My three favorite mark making tools are 1) a really heavy cardboard core from a dispenser of veggie bags at the grocery store. I was able to score two of these years ago and I covet them to stamp odd circles with; 2) the bottom of a tin of mints that makes a really cool rectangle with soft edges; and 3) brown rubber artists' erasers that look like cubes of brown sugar - these make very imperfect squares when you apply paint to one side and stamp with it. Thanks for all the ideas in this video. I intend to try them.
I just discovered you. I enjoyed this video and your presentation style - straightforward, no useless chit chat or commentary. I learned about a couple new tools.
Thanks for all the suggestions 💕 Dragging a silicone pastry brush through fluid paint or ink makes an adorable row of tiny straight or swishy lines. Also makes equally cute groups of tiny dots.
I recently purchased a multi pack of cheap hair combs and cut a couple of them in half or quarters with a box cutter then removed some of the teeth from the comb, randomly, leaving irregular spaces. Dragging them through my panting leaves some cool patterns or I can dip them in thinned paint and stamp with them to make some great dot effects.
I use the saw edge from a foil box, match box, tic tac plastic box, patterned biscuit trays, various round spray bottle tops. All fun to play with. Thank you for the inspiration Nick!
Ny favorite tool is my movements because I want to catch the felt sense of a gesture, a balance, a falling, a vibrating, the feeling of touch from my hands , the flexibility of drawing, writing with brushes of all kinds and sizes, and palet knives as a way of creating entanglement of layers but avoiding that lines end in simple linear patterns - And I enjoyed the colors in your big abstract painting in the end -
since there are no straight lines in nature, how wonderful is it, to be able to put the human “mark” into the art ?! It’s critical, and you are so wonderful at the spaces and changes... the edges - and the betweens. The “differences.” That’s something zi so value that I learned form your Art2life sharings. I am trying to think of what tools I like.... Honestly, I lost a bit of the focus I was so fired up on, when you started the group on Valentine’s day. And look how crazy the world went, in March... I do love to look at hardware stores, always did, for all kinds of tools, and the various aisles of dollar stores... That’s a great place to find art tools, and truly, often just as high quality as elsewhere, but at a fifth the price... I lately like all the various makeup brushes - so many kinds! some are huge, and curiously elegant things like egg- shaped sponges and all kinds of makeuppy stuff like that... Your wet palette that i do with parchment over paper towel ( or cloth ) was a revelation to me, btw. Thanks for that! Please stay well! I know you have a gorgeous garden and good nutrient dense food, so I am not worried. 😁Hope I get to go to one of your workshops somewhere gorgeous.. one day.
*mess and clarity* , much like the *loud and the quiet conversation* . Always such a pleasure and a joy to tune in to what you share. .... ah, so good to give up control...With a tool made precisely FOR control. ( the pink) Love that ! Love it all.
I borrowed some silicone spatulas from the kitchen and liked them enough to by my own painting set. I also found that I wasn't using a large metal spatula that came in a grill set on the grill, so that was repurposed for painting.
I own WAY too many brushes, and end up using only a few. In addition I use sponge applicators, credit cards, rags and wadded-up paper towels to apply random patches of texture. For more definitive texture I'll paint on bubble wrap and stamp it on, same with corrugated cardboard, woven produce bags and bumpy shelf-liner. Sometimes I'll also use a commercial stencil, but that feels like cheating unless I totally manipulate that print to make it my own. It's difficult to narrow it down to a few tools (limited work space makes that necessary) but those are my go-to tools that unintentionally unify my work. Thank you Nicolas for all your wonderfully inspirational shares! I enjoy learning from you!
Thanks for the tips on simple tools to clarify edges and move around paint with a credit card (no charge)! Generosity is a n attractive trait in an artist 👩🎨. After these demonstrations it just buffered circles so I assumed I should just go and try it out. Been playing with cyanotype lately. Fun! Be well everyone!! These videos are so helpful in this isolating time. 👩🏻🦳
Great tips....nothing too fancy and yet so different than a brush. I teach high school art and students use the plastic rulers to make a straight edge.Tomorrow beginning distance learning so no paint for kids for awhile.....One tip, the corrugated strip around a to-go cup of coffee is useful for dipping in paint and use like a stamp. It has a linear quality. Thanks for all the videos Nick! Also, I enjoyed your interviews on Art Juice!
I’ve been watching your Art2Life tutorials and loving each and every one. I have been confined in Idaho because of covid and then election gave me hope for some normalcy , now hit with
Hi! Thanks for sharing and helping us to grow as artists. I'd like to know the name of a big metal roller you use to draw stripes...It's something I'd never seen before....
Loved watching this!! I’m always looking for more mark making ideas. I am currently enjoying using the back of the paint brush to scribble into the wet paint, then cover some back up. It creates an awesome burr type look, and I’ll sometimes leave that or clean up part of it. This topic is one of my favorites ☺️☺️
Seeing you use the trowels and scrapers, I went looking for textural tools and bought a set of 12 cake decorating tools for use with fondant. I can't wait to try them out. Thanks for sharing some of your techniques and cool tools, Nick! I hope it's okay to call you Nick, or do you prefer Nicholas?
Fun, will lookfor a trowel (do have a triangular 1 in garage). Use c card (put 3 colors on it then twirl), junk mail, containers from food (if dont use for starting seeds or plants or natural dye projects), ... TY Be Well!
Wonderful, Nic. Thank you. How important are thumbnails to you? It seems you resolve the compositions as you go along. Do you have a rough idea of the structure before you start?
One of my favorite tools is a plastic razor blade style scraper from the hardware store. I use it to scrape dried paint from my enamel palette without scratching the surface. Makes cleaning my palette much easier. I notice you put some kind of wet paper on the bottom of your palette, but have not described what you use, and why.
Just getting fanmliar (and liking) the soft brayer, even when not using the cold wax, just the oils. It gives good, smooth coverage. Not as interesting as your examples, though.
My three favorite mark making tools are 1) a really heavy cardboard core from a dispenser of veggie bags at the grocery store. I was able to score two of these years ago and I covet them to stamp odd circles with; 2) the bottom of a tin of mints that makes a really cool rectangle with soft edges; and 3) brown rubber artists' erasers that look like cubes of brown sugar - these make very imperfect squares when you apply paint to one side and stamp with it. Thanks for all the ideas in this video. I intend to try them.
Oh, wow. Especially like the idea of the tins
I just discovered you. I enjoyed this video and your presentation style - straightforward, no useless chit chat or commentary. I learned about a couple new tools.
Thanks for all the suggestions 💕
Dragging a silicone pastry brush through fluid paint or ink makes an adorable row of tiny straight or swishy lines. Also makes equally cute groups of tiny dots.
I recently purchased a multi pack of cheap hair combs and cut a couple of them in half or quarters with a box cutter then removed some of the teeth from the comb, randomly, leaving irregular spaces. Dragging them through my panting leaves some cool patterns or I can dip them in thinned paint and stamp with them to make some great dot effects.
addicted to your very kind, open hearted, extremely generous chats! you are amazing!
I use the saw edge from a foil box, match box, tic tac plastic box, patterned biscuit trays, various round spray bottle tops. All fun to play with. Thank you for the inspiration Nick!
Ny favorite tool is my movements because I want to catch the felt sense of a gesture, a balance, a falling, a vibrating, the feeling of touch from my hands , the flexibility of drawing, writing with brushes of all kinds and sizes, and palet knives as a way of creating entanglement of layers but avoiding that lines end in simple linear patterns -
And I enjoyed the colors in your big abstract painting in the end -
Thanks for the chuckle and clever ideas ☮️
Thank you! You always inspire me.
since there are no straight lines in nature, how wonderful is it, to be able to put the human “mark” into the art ?! It’s critical, and you are so wonderful at the spaces and changes... the edges - and the betweens. The “differences.” That’s something zi so value that I learned form your Art2life sharings. I am trying to think of what tools I like.... Honestly, I lost a bit of the focus I was so fired up on, when you started the group on Valentine’s day. And look how crazy the world went, in March... I do love to look at hardware stores, always did, for all kinds of tools, and the various aisles of dollar stores... That’s a great place to find art tools, and truly, often just as high quality as elsewhere, but at a fifth the price... I lately like all the various makeup brushes - so many kinds! some are huge, and curiously elegant things like egg- shaped sponges and all kinds of makeuppy stuff like that... Your wet palette that i do with parchment over paper towel ( or cloth ) was a revelation to me, btw. Thanks for that! Please stay well! I know you have a gorgeous garden and good nutrient dense food, so I am not worried. 😁Hope I get to go to one of your workshops somewhere gorgeous.. one day.
This Priceless information that you give is 😊 great! I’m greatful that I found you. Thank you Nick.
I love painting with a wooden skewer!
Trank so much for your tipps❤
Thank you this has helped me so much. I was down about not being able to paint straight edges. Behold I found your answer!
Thanks. Bless you
*mess and clarity* , much like the *loud and the quiet conversation* . Always such a pleasure and a joy to tune in to what you share. .... ah, so good to give up control...With a tool made precisely FOR control. ( the pink) Love that ! Love it all.
it IS all about differences...
I borrowed some silicone spatulas from the kitchen and liked them enough to by my own painting set. I also found that I wasn't using a large metal spatula that came in a grill set on the grill, so that was repurposed for painting.
My fingers! Thanks Nick... some great ideas!
Thank you for sharing your process !!! SO inspirational!
I own WAY too many brushes, and end up using only a few. In addition I use sponge applicators, credit cards, rags and wadded-up paper towels to apply random patches of texture. For more definitive texture I'll paint on bubble wrap and stamp it on, same with corrugated cardboard, woven produce bags and bumpy shelf-liner. Sometimes I'll also use a commercial stencil, but that feels like cheating unless I totally manipulate that print to make it my own. It's difficult to narrow it down to a few tools (limited work space makes that necessary) but those are my go-to tools that unintentionally unify my work.
Thank you Nicolas for all your wonderfully inspirational shares! I enjoy learning from you!
Thanks for the tips on simple tools to clarify edges and move around paint with a credit card (no charge)! Generosity is a n attractive trait in an artist 👩🎨. After these demonstrations it just buffered circles so I assumed I should just go and try it out.
Been playing with cyanotype lately. Fun!
Be well everyone!! These videos are so helpful in this isolating time. 👩🏻🦳
Jan Wag so happy it helped you!
Jan Wag They sure are!!!
You have inspired me to start painting. I do work with paper
Now, Thanks to you, i will combine the 2
Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
Nick.. thank you for sharing your know with us.. 🤗
Great tips....nothing too fancy and yet so different than a brush. I teach high school art and students use the plastic rulers to make a straight edge.Tomorrow beginning distance learning so no paint for kids for awhile.....One tip, the corrugated strip around a to-go cup of coffee is useful for dipping in paint and use like a stamp. It has a linear quality. Thanks for all the videos Nick! Also, I enjoyed your interviews on Art Juice!
I’ve been watching your Art2Life tutorials and loving each and every one. I have been confined in Idaho because of covid and then election gave me hope for some normalcy , now hit with
PTSD because of attack by home terrorists on USA Capitol.
Thank you for this special space to watch you make art .
Hi! Thanks for sharing and helping us to grow as artists.
I'd like to know the name of a big metal roller you use to draw stripes...It's something I'd never seen before....
Loved watching this!! I’m always looking for more mark making ideas. I am currently enjoying using the back of the paint brush to scribble into the wet paint, then cover some back up. It creates an awesome burr type look, and I’ll sometimes leave that or clean up part of it. This topic is one of my favorites ☺️☺️
Differences:"controlling something and lettig it go" I didnt even think of that as part of differences. Thanks.
Great 🎉
Seeing you use the trowels and scrapers, I went looking for textural tools and bought a set of 12 cake decorating tools for use with fondant. I can't wait to try them out. Thanks for sharing some of your techniques and cool tools, Nick! I hope it's okay to call you Nick, or do you prefer Nicholas?
Fun, will lookfor a trowel (do have a triangular 1 in garage). Use c card (put 3 colors on it then twirl), junk mail, containers from food (if dont use for starting seeds or plants or natural dye projects), ... TY Be Well!
Wonderful, Nic. Thank you. How important are thumbnails to you? It seems you resolve the compositions as you go along. Do you have a rough idea of the structure before you start?
Sculptors chisels and some kind of linear brass devise which has lines of holes and i guess it is some sort of electrical connector
Robert Webber cool!
Love those vivid acrylics. What brand are they - orange and red?
One of my favorite tools is a plastic razor blade style scraper from the hardware store. I use it to scrape dried paint from my enamel palette without scratching the surface. Makes cleaning my palette much easier. I notice you put some kind of wet paper on the bottom of your palette, but have not described what you use, and why.
I have to play this a double speed to be able to follow it 😅
Still very interesting though
Fingers and my burnishing tools!
Just getting fanmliar (and liking) the soft brayer, even when not using the cold wax, just the oils. It gives good, smooth coverage. Not as interesting as your examples, though.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌹
Another tool: A shower squeegee is fun.
A
I am so thankful to have found you on Instagram...I am enjoying this week!
A plastic squeegee, netting from produce bags, juice lids, toilet paper rolls, those big kindergarten pencils