I mixed a combination of Bright Aqua Green, Light Blue Violent, and Titanium white to create the shades I felt matched best. I began with an even layer of a mixture of teal, and while it was wet, I quickly added a few dollops of Titanium White for blending. I chose to add white within the teal so that I could mimic the almost chunky, 3D, and heavy strokes found in the painting, something that Van Gough is most famous for, and I wanted to emulate that as closely as I could. I mixed up some purple clouds for my finishing touches and added the very top corner of the cypress tree that I had in my section. I wanted to give my panel a bit more of a personal touch, something in my own style, so I considered doodling over the basic outlines of my panel. I wasn't sure yet, so I decided to test my idea without ruining the panel to prevent making a mistake I couldn't return from. I decided to tape a sheet of 11"x14" Polyester Film over my panel and began doodling on that instead. I began by just lining the major shapes of my brush stroke texture, and I really enjoyed that effect on its own. But I decided to try and take it a step further and began to doodle lines in some of the corner sections. I eventually realized that I felt as if the little circles were so close together that they began blocking out entire sections of the painting underneath. I tried a second attempt at circles on a larger scale with a different shape, and I thought it looked much better. I was still experimenting, so I continued this process until I mainly had one corner covered where I could take a break, stand back, and gauge my feelings on what I had done so far. I ultimately decided that the doodling of shapes made it far too busy and scrapped my polyester sheet. I did, however, learn that I really loved the way everything looked by being lined in a simple black. So I took my black brush-tip Pitt Artist Pen and decided to go over my lines, but this time directly on my painting. Above is the finished, lined image of my section of the painting and all that was left was to wait to see what the other artists in our group did with their pieces before putting it all together. Here's how it turned out! As you can see, everything lined up so well! I am really impressed with the talent and different interpretations and artist styles on each of our separate panels having turned into a cohesive and natural-looking finished group art piece. It's incredible to see one of our inspiring group art ideas being hung up and displayed as part of an exhibition in the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. If you get the chance, drop by the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum today to experience fantastic art!Collaborative art ideas are a great way to promote and foster community and learn new group art skills, so we highly encourage you to take a group art idea and run with it!
Group Art Ideas to Inspire and Challenge
Sometimes at Cheap Joe's, we love tackling unique group art ideas. We also understand that coming up with those group art ideas can be challenging whether you are an art...
Oil Painting Tips for Those New to Oils
Hello Artists, beginners and experts alike! This week, our blog post is inspired by a request from Tanya M. Nevin of Van Gough's Ear Paint Studio (check out her work!). She recently inherited a ton of oil paints from her late father, also an artist. Tanya has been painting with acrylics for over twenty-five years and she's not quite sure how to transition into working with oils. Well, Tanya and I are actually in the same predicament! I've never really used oil paints heavily either. So, what do we do when we don't know what to do? I start by asking questions of others that do. I was all to happy to take this opportunity to research the fascinating world of beginner oil painting and share the top 5 oil painting tips I found most helpful. Let's dive in and learn some great first-time oil painting tips together, shall we? 1. Prepare Your Painting Space Oil paints themselves and the solvents you will need to clean brushes with will come with strong scents; as such, you'll want the space you'll be painting in a well-ventilated area. If possible, make sure there is also plenty of room to keep all the items you need in reach and ready, like mediums, painting surfaces, turpentine, brushes, paints, etc. If possible, you may want to make sure your oil painting space is entirely separate from your acrylics or watercolors. In some cases, it's incredibly easy to grab a tube of Opera Rose watercolor instead of oil because the tubes look very similar. 2. Slow and Steady There's nothing more exciting than trying something new and learning a new art medium. However, it can frequently go from exciting to overwhelming very quickly if you jump right into trying to get all the colors, brushes, canvasses, etc. There's no shame in starting small and slowly. It's always good to start with a small painting surface and a limited paint palette to experience the way the paint applies and feels on the brush and how mixing it differs from other mediums you are familiar with. If you're looking for an excellent budget option, did you know that Gamblin creates a free paint called Torrit Grey? Torrit Grey is Gamblin's solution to ensuring high-quality pigments that float in the air of their factories and get filtered away from workers to keep them safe. To keep the environment safe, Gamblin re-uses these pigments to create a one-of-a-kind color tube of grey. Each shade of grey is different, and they also run an annual contest that artists can enter for a chance to win free stuff. 3. Prime your Surface If you don't have some Joe's Prime Stretched Cotton Canvas or Joe's Prime Cotton Canvas Rolls, which are 100% cotton duck that has all been pre-primed for painting with oils, you will absolutely need to prime your surface. Why? Oil paints have oils in them, and when you paint with them on an unprimed surface, the oils begin separating from the paint. Once they separate, they start seeping into an unprimed canvas, wood, or paper and can quickly ruin the piece of art you've worked so hard to create. Luckily, at Cheap Joe's, not only can you get pre-primed surfaces, but you can get highly budget-friendly primer options like our Joe's Prime Really Good Gesso, which starts at $3.59 for an 8 oz jar and can be used to prime for oils and acrylics. 4. "Thick over Thin?" "Fat over Lean?" Have you discovered the phrase "fat over lean" when researching oil painting tips yet, but have no idea what that means? These phrases refer to the layers in which you should try and paint with oils. Thinner paints with less oil for the bottom, or first play, then thicker, more oily paints go over the thinner layer. This ensures your painting dries at the correct rate. If your painting dries at the incorrect rate, you could have cracking. To make paint 'fatter' or oilier, you add more oil to it, and to make it 'leaner' or thinner, you add a solvent such as turpentine or a fast-drying medium. This helps each layer absorb oil from the layer above it evenly. If you didn't know it already, certain colors are known to have faster drying times too, and they can be incorporated into your lower layers. Paints that contain Cobalt, Manganese, and Lead can be added to other paints to speed up the drying process. On the other hand, certain paints are known for drying slowly, such as Quinacridones, and should be avoided on lower layers. 5. Keep Clean Oil paints, like many art mediums, can get extremely messy. In some cases, depending on the ingredients, oil paints can be pretty toxic if ingested or absorbed into your skin—but don't let that frighten you! It's all about keeping your work area and self as clean and organized as possible (and out of reach of children and pets) while learning how to dispose of everything responsibly and adequately. Paints, mediums, palettes, and anything else with oil paint should be disposed of in or at a Hazardous Waste Facility. Rags, paper towels, and items with less mess on them can be contained in a glass jar or a fire-safe trash container. But the containers must be fire safe because oil paints and solvents are highly flammable, and they could spontaneously combust when drying out! Hopefully, these five beginner tips will help you transition into your new oil paints, Tanya! I can't wait to see what you learn and all you can do! Good luck and good painting!
Oil Painting Tips for Those New to Oils
Hello Artists, beginners and experts alike! This week, our blog post is inspired by a request from Tanya M. Nevin of Van Gough's Ear Paint Studio (check out her...
Making it Pop with Pastels!
Hello, everyone! Whenever I find out about a new painting technique, I cannot wait to try it and show you guys how it works! This week, I explored the use of soft pastels with watercolor to achieve greater depth of field. I absolutely love mixed media, which is why I can't believe I hadn't heard of this sooner!
Making it Pop with Pastels!
Hello, everyone! Whenever I find out about a new painting technique, I cannot wait to try it and show you guys how it works! This week, I explored the use...
Tie-Dye Batik with Glue!
Hey, everybody! The warm weather is finally upon us, which means we can start breaking out all the old outdoor activities! One of my personal favorites is tie-dyeing! Sure, you can tie-dye any time of the year, but I have fond memories of dying shirts at my best friend's house as a kid, and her mom yelling at us to take them outside and leaving them to dry by hanging them over a tree branch. Ah, the 90s... So I wanted to bring back that nostalgia--while also adding a little bit of artistry--with this week's project! I've done wax batiking before, but I wanted to go for a more accessible approach this time. And what's more accessible than Elmer's Glue? Everyone and their brother's got a bottle of Elmer's Glue sitting somewhere in their house, and that's literally all you need to create relief designs on dyed shirts! Whatever you cover in glue stays white (or the color of your fabric) while the dye stains around it, and then the glue just dissolves when you rinse it out! I prepped by taping sheets of wax paper to this piece of cardboard, and then slipped my shirt over it and secured it with clips. Obvious tie-dye reminder: 100% cotton shirts are the most absorbent and retain dye the best! And then I just went straight into it! I drew out this little glue flower and didn't take into consideration the way the glue would spread if it's in big globs... So I just filled in the petals and did an outline around it! No mistakes, just happy accidents. And I let my pattern grow from there. If drawing freehand makes you nervous or you'd rather use something like a stencil, you can draw out your design with a fabric pencil and it'll rinse off when you wash the shirt! But I didn't have any plans while making these designs, so I just let the glue go where my hand was taking it. I doodle a lot of swirls, anyway. This was pretty second-nature. Phew! 45 minutes and 2 hand cramps later, I was done! Well, with this part. To make sure the glue was totally dry, I let it sit overnight. When I came back, I had this! What appeared to be a wrinkly shirt actually had a crazy-intricate design spanning it. Next, I folded it up and used the rubberbands that came in the Jacquard Groovy Tie Dye Kit to tie it up like a regular tie-dye shirt. The glue crunched a little bit, but none of the pieces flaked off. Then I put on the gloves and mixed 2 of the 3 dyes per the instructions that came in the kit. I stuck with cyan and magenta because I knew darker colors would work best with showing my design. After dampening the shirt (to let the dye seep into the fabric more easily), it was time to take it outside! I went straight for the section that had the design on it and just doused the whole section in blue. Then I decided purple would look better, so I threw some red in there, too. Obvious tie-dye reminder: be sure to get the dye into all the nooks and crannies! It also helps to squeeze the section you're working on to get the dye worked all the way around. Woohoo! Thoroughly-dyed! Once I was finished, I gently placed it into a handy-dandy Cheap Joe's bag and set it on the windowsill by my desk. When I came back the next morning... I had this! Mildly disappointed by the way the dye I was washing out attached itself to the remaining white parts AND that some of the glue reactivated while the dye set and it created weird additions to my designs, but I still think it's very beautiful! Here are some close-ups: All in all, I'm calling this a successful batik! Can't wait to wear it!
Tie-Dye Batik with Glue!
Hey, everybody! The warm weather is finally upon us, which means we can start breaking out all the old outdoor activities! One of my personal favorites is tie-dyeing! Sure, you...
More Fun with Alcohol Inks!
Hi, everyone! More Fun with Alcohol Inks! This week's post goes out to all you alcohol ink artists out there! (OR folks considering getting into alcohol inks!) I'm sure you've used the felt stamps in your work before, but have you tried the PanPastel Sofft Tools? They're perfect for deliberately applying ink, making unique patterns, and even removing ink from paper! First, I jumped right in with making patterns! I began by masking off a leaf on a sheet of Mitz TerraSkin Multimedia Art Paper. Next, I squeezed a combination of Ranger Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks in Citrus, Clover, and Stream onto my rectangle-shaped Sofft Tool. Then I stamped a few sections of the leaf and dripped the same colors around it. When I pulled the masking fluid away, I was pleased with my result! Except there appeared to be a few places that I missed with masking fluid, and the inks got onto the paper...but no worries! The pointed Sofft Tool is the perfect shape for going back in with Claro Extender and cleaning up those stray marks! That's much better! I used a similar technique with a stencil I made: I cut this stencil out of a piece of polyester film and laid it onto another sheet of TerraSkin. Then I dropped some Wild Plum, Indigo,Watermelon, and Cool Peri onto my round Sofft Tool and Citrus, Clover, and Stream onto my rectangle again. I stamped my respective colors all over my stencil. And pulled the stencil away to reveal this! The greens are a bit dingy (I think because they got a little of the Indigo in them) and my flowers came out kind of sloppy, so I tried again--this time, with less ink on my Sofft Tools. Once again, stamped all over, making sure to keep my colors as contained as possible. And voila! A much nicer result this time! Though I do think both are nice, so I'll keep them for a future project, like putting an initial in the middle of some kind of quotes along the outside. The Sofft Tools give me so much control over these otherwise-wily inks, I love it! Next, I wanted to use my stencil as a relief while I used Claro Extender and a Sofft Tool to pull ink back up from the page. My first couple of attempts ended up looking something like this--too much extender! FINALLY, I found the perfect amount of extender to pull up the ink, without reactivating it and making it bleed. (It's about this much. And even then, I did some test stamps on a plain sheet of paper to get any excess off.) Next, I wanted to use the Sofft Tools as simply applicators for ink. I quickly threw together some light-ish colors (Wild Plum, Cool Peri, Shell Pink, and some Extender). Then I laid my stencil on the dried ink--dang, that looks pretty cool on its own! Inked all the way around with just a combo of Indigo and Cranberry. Tip: Indigo eats every other color you use, so apply it sparingly! Once again, my ink-to-sponge ratio was a bit off, so my flowers bled a little...BUT one portion was salvageable! Now I have a pretty little embellishment to add to a later work :) And if nothing else, you can use the tools to add dimension to the backgrounds of your works! Just squeezy-squeeze a bit onto your Sofft Tools... Apply in a random fashion... And then ink as normal! Since that layer dries before you apply your other inks, they still show through--even from under other inks! Tell me about your favorite alcohol ink techniques!
More Fun with Alcohol Inks!
Hi, everyone! More Fun with Alcohol Inks! This week's post goes out to all you alcohol ink artists out there! (OR folks considering getting into alcohol inks!) I'm sure you've...
Spring Art Swap!
Hi, everyone! It was a great week over here at Cheap Joe's headquarters! For a little over a month now, our employees have been working diligently to create a one-of-a-kind work of art to be swapped for another unique piece made by a fellow employee! Well, today was the day of the swap, and I am extremely excited to show you the products of some of the amazing artists we have here! The theme, of course, was "spring"--but we encouraged the participants to interpret that however they pleased OR go in a different direction entirely. After all, art knows no bounds! In alphabetical order: Artwork by Alex Skala, retail associate at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Alicia Orlando, a member of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Aly Perez, manager of our Asheville Retail Store. Artwork by Amanda Chapman, manager of our Boone Outlet Store. Artwork by Annabelle Prince, manager of our Charlotte Retail Store. Artwork by Becky Stines, part of our receiving gang. (This is the panel I got!) Artwork by Bri Stoehr, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Brian Dubberly, our Marketing Manager. Alicia Orlando also created this piece, on behalf of a new employee in the Distribution Center named Bryan Elrod. Artwork by Byron Cook, our Web Developer is in charge of the entire Cheap Joe's website! Artwork by Carlee Hudson (that's me!), marketing assistant/copywriter/blogger extraordinaire. Artwork by Christy Firk, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Danie Firth, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Dawn Hill, roommate to one of our Call Center gurus, Tammy Guilford. Artwork by Derrick Fowler, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Edwina May, our Workshop Coordinator. Artwork by Erin Guffey, one of our graphic designers, who works on our seasonal sale flyers and orchestrates these art swaps! Artwork by Jacob Woehler, one of the retail associates at our Asheville Location. And here's the back of Jacob's--we're a silly bunch :) Artwork by Jana Smith, another member of our receiving gang. Artwork by Janalee Burke, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Jane Laferla, one of the retail associates at our Asheville location. Artwork by Kevin Brown, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte Location. Artwork by Kevin Bryan, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Lauren Murrell, another retail associate at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Linda Greenup, a retail associate at our Asheville location. Artwork by Lori Inman, the other marketing assistant, in charge of finding awesome new products. Artwork by Luke Russell, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Megan Hart, Content/SEO Management Artwork by Meghann Miller Williams, in charge of promotional donations. Artwork by Michael White, part of the Distribution Center team. Artwork by Michelle Dineen, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Phillip Church, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Sally Garner, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Tammy Guilford, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Taylor Bowers, marketing. Artwork by Terry Henry, part of the graphics team. Artwork by Tippy Kleinman, one of the retail associates in our Boone Outlet Store. And last but certainly not least, Web Alexander, manager/guru supreme of the Call Center.
Spring Art Swap!
Hi, everyone! It was a great week over here at Cheap Joe's headquarters! For a little over a month now, our employees have been working diligently to create a one-of-a-kind...
Spring Succulent Sanctuary!
Hello, everyone! Who's ready for spring? I know I am. The weather has been gorgeous this week--but they say we're supposed to get snow on Sunday! In an effort to fight this Indian Winter, I bought myself a little jade plant to keep in the window by my desk. (Not a photo of mine, but this is a jade plant.) I've used some pretty creative things as planters over the years: Like these dinosaur toys that I gutted and painted! Can you tell I like succulents? So I knew I needed to give this new baby a nice home. I have this terracotta pot (that I believe I stole from my mom a few years ago), but I'm not a huge fan of the pattern on the middle of it. Since I knew anything I painted onto the pot would still show this pattern, I decided to cover it with paper instead! If you've read some of my other posts, you know that covering ugly stuff with gorgeous handmade paper is one of my favorite techniques; it's quick, usually inexpensive, and--most importantly--easy! I went next door and grabbed this pack of stunning monochromatic paper by Shizen. And the process was simple enough: I began by priming the whole pot (two layers on the rim and saucer) with Joe's Prime Really Good Gesso. When that dried insanely quickly, I could put down my paint layer. I painted the rim and saucer with my absolute favorite accent color, Golden's Iridescent Gold Deep (Fine). These are the parts I wasn't going to cover with paper. When that was good and dry, I used Golden Soft Gel Medium (Gloss) to adhere the paper to the pot. One sheet didn't quite wrap around it entirely, but because of how busy the pattern is, you'd hardly be able to tell I had to do any overlapping. When the paper-covered everything, I trimmed it down to the bottom of the pot with an X-Acto Knife and glued the edges down with more gel medium. With another coat of gel medium to seal the paper and paint, I was finished! What a happy little jade! And now it lives in the window, hopefully beckoning springtime and rebuking the snow! There is soo much you can do to create one-of-a-kind planters, especially on these cheap little terracotta pots.
Spring Succulent Sanctuary!
Hello, everyone! Who's ready for spring? I know I am. The weather has been gorgeous this week--but they say we're supposed to get snow on Sunday! In an effort to...
Speedball Screenprinting Workshop!
Hey, everybody! A few weeks ago, we were lucky to have two representatives from Speedball come and show us how to use all the awesome new screen printing stuff we've just started carrying and how to use them! First, Kim (left) and Melissa (right) gave us a rundown of some of the inks we picked up. The teal jar Melissa is holding is part of the line of Acrylic Screen Printing Ink--works the same as regular old acrylic paint, in that it's permanent when dry and highly pigmented for bold, opaque colors! The dark blue jar is the Fabric Screen Printing Ink--just like it says, this is ink that is made to be used on fabric and will hold up to the most powerful washing machines once it's properly heat-set. Of course you can use these inks interchangeably, but the acrylic goes on smoother and is ideal for putting down single layers on paper, while the fabric ink has a thicker consistency that'll definitely stick to your clothes! Then we talked about the two kinds of screens we'll have: wooden and aluminum. The Wooden Screen Frames are your standard screen printing frames that work perfectly with both fabric and acrylic inks. The Aluminum Screen Frames are the step up from those because they're a bit sturdier and can have finer screens, allowing for more intricate printing details. Next, Melissa explained to us the pros and cons of different screen-filling techniques. First, you've got your simple stencil method (which Kim is holding up), where you can tape either a stencil you've bought or cut out yourself to the back of your frame and then you push the ink through it and onto your surface. Melissa said they've found that the Bienfang Graphics #360 Marker Paper works wonderfully for stencils because it's translucent, waterproof, and very easy to cut through. Speedball also has this great Block Out Tape with an adhesive strong enough to withstand inks without leaving any sticky residue on your screen! Tip: a coworker who has a lot of experience in screen printing prefers to use vinyl stickers for stencils because they stick right to the screen and you don't have to worry about the possibility of them moving! Because of the impermanence of stencils, this technique is recommended for those who are only making a handful of prints. Second, there's the drawing fluid technique. As you can see from the labels, the bottom layer is just Drawing Fluid used on a screen if you printed this as is, you would get ink on everything except for "Speedball Drawing Fluid." The middle layer is drawing fluid with Screen Filler in the remaining empty parts of the screen (ya know, because it fills the holes). This is the next step you would take if you wanted to get to the top layer, where they've rinsed the drawing fluid while the screen filler stays to make it so "Speedball" is now the only thing that gets inked. This method is more permanent and reliable than the stencil method and is recommended for those who are making <100 prints. And then there's the photo emulsion technique--the most advanced method of screen printing. The top layer is your blank screen (obviously. The next layer is filled in with a mixture of Photo Emulsion and Sensitizer--you need BOTH of these for the photo emulsion technique and, thankfully, there's a kit to make sure you have the right ratio! Once that dries in a dark place (Melissa recommended the drawer under your oven if you don't have cookie sheets in there), place or tape a photo positive (meaning the dark parts are what you want to be inked) that's printed onto a clear surface, like polyester film or acetate onto the front of your screen. Rather than using a printed image, you could also paint directly onto your clear surface with some super-dark India Ink--whatever you do, just make sure your image is completely opaque. The final layer is the result of exposing your screen to a light source and then rinsing out the unexposed areas aka your design! This technique is extremely reliable and recommended for those who are making hundreds of prints. If you're worried about not being able to reuse your screens, you shouldn't be! The drawing fluid and screen filler can both be washed out with soap and warm water, and the photo emulsion can be removed with--you guessed it--Photo Emulsion Remover! After dropping all of this knowledge on us, Kim and Melissa thought it was time for the fun part: printing! Since they already had a photo emulsion screen ready, we jumped right in to print some Speedball logos on these awesome bags they brought for us! With a craft stick, I applied what I thought was a reasonable amount of ink to the top of my screen... But Melissa said I needed more, so I added more. With screen printing, you don't need to worry about using too much ink because whatever you don't use can simply be added back into your jar and saved for another print! Then came the moment of truth! Melissa explained how I should hold my Squeegee at about a 45-degree angle and drag the ink down my screen slowly and carefully. If you don't have a friend or Speedball representative to hold your screen down for you, it's necessary to grab a Base Unit to keep it from sliding around. Once I pulled the ink over the screen once, I was done! But Melissa says it's a good idea to pull the ink back over your design (with your screen in the air above your surface) as what is referred to as "flooding." This fills ONLY your design with ink and makes it ready for a second pull across your surface. Woohoo! Look at that! My very own screen printed bag! After that, we had a little fun with cutting out our own stencils and using different inks for different surfaces. Here's Web, our call center supervisor, about to print with a stencil I made for him. This gorgeous blue is actually part of the Night-Glo line, which glows in the dark! Night-Glo comes in fabric ink as well as acrylic ink, giving our outlet store manager, Amanda, the opportunity to brand her apron with this design she made of her initials! In the light, this design made by our search engine optimizer, Megan, is a radiant "Peacock Blue." But with the lights out, it glows an incredible green! I've had some issues getting even coverage with glow-in-the-dark paint before, but screen printing ensures perfectly even coating! You can probably tell I'm pretty excited about this new line of supplies, so go and check them out yourselves!
Speedball Screenprinting Workshop!
Hey, everybody! A few weeks ago, we were lucky to have two representatives from Speedball come and show us how to use all the awesome new screen printing stuff we've...
