Tag: Artists

by Leland Richardson on December 6, 2019 0

Using Polymer Clay to Create a Fairy Figure

You must be familiar with Peter Pan’s story. Maybe some of you have watched it with your child or told bedtime stories about the fairy story. Now you can bring your story to life again if you can make your own doll from a fairy, why not?

The Basic Needed

*Courtesy : www.facebook.com/RealmofFroud*

Creating a Fairy Figure with Wendy Froud certainly gives the viewer all the basics needed to work in this arts and crafts medium while providing instructions on what I consider to be a more advanced polymer clay topics. Like everything else in life, it’s a matter of practice and having a routine. Unexperienced in working with polymer clay, I paused the video many times to follow along. Anyone with experience working with polymer clay would be able to follow along in a more spontaneous, fluid manner.

Pros

Clear, easy-to-follow instructions

Written for the beginner, but also good for polymer clay artists not experienced in model-making

Excellent visual effects

Cons

Digital download process was time-consuming

Description

Making an Armature – complete instruction on forming the skeletal framework for the figure using wire.

Sculpting the Figure – learn how to make all the separate body parts such as the head, torso and hands.

Fabricating the Body – after the pieces are finished and baked, you learn how to put the pieces together to form the figure.

Costuming the Figure – discusses selection of fabrics and coordinating hair.

Applying Hair – learn how to attach wool and other materials to the figure for a realistic head of hair.

Making Wings – crucial for a faery figure, not a necessity if only interested in making doll-like figures with polymer clay.

Finishing the Figure – completing all the minute details to wrap up the project.

Guide Review – Using Polymer Clay to Create a Fairy Figure

Creating a Fairy Figure with Wendy Froud

I’m somewhat familiar with polymer clay as I interviewed a few jewelry artists who make their own beads from polymer clay while writing one of my books. The bit of knowledge that I retained the most was the fact that polymer clay is hardened by baking in the oven, instead of using a kiln, which seemed to me to be pretty handy as it eliminated the need for yet another piece of craft-making gear (although all serious artists use a separate oven since there are safety concerns with keeping food and clay separate).

However, I’ve never used polymer clay myself so I figured a good litmus test for a video is if a crafter who is handy in other crafts can follow along with instructions for another somewhat related type of craft. In this case, I’ve worked in paper mache in the past, which uses armature and paper constructing technique.

While my faery was far from perfection, this video really delivers on the instructional aspect. An artist or crafter with the right tools and patience will get all the knowledge they need to work in this medium from this video – regardless if they are interested in fantasy figures.

You can read artist Wendy Froud’s bio on the Gnomo Workshop website. Pretty impressive, she worked on both The Muppet Show and The Empire Strikes Back. The two-DVD set is 240 minutes in total and is also available via digital download.

The Gnomon School website show an approximately two minute sample clip showing the artist fabricating the model’s eyes. This clip is representative of the quality and type of instruction running through the entire 240 minutes.

When need be the filming of the dvd is close up on the artist’s hands. Ms. Froud moves very slowly, explaining each step as she goes giving alternatives on how to perform some of the tasks. For example, while constructing the hands of the faery she advises that she prefers to not wire the hands since she likes to really manipulate the digits after she attaches them to the main base of the palm of the hand.

Polymer clay is very easy to manipulate and forgiving. The artist many times removed and added clay while constructing the model. Using the special polymer clay tools, it’s easy to add clay to the basic shapes to add features, fingers and the body.

At the time of this review, the polymer clay lesson cost $49 (plus shipping if not going the digital download route – downloading will save you the shipping cost of $10 to $15 for most items.) Considering the length of the dvd and the soup to nuts presentation of the topic, a very good value.

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by David Burgess on July 7, 2018 0

Art Deco Design: Deco Rugs and Carpets

Art Deco Rugs

Art deco rugs were introduced to the world at the Paris Exposition of Modern and Decorative Art (Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes) in 1925. For that historic world’s fair, the buildings were decorated in art deco rugs and the style took hold.

Art deco designs featured bold geometric shapes, stylized floral patterns and other natural forms, often with juxtapositions of dark and light. Artists from around the world started to design rugs and textiles. Some of the most creative rug designs were created by Jean Michel Frank and Emile Jacques Ruhlmann of France.

These rugs continue to be popular with interior designers today, and you can create your own Art Deco look with these stylish Art Deco rugs. This page showcases some of the best deco rugs available to buy online and at reasonable prices. So if you are looking to create a new style for your home, think about using rugs as decor highlights. Although antique rugs from this era can be quite expensive, you can buy new Art Deco style rugs from $80 to $600. Scroll down to enjoy some easy online shopping.

Art Deco Style

Deco Design Characteristics

The Art Deco Style was influenced by the formalized lines of ancient Egyptian and ancient Aztec art, and it borrowed from neoclassical, modernism, art nouveau, cubism and constructivism.

This time period, just after the First World War, was also known as the Machine Age. For the first time, rugs began to be made my machine, and because they were not expensive like the traditional hand-knotted oriental rugs, they were seen as rugs of the people i.e. stylish designs that the common man could afford. A new market was started and art deco rugs gained increasing popularity in Europe and America.

Not all art deco rugs were machine made, but this was an option, and the world was ready for it.

Art Deco Rug

Deco Rug Design

Art Deco Rugs & Deco Carpets

Designs of the 1920s and 1930s

When it comes to rugs and floor coverings, Art Deco rugs encompass an infinite range of design possibilities. Other applied art movements defined one over-arching theme, while Art Deco embraced influences for all ages and from all over the world. These modernists designs were highly sought after and are still relevant and in demand today.

Rugs and carpets designed in the Art Deco era of the 1920s and 30s represent the best and most beautiful side of industrial design and globalization. By the late 1920s, the rugs and carpets that were produced were colorful and derived their influence from many areas, highly decorative Persian rugs being only one. Designers in rugs, as much as anywhere else where the style was being copied, rated the latest innovations in construction, design and color theory.

The people who designed and wove Art Deco rugs were innovators who paved the way for mid-century and modern designers, abstract artists and many contemporary design movements. At a time when commercial air travel was new and novel, designers, importers and carpet traders provided a vital link between east and west. The cultural diffusion that occurred in the early 20th century is ever-present in Art Deco rugs, even today. The creative atmosphere and historic design conditions of the era resulted in a colorful melting pot that combined influences from all parts of the globe.

Deco Rugs

In Summary

Art Deco rugs and carpets run the breadth of the spectrum in design from stoic masculine rugs with sharp geometric shapes to feminine floral weaves with contrasting colors and pastels. In China, the vibrant jewel-tone carpets manufactured for the explorer and entrepreneur Walter Nichols, are in a league of their own while rugs produced in the same era in England, Europe and Scandinavia were all pieces that led to the designation of the Art Deco or Art Decoratif term in the mid 1960s. British colonial influence in India led to the creation of many phenomenal Art Deco rugs there and they continue to present a combination of modernity and glamour.

In recent years, Art Deco rugs, along with other modernist design, have seen a resurgence. In many places, people are falling back on the reliable, often simplistic, forms to decorate their homes and with good reason: Modernist design fuses form and function into a single beautiful piece that is a work of art in its own right.

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by David Burgess on May 31, 2018 0

Soviet Propaganda Posters: Russian Propaganda from the USSR

In Soviet Russia, Posters Post You!

My first real-life exposure to Soviet graphic arts was when my high school art class took a trip to a local museum to see an exhibit of works from the Constructivists. I was both impressed and intimidated by the power of the work I saw there. On the one hand, the visual language is of incredible originality and quality; on the other hand, to see that kind of artistic power in the service of totalitarianism was deeply unsettling.

It was 1990 when I saw that exhibit. Within a year, the USSR had dissolved, ending the Cold War which had defined international politics for almost fifty years. Ironically, the art which called for the death of capitalism became highly influential among artists in the West, going on to have great impact on advertising arts. More ironically, Soviet propaganda art has itself gone on to become a popular commodity. Its imagery remains compelling, eight decades later, even to those who live in “enemy” lands.

Below are some of my favorite Soviet propaganda images. All of them can be obtained from Art.com or AllPosters.com, framed or unframed, in a variety of sizes. They make wonderful learning tools for history, art, or social studies classrooms, a great gift for that graphic arts afficianado on your list, or a wonderful conversation-piece hanging on your dining room wall. With the holiday season upon us, they can also make a wonderful, unusual gift for the art or history lover in your life.

Unfortunately, I don’t read Russian, nor do I understand the Cyrillic alphabet. For translations, I have to rely on the translations provided by the sites where I found the images below. I suspect that some of what I find jarring, or ironic, or comedic in these posters, can be accounted for by this language barrier.

As always, I try to include some information about the image itself, or the artist, or the historical setting, along with my own (sometimes humorous) response. Enjoy!

Russian War Bonds

The Russians Had War Bonds Too

This Russian War Bond poster is from before the revolution. The style of the plane dates from WWI, in which Russia was a co-belligerent. Russia withdrew from the war in 1917, after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II 1917. The neutral color scheme and illustrative of this poster shows a dramatic contrast with the later, Soviet posters on this page.

Drive the Red Wedges Into White Troops!

by Lazar Lisitsky

Drive Red Wedges into White Troops!
Giclee Print Lisitsky,
Lazar 24 in. x 18 in.

Ha! I shall defeat your round white circles by puncturing them with my sharp red triangles!

The white circles in this case represent the anti-Bolshevik “White” factions in the Russian Civil War. Though Lenin had officially seized power in 1917, fighting with counter-revolutionary groups continued until 1923. The “Whites”, who were so named because some of their members wore the white uniforms of Imperial Russia, were a loose confederation of anti-Bolshevik groups. Their ideology ranged from monarchist to bourgeois democrat.

The white circle kind of reminds me of the Rovers in The Prisoner, sent out to retrieve Number 6 every time he thought he’d escaped. If only he’d had a pointy red triangle!

CCCP

… that’s “USSR” in the Roman Alphabet

CCCP Russian Propaganda P…

Ah, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics! Where all the children are above average, and the worker-soldiers are fifty stories tall. See how they’re big enough to swat those airplanes out of the sky? And how they’re not doing it, because they’re just that noble?

Consisting of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, the USSR was one big, happy family that transcended ethnic differences.

Also, it was frighteningly good at ice skating.

Social Cooperation

… It Will Crush You!

Social Cooperation

Oh, wait … you’re saying that social cooperation is a good thing! That the smaller, human scale workers along the bottom of the image, through their Superpowers of Social Cooperation, can transform into the Mighty Giant Worker that towers over them! Just like Voltron!

Whew! That’s a load off my mind.

Wait. No it’s not.

Soviet Propaganda

also known as “Soviet Art”

USSR: Udarnaya Brigada Pr… Gustav Klutsis

The bold graphics, simple color scheme, and use of photomontage in this image make it an excellent example of Constructivist art, which was ascendant in the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution until the early thirties. Artists who were active in the revolution wanted their work to serve the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. These artists saw the Revolution as the perfect opportunity for the avant garde. They would create truly original, forward-looking work, work that was not beholden to art from the bourgeois imperialist past.

I wonder how that worked out for them.

Workers, Keep Your Rifles Within Hand’s Reach!

Vladimir Lebedev

Workers Keep Your Rifles…

This rather Cubist worker braces a block of wood with one knee as he saws diligently, but his rifle is also close at hand.

Why?

Well, I’m not sure. I wasn’t able to find out any background about this poster, but the style places it in the avant garde. The artist, Vladimir Lebedev, lived from 1891 until 1967, and was active from 1912 onward. According to his wikipedia biographical stub, he “achieved success” in 1920. I’m guessing that this poster is from the early days of the Soviet Union, and stresses the importance of the worker being ever ready to defend the proletariat.

Rumors, Lies, Stories, Talk

They’re bad things, very bad indeed.

Rumours, Lies, Stories, Talk Giclee Print
24 in. x 18 in.

Perhaps the face in this image belongs to one of those rumor-mongering ghouls that are known to inhabit the sewers of Moscow. Or perhaps it’s the ghost of someone who was killed by lies. Or possibly, it was one of those rare medical cases of someone actually being talked to death.

Lengiz, Books on Every Subject

Aleksandr Rodchenko

Rodchenko,…
12 in. x 9 in.

In 1924, Rodchenko took a portrait of Lilya Brik and used it in a book store advertisement. It has since become an international icon. Variants have been used as cover art for several music albums. The Dutch punk group The Ex, Mike + The Mechanics, and Franz Ferdinand referenced this image in their cover art. The image continues to be used on posters and brand labels to this day.

There Is Not, Nor Ever Has There Been, A Better Dummy

Aleksandr Rodchenko

There is Not, and Never Has Been, a Better Dummy, 1923, Giclee Print
Mayakovskii, V….
18 in. x 24 in.

The translation of this one is interesting. Art.com has two versions; one is “Better Pacifiers” and the other is “There Is Not, Nor Ever Has There Been, A Better Dummy”. Dummy? I thought. What does that have to do with pacifiers?

So I called in some friends who have some Russian. One of them thought it was advertising a machine that made “nipples”. Another explained that “dummy” is the British word for “pacifier”, and that some languages would use the world “nipple” in this context. She said that the literal translation was “There never has been and will not be one who sucks so well for many years, who will always sell …” but does not know the important final noun in that sentence. It’s not in her dictionary, but she says it rhymes in Russian.

After still more research, I uncovered a translation here that reads “There’s no dummy like an old sucker.” Heh. Sucker. OK … so it’s some sort of satire, right?

Well, maybe not. A reference on this site refers to a Rodchenko poster for “Baby Dummies”, and translates it as “There are not and have never been any better dummies. They are ready for sucking till you reach old age. Sold Everywhere.” That would imply that it was one of Rodchenko’s advertisements for a state-produced product. Since he was fully behind the Revolution of the Proletariat, he probably would not have meant this satirically (and things might have ended badly for him if he had).

The idea of sucking on a pacifier until I reach old age does not make me want to go out and buy one, but I can certainly imagine it’s funnier in the original. Humor often doesn’t translate.

But what I absolutely do not understand is WHY the image of a mutant psycho baby that seems to be sucking on bullets and grenade pins would make me want to buy a pacifier — much less why it would make me want to actually put that pacifier IN MY BABY’S ACTUAL MOUTH.

Clearly I am missing something here.

Strength Is In Unity!

Um, is that a bad thing or a good thing?

Strength is in Unity! Giclee Print
Lozenko,…
24 in. x 18 in.

There’s something about a row of faceless men in identical suits, their arms links in a chain, that I just find to be creepy. Call me crazy.

I realize, of course, that part of the whole idea behind Soviet propaganda was to subsume the individual in favor of the proletariat. By pooling resources communally, and then sharing them, everyone would be better off than if it was each individual for themselves. Or so the theory went.

But that doesn’t explain the suits and ties. Isn’t that what capitalists wear in the Decadent West?

You Are Now A Free Woman, Help Build Socialism!

Did you hear me? You’re free! So do what I tell you!

You Are Now a Free Woman, Help Build Socialism! Giclee Print
Strakhov, Adolf
18 in. x 24 in.

Unlike here in the Decadent West, the Communist Revolution imbued Woman with dignity, comradeship, and the right to wear a kerchief. Also, the right to comply with the demand that she help build Socialism. Right. Now.

Who Is the Anti-Semite?

Not the Bolsheviks! Not at all.

According to the Interwebs, the red and black divisions in this poster represent oppression of Jews under the Tsars, contrasted with opportunities for the Jews under the Bolsheviks.

Pre-revolutionary Russia was notoriously antisemitic. The word “pogrom” is a loan word from Russian, dating from the 19th century Tsarist era, when large-scale anti-Jewish rioting was tacitly condoned by the Russian empire. Jews could not own property and faced restrictions on travel and education. There were also numerous expulsions of Jews from major cities such as Moscow and Kiev. As a result of this oppression, many Jewish Russians were active in the revolution.

In 1919, Vladimir Lenin delivered a speech about the pogroms, framing them in Marxist terms. He stated (and I tend to agree with him) that antisemitism was a convenient way for the upper classes to divert the anger of workers and peasants toward Jewish people and away from themselves. Officially, he condemned antisemitism and all forms of racism, and many high-ranking party members and government officials were of Jewish descent.

Jews nonetheless continued to suffer disproportionately in revolutionary Russia. Jewish artisans and tradesmen lost their autonomy and livelihoods, and the official state ban on religion forbade any religious worship. Life only got worse under Stalin, who persecuted Jewish intellectuals, associating them with “cosmopolitanism”.

One Russian Drinking, Two Russians Fighting, Three Russians Revolution

Dimitri Deeva

Deeva, Dimitri
18 in. x 24 in.

This image appeals to me because of its simple composition, bold colors, and almost folkloric style. I don’t know if Deeva means to imply that revolution is derived from drunken brawling, or if the committee at the bottom is driving the person at the top to drink. The only thing I know about Deeva is that he is a Russian artist who was born in 1964.

One Israeli Banking, Two Israelis Playing Chess, Three Israelis in Orchestra

Dimitri Deeva, again

One Israeli Banking, Two Israelis Playing Chess, Three Israelis in Orchestra Giclee Print
Deeva, Dimitri
18 in. x 24 in.

I don’t know quite what to make of this one. On the one hand, there’s the stereotypical (and often antisemitic) trope of the Jewish/Israeli banker. On the other hand, chess and orchestras are nice things that enhance the common weal. Compared to his similar poster regarding drunken, brawling Russians, Israelis come off looking civilized, wouldn’t you say?

Third Wife

Whose third wife? Is she the third concurrent wife, or the third in a series?

Third Wife Giclee Print
18 in. x 24 in.

I’m guessing that this poster is advertising a play or film, but I’m basing that guess on very little. The style in this image strikes me as very Art Deco. It wouldn’t seem out of place to me in any survey of advertising art from the twenties and thirties.

Third Wife

This sheds no light on the subject, I’m afraid.

Third Wife Giclee Print
18 in. x 24 in.

This poster seems much more in keeping with Constructivist norms than the previous one, with its use of elements like photocollage and “making strange”.

Lenin With Dirigibles

Constructivist Version?

Lenin with Dirigibles
18 in. x 24 in.

There’s no date on this poster, but I can draw a few conclusions from its imagery. First, Lenin emphatically did not want a cult of personality built up around him, which I suspect means that he would not have liked to appear as a giant towering above the masses. That makes me think that this poster dates from after 1922, when Lenin’s failing health sent him into semi-retirement, leaving Josef Stalin has his intermediary with the outside world. Second, since the poster contains Constructivist techniques like photomontage, it probably dates from before 1932, when Stalin imposed the Socialist Realist aesthetic onto Soviet artists.

More Lenin, More Dirigibles

Toward Socialist Realism

Lenin with Dirigibles

Here’s another image featuring the same subject matter as the previous one: Vladimir Lenin, arm upraised, with dirigibles. Stylistically, however, it differs greatly from the previous image. There is no use of photomontage to play with space and depth, and the construction elements, such as the scaffolding behind Lenin, are downplayed. The dirigibles are presented naturalistically in the sky, above a field with trees and blimp hangars.

Tajik Soviet Poster

With Lenin and Stalin and Social Realism

Russian Leaders Giclee Print

Although Constructivism had sought to break free of the artistic past and create completely new art for the revolution, Stalin and others saw it as being tied to “bourgeois” and “decadent” styles like Cubism; there was also concern that the proletariat “couldn’t understand” any art that was not strictly representative. Imagery was simply presented, without nuance, and easy to understand. For instance, you don’t need to understand the slogan to know that this poster extols the virtues of Lenin, Stalin, and Communism, and invites you to rally around their flag.

I wanted to understand the slogan anyway, so I was lucky to dig up a translation. I found out that the poster is in the Tajik language (Tajikistan, you will remember, was one of the Soviet Socialist Republics). The slogan says: “Long Live the great party of Lenin and Stalin – leaders and organisers of building victorious socialism”.

Surprised?

Me neither.

Country and Urban Worker United

United in Socialist Realism.

The Republic of Social So…

Leon Trotsky had been the most loyal patron of the Constructivists in the Soviet leadership. When Trostky was pushed out of the party and then into exile by Josef Stalin, many of the Constructivists were branded as “formalists” by the new leadership. In 1932, Socialist Realism became the new, Stalin-approved aesthetic, and artists had to change their style or risk public censure — or worse.

In Capitalist and Socialist Countries

Violinists live very different lives.

In Capitalist and Socialist Countries

In capitalist countries, artists suffer in poverty. Their clothes don’t fit, their hair is lank and greasy, and they must turn their backs on all that tacky, tacky neon in the back ground.

In Socialist countries, artists enjoy well-fitting clothes and hair that has bounce and body. They get to play in grand concert halls. Those lucky Socialist artists!

In all seriousness, I have to commend the illustrator of this poster. Even though I know full well that it’s propaganda, it still warms my heart to see the young violinist with his thick, healthy head of hair taking his solo in front of the orchestra. The artist was skilled enough to make the violinist’s facial expression realistic and engaging, which just barely saves this poster from being completely maudlin. Just barely.

Socailism, The Vostok Rocket

The Space Race Begins

Socialism, The Vostok Rocket Giclee Print
18 in. x 24 in.

The Vostok Rocket launched cosmonaut Yuri Gagarain into low earth orbit on April 12, 1961, making the USSR the first nation in the world to achieve human space flight. The United States would achieve sub-orbital flight a month later, when Alan Shepard went into space for the Mercury project, but would not achieve full orbit until February 1962. The USSR was the first nation to achieve human space flight, to achieve earth orbit, to put a woman in space, and to do extra-vehicular activity.

Worker with Rocket

That’s *MY* Vostok! I built it!

Soviet Worker with Rocket

Here’s a little-known fact about the Vostok rocket. The workforce that built it consisted entirely of young, strapping, blue-eyed workers who proudly gestured to the fruit of their labors every time it streaked across the star-studded sky. Their hair was thick and flowing, yet manly. They were well-muscled and filled out their overalls to perfection. And since no outfit is complete without accessories, at all times they carried with them what looks like a sputnik-model satellite that reads “The World to the World”.

***UPDATE: I have been informed by a commenter that the phrase “mir miry” actually translates as “world peace”. Thanks, internet!

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by David Burgess on May 26, 2018 0

Ravenna Table Easel with Drawer

Table Top Easel

If you are a part time artist or even a full time artist with limited painting space, I can’t think of a better idea than buying one of these compact, portable table top easels.

This compact artists easel is a great choice for any artist that is looking for a convenient and easy to way to store their art supplies!

If you are like many artists, your work space is also part of your living area. This easel is an easy way to help keep your artistic hobby from over running your living area.

If you have a family and like to work at home, keeping your artwork stored away safe, especially if you have children around, may be the best way to protect your work in progress.

I also like the idea that it’s portable and this makes it so easy to take your art materials wherever you fancy. A portable easel makes it easy to take on trips and work on your artwork outdoors. This portable unit is also humbly priced making it easy to afford even for struggling artists.

When I was in high school, my plan was to go to art school after graduation. My sister’s girlfriend had some family issues and she came to live with us for a few months. She also was forced to drop out of her art classes. She was trying to raise some money and she sold her portable wooden drawing board to my parents for me.

I loved that drawing board. It folded up like these portable easels. I had a place to keep my pictures, erasers and pencils. I’d set it up in the living room or bedroom and it was so handy. Gotta leave the house – fold it up and you’re done. Like most teens, I was lazy so that was important.

If you are forced to store away your artist’s materials when not in use, a portable table top easel such as the Ravenna is an excellent choice!

Tabletop Easel

Storage for Paining Supplies This artist’s easel has a roomy drawer for storing paint brushes, paints, and other drawing materials. The one drawer has multiple dividers to keep everything separated.

This easel is not lacking in craftsmanship. The Ravenna table easel is sturdy and strong and built with quality wood but yet is light and easy to carry.

Another feature that customers liked was the ability to choose an angle for the board. Use it in a flat position or with a steep incline.

This particular portable model is also a great way to introduce an artistically talented child to new supplies and art forms. It’s not a large investment but a young artist will be thrilled with an adult like tool to experiment with.

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by David Burgess on May 26, 2018 0

Which graphics tablet?

What’s the difference anyway?

One question I get asked again and again is, ‘What is the best graphics tablet?’ as I’m a digital artist, it seems only natural to ask me.

It’s easy to understand why this is perhaps the most frequently asked question to not just me, but every digital artist. The reason for this is because graphic tablets are a unique and confusing technology!

So, the first step to finding the right graphics tablet for you is to understand the technology that’s being offered!

Thank you to Nekoni for her thoughts as an artist on graphics tablets.

First I’ll explain the words that are used

Then look further down, to find out about sizes.

At the end, I’ve recommended the best tablets, in my opinion, depending on various types of artwork.

Important!

What is a graphics tablet?

The graphics tablet (or ‘digital design tablet’) is an input device (like a mouse, or keyboard) which acts like a giant and highly accurate touchpad, controlled by a stylus (digital pen). It allows artists to draw directly into their graphics programs on PCs, Macs and Laptops.

What can one do?

TRON – speedpainting by SaZo

Pen-specific technobabble:

The language that is used by graphics tablets sellers is very confusing.

Here is a list of the most popular phrases used in relation to the graphics tablet pens and what they actually mean!

“stylus”
The term specific for digital input pens used with graphics-tablets and other hardware. It’s not always used, but is the actual term. (imagine if you were told your new ipad came with a free ‘pen’? Why would you want a pen? Now imagine you were told it came with a free ‘stylus’? Awesome!)
“ergonomic pen” “grip pen” “easy to hold pen”
Almost all graphic tablets today come with a comfortable, easy to use variety of stylus (the exact shape and features vary). These don’t affect the quality of your digital artwork, but they do affect how comfortable you are while using them, and there’s no ‘right’ choice.
“cord/cable/wired stylus”
Refers to a stylus that is attached to its tablet by a cable. The stylus is therefore slim and light. It’s pretty rare today, as wireless is the standard for most models.
“battery operated stylus”
Sends a signal from the pen to your tablet. The stylus needs to be large enough to contain a AAA battery, but is shaped in a way so that it’s narrower at the point at which you hold it.
“battery-less stylus”
The tablet powers the stylus via electro-magnetic resonation, which means these styluses are slimmer and lighter than the battery powered alternatives.
“tilt sensitivity”, “tiltability” “rotation””tilt recognition”
What most artists are looking for when they chose a stylus with one of these descriptions is a stylus which has a sense of ‘right way up’ and ‘upside-down’ so that it can make more complex digital brush strokes (this is a great feature, especially for painters!). But these terms also may simply mean that the stylus still works when you’re holding it at an angle, (and I’ve never found a stylus that doesn’t). For this stylus it’s best to rely on reviews, as less scrupulous retailers and second-hand sellers who don’t understand the terms can easily use the wrong term, and lead you to disappointment if you don’t know what you’re buying.
“levels of pressure sensitivity”
The range of pressure sensitivity starts at 256 levels of pressure, and reaches 3000. 1024 levels of pressure can be registered by most graphics programs, and only the newest and more advanced programs can register anything higher. Levels of pressure sensitivity literally explains how sensitive your pen is, the more sensitive pens will be able to tell the difference between different pressures, but this will only be shown to have an effect if you’re using extremely large brush sizes (upwards of 1000 pixels, in the latest software), or, in some cases, very light pressure (the quality of the pen’s nib and the drawing surface can effect the pressure you need to apply just as much). I suggest 256 and 512 for the beginner or sketcher, 1024 for the student or professional artist, and 2048 or above for the super-professional or any artist who uses a tablet for poster-sized art-work.
“Interchangeable right and left-handed pen”
This is one of those marketing oddities, I assume the companies must say this in order to assure left-handed individuals that they too can use graphics tablets… though I’ve yet to find any evidence of a left-handed pen having ever existed.

Tablet-specific technobabble:

So now you know what they’re saying about the pens… how about the tablet themselves.

The tablets are all important and have their own range of specialist phrases.

Here’s a list of the phrases and their meanings.

“programmable hotlinks/ buttons/ scrollers / wheels?”
Most artists find the wheels/scrollers to be useful for controlling the zoom in graphics programs, and for rotating canvas in those that allow it. But neither they nor programmable hotlinks are a actually a required function on any tablet, they’re more of an extra feature that you can use, if you like, to save time.
“lines per inch” or “accuracy”
Much like dpi or dots per inch, this is the sensitivity of your graphics tablet and how accurately it recognizes the location of your pen. Unfortunately, not only is this rarely mentioned, but the effect this number has also changes depending on your computer’s settings, and the size of the tablet itself. The end result is that the pen does not follow the path you draw exactly, or makes your lines jagged. The way to avoid this is to read customer reviews, even if a number is given, and bear in mind that the cheapest of these tablets usually come with this disadvantage. For the beginner, or casual artist, or someone who does not intend to use their tablet for fine art, this isn’t much of a problem. It can usually be compensated by working zoomed in, but that has the disadvantage of letting you see less of your artwork at once, and takes longer to draw the same lines.
“work area/ live area”
Pay attention to this, a graphics tablet will be described as 10 by 15 inches, but the actual numbers you need to actually pay attention to those of the ‘work’ or ‘live’ areas, the space on which you can draw, which measure much less- say 5 by 8 inches. These numbers are possibly the most important thing when it comes to buying a tablet! What you need to look for is a graphics tablet that matches the size and ratio of your screen as much as possible.

What happens when you buy a tablet that is much smaller than your screen?

It’s very simple, when you draw in real life, say, on a piece of paper, you draw to a scale of 1:1. The motions you make with your hand equal the size of lines you end up with on paper exactly. When you draw on a graphic tablet, these sizes never match completely, but it’s best to get as close to reality as you can.

An example of a size mismatch:
Here is a small tablet and a large screen. You can see the actual line which is input into a tablet, then the line that comes up on screen.
imput: what is drawn in real life. result A mismatched size also has the disadvantage of being less sensitive.

If your tablet is half the size of another tablet, but only has the same level of sensitivity, your small tablet is only half as sensitive. Then add to that the fact your hand is only so accurate, and you are in effect trying to draw, really, really tiny.

If you’ve ever tried to draw a nice picture, but really, really tiny, then you can see the obvious flaw with that. There’s a limit to just how accurately you can control your hands.
There are ways to compensate for a small tablet, as you can simply zoom in until the size matches, or you can set your tablet to only represent a smaller part of your screen.

However, drawing on a smaller part of your screen has obvious flaws…andjust like with a tablet with low accuracy, drawing while zoomed in isn’t a flawless solutution either.

As well as being unable to see what you’re doing in relation to the rest of your artwork, or being unable to edit it quickly, you will end up taking slightly longer and each and every line. Proffesional artists should try to avoid this.
My own screen is actually 18 by 12 inches, and the tablet is smaller (around 12 by 7.5 inches of work area) but it is a much closer match and easier to draw with than my other tablet, which only has 5 x 3.5 inches of work area.

Another thing to take into account is screen ratio. I have a widescreen monitor. And so, I have a widescreen tablet.

Some tablets allow you to set a ratio for you to use, but remember, they can not ‘expand’ the work area outwards if you need a wider area to match your screen; they can only narrow it, vertically. If you anticipate keeping your screen for a long time, and it’s an unusual shape, try and buy accordingly.

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by David Burgess on May 26, 2018 0

Best Drawing Tools

Only the Best Materials Needed for Drawing

This is a list of my best drawing tools. This collection is by no means the Cadillac of art supplies, but in the mid to high range price point. While I don’t have the money for the super expensive stuff, I don’t like to compromise on quality.

I’ve drawn most of my life and have been perfecting my craft for years. As time goes on and I try new stuff I may tweak the list a bit.

I also believe that most of these drawing supplies are great for beginners. My reasons, there’s no use in handicapping yourself with crumby equipment. Thankfully, drawing isn’t like oil paints in that even the best doesn’t cost a fortune. Aside from that, experimenting with a variety of supplies always gets the creative juices flowing.

The Best Pencil For Sketching And Travel

Derwent’s Onyx pencils

The best sketching pencil so far, that’s not

even the best as pencils go, is the Derwent onyx pencil.

It’s remarkably strong, and it’s capable of some pretty black shades. No, not as good as carbon or charcoal because it is still graphite that will get shinny if you overdo it.

I’ve used it in serious finished work, like this here Anubis puppy, and I thought it was an ok serious pencil, but I haven’t made up my mind yet. It’s kind of an odd ball, or “black sheep” of my pencils.

One thing I want to note, I don’t think it would make a good pencil to learn how to draw with. Only reason is that it doesn’t give me that feeling a soft graphite does. I wouldn’t want someone to miss that experience because of my recommendation. It’s just too hard of a lead that I think would make an absolute beginner frustrated.

Now, on the doggie drawing over on the right, a good many of pencils came into play to create this, including my woodles pencils, but I wanted to state where I used the onyx. The little scratching texture effect on the blanket. Those are the little wispy lines. There is also a great deal on his snout, and pretty much any of the blackest blacks that are in the work.

The Best Drawing Pencils

CreateAcolor Graphite Pencils

The pencils that stuck out the most for me were the CreateAcolor’s professional grade pencils. They just seemed a cut above Derwent, although I’ve used derwent for years and it’s not a bad pencil.

They create beautiful, smooth lines, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced any gritty spots.

I no longer need to buy the big tin, just single pencils to replace the ones I’ve used up, but if you buy the big tin of 24 there is a schematic on the top of the lid, much like a box of whitman’s chocolates. This has pictures of pencil marks to show you how dark that particular pencil grade gets. This is one of those things I wish I had when I decided to quit dabbling and really learn to draw.

Sadly I haven’t been able to find the 24 count tin in my travels in a good while. If you happen to find it, better hop on that sucker, or if you find that the 12 count tin has the awesome schematic, please let me know. 🙂

The Best Drawing Paper

Portrait drawing on stonehenge paper, created by, Shannon FleetLet’s get down to the foundation of sketching and drawing. Paper is oftentimes more important than people think. Drawing can be done on just about any paper, or with any tool that makes marks, but good paper makes a huge difference, sometimes the difference between success and failure depending on which drawing media you’re using.

On the flip side, the best paper makes for a better creative experience. Your pencil will also respond differently to different paper, this will either be frustrating, or give you a wonderful feeling. For artists who work with colored pencils, they need a paper with enough tooth to build layers of color that doesn’t fill up too fast. On the other hand, artists who use charcoal or pastels need a paper that is super toothy or else the powder particles won’t hold.

The paper I speak of here is the stuff you want to create finished work on, I have and use several different varieties since I’m hopelessly addicted to art supplies, but here is both of my favorites.

This drawing was created using Stonehenge paper.

The Best Hand Held Pencil Sharpener

Pencil Sharpener Print by WallJewelry

Those pencils aren’t going to sharpen themselves! This particular issue has always been a problem with me. I’ve tried everything in the past.

I’ve always had romantic notions of the artists that use a knife to hone their pencil tips with care. This, I’ve been told and read is the best way to sharpen your professional pencils. I’ve never liked it.

For me the convenience of a regular, no frills pencil sharpener and a sand paper block was all I could deal with. I just want to get back to work!

Convenient, yes, but sadly most pencil sharpeners suck. They wear out super fast, and when they do wear out they chew rather than sharpen. This creates a ton of waste and frustration. I’ve been known to rage when it snaps the tip off of my lead causing me to stop and grab a 9H pencil to dig it out.

Even worse they are deceptively cheap, so one doesn’t notice the added cost and waste of having to buy a new sharpener just because the blade has worn out. This cost adds up over time.

Of course, there are electric pencil sharpeners. I give you an unprofessional “LOL” at this. You can’t take them with you.

The Best Artist’s Erasers

Some of My Erasers, Plus Some Improvisation

Pink Rubber Erasersby FallSeason

The eraser is also a great drawing tool that’s often overlooked. I use it for the obvious, to fix mistakes, for pulling out graphite from the tooth to lighten the tonal value of an area, and finally I actually use it to draw with.

I like to use three types:

The Kneaded, well it’s not exactly a traditional kneaded, but I’ll explain in a minute. Your trusted kneaded putty will do all sorts of stuff. Clean up, pull out graphite or charcoal, clean any smudges, create shapes. It’s the one that I use the most.

The regular white plastic eraser. For all of those general tasks that the other erasers can’t do. It’s ok to not have the best here, provided it’s not one of those pink erasers. You don’t want it to destroy, or otherwise flatten the tooth of your paper, or even worse, to rip it to shreds. But, the best does exist! I’ll show you below.

The last, is my trusty clicker eraser. The one I like to use is the tuff stuff stick. I used to use the fatter clickers, but they were terrible to draw with, yet not big enough to erase large areas. Plus, with my old clicker if I bore too hard on it I would nip off the top! Took me a long time to find tuff stuff.

UHU’s White Or Blue Tac As An Eraser

Better than any kneaded eraser on the market
Let me explain my substitute for the kneaded eraser. I like to use white tac. It can be pretty hard to find and you have to get it from the UK. lol. It’s the same as blue tac and you can use the blue too! Either one you can get your paws on.

It comes in a larger quantity than real thing, which also makes it cheaper. It’s stronger, lasts longer, and picks up more graphite and charcoal. It makes me hate to have to use the old kneaded putties. This is why I crowned it the best.

About Best Drawing Tools

The drawings and sketches were created and copyrighted by Shannon Fleet. That would be me!

The other images relate to Zazzle and are copyrighted by the artists who created them. A link is provided to the Zazzle site if you’d like more information on their work.

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by David Burgess on May 26, 2018 0

Safe Crayons for kids: Non-Toxic Crayons

Go Green – buy soy and beeswax crayons for kids

Crayons make great gifts, but make sure the ones you give are safe – Soy and beeswax crayons are! Even in today’s health-conscious society, many wax crayons contain lead pigments and non-organic products such as petroleum. The same goes for inks, dyes and paints including face paints used by children. In contrast soy and beeswax crayons are completely natural and non-toxic while retaining strong colour that will satisfy your budding artist.

Children are particularly susceptable to ill effects created by petroleum based wax crayons because their organs are still developing. The same goes for high levels of heavy metals that can sometimes be found. It is as well to remember that even when companies tell you their product is completely non-toxic, you should check the content for yourself. If in doubt, ask them!

Prang is a well known name in crayons and these are their best soy ones

These safe crayons are make primarily from soy bean. Manufacturer Prang says these crayons are ‘brighter and smoother’ than paraffin wax crayons. These are certainly non-toxic and they come in a variety of colors and in packs of different amounts.

Praise for soy and beeswax crayons

safe crayons for kids

Most people who have purchased these crayons have nothing but praise for them. The colors seem to be bright and older children found they blend well together for more sophisticated art projects. They seem to work well on different surfaces.
Reservations soy crayons
The biggest complaint I have found about soy crayons is that they are more brittle than petrol-based crayons. However, they are easily rejoined by holding both ends over a low heat. Not much of a price to pay I don’t think.

However, what isn’t clear from all manufacturers is how much if any of the soy bean used is GM.

Why you should buy beeswax crayons

They smell better for a start! Paraffin based crayons smell there is no getting away from it, while beeswax smells sweet and natural with no chemicals or additives.

They also feel nicer to the touch.

Because the color is blended with wax it gives kids drawings a more subtle look than other crayons, in fact because you can produce many more effects with beeswx candles, some professional artists use them too.

The colors stay bright and are light resistent and the wax gives a kind of transparency much like that of watercolor paints.

Stockmar beeswax crayons for sale

Stockmar produce natural beeswax crayons as either conventional stick crayons or as block crayons which can be used flat to create wide sweeps of color or end on to produce finer lines and numbers.

Stockmar Block/Stick Beeswax Crayon Tin

Best beeswax crayons from Faber-Castell

safe crayons for kids
It pays to go for well-known and well-respected brands when you are buying – especially if you want the very best quality. You may pay a bit extra on crayons like these from Faber-Castell but it is worth it.

24 Faber-Castell Beeswax Crayons

Beeswax crayons

safe crayons
Beeswax crayons are getting good reviews right now. They smell nice and,with no petroleum, are non-toxic for little hands. Buy the triangular shaped ones for toddlers as they are easy to hold. The colors are bright and they seem to blend well.
They arn’t cheap but they last a long time if taken care of when packing away.

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by David Burgess on May 26, 2018 0

How to Choose the Best Watercolor Paint Sets

How to Choose Watercolor Paint Sets

What are the best Watercolour Paint Sets for you to use? And why? If you are a Professional, Student or even a Kid there are great paint sets to suit you. Knowing which one can help your art.

Each one has it’s advantages and disadvantages in cost, quality and use.

Types of Watercolor Paint Sets

Watercolor paint comes in different levels and types.

1. Kids
2. Students
3. Pros

It also comes in

1. Pans &
2. Tubes
3. Pencils

Choosing Students Watercolor Paint Sets

Types of Watercolor Paints Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd0PgwA55gs

Students Watercolor Paint Sets

Choosing Students Watercolor Paint Sets can be a tough one. Do you go for students quality or artists quality colors? Students paints are best for students right? Not necessarily so here’s why.

Students range from complete beginner to advanced.
Paints vary in quality and price therefore a more advanced student may want a better quality paint.
Even newbies may not want their art affected by inferior paints.
Not everyone can afford the more expensive paints. (or brushes for that matter)
And everyone has an opinion and most of those are different!

So where do you go from here? Decide on where you fit in to the mix. Also decide what you can afford. Then buy the best watercolor paints you can afford, either a well known student paint or an artists one.

When starting out getting a set can be the easiest way as you have a good starting range to begin with, then you can add individual pans, pencils or tubes later. This lens will be covering the pros and cons of each type of set too.

Artists & Professional Watercolor Paint Sets

Artists & Professional Watercolor Paint Sets are the better quality paints and therefore carry a higher price, but they have better pigments and last longer than student ranges.

Kids Watercolor Paint Sets

Kids Watercolor Paint Sets quality has improved over the years, but they are still basic.

My niece used to paint sheet after sheet of pictures. Each one looking like a single colored ink blob. The paintings went on fridges and walls and doors and eventually when then next batch of blob paintings came along in the trash. At this stage it just isn’t worth spending out on fancy expensive paints. Kids art gear isn’t too expensive, some isn’t too bad a quality whilst others are rubbish.

Now my niece is 9 and my sister despairs of the large range of art stuff she has. Watercolor paints and pencils, normal pencils, pens etc. As you child grows the paint quality needs to improve. It is no good them having paints that don’t work well this will just ruin their interest. So stick to kid’s paint as they are safer but get something increasingly better quality.

7 reasons why watercolor paints are great for kids.

Here are 7 reasons why watercolor paints are great for kids.

1. Kids love them
2. They are cheap
3. Parents can get the off the walls and clothes easier than oil or acrylic.
4. They are designed for kids so aren’t toxic if they go on the fingers then in the mouth.
5. They are easy to use.
7. They encourage creativity in kids which stimulates the mind and improves thinking.

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by David Burgess on May 25, 2018

My favorite oil pastel sets from cheap to expensive

How to choose your oil pastel set for sketching and serious art work

Oil pastels are one of my favorite painting and drawing medium. Based on my personal experience I want give answers to the question: What is the best oil pastel set to buy or to start with? It depends on the purpose you want to use it for. If you are looking for a set to be given to children you might want to look for a water soluble and more harder oil pastel or wax crayon. Illustrators who mostly do not exhibit their work but store it after scan in a drawer away from light can use a cheaper quality if they prefer a certain brand or set at lower price.

For more ambitious wor the set shown on the image is a portrait set of oil pastels by Sennelier available on amazon.com might be better. It contains those colours best suitable for portrait work i.e. for skin and hair colours. Sennelier is a producer of highest quality oil pastels. Work created with their oil pastels is suitable for long term exposure under normal room daylight, which still contains some of the UV-light that causes colours with less and cheaper pigment load to fade over time.

A fairly good guideline for quality is the price of oil pastels. The competition in this field is very strong especially in the low segment. Therefore you can be sure that a more expensive quality will be the better quality: the sticks last longer, more vibrant colours and better light fastness along with some better properties in handling.

The second reliable criterion is the brand name. Choosing from long established renowned brands will make sure that you get a good quality. That does not say that an unknown brand is not good enough. I try unknown brands on a regular basis if they have colours that seem interesting to me and make a good addition to my sets.

What are the best oil pastels brands

best quality oil pastel brands ,some choices
Of course each artist has his/her own preferences. But when you investigate which brands are used by professional artists or have been used on really stunning art work you most probably will find the same brand names again and again. I do not want to put these brands in a ranking order, it is more about being on that list or not: Sennelier, Holbein, Caran d’Ache, GretaColor for highest qualities and Pentel, Sakura and van Gogh for more price worthy qualities. Most of these brands or companies are known for great colours also in other fields like oil painting or coloured pencil.

The expensive artist oil pastels typically cost around 1-2 $ per small stick, the less expensive ones are very well below 1$ per stick.

Holbein offers an expensive artist oil pastel grade and a less expensive studio quality. Sennelier is famous for their very creamy and pigment rich oil pastels in small and big stick, whereas Caran d’ Ache has developed a range of different grades between soft artist grade named “Neopastel” and less expensive and harder , even water soluble brands named “Neocolor”.

It is possible to use different qualities in the same work, for example a layer of harder pastels as under painting and softer qualities on top.

I have used Caran d’Ache Neocolor for the oil pastel study painting after John Constable’s sketch Dedham lock & mill

Which colours are critical in oil pastel sets ?

Critical colours are those colours that you use more often and in larger quantities than others! The second category of critical colours are those which tend to fade faster than others due to their nature.

1. Colors that you use regularly and which you need in larger quantities

What you need to know before you buy a set is whether colours that are used up can be replaced easily. Is it possible to get that greens you need in spring easily via online order or at your art dealer not to far away? That could limit your choice already quite a bit. Imagine you started a piece and you run out of a certain colour hue. If you need to continue with a different brand your work might not look as good as you wish. I usually need more often natural greens,ochre,all grays and browns, blues and white which are the main colours for landscape work.

2. Which colours are critical due to pigment.

What I have learned from my teachers is that certain colours in pastels as in other colors tend to fade quicker than others due to the nature of the available pigment for those colours. It is commended to use the best quality of colors if possible for work that contain delicate red and pink colour hues. The same applies for orange hues. Therefore artists who specialize on flower still life will pay particular attention to the light fastness of their oil pastels.

The Caran d’Ache oil pastel sets

48 and 96 color sets

Caran d’ Ache 48 color setThese are the sets that I own. The first one is the smaller 48 color set. The colors are ordered in 12 groups of four colors each. This order is very helpful to develop an intuitive understanding of colors and hues, their relations ships and mixing potential. As Plein air painter I appreciated the many shades of green in this selection.

Caran d’ Ache 96 color setThe 96 color set expands the range considerably. There are even two metallic colors, bronze and gold, which are nice to have for special purposes. The consists of two boxes which are stored on top of each other. Cpmpared to the 48 color set the range of greys is large. Also there are very nice hues of “beige”, which I consider warm greys I really appreciate for outdoor painting. In addition to that the range of browns and blues are much bigger.

Thanks for looking .. I hope you will have lots of fun with your new oil pastel set..

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by David Burgess on May 25, 2018

What Are Artists Trading Cards, An Introduction

My Personal Introduction to Artist Trading Cards

I was introduced to Artist trading cards or their equivalent ACEO’s by Ebay. Not knowing about artist trading cards, I was browsing around in the art categories on Ebay and kept seeing reference to ACEO.

I had to find out what it was. It is actually an art format, sized the same as the ubiquitous Trading Cards so beloved by kids of all ages. That is 2.5 X 3.5 inches exactly. The acronym stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. It could be in any media at all and had been started on Ebay around 1996.

Anyway, I had always prepared for my painting by doing several small sketches to get right the composition / colour / etc and found that this size format was a natural for me. I tentatively put the first listing of an ACEO painting on Ebay and WOW it sold!!! Fantastic!!! I had soon sold around 50 of these little miniatures and felt great.

That first aceo painting was a scene from Portmeirion in Wales where the exterior scenes for the TV programme The Prisoner was filmed. Remember Patrick McGoohan, Prisoner Number 6. This was the rear of his circular house in the village. (see picture above).You can see more of my art on my blogs Painting With John and Artyfax, the trials and tribulations of a leisure artist.

I hope to give an account of the history and potential of these wonderful little works of art, they are a great way for anybody to start their very own art collection. They are fun, affordable and a real insight into the work of any artist that you like. Further to this I will talk about the making, collecting and selling of ACEO’s.My own personal collection of works by other artists is several hundred, but I think that this will grow substantially in the future. Why not try it out?

I originally wrote this lens specifically to cover art cards which were made for selling and so the term ACEO is used throughout the lens. However, I now recognise the similarity between these and art cards traded and indeed the only difference is that one is sold ( ACEO) and one is only ever traded (ATC). Therefore it should be taken as read, that whenever the term ACEO is mentioned in this page, it refers to either form of artist trading cards. I will gradually rewrite this anomaly out of the lens as it is modified.

please note the copyright of all images is the property of the original artist, unless otherwise stated all art and photographs are by Artyfax

What is an ACEO?

The ACEO format

abstract building the cityACEO (artist trading cards) are a particular art format which is defined by its size. The acronym stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. This reflects the idea that they are sometimes made as part of a series or may be made as numbered editions, usually limited editions. These miniature works are only 2.5 X 3.5 inches. This incidentally, and not by accident, is the size of the ubiquitous Trading Cards beloved by kids of all ages and sizes. This means that there are many products available for storing and displaying the art work, from simple plastic wallets to A4 loose leaf pages with multiple pockets, and whole display books. The miniature aceo art works can of course be framed for display either singly or as multiples.

Collectors often come up with their own devices or simply use a favourite box ( of the right size of course) and I have even heard of them being used as dolls’ house art.

It is a format that started back in 1996, and soon grew into a very popular collectible area. A search on Ebay.com for ACEO can bring up 3-4000 items (rather less in the UK as you might imagine being a much smaller market, but we are getting there) with aceo’s available in so many different media it soon becomes confusing. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil, collage, photographic images, computer generated images….. the list goes on.

ACEO’s are a really inexpensive and fun way of starting your own original art collection.

Alternatively, for those with an artistic bent, art cards can be traded with other artists, almost always as originals or “one-of-a-kind” (OOAK). This was thte original means of dispersal when the format was introduced, see a short history below. When traded they are called ATC’s , short for artist trading card.

My ACEO’s on You Tube

A Portfolio of ACEO paintings by myself on YouTube

This video to be found on YouTube was an experiment for me. A selection of some of my ACEO paintings, backed by my own soundtrack, hope you like it.

Some of my favourite artists’ sites on Ebay

I have at least one work by most of these guys in my own collection of ACEO’s

There are many, many really great artists selling ACEO’s on Ebay. Some are selling simply to attract attention to their larger works, others sell ACEO’s as their main line. If you are interested, then give them a quick once over. I did not intend this lens to be a commercial, but hey! we all need to make bread, so please forgive the intrusion.

I am not selling on Ebay at the moment, and have given up my Ebay shop, please watch this space for news of developments on Etsy.

ARENA-CREATIONS
Immortalising Dreams, Moments and Memories……….. Artist, Gaynor Lewis shows her endless inspiration and expression through her artwork. Bringing extra to your life through art – Original artwork, prints, greeting cards, gift tags and commissions.
Aartless ACEO Gallery
ACEO Originals, Limited Edition ACEO Prints, Postcard and other Small Format Art by JAN VALLANCE. Direct from the artist. Cats, Portraits, Landscapes, all in Jan’s instantly recognisable and individual style.
Naj – My Depictions
Internationally selling UK based artist. Sells promotional samples of small format art, undertakes commissions for art work such as portraits, pet portraits and other custom art commissions, including canal art.
Round the Cauldron
I was raised in California but I now call Scotland my home. My two biggest inspirations are my children and my love of nature. I have been an artist for as long as I’ve been able to hold a pencil, working mainly in Graphite and Watercolour.
Mareens Art Gallery
*Contemporary Art* This Gallery is all about the art created by Mareen Haschke. Purchase ACEOs (Art Trading Cards), Fine Art Prints, and Originals such as pastel drawings and acrylic paintings directly from the artist.

ACEO Links On The Web

just a small selection to wet your apetite…

Here I have tried to provide links to sites with articles about the subject rather than artist sites, I will be adding more regularly.

A painting a day
From Shanti’s world of watercolour, A painting a day seems like a wonderful target. A great way of building up a real expertise. Why don’t I do it?
all you need to know
Probably the first and last link about ACEO’s you should need.
Entry in Wiki
A highly debated offshoot of artist trading cards are the “art card, editions and originals” (ACEO). ACEOs originated when some artists began to create cards to sell on eBay, in addition to trading among themselves. The selling of these cards is a sore point with some ATC purists; however the practice is not unprecedented: trading cards in other areas such as sports have also been traded and sold.
Art in your pocket
Basics of ATC’s ( Art Trading Cards)which are the equivalent of ACEO’s but are traded rather than sold. And importantly, many different ways of making them. Materials and techniques.

More ACEO Artists on the web

another list of links to fantastic artists

It never ceases to amaze me how how much can be contained in one little 2.5 X 3.5 inch painting. Here are some more of my favourite artists aceo’s:-

Affordable art – Ken Gillam
Ken Gillam is a Marine and Landscape Artist based in the South of England working in Watercolour and Acrylic. This site features some of his Miniature Paintings.
Original ACEO art for sale
About the artist, Jim Read

As a scholar I was taken to The British Museum and there saw my first nude, a sculpture.

I was entranced by the perfection of the form and the ever changing lines as I moved around it. I never lost the sense of awe I felt then and it is only now in later life that I feel able to commit my fascination to paper.

ACEO’s from the ACEO UK, Ebay group

a small selection from some fine artists

The Ebay user group ACEO UK has recently started to take notice of ths exciting development and list art videos (aka showreels) on You Tube. This is a group endeavour.

Artist Trading Cards In The News

Artists are creative people and like to keep up with new ideas.

Who is writing about these new ideas and what do they have to say? Find out here:-
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History of ACEO’s

What and Why

jester aceo atcWe have seen above two variations of the artist trading card, ATC and ACEO. And how they only differ in that one is sold and the other is only ever traded. How did this come about?

Artists have always painted miniatures for patrons but in September 1996, Swiss artist M Vanci Stirnemann formally identified the concept and format of artist trading cards now known as ATC’s. I have also shown above that ATC’s are not limited to any particular media but can be created in almost any way that can be envisaged. I have listed and given examples in my lens Making Artist Trading Cards. The original idea was that ATC’s should be exchanged between artists and never sold or indeed should not involve the art establishments selling art. However the internet was taking off at this time and this helped to create a popular demand for this format. It very soon became established around the world particularly in the USA thanks to the involvement via the internet.

For more information see:-

Time line for ATC’s
ATC Quarterly

Collecting ACEO’s

As Opposed To Trading ATC’s

flower garden abstract atc aceoSome time after the introduction of the concept of the ATC an artist selling her work on Ebay (ID Bone-Diva, real name Lisa Luree) put some artwork in this format up for auction. This caused consternation amongst many supporters of the format and Lisa formed a breakaway group which came up with the name ACEO ( Art Cards Editions and Originals) as an acronym for art cards which were sold. This represents the fact that art cards are produced as originals, in series or as editions (open or limited edition prints). Ebay and other sites sell quite large numbers of ACEO’s to artists and collectors looking to start their own art collection at reasonable prices. Many are sold very cheaply by amateurs by auction but established artists with a strong following can command premium prices as you would imagine. Prices in the latter case can be relatively inexpensive but still command prices of $4-500.

For more information on the controversy see, ATC’s vs ACEO’s The Real Story

Selling Your ACEO’s On Ebay

A Quick Introduction

Collecting, selling and trading ACEO art (Art Cards Editions and Originals) is as easy as buying and selling anything on eBay — and it has the advantage of a specialized market. Here’s how to turn drawing miniature artworks the size of trading cards (2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″) into some added income to help you add to your collection!

This image is of one of my early watercolour ACEO’s sold on Ebay. A good price is difficult but they are fairly quick to complete and if it sells short it is no great loss. take it on the chin and try again with another. There are other on-line sites and I will add some of these very soon to the lens on Selling ACEO’s; the next in this series. For now check out the recommended links on the side bar.

read this lens for more detailed informationHow to sell ACEOs on Ebay

Some Featured Items From Google News

Sometimes the items discovered by the Google News module are the sort that you don’t want to lose. For example the first in the list below is about hhow a school is using trading cards to overcome the lack of an art tteacher and structured art lessons. How great that this hobby (or passion even) can be used to help school kids in this way. I decided to keep track of some of the more relevant and interesting items for reference.

Art Cards In School
How the use of art trading cards is helping school pupils
trading with a difference
A different take on the trading of artist trading cards

Reader Feedback
I look forward to hearing any feedback!

An artist always craves attention, we prefer to be told how great or original we are BUT I am a realist, let me know what you think and if you don’t like it … well I will just use the input to improve on my next piece – thanks

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