DIY compact watercolor brush

Compact brushes are often super expensive in the art store, and often very small in size. Being the cheap guy I am, I got some lipstick form dollar store and turned them into my compact watercolor brush.(those are number 12 brush in the photo.) It is not only compact, one would never have to worry about messing up the hair when the brush is retracted and capped. Total cost of the brush is about $15.(Brush is about $12, the lipstick was $2.25, plus the cost of glue and cleaning supplies.)

I think anyone who love to sketch on location should totally do this too!!!

Watercolor watercolor

Still trying to be loose with watercolor. Strangely, the more I try to be loose, the tighter it looks. (I am sure something is going on in my head.) Anyway, here are the latest attempts in the local workshop. About 90 minutes to 2 hours each.

Kenneth Paul Block, passed away at age of 84

Fashion illustrator Kenneth Paul Block, one of my hero in the field of fashion illustration, have just passed away, at age of 84. A very sad day indeed.

More water color stuff

Finally completed the location/object sketchbook. A whole new sketchbook is waiting to be started now...

Hard not wanting to do one of the air plane interior after seeing Jame Jean's sketchbook.

Was having tea that day...

Sketch of the famous steam clock as I waited for the rest of the people to show up.

In a food court downtown Vancouver around lunch hour.

Near the entrance to the public library.

A quick one.

A slow one...

Watercolor stuff

Still trying to use up all those tubes of watercolors that everyone gave me. It is seriously ridiculous how many tubes of paint I have. I am still very timid with watercolor compare to how I would use acrylic. Practice, practice, and practice!

Quick gestures

Been extremely busy lately with the classes amongst other things. Haven't been able to update as often, but will after this big rush.(Keeping my fingers crossed)

Back to using my large pad again. Good to have my freedom back with the real estate of all that space to draw.(Besides my sharp charcoal pencils were dying to get out of the tin cases.) All of these were 2 minute poses on rough newsprint. No animal nor slave were harmed during the making of the drawing.

21st SketchCrawl - Vancouver

Time flew since the last crawl. Went downtown Vancouver for the crawl today. A much smaller turn out compare to the last one.(Guess no one want to be out under the cold, rainy X-file weather.) Anticipating some delay(based on the experience last time), I picked a complicated scene to start with. Luckily, I end up having slightly under two hour of working time as we waited for any late comers at the meeting spot. Hopping from one in door location to another, my umbrella was stolen(or mistakenly taken) at the sushi restaurant. Fortunately, I have my rain jacket and hat with me.

Stuff from this week...

Picked up my watercolor again. Not sure why. After using the cheap watercolor for so long, it is hard to get used to regular paint again. Avoided using pencil and went directly with the brush this time.

Done in the local workshop during the weekend.(If Monday counts as weekend...) We had a really nice model with a pink dress. She was nice enough to bring them through the difficult commute.

Just a warm up sketch today. Around 30 min or so.

Cold winter...

Haven't been a good blogger lately. Thought I would post a quick update with some recent photo to get things rolling again. This winter has been especially cold for Vancouver. The snow hit us hard and is great for photographing snow scenes. These were taken on a trip to the near by lake last week. The lake were frozen but not safe enough to be walked on yet.(Some dude actually fell into it the day before we went.) My fingers were numb by the time we got back to the car, but it was totally worth it.

Happy Halloween!

20th SketchCrawl - Vancouver

Joined the 20th SketchCrawl in Vancouver on Beautiful Granville island. Thought no one is coming until someone showed up a hour pass the meeting time.(I totally forgot about the "artist time" thing. One hour later than any set time for any gathering...) Got to meet quite a few friendly local artists.

Beside the first time experience with the crawl, is it also the first trial run for my home made paint box.(Just finished it this week.) The box works surprisingly well. Beside having to hold on to it until the water bottle is clipped on,(as a counter weight to prevent it from tipping over.) it works perfectly. The box came with the light bulbs purchased at Costco, and the spare parts and screws comes from Home depot for about $12. Compare to the wooden paint box that costs about $50 and up, this is definitely a good way to save money. Besides, most of the boxes are designed for oil painting and doesn't work perfectly with the setup I have with Acrylics. Now I can finally go everywhere with my Acrylics.(Everyone should make one!!!.)

After freezing my butt for 2.5 hours, most people had found their way inside the market for some warmth. I drank a cup the hot tea in my backpack and head over to the boats.(No way I am going inside, especially with the Saturday crowd in the Market.) When I got back around 2:00pm, I can hardly find anyone around.(although I knew they are still around some where on the island.) Too bad I couldn't meet up with the group at the end of the day, as I had to take off early. Maybe next time.

Fashion stuff

It is about time to start putting fashion stuff up. To the power of contour lines! Gouache with my new $8.00 watercolor brush. The new brush is a treat compare to my crappy 9 year old synthetic brush. However, the hair is starting to fall off as I push the brush around like a cheap labor with water bucket...(The nice Series 7 brush is still sealed in a air tight box somewhere in my brush box. Can't get myself to torture a brush that cost as much as 2 month worth of Walgreen cookie.)

Purpose of concept art

The purpose of the concept art is to save money and plan out the production at low cost. So, what is the point of spending a few K on fancy computer equipments to do the same thing that can be done with less than a few bucks?(pencil and paper) Even including a decent scanner and a dozen cups of good coffee, it would not even come close in cost. It just does not makes sense to spend more to save money, not to me anyway.

Anyway, here is a quick sketch done in Photoshop.(As you can see, it would be much cheaper doing it with pencil on paper instead.)

More painting with dull colors.

Hum... not sure what happened. It is not like they discontinue Cads or Manganese Blue. Some one just came by one day and took all the bright color away... Or maybe it's the Canadian food.(I am sure there are some that would agree to that. *smile*) Anyway, just figure studies from workshop.(acrylic on Sketchbook.) Nowadays, I get about 3~4 poses(20 minutes) tops. Most of the time, I would be running around the studio dealing with something. I am so glad that I hung out with the Craigzzz and his quick study while I had the chance. Definitely the best painting class ever.

Recent stuff

Update from the location sketchbook. The last is from a life painting session.(obviously...)

Lucked out on the scene. The stormy clouds had just a nice opening allowing the light to come through right on the mountain.(Although it only lasted couple of minutes...)

Had 10% off at a buffet. Ate a whole loads of cakes and other sweets. Painted the view across the river while digesting all the food.(Never should anyone eat that much...)

Sketching with a friend from under the bridge while waiting for the life drawing session to start.

Sitting at Starbucks without ordering anything.(nothing new there...)

A visit to the blue berry farm. Due to the cold winter, the blue berry is very limited this year.

Just another figure study on found wood from construction sites.(And you wonder why they always lock the place... *smile*)