Art Lesson #1

Getting Started: Don’t be Scared

      Here’s a low-cost, low-stress, high-enjoyment way to play with art. Start an ART JOURNAL!     You won’t be dealing with expensive paper or canvas, which can be intimidating at first. Just a little journal, available many places. If you want to go a little lux, try a Moleskin Watercolor Journal, available in art supply stores and some bookstores. Or you may want to experiment with several journals of differing sizes and paper quality.  I prefer a book that lays flat and has heavy enough paper to withstand a light wash or a Sharpie without going through it.
Here is a collection of the
Beer Taps of Beaverton.  Hey, you use the interesting shapes and colors around you!

     The Color: You may use watercolor crayons (Caran D’Arche is a good brand) or watercolor pencils (I love Derwent Inktense). It’s also fun to experiment with colored Sharpies and glitter gel pens.

    The Brush: For portability, try a plastic brush with a hollow handle that holds your water supply.  Sakura makes a surprisingly good one that is sold at Craft Warehouse.

These are great for your little  Art Kit on the Go.  This need be no bigger than your sketch pad or journal book.  Add your slim, flat box of watercolor pencils or crayons and your water-holding brush (6”, max) and you have a compact kit which can easily be slipped into a freezer bag first, to keep it all together, then into your backpack, purse or briefcase. You are now ready for art on the go. Waiting for your food at a restaurant? Use the water in your water glass to fill your brush and go to it.     





I’m sure you will find lots of opportunities to grab a quick sketch during your day.  If you want to wait until later to add the water and blend, blend, blend – you can do that.  

Don’t wait to see something amazing or profound, work with what’s around you everyday.  (Not that I sit at the bar everyday, you understand! I did those sketches from a booth! ;-D)