The Creative License - Raven Ink Book Review

A new segment that will feature on the blog will be art book reviews, I know there are many of us out there that adore some eye candy, and I am a confessed art book buying crazed woman. So many ask me what my favourite books are when I show a new acquisition so I thought as a monthly blog post I would review the books in my collection and any other new ones that may happen to be adopted by yours truly. 

The book in question is The Creative License by Danny Gregory This book jumped into my basket while I was perusing the books at Kinokuniya which is a wonderful bookstore in the city, it is always such a treat when we visit this book store, with all the lush books, and stunning stationery department I could in fact spend many hours and not get bored. I always find myself in the art section of the book store, how could I not! I was feeling rather blah this day, and saw this brightly coloured watercolour  and instantly was drawn to it. The words 'Giving yourself permission to be the artist you truly are' written right up front caught my attention. I as an artist struggle daily calling myself an actual artist, no I'm not famous, no I don't have work in galleries, but I do art...most days in fact so I wondered what this book could do for me, since I struggle so much with OWNING the title artist when referring to the question...'and what do you do?'

This book changes the way you look at things, I love things that have passion about them, and reading the words while drinking in the artwork it oozes passion for art, drawing and journal keeping. He uses his own experiences to explain things, with little challenges to keep you on your toes, telling you to embrace mistakes as they are what you learn from. Creative license helped me overcome my blank page paralysis. 

Danny urges you to draw in pen, something I still struggle with but hope that in the new year I will throw myself into the whole no erasing things notion this book preaches. 

The images in this book are a visual pleasure to look at, they make reading this book a dream, I still to this day open the book up and fip through it to be inspired all over again, catching myself reading sections over and over never tiring of it. 

If you are entertaining the thought of keeping a drawing journal, or a visual account of your days and I know many of us are doing this to an extent in our Hobonichi journals this book is a great companion for you. It gets you out of your little box, and pumps you with confidence, whilst helping you get a feel for drawing even if you haven't ever entertained the idea of drawing a stick figure. 

I high recommend this book for the beginner and for the intermediate, we as artists like to feel that we are not alone in the love for keeping a journal and this book shows such love and joy for drawing everything down and keeping it between the pages of a journal. I have since purchased several other books by Danny Gregory and have devoured every single one of them, each as amazing as the last. 

This book should be your next purchase, you wont regret it! 

8/10

x Courtney

Hobonichi Supplies - What do I use?

After many requests, I sat down and filmed a Hobonichi Supplies Video! I spent quite a while finding links for everything!  hope they help you if you decide to purchase anything in the video!
Lets get Started!

The Peerless Watercolor Set
US supplier :- http://www.peerlesscolor.com/
AUS:- http://www.instituteofcute.com/jane-davenport-peerless-watercolors/

Zig Clean Color Real Brush (my favourite waterbrush)
Zigg Clean Colour Real Brush :-
US :- http://www.dickblick.com/products/zig-clean-color-real-brush-pens/
AUS - No Links I can find that are as cheap as dickblick!

Sakura Gelli Roll - various colours
US: http://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Gelly-Roll-Moonlight-Gel-Ink-Pen-1.0-mm-10-Color-Set/pd/2354
When I find a competitive Australian Link I will add

Letraset Neon Markers :-
AUS http://www.fishpond.com.au/Arts_Crafts/LETRASET-Neon-Marker-Set-1/0801199026600
US:- http://www.dickblick.com/products/letraset-neon-markers/

Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen - Big Brush
US:- http://www.dickblick.com/products/faber-castell-pitt-big-brush-artist-pens/
AUS:- http://www.craftonline.com.au/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes&sppp=30&page=1&Keyword=Big%20Brush%20&category=ALL&highprice=&lowprice=&allwords=Big%20Brush%20&exact=&atleast=&without=&cprice=&searchfields=

Prismacolour Premier Coloured Pencils :-
US:- http://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-premier-colored-pencil-sets/
AUS:- http://www.instituteofcute.com/prismacolor-pencils/

Koi Watercolour Pocket Field Sketch Box
US - where I bought mine http://www.dickblick.com/products/sakura-koi-watercolor-sketch-box-travel-pan-sets/
Daniel Smith Etsy Seller - https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticKatt (Fantastic seller, great way to try high end watercolours if you are on a budget)

Stencils were all fro DAISO

Tim Holtz Distress stains
AUS: http://www.scraptherapy.com.au/products.php?cat=520
US: - http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-distress-stains/zprd_11445392a.html#q=Distress+Stain&start=3

Uni Pin Fine line pens in various sizes
US Girls :- http://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Pin-Pen-02-Pigment-Ink-0.33-mm-Black-Ink/pd/7284
AUS Girl:- www.notemaker.com.au/uniball-uni-pin-fine-line-pen-0-1mm

some items that didn't get photographed - because it started to pour and the wind picked up so I was running inside!
Derwent Inktense Pencils
US:- http://www.dickblick.com/products/derwent-inktense-pencils/
AUS:- http://www.theartshop.com.au/category1398_1.htm

Mechanical Pencil - Pentel p3650.5mm
US http://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Stein-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Metallic-Pink-Body/pd/9969
JAPAN http://www.pencils.jp/product/1199
AUS :- Grabbed this at the Japanese Bookstore in Sydney but I'm sure you can find it at officeworks or something similar

Uniball Signo White
US:- http://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-Broad-UM-153-Gel-Ink-Pen-White-Ink/pd/380
AUS:- You can buy them from KikkiK they just re-brand them.

Posca Paint Marker - White
AUS - Officeworks Sell these as well as https://www.eckersleys.com.au/products/posca-marker
US http://www.dickblick.com/products/uni-posca-paint-markers/

Artline Smoove Ballpoint Pen
AUS:- http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/artline-smoove-ballpoint-pens-black-20-pack-ar1821201?searchTerm=artline%20smoove%20ballpoint
US:- http://www.staples.com.au/main-catalogue-productdetail/artline-smoove-ballpoint-pen-medium-black-box-50/18886314

Below are just some pages that are currently in my Hobonichi, I have totally adored drawing my day, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I am, yes the editing and uploading it a bit of a pain but I have gotten into a routine where I do it on auto pilot.

I enjoy the process of seeing how I bring things to life, some days I am really stumped and turn the camera on hoping not to stuff up! As long as people watch, I will endeavor to draw and film them.

If you have any questions feel free to ask! I do try and answer everything I read as fast as possible!
get our your sketchbook and draw your day!

x Courtney

Daily Drawing - Hobonichi a5

This year I've decided to embark on a daily drawing adventure, I did start something like this last year and fizzled out, but because my word of the year (post to come) is Accountability I am throwing myself into tasks that have deadlines, and daily is a deadline when it comes to drawing!  I did start daily drawing in My Midori as you saw in my planner and journal round up post,  but again, with no dates to keep me accountable I seemed to let that fall by the wayside as well.

(yes I know the photo is upside down...dork mode initiated)

At the end of last year. I purchased a Hobonichi in both a6 and a5 size, now I wont go into too much detail as I will have a 2015 Planner and Journal post coming in the next week - we shall leave it at I bought them, I have them, I'm using them (more on that later). I decided that I wanted to use the a5 Cousin Hobo to document my day in drawings not only because I love to draw, but because I think doing the art of drawing daily will vastly improve my skills! I've always said just keep drawing, every single day and your hands will get the message.

Behold my messy desk last night, as it was so hot all day and my studio is literally just a re-purposed garage with no air con! so I filmed late last night.

I will be attempting to film and upload daily as I didn't expect the video to be 10 mins long even though I sped it up, so doing a weekly video is too long! so I shall do my best to get the videos done, and I will do a weekily video post maybe on here as I have other things I want to post!

I hope you enjoyed the little drawing video and the photos!

xx Courtney

Watercolour my Heart Day 7 Blogtober!

Big weekend is coming to an end, and I am one tired little lovely, but I know I said I would blog...so here I am! nice short and sweet blog post today, so I can go and have a long relaxing hot shower.

Its a weekend for kissing deer shoes...I heart them so much!

right! onto the reason that you stop by for! The supplies! now my next supply cost me $10AUD..that's right, its the one supply I get asked the most during my videos..ohhh that watercolour set..where did you get it from...I have been asked that more times than I care to count for you..and my reply..a chain store called BIG W. Its a budget set in the art section by a low price art brand called Micador. you can get them in a smaller size than this one..but value for money, this size beats the other 10 or so colours. The colour range is very very good for its price, I give them a good spray with my water bottle let them get juicy and away I go, worked wonderfully with an aqua brush as well. Very bright vivid colour. Just because they are cheap doesn't meant they have crappy pigment.  As you can see, my palette has had some use...and broke in half lol...but doesn't stop them being used and abused on a day to day basis. The following pages have ALL been created with the 10 Dollar wonders.

this page here, the faces in particular were all done using the watercolours, the background green is an acrylic ink...which will be a supply for another day.  But all face colours and the lovely yellow hue..is all the watercolours I speak of.

using the colours not so wet and juice, using just a damp brush this girl below was created. This girl is just on normal fabriano 300GSM paper, no watercolour papers are used in my journals (too pricey lol) you can see that you can get varying shades of the same colour just by going over them a few times, the colours blend well aswell.

 this girl was painted with no pencil drawing, all done with watercolour then outlined later with a black pitt pen. You can do bright and vivid..or soft and subtle. This set is a fantastic set for people who want to play with watercolours but dont like the pricetag of the fancy ones ( I lust after the fancy ones..but on my mumma budget, out of my league)

 

The below image is my traveling watercolour set...yes you heard right this is my Peerless watercolour. They are my expensive ones, that were a gift from my boyfriend. They watercolour comes on a card and each card is a different colour, so I followed the video by the lovely Jane if these watercolours intrigue you do click on the link in Jane's name..it will take you to a video she created to highlight the wonderfulness of these watercolours. My palette slots into the back of my journal ready to be accessed at anytime while I'm out and about!

If you have any questions about any of my supplies please do ask

of if there is something I haven't covered yet and you are dying to know...do ask me! I'm always happy to give readers what they like, But don't get me wrong, if you ask about something and I don't use it...I will tell the truth. There are a lot of supplies I just don't use...I am a budget artist for sure. 

xx have a lovely night

Courtney

Journal Pages - Watercolour Homework.

Hello my darlings, 

I have been buried in the makings of the nook dwellers, that I had forgotten to talk about the latest journal class I've taken (yes Im addicted to signing up for classes, they are amazing ways to learn new things and also for a journal perve heeh So I've started my homework for week one with Suzi

I'm still working on this page, I think there is another face to go in here but here are some progress shots.

Using my budget watercolours, and some graphite pencil, I worked and tinkered in my journal.

some of those flowers that I adore so much...and a little nook dweller crept in before I knew what was happening!

this is the spread as it stands, with one of my index cards for the day tipped into the journal, on the opposing page, will become something ...who knows what!

and a close up of day 4's index card

Have a lovely evening my dears, open your journal and lose yours within its pages. 

xx Courtney

Inky Pages - Art Journal Spreads.

Good Evening my darlings, it's a cold Saturday night, the little ones are tucked up in bed, water bottles warming their souls, and I sit at my desk, in a scarf and green ugg boots getting things done in my altered journal. I never expected to get so attached to a book. It goes almost everywhere with me, and yes, I have shoulder pains because of it lol, but it's worth it, I sit at my little man's school with it open just working on odds and ends, washii tape in my purse, a few photos tucked into the back to whip out when I think a pages needs some love.

the below picture is a girl I created with some watercolour markers, some india ink, prismas over an old letter I had lying around. the ink from the letter did morph a bit, but it made me love it more.

a photograph, a day tag, a cute fabric off cut from some random thing in my drawer and I was rolling along with this page, the waves were drawn in the windy cold of the primary school hehe. Some of those red flowers I love so much, they have become a big part of these pages. Photograph is one of my bus stop self portraits I do on instagram sometimes.

in the last moments of last night, I grabbed my pencil and created this little long necked odd girl. I played with colouring her in today, I like the look of her, shes simple, I'll keep playing with the long necks in a few sketches to come I think

below I found an old image on a clear oht page, turned it into a little pocket. Making use of the random junk that lines my bottom drawer.

Have a beautiful Saturday evening, curl up with your journal, and the junk that lines your drawers, letters images, tags..anything if fare game...and its all part of your life.

xx Courtney

making pretty messes.

Hello Hello this Tuesday afternoon,
how are we all!? today's journal pages, are colour colour colourful! I decided to throw everything I had onto these two pages, lifting my mood with art. I think its working! I think I'm at the point where I'm done with these pages, so its time to turn them over and start another world on the next pages.
I used paints, inks, watercolours, paintpens, distress stains u name it, I just let go and let whatever happen to the pages happen, it was such a freeing experience.

why not grab your journal, and just doodle on a page, with lots of layers and colour, ignore the mistakes, just cover it with another layer, dots, flowers, scribbles anything you want. Your muse will definitely thankyou, I can assure you of this.

and if you don't like it when you're done...

(image found via pintrest)
thats what the gesso is for...

today's workspace snapshot

Both kids are out of the house today, so the quiet moments were spent at my little coffee table with my supplies. Working on stray bits of canvas paper, and busting into a new journal while my other one is still not in my possession.


a painting I'm working on, she needs a bit more tinkering I think, her face is starting to annoy me, so shes in the naughty corner till I can work out whats going to make her finished.


adding to a few pages in my moleskine, a girl who's proportions are way outta whack, but I really do love her.
and the new journal, which I've coveted for quite a few months now, I finally got it off the bookshelf today, to start layering down colours. I think I want this one to be a day to day account of my life, through photos and things, who knows what will happen with it... shall see...need inspiration..any ideas?

that's it for my thursday, you've seen my workspace, and what I'm working on, must get back into the daily routine of snapping photos and blogging.
xx Courtney