We had a good time last week with our Prismacolor rep Diana Garrett. She came down to the Sunshine State to do some presentations so she came by the studio during our Monday class and shared some great info, some laughs and some really great prizes! Everyone left with a goodie.

It doesn't matter how long you've been painting, there's always something new to learn. I've been doing a lot of work in acrylic on canvas the last few years and very little with colored pencil but watching Diana got me fired up again for the pencil. Why did I practically abandon my old friend the colored pencil? Because of framing, framing, framing!! (and to be honest, it was also just time to do something different) I have a portfolio full of work on paper that could be in frames but unless it has someplace specific to go I just can't spend the money to frame it. Dealing with canvas is so much easier and less costly.

During Diana's presentation she brought out some of her own work - beautiful! She's not just a rep for Prismacolor but also a wonderful artist. What was so inspiring? Not just the wonderful work she does but the ideas she brought with her (and yes, if I had been thinking, I would've taken some pics of her work so you could see it). We talked about ideas like working with colored pencil on plexiglass and wood, ways of working with the pencil so it can be varnished and not have to be framed in the traditional way with glass and mat, working on skins made from pastel ground that were painted on glass, peeled off and applied to another surface. Some of these things I've done before but it's nice to have a refresher to the get the blood flowing again. Some of them I haven't tried and it's always exciting to have something new to look
forward to.

Tomorrow night I'm looking forward to showing some of our students how to make an altered book. It'll be brand new for them so hopefully they'll get fired up about doing something different. I'll be back with pics from the workshop.....

til then, peace and happy painting,

Carlynne

I need more pencils!

Yes, I do. I need more colored pencils even though I have many hundreds of them - literally. I even have some full sets that haven't been disturbed yet. They look so pretty in their metal tins, all the colors of the rainbow lined up shiny and new, the beautiful sharp points just waiting there with so much potential. I have to confess, I am a colored pencil hoarder. Although I've been working in acrylic and mixed media more than anything else these last few years, I do still have my love for the humble pencil. After all, it was my first love and only love for over 2 decades. So what is the point (pun intended) of this post you ask? Prismacolor is coming out with new colors!!!! I need them, I want them, I must have them. Some of the colors are new and some are old colors being revived.

Check out  Prismacolor's blog post to see the list of 18 colors that they added to the line. They brought back 3 of the deco colors - yay! They also brought back 3 of the neon colors. Personally I would rather they left out the neons and brought back the rest of the deco colors, especially since they left out my favorite - deco orange, but hey, I'll deal. It's just fun to have some new colors to look for in the store, another reason excuse to buy more pencils.

While you're on Prismacolor's blog post I noticed they also have links to their lightfast ratings along with a link for tools, tips, and techniques so check those out if you're interested.

Peace,
Carlynne