Fun with paint
I made a ton of fun things this month!!! For a long time, I have wondered why I could never bring myself to draw and paint as much as I did when I was teenager. I have tried setting up little studio spaces in my apartment, having materials out instead of tucked away, forcing myself to draw for 5 minutes a day, etc. I have found that the only thing that truly works, is keeping my materials close to where I choose to be lazy (or rest depending on how you look at it.) My default spot is my bed. I love sitting in my bed to read, and sorry, I even love to eat in my bed. I love to be cozy in bed. So just like when I was teen, I set my bedside table up to hold all my art supplies. It’s nice and open, so all I have to do is just reach over and grab what I need when inspiration strikes. I even have a little shitty blanket tucked under my bed that I can use a little tarp so I don’t get my bed all gross.
Here are some of my favorite little paint/mixed media things that resulted from bedside table convenience.
My favorite thing I made all month
Typically, I don’t go into making things with a deeper meaning in mind. If I do, that usually comes after the fact. If you like the mystery of art and like to interpret things yourself, then don’t read this. I spend a lot of time thinking about urban layouts, how the suburbs is making people lonely, how much I love walking and stumbling upon new businesses and familiar faces, how highways almost always hurt the communities they cross through... I could go on. So after I made this, I looked at it and said huh.. this reminds of american neighborhoods along highways that people want to forget about, but the homes and the people who live in them are there whether you like it or not.
- This is a fun animal.
- I did on Yupo paper (which I talk about next!!) This one reminded me of scantrons, so I filled in the bubbles.
I am a yuppo head
I recently got my hands on something called Yupo paper. It is basically a synthetic paper that isn't absorbent. It’s kind of like drawing on frosted plastic, but it doesn't really smear how a plastic would (though with oil pastels, I can get it to if I want). It is such a delicious surface and it’s so satisfying to draw on! Makes my colors pop real nice. I got the translucent kind to experiment with, and I gotta say, this paper has changed my life. I’ll be using Yupo paper till the day I day.
Before you run out and get it yourself, I have seen mixed reviews on it. I think it is meant for painting, and some people hate it, so it really depends on your style and the effects you're wanting to get out of it. But for me? It is my dream surface.
Most of these were done with oil pastels, and one of my favorite current drawing tools- the Caran D’Ache Neocolor 1 Permanent wax pastel. (basically, high quality dense adult crayons.) They look extra rich on the Yupo paper, almost like markers!
This was done with the adult crayon, alcohol marker, and oil pastel. I paired this with a nice little couple of words about anxiety.
This was inspired by someone doing a beautiful indie cover of the Drake and Josh theme song. Drake and Josh aside, I thought repeating “ill find a way” was quite beautiful.
This one kind of reminds me or some of the crayon colored interiors in sesame street!!
Sketchbook mania
I did a lot of sketchbook drawings this month. I do not have a car, so I always carry a backpack full of everything I could possibly need with me everywhere I go. When you're on foot and embracing wandering, you don’t really know where the day will take you, so it’s just nice to be prepared. One of the things I come prepared with is my little tin of drawing tools. I only carry tools that fit in this tin because it helps my push my creativity to have a just a few choices with me. Only having a few options is both a challenge and a relief.
Check out my snowman (this paint ended up staining my apartments little side walk. oh no. dont tell)
My finished plate from last month!!
Changing the lives of youths
My friend is a high school art teacher (hey Tessa) and she needed a designer to come speak to her class for a project they were working on, so I went and did that. It was pretty funny and very cool to give some feedback to 16 year olds. They probably thought I was really weird but that’s ok. I hope I gave at least one of them some good advice.
Katelyn Betz
February
Fun with paint
I made a ton of fun things this month!!! For a long time, I have wondered why I could never bring myself to draw and paint as much as I did when I was teenager. I have tried setting up little studio spaces in my apartment, having materials out instead of tucked away, forcing myself to draw for 5 minutes a day, etc. I have found that the only thing that truly works, is keeping my materials close to where I choose to be lazy (or rest depending on how you look at it.) My default spot is my bed. I love sitting in my bed to read, and sorry, I even love to eat in my bed. I love to be cozy in bed. So just like when I was teen, I set my bedside table up to hold all my art supplies. It’s nice and open, so all I have to do is just reach over and grab what I need when inspiration strikes. I even have a little shitty blanket tucked under my bed that I can use a little tarp so I don’t get my bed all gross.
Here are some of my favorite little paint/mixed media things that resulted from bedside table convenience.
My favorite thing I made all month
Typically, I don’t go into making things with a deeper meaning in mind. If I do, that usually comes after the fact. If you like the mystery of art and like to interpret things yourself, then don’t read this. I spend a lot of time thinking about urban layouts, how the suburbs is making people lonely, how much I love walking and stumbling upon new businesses and familiar faces, how highways almost always hurt the communities they cross through... I could go on. So after I made this, I looked at it and said huh.. this reminds of american neighborhoods along highways that people want to forget about, but the homes and the people who live in them are there whether you like it or not.
- This is a fun animal.
- I did on Yupo paper (which I talk about next!!) This one reminded me of scantrons, so I filled in the bubbles.
I am a yuppo head
I recently got my hands on something called Yupo paper. It is basically a synthetic paper that isn't absorbent. It’s kind of like drawing on frosted plastic, but it doesn't really smear how a plastic would (though with oil pastels, I can get it to if I want). It is such a delicious surface and it’s so satisfying to draw on! Makes my colors pop real nice. I got the translucent kind to experiment with, and I gotta say, this paper has changed my life. I’ll be using Yupo paper till the day I day.
Before you run out and get it yourself, I have seen mixed reviews on it. I think it is meant for painting, and some people hate it, so it really depends on your style and the effects you're wanting to get out of it. But for me? It is my dream surface.
Most of these were done with oil pastels, and one of my favorite current drawing tools- the Caran D’Ache Neocolor 1 Permanent wax pastel. (basically, high quality dense adult crayons.) They look extra rich on the Yupo paper, almost like markers!
This was done with the adult crayon, alcohol marker, and oil pastel. I paired this with a nice little couple of words about anxiety.
This was inspired by someone doing a beautiful indie cover of the Drake and Josh theme song. Drake and Josh aside, I thought repeating “ill find a way” was quite beautiful.
This one kind of reminds me or some of the crayon colored interiors in sesame street!!
Sketchbook mania
I did a lot of sketchbook drawings this month. I do not have a car, so I always carry a backpack full of everything I could possibly need with me everywhere I go. When you're on foot and embracing wandering, you don’t really know where the day will take you, so it’s just nice to be prepared. One of the things I come prepared with is my little tin of drawing tools. I only carry tools that fit in this tin because it helps my push my creativity to have a just a few choices with me. Only having a few options is both a challenge and a relief.
Check out my snowman (this paint ended up staining my apartments little side walk. oh no. dont tell)
My finished plate from last month!!
Changing the lives of youths
My friend is a high school art teacher (hey Tessa) and she needed a designer to come speak to her class for a project they were working on, so I went and did that. It was pretty funny and very cool to give some feedback to 16 year olds. They probably thought I was really weird but that’s ok. I hope I gave at least one of them some good advice.
Katelyn Betz
February
Fun with paint
I made a ton of fun things this month!!! For a long time, I have wondered why I could never bring myself to draw and paint as much as I did when I was teenager. I have tried setting up little studio spaces in my apartment, having materials out instead of tucked away, forcing myself to draw for 5 minutes a day, etc. I have found that the only thing that truly works, is keeping my materials close to where I choose to be lazy (or rest depending on how you look at it.) My default spot is my bed. I love sitting in my bed to read, and sorry, I even love to eat in my bed. I love to be cozy in bed. So just like when I was teen, I set my bedside table up to hold all my art supplies. It’s nice and open, so all I have to do is just reach over and grab what I need when inspiration strikes. I even have a little shitty blanket tucked under my bed that I can use a little tarp so I don’t get my bed all gross.
Here are some of my favorite little paint/mixed media things that resulted from bedside table convenience.
My favorite thing I made all month
Typically, I don’t go into making things with a deeper meaning in mind. If I do, that usually comes after the fact. If you like the mystery of art and like to interpret things yourself, then don’t read this. I spend a lot of time thinking about urban layouts, how the suburbs is making people lonely, how much I love walking and stumbling upon new businesses and familiar faces, how highways almost always hurt the communities they cross through... I could go on. So after I made this, I looked at it and said huh.. this reminds of american neighborhoods along highways that people want to forget about, but the homes and the people who live in them are there whether you like it or not.
- This is a fun animal.
- I did on Yupo paper (which I talk about next!!) This one reminded me of scantrons, so I filled in the bubbles.
I am a yuppo head
I recently got my hands on something called Yupo paper. It is basically a synthetic paper that isn't absorbent. It’s kind of like drawing on frosted plastic, but it doesn't really smear how a plastic would (though with oil pastels, I can get it to if I want). It is such a delicious surface and it’s so satisfying to draw on! Makes my colors pop real nice. I got the translucent kind to experiment with, and I gotta say, this paper has changed my life. I’ll be using Yupo paper till the day I day.
Before you run out and get it yourself, I have seen mixed reviews on it. I think it is meant for painting, and some people hate it, so it really depends on your style and the effects you're wanting to get out of it. But for me? It is my dream surface.
Most of these were done with oil pastels, and one of my favorite current drawing tools- the Caran D’Ache Neocolor 1 Permanent wax pastel. (basically, high quality dense adult crayons.) They look extra rich on the Yupo paper, almost like markers!
This was done with the adult crayon, alcohol marker, and oil pastel. I paired this with a nice little couple of words about anxiety.
This was inspired by someone doing a beautiful indie cover of the Drake and Josh theme song. Drake and Josh aside, I thought repeating “ill find a way” was quite beautiful.
This one kind of reminds me or some of the crayon colored interiors in sesame street!!
Sketchbook mania
I did a lot of sketchbook drawings this month. I do not have a car, so I always carry a backpack full of everything I could possibly need with me everywhere I go. When you're on foot and embracing wandering, you don’t really know where the day will take you, so it’s just nice to be prepared. One of the things I come prepared with is my little tin of drawing tools. I only carry tools that fit in this tin because it helps my push my creativity to have a just a few choices with me. Only having a few options is both a challenge and a relief.
Check out my snowman (this paint ended up staining my apartments little side walk. oh no. dont tell)
My finished plate from last month!!
Changing the lives of youths
My friend is a high school art teacher (hey Tessa) and she needed a designer to come speak to her class for a project they were working on, so I went and did that. It was pretty funny and very cool to give some feedback to 16 year olds. They probably thought I was really weird but that’s ok. I hope I gave at least one of them some good advice.
Katelyn Betz