As a painter I am always seeking new techniques to use in my work. I believe venturing into unfamiliar mediums from time to time will benefit the one I mostly work with. It allows me to come back with a fresh view. One art form I would love to learn is sculpture. Throughout history materials continue to be diverse, enabling endless possibilities that are only limited by our imaginations.

I’ve never been able to get the hang of colored pencils. I see work that other artists have done and it’s amazing but I just can’t get the hang of them. I would love to learn how to use colored pencils.

Her Dreams were of Colors by Betty Refour

Cindy Couling

I’ve always wanted to learn stained glass but I am really afraid of having to cut the glass, and working with hot materials like solder.

Keri Colestock

The other medium would be welding kinetic sculptures. I would like to use rock with the metal. If i could get movement it would be even crazier! I have never welded & it would be a challenge as the Lyme leaves me weak so I do not know if physically it is possible. But maybe I’ll just have to attempt it!

What art medium have you always wanted to learn?

EBSQ 1:1 – Where do you shop for art supplies?

by Amanda MakepeaceMarch 25, 2013

Catherine Darling Hostetter

My favorite shop for arts supplies is the one that I can get the best deal at. I live within 8-10 blocks of a Michaels, JoAnns, and an Utrecht art supply, and I always go armed with coupons. I love that most of these stores have apps and I can access them from my phone, because too often I run out the door without the paper coupon.

Patience

My community has a really neat, unique resource here in town, called the “I.D.E.A. Store.” It’s essentially a resale shop….for gently used art and craft supplies and all kinds of assorted donated odds and ends intended for recycling and reuse. It’s a mixed bag every time I go in there — never quite know what you are going to find….but I’ve purchased (at crazy low prices) tubes of paint and jars of gesso and mod podge with plenty of product still in them, paint brushes, brayers, art books, stamps,maps and sheet music for mixed media projects, yarn, frames, and more. Staffed by volunteers, all proceeds benefit a local school districts. So indeed — pretty cool, and something every community should have!

Misty Benson

I always love to dreamily float through Michaels Stores (Arts and Crafts Supply) for inspiration and quick fixes. Since it’s in so many states, I can even pick up emergency supplies (yes, an art emergency!) when I’m traveling to and from art shows. For items they don’t stock, I buy from various online sites for items such as my favorite clay for making Skellies and stretcher bars for limited edition canvases of my Big Eye Beauties!

EBSQ 1:1 – What has influenced your art over the years?

by Amanda MakepeaceMarch 18, 2013March 18, 2013

Mary Ogle

The prevailing influence upon my artwork is technology. I was trained as a traditional oil painter, but vision problems forced me to turn to computer technology in order to see fine detail. I continue to draw and paint by hand, I simply use a mouse now instead of a brush.

Tiffany Towland-Scott

I’ve always been interested in artwork my whole life, and as a child I was an avid reader and loved fantasy novels. Now I only really have time to listen to audio books while I work, but I still generally choose fantasy novels. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke is my very favorite book, and I usually watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Stanley Tucci as Puck at least three or four times a week. I usually have movies or books playing in the studio while I work, but I also listen to symphonic metal and get a lot of my best ideas from music.

EBSQ 1:1 – What two colors are a must have on your palette?

by Amanda MakepeaceMarch 11, 2013

Tracey Allyn Greene

Two must haves on my palette. Ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. So many color combos possible….cools and warms…..and together they make a great black and warm greys with white.

Kimberly Vanlandingham

The two colors my palette is never without are terra rosa and yellow ochre. I tone all of my canvas with a gray/green and under paint my larger paintings with terra rosa. The contrast really helps me work out composition and value issues before committing to my final work. Yellow ochre is a versatile color that mixes well with other colors to form natural looking hues. No matter what I’m working on, I put them out every time.

Melanie Douthit

I must do this unconsciously, but my two must have colors (besides black and white) are green and red. These naturally complimentary colors create so much visual fun that they shouldn’t be reserved only for Christmas.

EBSQ 1:1 – What contemporary artist would you like to meet?

by Amanda MakepeaceFebruary 19, 2013

Leola Walker

I would love to meet Jakub Julian Ziolkowksi. He’s very young. Young enough not to be afraid to make a statement. His art is bold and daring and very excessive. I find him very refreshing.

Diana Mae Potts

Cecily Brown, the featured artist in the February, 2013 edition of “Vogue” magazine comes to mind as a contemporary artist I would like to meet. Although my subject matter is rarely the human form, her powerful and insightful freedom of expression making people accessible and familiar inspires me and resonates with the goals in my own art. She seems very focused and busy so I would leave any meeting on her terms.

Studio 524

We’d love to meet Annie Preece. Her work is big, loud, colorful, full of energy and packed with punch. It speaks loudly in quiet rooms. That she’s one of the few women who are recognized and respected in the urban art arena – yeah. That doesn’t hurt either.

Mark Satchwill

I’d like to meet the French artists Pierre and Gilles, whose beautiful images (a mixture of photography and painting) have been a big influence on my work, to talk about their methods and influences. And because they are rather handsome!

EBSQ 1:1 – What’s your #1 tip for budding artists?

by Amanda MakepeaceFebruary 4, 2013

James Pearson

I’d say my number one tip for budding artists would be to dedicate time each day to the creative process. We’re all stretched pretty thin making a living and can’t always find time to paint or even sketch daily. On those days, make time to read an inspiring article, watch an interview with someone in the creative arts, do some Google image searches or try visiting a virtual gallery. These don’t have to be in your direct field of work. Have faith in the process. It may take some time but what goes in one day comes out another.

Lindi Levison

Don’t be too self-critical. Even the masters don’t create masterpieces every single time! Explore a lot of different mediums in order to find your niche.

Amie Gillingham

I decided to pass the buck on this question and ask my 6 and 8 year old children. My son said to practice drawing everything and look at things very carefully. My daughter said whether you draw, paint, or sculpt, you should start with something you’re really interested in (in her case, Garfield and Pokemon) and explore it because you make better art when you care about what you’re making. A few minutes later, she also chimed in with, “Oh, and be creative!”

I think there’s a lot of precocious wisdom in their answers: practice, observation, passion, curiosity, a connection to your subject. All children are born artists. (And scientists, too, for that matter.) The secret is to hold onto this wisdom as you grow up.

Art & News from EBSQ

This is the official Blog for the EBSQ Self-Representing Artists Community, where you'll find news, reviews, site announcements, and of course, a generous helping of art!

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EBSQ 1:1 – What art medium would you love to learn?