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Post by Martina on Jun 6, 2007 11:10:37 GMT -5
I think we all have stuff wie find very useful. And to share this and the experience with it could be very nice and helpful. So tell us what you need let's make Art with some needful things:
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Post by papillon on Jun 6, 2007 11:16:07 GMT -5
So what exactly do you have in mind Martina? Books, websites? or just our experiences and techniques.
I think this is very interesting - we all have something to contribute.
So come in guys - tell us what you find useful.
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Post by Martina on Jun 6, 2007 11:21:01 GMT -5
Sharpener Until yesterday I always used an electric sharpener (Dahle). But after a year it decided to strike and so I had to buy a new one. It again is a Dahle sharpener, but a manuell one with a crank handle. Here you can see it: www.gerstaecker.de/ressources/images/DEde/3/23068_500.jpgIt works very very good, I can sharp pencils from 8 to 12 mm - and I can sharpen them with diefferent tips, from a dull tip to a needle sharp point. It is very easy to use, sharpens very economic and not expensive. I like it much more than my old electric one because the pencil doesn't go down as fast as with my former sharpeners, it is as quick as the electric one but needs no batteries. I think it is available all over Europe, and USA and Canada too (I gooogled it and "thingyBlick" offers the big brother of mine LOL) EDIT: Looooool - LOL ROFL - "thingyBlick - the PC change the first word LOL - I think you all know that D-C-K-_B-L-I-C-K is meant
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Post by papillon on Jun 6, 2007 11:39:53 GMT -5
EDIT: Looooool - LOL ROFL - "thingyBlick - the PC change the first word LOL - I think you all know that D-C-K-_B-L-I-C-K is meant Yes, Martina - there are some words that are automatically changed. The other day it changed my c ocktails to thingytails too! As for your sharpener I think I need one like that too. I have a battery operated one which I'm not too happy with. The batteries don't last long at all and these days I find myself using a tiny manual sharpener more often than not. Once we are on the subject of sharpening let me too share something I picked up from one of my coloured pencil how to books. Save a pointIt sometimes happens that you have a defective pencil that keeps losing it's point. One way of saving it is to sharpen it in the bigger hole of a two holed sharpener. You still get a fine point but it eats much less into the wood giving you more protection for the point. Naturally the point would be shorter so you would need to sharpen a little more often but at least you save the pencil.
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Post by Martina on Jun 6, 2007 12:04:44 GMT -5
Thanks!! This is indeed helpful. And with my new sharpener this works too. Huggggg!!!
LOL C ocktail LOL
You and this forum made my day - I can't stop chuckling...
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Post by shutterbug on Jun 6, 2007 14:48:05 GMT -5
Many of you perhaps already do this...but I thought to share it anyway just in case someone can get use out of it and save them self a ruined picture. I started using canned air to clean off eraser crumbs from an image. I ruined a drawing by brushing it off with a soft powder brush and lost all highlights. Lesson learned.
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Post by Martina on Jun 6, 2007 15:22:48 GMT -5
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Post by papillon on Jun 6, 2007 15:29:44 GMT -5
I started using canned air to clean off eraser crumbs from an image. Christine I have a fog horn can(you know the kind they use at football grounds) - will that do?! No seriously I know what you mean and totally agree with you. Something like that would be especially useful for pastel work. I have a very bad habit of blowing on the painting to remove the extra pastel dust and sometimes spittle does flow with the air! Very bad, very, very bad! So do you mean the kind of can you use for fixing a flat tire? I was also thinking... would a powerful hairdryer do as well?
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Post by SweetSilverBird on Jun 6, 2007 15:37:44 GMT -5
I have an electric sharpener too, but what I end up using most is a little metal sharpener with two blades around the place where the pencil goes in.
My problem is I have zero workspace. I sit here at my computer, and hold my sketchbook. I do have a strong light I can put on my page, but other than that, I have no room to even put my pencils down. I think I need a bigger desk!!!
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Post by shutterbug on Jun 6, 2007 21:02:20 GMT -5
Martina yes, you are correct..it's used to clean off dust from camera lenses, keyboards, etc. and you'll find it in the office supply stores.
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Post by papillon on Jun 12, 2007 1:55:46 GMT -5
You may recollect my saying I'm hopeless with charcoal. I think my aversion of it, apart from the mess I always make, came very early on when I couldn't figure out how to sharpen my charcoal pencils. That's a thing of the past now since I got my set of Carbothello pastel pencil set. With them came a very special kind of sharpener. It really does a wonderful job with giving a very fine point to pastel pencils but also works a charm with charcoal pencils. I don't know whether you can find it for sale on its own but probably you can. Carbothellos, as well as the sharpener, are made by Stabilo.
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Post by artdessy75 on Jun 13, 2007 12:21:38 GMT -5
SweetSilverBird, you could instead of using a "computer desk" look for a cheap long table, say maybe 4-6 feet. I got a table from my fater in law that is about 4 1/2 to 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. I have my monitor, art books and a little wooden shelf with drawers sitting on it. Next to it I have an file cabinet that my husband brought me from his work they were throwing away because the building is moving to another city. I have my computer and scanner/printer laying on the top of it as well as a plastic drawer container with yet more supplies. All you need is a BIG wall area. I have plenty of room on my table for drawing, as well I was a Drawing table. LOL..(I hardly use it!!)
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Post by Martina on Jun 18, 2007 7:57:57 GMT -5
Paper Since we europeans can't get Strathmore and other CP-papers easily I searched a long time for the best paper for my colored pencils. And the winner iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis: "Canson 1557 Drawing" This paper is perfect for graphit and CP because it is smooth (no teeth) with fine grain - rough enough to take many many layers of colored pencils. It is available in DIN-A4, A3 and A2 (maybe A1 too but I'm not sure). 30 sheet / 180 g / white fine
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Post by papillon on Jun 18, 2007 8:14:54 GMT -5
This sounds good Martina. And I can usually get Canson easily here.
So in your opinion a 180gsm paper is heavy enough ?... usually the Stonehenge vellum finish for instance comes in 250gsm.
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Post by Martina on Jun 18, 2007 8:19:10 GMT -5
Yes, I think it is enough. on every account for CP.
I tested it yesterday with WC pencils and added water. The paper kept flat. I added more water then there was a tiny hill - but it disappeared after drying.
But I think it is not good for pastels. hm - not for my pastel pencils, but they are the cheaper ones.
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Post by grampybone on Jul 26, 2007 10:29:27 GMT -5
I've found that pastel pencils are difficult to get a sharp point on with any sharpener. The tip keeps breaking off in the sharpener.
I've started using a box cutter knife to sharpen them. It allows you to scrape the end into a sharp point.
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Post by jan on Aug 1, 2007 19:14:06 GMT -5
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Post by Martina on Aug 2, 2007 2:55:53 GMT -5
Wow Jan!!
Thank you, this tut is great!
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Post by papillon on Sept 22, 2007 8:44:14 GMT -5
Brush holder/cleanerI was at a sort of emporium this morning and came across this little gadget which is a brush holder and cleaner. Filled with water it is excellent when you're working with acrylics - you can keep the brushes in water without having them standing on their bristles. I don't really know what the little strainer at the bottom is for (though I suspect this would come into use when you are dealing with oils) but I can see this gadget being very useful too for just drying the brushes after cleaning them.
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Post by Joanie on Sept 22, 2007 11:58:54 GMT -5
This is a great tool for oil painters mostly, Rose. I have one (of course LOL) When using oils, the turp and the paint will separate and the little strainer thingy is to wipe your brush across it when cleaning to prevent you from cleaning your brush in the paint that has fallen to the bottom of the container. Of course the spring at the top is to allow the excess dripping turp from the brushes to fall back into the container.
If you are using it for acrylic or watercolor - you still should not leave your brushes in the water - lift them up above the water to dry. The reason for this is that when they sit in the water the ferrule (the metal part of the brush) starts soaking up the water through the hairs and can damage the wooden shaft of the brush underneath the ferrule. If you have plastic handled brushes it would probably be alright but not a good habit to get into.
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Post by papillon on Sept 22, 2007 13:00:01 GMT -5
Joanie I did think this would be more of an oil painting gadget and guess what... I had no doubt at all you had it already! . Mostly I bought it because I thought it would come in handy to dry my brushes after cleaning. It's always better then leaving them on their sides on the draining board until they dry. Much safer anyway.
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Post by Joanie on Sept 22, 2007 21:32:12 GMT -5
Yes, I am the "gadget girl" LOL I have to have all the toys heheheheheheheee
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