I’m a sucker for an Art Supply Shop. I just can’t walk past them. While we were in Hong Kong an assortment of pastel pencils, water soluble crayons and colored inks became absolute necessities. Things that I couldn’t leave the shop without!
I have drawers full of such items. Essential in the excitement of the moment, but once in the studio and tested, they become just another unnecessary distraction. Fortunately, this bout of impulse buying resulted in some really useful new toys.
The inks are Winsor and Newton Calligraphy inks – Brilliant primary colors
The pastel pencils are a Dutch brand I have not tried before – Bruynzeel. Fine textured and good colors.
I have used the Caran d’Ache water soluble crayons before, but fell for a pile of new colors.
Red Shoes – Sketched with a charcoal pencil then colored with a red, orange and pink crayon. After the crayon was applied, a wet 1/2″ brush was used to dissolve and blend the colors. Finally a few red ink lines were drawn on and sprayed with a mist of water.
These Lemons were painted with a mixture of crayon ink and pastel pencil. A gesso wash was scrubbed over the foreground before the final yellow crayon marks were applied. Before the Gesso had dried the lemon was carefully sliced and dropped into a Gin and tonic.
Splashing Paint 
now you know how women feel in the make up aisle! and the red shoes are great!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your comments.
Yes, the make up aisle must be a real temptation. It always seems to be the area you must pass through to enter or leave a big department store – Clever marketers!
Cheers
John
Yum! i’ve always thought owning an art shop would be a greater guarantee of wealth than being a successful artist! We’re all addicted. 🙂 I’m embarrassed to admit I have a collection of brilliant inks; Caran d’Ache watersoluble Neocolor pastels; and pastel pencils – now you’ve inspired me to get them out and actually try to use them!
Love the red shoes and the lemon and approve of the lemon’s final destination too.
Also admired your rack of Chinese brushes in the earlier post.
Hi Robyn,
Thanks for your comments.
I should have added, I’m also a sucker for Chinese brushes. We found some almost a meter long with beautiful carved handles and enough bristles to keep a horse warm. Unfortunately they cost more than a week in a top Hotel in Hong Kong, so we admired them and left them there.
Cheers
John
PS – A week later I went back to location and found my 1/4 inch brush under the cherry tree. You may find your liner brush next time you fly!
Hi Robyn,
Good news about your Taklon Brush. I’ll check the seat pockets next time I fly Qantas!
Cheers
John
What fun! I am always buying new materials and LOVE to experiment. I am not having good luck with my crayons. I bought Cheap Joe’s so I may try another brand. I never give up without trying more than 1 brand. Love the paintings – red shoes is full of zing and vitality. Lemon is beautiful and your last sentence slips up on the reader – hilarious. That’s my husband’s kind of art.
Hi Linda,
Glad you enjoyed the post
I always like to paint things I can put to practical use. Not sure what to do with the red shoes though?
Cheers
John
this post is going to be as costly as walking past an Art Supply Store. there are some things i need to try here as replacement for some things i’ve found to be not quite permanent enough… of course your works are definitely enticing and juicy.
Hi Rick,
Sorry to do that to you, but once you start playing with all those great colors, you’ll be hooked just like me.
Cheers
John
aloha John,
bwahahahahaha – yeah, i know how it works. what i’m looking forward to is already on my list. i actually appreciate you exposing things like this. no worries. fun.
aloha – Wrick
Hiya,
I’m actually located in Hong Kong right now. Do you remember where you found that art supply store?
Hi Serena,
I Finally tracked down the receipts from the art supply shops – Hope you’re still in Hong Kong.
The pastel pencils were from Chung Shing Stationary, 11B G/F., Hart Ave. Tsim Sha Tsui.
Ink rice paper and brushes from Art Supplies Professional Limited, 12 Bute St Mongkok
Holbein Paint – Kwong Yick art and design materials. 169 Sai Yee St Mongkok
Water sol crayons – Hong Kong Teaching Resources Center 175A Sai Yee St Mongkok
Chinese Brushes – International Gallery 444A Nathan Rd Kowloon.
Hope this helps
Cheers
John
wow thanks for taking the effort to find that info for me!
Yes I’m still in Hong Kong, and I thought you just went to one art supply store, lol. But this does give me a nice list of places to visit!
Love your technique! I just ordered your dvd – can’t wait to get it!
Hi Mary,
Your SplashingPAINT DVD is on its way. You should have it in a few days
Cheers
John
So glad that lime wasn’t wasted! Beautiful paintings.