Sunday, September 5, 2010

NEW TOOLS AND NEW TOYS

Got a small order from Cheap Joe's the other day - it's fun to have new tools. 





And then got my DVD order from The Artist's Place - quick delivery!  It's also fun and educational to watch watercolor masters at work.  One from Joseph Zbukvic and one from Hazel Soan.  Both of these artists know what makes watercolor so breathtakingly beautiful...and they know how to paint scenes that make you want to either give up completely OR dig in and try harder and spend more time with a brush in your hand.



I may just be too busy to post for a few days!

15 comments:

debwardart said...

Have fun! Looking forward to seeing what you do with your new toys!

Carol King said...

New tools are always fun. Let me know when I should come over with popcorn so we can watch those videos!

Gretchen Bjornson ART said...

It's so fun to buy new tools! I've had my eye on this mop brush (I don't have one) and I've been waiting to find one at a decent price. One of these days I'll have to break my piggy bank.

laura said...

A package from Cheap Joe's is always an event! I bought a little Hazel Soan book, 10 Minute Watercolors, that was just great--small but full of excellent advice; I've already passed it on it to my friend Mike.
I'd love to hear your opinion of the dvd--I'm betting it's good!

Vicki Greene said...

New toys! Looking forward to seeing what you do with the colors.

Pablo Villicaña Lara said...

OOOoooooooh! New toys! :0)

Michelle said...

I love it when art goodies arrive. :) Neocolors are the best!

Nick said...

I haven't seen that particular DVD of Joseph's. For the style he's painting in, he's the best IMO, and the most-imitated watercolorist on the scene. For Venice scenes you don't have to look too much further than the 3 Js: Janine Gallizia, Joseph Zbukvic, and John Sargent.

RH Carpenter said...

Yes, new stuff always inspires and makes you want to experiment, Deb - plus I was sooo jealous of your box of 30 watercolor crayons (although they call them water soluable wax pastels. I hope you are FEELING FINE??

Carol, what no chocolate??? You may have to wait in line, then :) hee hee

Gretchen, it's fun to get good stuff without feeling like you've broken the bank but I know those mop brushes can be pricey. Remember, you can work with any brush - you should see some of the ones Nick Simmons works with and others who paint big - sometimes just going to the hardware store and getting housepainting brushes.

Laura, I have Hazel's book on African watercolors and it is fantastic - she has a master's touch. But again, these masters have been painting for a few decades - just think where we'll be in another 10-15 years!! Won't that be fun? I'll definitely give a synopsis and my own opinion of the DVDs. I can tell you right now Hazel's LOVE of watercolor is infectious!

Vicki, Pablo, Michelle: Artists are like little kids with presents when they get those boxes of art supplies :) It is fun!

Nick, you're right about Joseph and I love his comments along the way and how he leaves so much to the viewer to respond to in a painting - not detail oriented and lets the paint and brush do their thing :) Of course, Sargent is my all time favorite in watercolors and how he used whites to make the paintings dance. (Here's a secret: I got 2 of Joseph's DVDs and will save the other for later but I think it will be even better than this one!) And Hazel is just amazing and so full of the joy of watercolor and it reminds you why you work in this medium and what a pleasure it can be when you let it do its thing.

RH Carpenter said...
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Artoholic said...

It's like Christmas at your house! You lucky duck.

That brush cleaner is brilliant! If you think you have a deceased brush, a good scrub with that cleaner and it's revived!

Cheers,

Cindy

RH Carpenter said...

Cindy, Deb Ward used this to clean the brushes when she did her paint-along at the watercolor society. The brushes were so clean and soft, I had to buy some for myself.

RH Carpenter said...
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Teresa Palomar Lois said...

Oooooh! I had that same crayons' box in my hands the other day at the art store but got cold feet and left it on the shelf, have you tried all the colors yet? how do you like it?
Zbukvic i amazing, I'm so envious of your goodies! you know how to place an order for sure Rhon

RH Carpenter said...

Teresa, I haven't tried all the colors yet - maybe a little demonstration sheet of all the colors with and without water would be in order. I used several at Deb's and wanted them - so many good colors in there that you don't get in the smaller tins.