A “Little” Art Project: Using Extra Pieces

As an artist on a budget, I am very aware of what materials cost.  I don’t want to spend extra money if I don’t have to and I wanted to do a new art project.

While reading a digital version of the book The Drawing Bible, by Craig Nelson, he suggested many different types of drawing surfaces.  One of them was mat board. Wait a minute!  I have lots of extra pieces of mat board.  In the past, I have used whole sheets of mat board for large paintings.

Mat board is great for a variety of mediums. I did try one prepared with gesso first, but decided that I like working directly on the mat board surface better.

I began by making a simple sketch on 5″ x 7″ mat board with Conte crayon. I smudged the lines with my fingertip.  Then I sprayed the surface with workable fixative.  I painted the image with watercolor.  I sprayed the surface again with fixative.  When that was dry, I painted a coat of glossy Liquitex Medium & Varnish on top. (For some pieces, I used Liquitex Matte Medium.  The matte surface is much softer and looks like it isn’t there at all, but still protects your art.)

Making these “little” pieces of art is fun.  Finding extra materials around the house that you can use for your art can save you a lot of money.  Finished pieces can be mailed as postcards or given as gifts to loved ones.

Making Art Accessible

Art is one of those things that can be approached in a way that is completely overwhelming.  A person could spend years, maybe an entire lifetime researching the meanings, the philosophies, the designs, and the structures related to art.  The reality of art is really simple:  do you like it?  Why do you like it?

I had a crazy thought.  I would interview my three children for this post.  My oldest daughter shrugged me off a bit (she’s 14), but did it.  My youngest daughter was delighted to do it (she’s 8), but made it known that it was slightly inconvenient.  And my son…  well, he is eleven and flat out refused.

What I gained, though, was a little insight into what art is to younger kids. My oldest daughter, Odessa, told me that art is fun.  She uses art to express herself.  Nola, my youngest, told me that art is about creating the things you think about.  Art makes her more “cheerful.”

Milo
by Nola (age 7)

EH:  What is the most important thing about art?

Nola:  A lot things that you can create in your mind, you can draw out loud.

For Odessa, she already has a fairly good understanding that often in life we are told that “famous” artists are the good ones.  In a way, we are told who we should like, and if we aren’t famous, are we any good?  She did a research paper for her art class on Picasso.  She did not like what were considered great works of art.  We react in ways that are very unique to our personalities.  Ultimately, art is very personal.

Self Portrait
by Odessa (age 14)

EH:  What could we improve about art?

Odessa:  We could stop selling blank canvases for billions.

Art exists all around us.  We are free to decide what is meaningful to us and what is not.  When we shake off the ideas that are set in place about how we should feel or what we should see when we look at art, we are making art accessible again.

Every Artist Needs A Studio Space

In January, I finally realized that I needed a space of my own.  I wanted a studio space where I could keep my supplies out, ready for the next creation or I could continue working where I left off.  Most of my art supplies had been in boxes in various closets throughout the house.  My easel kept floating from room to room, waiting for a permanent spot.

This space is in the corner of my bedroom.  It costs me only the extra space, no rent money.  It was easy to set up since I already had most of the things you see here. The only money I spent was about $10.  I went to Dollar Tree to purchase various metal containers for my brushes, markers, and scissors.  There are also a couple plastic containers for printmaking paints, tape, drawing pencils, and vine charcoal sticks. Dollar Tree also sells simple 8″x10″ picture frames.  I bought two.

If you are looking for a table, storage shelves, frames or containers, you can find them at thrift stores, garage sales, and Craigslist.  In our area, garage sales have the lowest prices and sometimes you can even ask to pay less than the for-sale price.

If you are on a very tight budget, the best thing to do is to search your own home for things you already own that will work for the time being.  For example, if you need containers for brushes you can use old cans.  Pineapple juice cans work well for large brushes and various sizes of soup cans can work well for smaller brushes and pencils. That way you can save your money for art supplies!

My easel was more of an investment that I purchased about 10 years ago. It is something that I love to use.  Most of my paintings I do standing up, so an easel was a good choice for me.  You can find good easels at dickblick.com.  They have many, many art supplies as well and the prices are very competitive (lower than Walmart in some cases and definitely more options).

A good light source is also important.  I found an old swing-arm lamp in our garage that still worked.  The swing-arm lamp is nice because it attaches right to my table and can move around easily to give me light where I need it.

When you are just getting started, an inexpensive (almost free) studio space might be just what you need.  Take time to consider how you can do this in your own home.  I am so excited to finally have my own art space!

Creating Creativity

How we see our world impacts the things we create.  When we long to be more creative, there are a few steps we can take to spark our imaginations.  These are some of the things I use when I want to create my artwork.

1.  Try to have an interest and curiosity in the things around you.  Examine the smallest details.  Then, step back and look at the larger picture.

2.  Look at what light brings to your subject.  The shadows, the lines, reflections—what does light hide from your eyes?

3.  Color is so important.  Use colors that resonate within your soul, something that excites you.  That will come through in your work.

4.  Planning is sometimes very essential in creating an exacting piece of artwork.  However, if you spend too much time going over the details of the execution, you may never get to the most important part:  your art.

5.  Choose subject matter that you are passionate about.  When you love something, you will love creating that work of art.

6.  When you can, see art in museums.  When you can’t, research artists online.  You can use search words that describe the work you do and see if you can find other artists’ work similar to yours.  This can be an enlightening process.

7.  Look at children’s artwork.  I have three children that all love to create art.  There is a lot to be learned from them.  They have a certain freedom when they draw; they don’t overanalyze.  

Marmoset by Nola, age 7

Right now, I am working on a painting of our third cat:  Milo.  It is from a photograph that my daughter Nola took.  Milo is her cat and she felt that I needed to do some artwork with Milo since I had already done drawings of her sister Odessa’s cat.  It is a work in progress.  Some of my favorite areas are the color variations on the floor and how Milo’s back melts into the shadows.

Milo: In the Shadows
by E. Henderson