what Was, what Is, and what Will Be

For every new set of pencils, I do a test on at least one type of paper so I can see how each color looks. This time, I needed a longer task to focus on, so I tried them out on four different tints. I’d say I’m prepared for the many drawings to come!

Have been behind a bit of a block lately. The sharpie doodles were fun, sort of, but while they at least were a tangible outcome of my time, they are not the sort of things that give me a real sense of accomplishment in the end. This piece of unassuming, however, might be a gateway back to that sense of accomplishment that I find myself seeking more often these days. 

So far, all I’ve done is slathered a bunch of red and blue watercolor on some paper and pushed things around until it was vaguely pleasing. And then I got stuck. I think there’s a Little Blue Heron in here somewhere that I might be able to find if I poke around long enough. I guess time will tell. 

Until then, this definitely is not a bird. Or a pipe, for that matter.

Ok, so, this is a thing. A mild pensession, if you will. Markersession? That’s not as catchy… Anyway…….

I’ve been collecting pens and markers for a little while now. Maybe, a long while. We’ll go with a decadeish. I have sets of super fancy suuuuuper tiny liner pens, awesomely colored slightly less super tiny drawing pens, regular old ballpoint pens, fancy ballpoint pens, calligraphy pens, sparkly gel pens, brush markers, dual tipped markers, ridiculously expensive dual tipped markers, and your good old classic Sharpie markers. Yes, I keep them organized, yes, I have extreme preferences regarding what pen is good for what situation, and yes, I probably have a bit of OCD, who doesn’t. Each type of drawing utensil and each brand has a different feel, is useful for specific types of art on different types of paper, and all strike me as utterly perfect in ebbing and flowing waves. I’m clearly riding one of these waves now.

My Sharpie collection has experienced a marked increase lately, thank you Amazon Prime, and I couldn’t be happier with that. As art supplies go (if you consider them art supplies, which is a heated debate in the community, those nerds), Sharpies are pretty cheap. No, they are not perfect, you can’t refill them, replace the tips, and it’s not archival ink, but man, they are satisfying. And at less than a dollar each when you get packs, you can buy a ton before it gets ridiculous. Comparatively speaking, of course.

If (when) you do go the “gotta catch ’em all” route, there is a wide range of colors in both fine and ultra fine point. Each color does have a name, even though the markers themselves are not labeled. Through some sleuthing, I have managed to find said names and make handy little color charts that, while not quite as impressive as the watercolor ones from this earlier post, are useful nonetheless. The these charts are endlessly fascinating to me. I enjoy not only the process of the making but also the end product. You can mix your colors up all you want, but you always can go back to your neat charts to see what your choices are.

The image at the top of this post is a hint of what is to come, a mild obsession with doodles and an experiment in colors. Enjoy the madness here, then hop forward to see what kind of things can be done when you have bought alllllllll the Sharpies!!!

(Maybe not all the Sharpies, because seriously, there are more colors, and I want them……… very badly…………..).