Art Media 101- Colored Pencils - Due Mar 15th, 2009

[Meran]

Colored Pencils (this month, it's back to plain ol' easy medium; these are NOT watercolor, pastel or ink pencils)


Introduction: Remember, the goal is to try something new; be brave; work out of your comfort zone! If you don't already have the medium you want to try, borrow some from a friend.. after all, these are small little cards; you won't be using much!

This will be a 3/3 or 6/6 swap

Unlimited players

Cards will be in JUST the stated medium. You may work in any theme you like; be relaxed.. it's all about the medium...

Each month cards must be postmarked by the 15th of each month. Returns will be mailed by the 30th of each month.

Please send a SASE or correct postage for U.S. players. International players will have postage picked up by me. PM me with your address (or include a label) so I can send your returns.

LATE CARDS WILL BE RETURNED, because of the quick returns. No extra card is necessary, though I'll take it if you insist, ;). I don't want the cards to be late tho, because you wanted to make me an extra! I have plenty of cards; I won't suffer. :D

Please make sure you write the Swap Name and Medium on the back of your cards along with your user name, for iTrader feedback.

Here are links for this month's medium:
http://drawsketch.about.com/od/coloredpencil/Colored_Pencil_Drawing.htm
http://www.artshow.com/interviews/kutch/index.html
http://www.mooresartgallery.com/colorpenciltips_techniques.html (make sure to see her dog gallery!)
http://www.mmwindowtoart.com/drawing/coloredpencil2A.html

for special interest:
http://www.thecoloredpencilproject.org/
http://drawing.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_organize_colored_pencils
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/12/colored_pencil_fence_make.html




1. Meran
2. Janet
3. PrincessGene
4. Chronata
5. AnneY dropped :(
6. Tutuglenna
7. jklee
8. Dina54
9. Pamalama
10. Morning Star

[Janet]

Oh goody!!! I'm in again please :)

[Meran]

glad to see you again, Janet!!

[princessgene]

Of course I'll do this swap. I do have one question. Many times I'll use pens or white goauche or acrylic along with the colored pencil. Is this allowed in this swap? Or does it have to be strictly colored pencil and nothing more?

[Meran]

We're trying to keep it just the one medium... can you go along with that? Otherwise, it's mixed media... I usually do outlines and stuff too, but won't, for these..
I'd love to put you on this swap!

[princessgene]

Of course put me on the swap. I just wanted to make sure that I understood correctly that no other medium should be used for this.

[Meran]

okay, good, will be glad to put you on the list!

[Veterok.]

Can I use watercolour or ink pencils if I don't blend them with anything? : D

I'm not sure if I have enough regular coloured pencils, uh. I might buy a couple, though, because this swap is inspiring me a bit again.

[Meran]

Yes, if you don't add water or such, then they're 'just pencils' and qualify.. and they're colored.. bonus! :D
So, should I add you?
OR go buy some because you'll fall in love all over again and want to do more!!!
You can use your ink pencils later on in the year, I promise :D

[Veterok.]

Oh cool : D I think I'll have to wait a bit and see if I manage to finish my other pending swaps before starting anything new..

[Chronata]

I'm going to have to join all of these aren't I?;)
Sign me up too

[AnneY]

Colored pencils is my favorite medium. May I still join?

[Meran]

I certainly hope so, Robyn :D

and sure AnneY, I'll put you on too!

[tutuglenna]

I would like to sign up for the Art Media 101 Colored Pencil Swap.

[jklee]

I LOVE my colored pencils, sign me in please!

[Meran]

Thanks Tutuglenna and Jklee,, I've got you both signed up!

[tutuglenna]

Meran, do you prefer that we post our cards to the threads...or...do you want it all to be a surprise when we get returns?

[dina54]

I received 2 gift certificates to the RISD art store for Christmas that total $100.00 that I plan on using to buy a brand new set of Prismacolor pencils. What better way to break them in? Sign me up :D

[Meran]

you may post them here Glenna, :D
I'd love to see them already!

And Dina glad to see you want in.. break those babies IN! (get the Prisma sharpener too.. I love it)

[dina54]

And Dina glad to see you want in.. break those babies IN! (get the Prisma sharpener too.. I love it)

I LOVE the sharpener! My prismas have survived to the point where they are all down to 2 or 3 inches long. I attribute their long life to NOT dropping them (breaks the lead inside the wood and then they break off) And using that nifty sharpener. I'm going shopping Monday morning ASSUMING it stops snowing and I can get out of my driveway!!!

[Meran]

oh yes!! do NOT drop any colored pencils.. or any pencils, :D

get an extender/holder.. it may not fit, so size it there.. there are several brands. They're good for a little while, but I still end up using that last inch by hand.

[inkleaves]

I read a tip over at AFA for wax-based coloured pencils. If you happen to drop them and all the lead is broken, you could nuke them in a microwave for a few seconds. The heat will melt the wax together inside the pencil. Have to say I haven't tried it myself though.

[Meran]

hm, that might work.. better than nothing I suppose.. I'd be afraid that the wax would then work itself into the wood of the pencil tho. Also, heat does temper stuff (which means change) and I'd believe that the texture/workability would still be affected.

I'd use that ONLY in case of emergency (can't find the color anywhere!)...

Yeah, I'm a critic :D I know it. I also know I analyze things immensely. However, in terms of science, I'm rarely proved wrong.. LOL

[inkleaves]

yeah I'd only do that as a last resort too. And if a pencil was already broken, it wouldn't hurt to try. Maybe a gentler way like using a hair dryer to gradually heat the pencil would be better. Microwaves heat things up too fast sometimes.

[Meran]

hair dryer or even direct sun, yeah, I could see that.. more gentle :D

[tutuglenna]

Here are 4 coming your way for the swap:

[tutuglenna]

And the last 3 makes 6 for the swap and 1 for the hostess. They will be off in the mail this week:

[Meran]

Thanks Glenna! I'll be watching for them!

[dina54]

I got my nice new Prismas yesterday and made my first card for this swap. It is a picture of my cat Po. He likes to lie behind my plants and hide. He thinks I can't see him....but I can! (Yea I'm a crazy cat person) It's in my gallery

[Chronata]

I realize the biggest challenge for me in these media swaps...is trying to figure out WHAT to draw or paint!

I tend to be more inspired when I have a theme to go on!

I just did these two yesterday...again...I don't know if they will make it into the swap or not.
I might challenge myself and do a still life or(gasp!) a landscape!

We will see how bold I get!

[AnneY]

Great cards so far Chronata, can't wait for the next ones!

[dina54]

2 more swap cards (Marbles & Fruit) and a hostess card are all in my gallery if you wold like to take a peek :D I'm deciding if I'll do 3 more.

[Chronata]

ALL Your cards are so awesome Dina! You found really cool themes and subjects!

[Pamalama]

May I please play?

[Meran]

Pam, you aren't already there???? I'll go put you on.
It's not a swap without you too!
:D

[dina54]

Meran, these are going out in tomorrows mail.

[Meran]

Glenna, your cards came in last week.. I'm sorry I didn't post that right away.. I had too many beans on my plate!

[Pamalama]

I have done two. The scans can't quite capture the color accurately but they are close. Here they are.

[Meran]

love the angle on that first one! quite interesting.. I haven't done any of these yet, btw... but I posted some of my past work on the first page... finally .. I forgot to do that when I initially put this up.

[tutuglenna]

Love your cards, Pam.

[jklee]

My cards are done, I'll be posting them this week. There is one for you to pick Meran.
http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/images/173/small/1_ANTIGUA_BEDROOM.jpg (http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=10439) http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/images/173/small/1_ANTIGUA_CORRIDOR.jpg (http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=10440) http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/images/173/small/1_ANTIGUA_ROOF.jpg (http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=10441) http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/images/173/small/1_ANTIGUA_WINDOW.jpg (http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=10442)

[Meran]

those are very different! I like the job you did on that red tiled roof, especially!

[Meran]

Dina, your cards came yesterday.. and yes, that cat is cute!

[Meran]

I'm thinking on the next two media swaps: Inks are the next one, if y'all think that's good.. after all, I HAVE been gifting you with ink papers (the shell paper!).. so you could do something with those..

I'm also thinking Oils, tho that would be set 4 months down the line; you'd have to do it pretty soon, then let them dry tho.

AND oil pastels. Wanna vote which comes next?

[Janet]

Would watercolour inks count as inks?

[Meran]

as in InkTense? those are inks.. the 'regular' watercolors would be 'watercolor'.. which I haven't done yet either..

[jklee]

I think oil pastels will be interesting -hopefully by then I'll have a job and will be able to buy more goodies ;)

[Meran]

cheap oil pastels are fine btw, a full set can be had for under $20 easy,, maybe even less

[Janet]

as in InkTense? those are inks.. the 'regular' watercolors would be 'watercolor'.. which I haven't done yet either..

Watercolour inks behave like ink and not watercolour. I bought some after receiving some 'watercolour' pages for a journal on AFA. But they are definitely are not watercolour, as they cannot be rewet or removed once they are on the paper. Not sure what category they would be in.

[Meran]

Okay, Janet, we can put those into the Ink category. :D there must be a reason why they're called inks after all!

[Chronata]

Well...I thought I was done with these...but I didn't like one of the landscapes I did, and the other (the Ice Bridge...which I DO like) is mostly graphite...which is technically not colored pencil...

so I just did a couple more

These are the four that will make it into the swap...

And did I mention how much I love working with straight colored pencil?
I always forget and then I do a card, and it makes me fall in love all over again!

[Meran]

Yes, Robyn, I do too! :D
Those cards are quite nice.. everyone's doing well in these swaps.. looks like I need to set up the next couple of months!
Sorry, have been lagging a bit.
btw, my own colored pencil cards haven't even been started yet... :eek:

[Meran]

Robyn, I got your cards today, and thanks so much for the extra.. It was a hard choice.. :D

[tutuglenna]

Terrific cards, Robyn. Really great.

[morning star]

gosh, I thought I'd signed up but I'm not on the list. Sign me up please?

[Janet]

I've made some cards but I'm not happy with them :( Just can't seem to find inspiration. Great cards here already.

[Meran]

Morning Star, I've added you now.. :D
and Janet, look thru some old sketches or photos.. OR... dum DE DUM, rework an old card, different medium... it'll look VERY different, besides if you're like me, you won't be able to duplicate it to save your life.. lol

[Janet]

I am making headway with these now. The problem is that I am raising my own standards and much of what I do falls short of that standard. Cards that I would normally have sent in have been discarded and I am making better ones. :)

[Meran]

I can't wait to see these new, improved Janet cards!

jklee, your cards came yesterday, and look even better in person, as usual :D

[jklee]

I'm always glad when they arrive safely :)

[Meran]

We still have plenty of room and plenty of time for new people to join our swap!
Remember, I give player gifts, ;)

[Meran]

Morning Star, your cards arrived safely today... and lovely as usual :D

For those of you who haven't mailed your cards yet. and you know who you are ;), we have about 2 wks.... I did mine last weekend and will be posting them soon. Have to scan them first (and today seems to be a major scan day.. I've already scanned about 50 cards today, with more to come)

[Meran]

here's mine:

[tutuglenna]

Great cards, Meran.

[jklee]

Awesome cards, like the saturation in these.

[Meran]

usually that's me.. burnish the color in .. :D I was surprised I was so light handed honestly...

[Pamalama]

Mine are going postal today.

[AnneY]

I'm too late, I have to drop! I'll concentrate on next swaps!

[Meran]

oh darn :(
okay, I'll take you off this list.. but I wanna see you next month!! :D

[Meran]

Janet, your cards came in today, safely. :D
and thanks for the extra, dearie.. you did so well, I STILL don't know which ONE I get to keep. ;)

[Meran]

Pam, yours came in today.. and how lovely they are, too... thanks for the extra also!
as we get closer, just about everyone is in, I'm glad to say!

[Meran]

Well, our deadline came and went..
I received cards today from PrincessGene (thanks Joy, for the extra... it's gonna be hard to pick), so we are waiting for just one more entry... I'll be pming her shortly...
I was wrong; all are in! scanning and sorting to be done within the week... :D

[Meran]

Well, everything's scanned, packed and by the door for postal pickup tomorrow.. and I enclosed the usual player gifties... in most cases, it's a piece or two of watercolor paper with a piece or two of pastel paper... make use of those ladies!

Have some more swaps coming up! :D If you haven't joined it yet, there's a watercolor swap due on April 15th (not due, POSTMARK DATE)... and also the Oil Pastel swap, similarly arranged for May 15th..

Maybe we'll see you there?

[tutuglenna]

Really neat cards received today from JKlee, Morning Star, Pamalama, Janet, SaethJoy and Chronata. Thank you all, ladies for the terrific artwork and to Meran for a fine hosting job and the extra goodies. That's a nice touch.

OOPS...I don't see a SaethJoy. Thank you, anyway Joy for the neat FOX AT NIGHT.

[Meran]

great! the cards are arriving.. :D

[Pamalama]

My cards arrived...maybe yesterday or the day before? Sorry but I am up to my eyeballs in children and pets! Anyway, LOVELY workds from Dina (Hiding Cat...Cute!), Morning Star (Size 36...Ha!), and Glenna, AWESOME dancing ladies in hats "Sistahs!" Thank you, Meran, for hosting. I appreciate each and every one of you!

[princessgene]

Saethjoy is actually Princessgene! :jiggy:

My cards arrived today. YAY! Thanks Morning Star, Meran and Chronata!

[dina54]

My cards came yesterday! "Rapt" from Pamalama, "Karen" from Morning star, and "Watusi" from Tuttuglena. (Pam I have to "spread the love" before I can rep you, LOL)
Great job hosting Meran!:D

[morning star]

thanks Chronata, jklee, tutu glenna, joy Saethre, pamalama, and Meran for wonderful artwork. As usual I'm thrilled.

[Chronata]

THANK YOU Janet, Jenn and Glenna...for the orange flower, Guatemala, and Jubilee respectively! Each is a visual treat!

and Thank You to Meran for the awesome opportunity to flex my wings, and as always for the great papers! (these will DEFINITELY be put to use!)

[Janet]

Wow, I love my cards from this swap. Thanks to Tutuglenna, Dina and Meran. Thank you for the extras Meran and for a wonderful swap :)

[Meran]

Hey, everyone, remember to give the little Rep points!! I can give everyone points for playing, but who am I? I'm just the person who collects, sorts and mails.. I'm not the one (except for 3) who works hard on all these cards and gets them in for trade!

Now that you've all been properly whipped, go back to painting! (or pencilling or crayonning or whatever)
:D

[Meran]

jklee, have you gotten your cards? I haven't heard from you yet....

[jklee]

I haven't been able to get to the PO to check my box; a bad cold has kept me home since last Friday and the PO will be closed until Monday for the holidays. I'll try to get there Monday afternoon and will let you know.

[jklee]

Yay, my cards were waiting in my PO Box for me. Awesome cards from Glenna, Dina, and Colleen; thanks Meran for hosting :)

[Meran]

Good! you were the last one to hear from.. I always like to know the cards came home.. :D