The new Ferris Wheel Press Inks came in! Recommended by others, come in cute potion like bottles and packaging is very aesthetic. Nothing got broken and the delivery was very fast too. I’ll be swatching them this weekend and bought a number of shimmery ones to add to my drawings. Once I get it swatched and drawn I’ll update on here.

Finally got in the rest of my Ohuhu watercolor pens! I started using them a few weeks ago having a coloring book day with @Maizi. Exe and I absolutely loved them! They had nice saturated color, fantastic blending, and a wonderful brush tip to do wide strokes or fine detail! Easy to use, and mess free if you don’t want a messy studio day! I had so much fun organizing the colors, it gave me energy to dive into some new projects, and experimentation! What new art materials have you had your eye on, and what do you plan on doing with them?

I reorganized my space and got rid of a bunch of house items that I no longer need. It looks great but there is one issue: There is not enough space for my art manager to safely sit without stepping on things. 😅 I now have 20ish inches of extra space (50.8 cm) and would like to fill it up with something like a cart or stand. One idea I had was to get a cart or storage that can store my more expensive oil pastels and extra paper and attach an LED lamp to help with the lighting in the corner. This way I can use the right side of my desk more and not worry about things falling off as much. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Height and budget isn't an issue but should be reasonable. Update: I ended up getting a cart from Target and another organizer and Im loving it so far. I haven't had time to do art this week but the storm this weekend will give me time to get some work done. My art manager approves of the new extra space!

If you have walked around a Michael's, you have probably seen the Artist's Loft brand with the blue logo. Normally, these are located in the more inexpensive section of the store and they have A LOT of supplies. Rulers, paper, paint, brushes, and canvas pads just to name a few things that they offer. But have you ever wondered if their brand is worth buying into? After I've spent several years using some of their products, I can say: Yes....depending on what you're trying to use. Let me preface by saying you can create art with so many materials and supplies. Have you seen Howard Lee's videos of him using a burnt-out matchstick to create one half of a drawing???? If you haven't, please check him out: $0 vs $300 Pencils Drawing Challenge!. The point is, you can use anything from Crayola to Sennelier to create art. It just depends on your art style, budget, and what your art goals are. So, what are the pros and cons of Artist's Loft art supplies? Pros: -Their catalogue is HUGE! Like I said before, if you are looking for acrylic paints, pencils, canvas pads, markers, graphite sets, and artist tables, you will find something that meets your needs. Honestly, I think you can build up your entire studio with Artist's Loft supplies and materials. -You can experiment without breaking the bank. If you ever wanted to try a brush head type or watercolors without committing, Artist's Loft can help you figure out what you like. You can easily get a set of nice brushes for less than $10 to help figure out your preference in brushes. If you want to try soft pastels, they have 12, 24, and 48 sets available from $12 to $33 for you to experiment. Speaking of prices..... -Everything is at least 10-20% cheaper than the lower to mid-rated brands. The money I saved from buying their rulers, palette knives, and blending stumps allowed me to buy higher-quality acrylic paint or oil pastels. A ruler is a ruler (although some would disagree). I can get away with a cheap ruler or protractor so I can put more money into my medium of choice.

After some debating and researching, I bit the bullet and finally got Sennelier oil pastels! If you are not familiar with Sennelier, they are one of the top art manufacturers in the world and sell a variety of mediums, including watercolors, acrylics, inks, and gouache. Most of their 24 piece oil pastel sets are sold out right now so I went ahead and bought the 72 piece set. I don't normally buy high quality sets like this but after some encouragement (Thanks Sorian!) and my Mom asking what I wanted for Christmas (thanks Mom!), I felt ready for them. I can already tell these oil pastels feel different. Just the sheen on them makes them look gorgeous. I will swatch with them and try to create a drawing tonight. I'm super pumped and can't wait to share how I use them! Ps. The art manager approves.