New Artwork! (Eze, France)

My blogging took a little break as my classes resumed this week and my trusty laptop started to give some trouble. To cope with the stress of a new semester, I began working on a small watercolour painting this week. The painting was based on a photo I saw of Eze in France on a Facebook page. It seemed like somewhere out of a fairy tale. 

I just happened to visit Valpark with my roommate on Thursday and got some art-related supplies! I stopped by Horizons Art Studio and purchased some blue pre-cut matting for this piece. I thought it went perfectly with it. 

I was so excited about the matting, that I worked all afternoon to get it done. Here's a picture of the finished matted piece:

Eze, France. Watercolour and Ink on watercolour paper, 8.5 x 11 inches. © 2012 Shazanna Khan

Eze is such a beautiful village. I will definitely be adding it to my list of places to visit.

I have already made prints of it for 2 of my roommates, and touched up their prints with my Inktense pencils to enhance the colours. You can barely tell that they are prints. One of my best friend's birthday is next week as well. While I worked on this piece, I had it in mind as a possible birthday present. I think I am going to frame one of the prints as her present. Hopefully I'll be able to get it done in time. I am also hoping that she doesn't see this blog post before then (lol).

At Valpark, I also got 2 lovely wooden tabletop easels from the store that engraves medical pins. I have been looking around for some recently. More for my painting purposes than decorative, BUT when I saw them (at their amazing price too!) I knew I had to purchase it. I probably would have bought all if they had more.

Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to work on anymore new paintings as the semester progresses. I don't think I will have any more time to do a full painting. The only good thing, is that my sketchbook will be full of ideas and reference images for when next I do have time to paint. If you have any suggestions for future drawings, let me know :D

Art Supply Haul (Things I Love #2)

I finally purchased some new Art supplies! I made a much needed trip to Fine Arts in San Fernando on Friday and Superpharm, in Price Plaza a few days before.

My new supplies: 1. Acrylic Paper; 2. Watercolour Paper; 3. Pre-cut Matting; 4.  Dewert Inktense Pencils; 5. W&N Cotman Round Brush #2; 6. Black Ink Pen; 7. Palette; 8. Gold Acrylic Paint; 9. Liquid Glue; 10. Spray Adhesive Glue.

I got 2 sheets each of Acrylic and Watercolour paper, to replace the ones I used in recent paintings. I always like to have a few sheets handy, so I would not have to run to the store whenever I catch a whim to draw or paint or more importantly have time to do it. Acrylic paper is more textured and thicker than the watercolour paper and I love how coloured pencils or watercolour pencils look on it.

Fine Arts also has a big selection of pre-cut matting and frames for anyone who wants to make their photos/paintings look extra-professional without the professional price tag. I think I am going to use mine to do either a study of native flowers in watercolour or a landscape of some sort.

I originally went into Fine Arts to purchase Watercolour Pencils, but these Dewert Inktense Pencils caught my eye instead. They are watersoluble ink pencils and according to the packaging they are supposed to combine the intensity of pen and ink with the versatility of line and wash. You can wash them over with water for an ink-like effect and when its dry, the wash is permanent so you can continue work over it with different media. I really wanted a set with more colours, but this was all Fine Arts had and I was really excited to try them out.

I bought also a new brush to replace one of my old ones, black ink pen for my pen & ink endeavors, and a new palette for watercolours as most of my existing palettes were covered with acrylic paint. The gold acrylic paint and the glue were for my scrap-booking needs, but I would like to try a mix media piece with some sort of découpage or textured paper.

Blue-Grey Forest

I am pleased to say that my purchases came in handy today. I was able to supply my brother with materials for his abstract painting to decorate his new room. I worked on a new piece (pictures to come soon) while he did his, based on the colour scheme he picked- blue-grey, grey, brown and black. I am impressed. He did quite a good job on it.

My Father's House

Additionally, I finished the piece that I was working on, which you can see in previous blog posts, entitled, "My Father's House." Picture of the finished piece to follow soon.

Sometimes I wished I owned an art store just for the infinite amount of supplies that they have. I cannot wait to have my own home so I can have a room dedicated to being my work and storage space. Until then, a girl can dream :D

As you can see, I cannot do without some good quality paper to paint on. In my opinion it really makes a difference in the finish of a piece. So that brings me to this question, "What is/are your favourite art supply/supplies that you cannot do without?" Also how do you use it? This question also applies to your own special talent (e.g. writing, football, etc)

Thank you for reading. :)