I’m on the introverted side, I enjoy creating art and reading - 2020 was perfect for that lifestyle. But like a butterfly leaving its chrysalis, it’s time to breakout, get moving and spread those wings! Summer is here and life is finally getting back to normal.
I’m just finishing up a #30daysofdoodles on Twitter and Instagram. My ‘doodles’ weren’t exactly what one would call a ‘doodle’, mostly I experimented with new pencils and supplies. Check them out, you’ll see plenty of colored pencil bananas, each with a different brand of colored pencils using only the colors that come in their 12 set packages. I compared:
Faber Castell Polychromos
Caran D’Ache Pablo
Derwent Lightfast
Holbein
Caran D’Ache Luminance
Derwent Inktense
Crayola
Bic
Don’t laugh, the .97 cent Crayola’s are pigmented, actually blend and worked good! I wouldn’t use them for my professional artwork, but I would recommend them to students and colorists of all ages to enjoy. The Bic’s were pricey (haha) at $1.98 a package. I do not recommend them, they didn’t blend well and were dull for my standards.
Keeping in mind my doodles were never meant to be finished, professional artwork. They were just me having some fun with new supplies. So for all who want to know what my colored pencil work actually looks like, I created a short YouTube video showing one of my Prismacolor pieces from 1988. All I hear online is quips about Prismacolors not being lightfast. Look at my art and you decide. Plus subscribe to my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings. I plan on sharing much more of my Prismacolor colored pencil work. All self taught, back in the mid ‘80s I was teaching colored pencil course and giving workshops. I’ve never used a solvent or blender pencil, just tons of layers and lighter colors as my blenders. Plus I use a basic electric sharpener to sharpen my pencils. Take a look at this first video:
Find me on Twitter @ShennenBersani and on Instagram @Shennen14
*I spent five years studying at the Art Institute of Boston (now at Leslie College) majoring in graphic design for two years and illustration for three. Colored pencil was a material I practiced with and perfected after I left there. Originally I used colored pencils for fine art and portrait commissions, eventually they morphed into my go-to technique for picture book illustrations. My illustrations are typically created with Prismacolors, Derwent Studio pencils, and Caran D’Ache Neocolor II crayons. After my eye surgery I finally broke down and bought Polychromos, and all those other brands, plus a few more people gifted to me. I really like them all, minus the Bic!, but so far I’m still in love with my Prismacolors! I’m trying out a variety of new materials and supplies, so stay tuned, new techniques are evolving and old dogs can learn new tricks.
Comments