The Quicksilver Workaholic

In the course of all this organizing and moving books around, I've also been madly updating my bookshop-and-more on Amazon, and added a LOT of new books to my recommendations on nature sketching and drawing books, each with a brief review.  You can find them in the column at right, here:  astore.amazon.com/httpcathyjohi-20 

I won't put anything in the shop that I don't love, myself, and that hasn't had a pretty permanent home in my OWN library, so you can be sure I'll never recommend something just because it's hot.  These are very personal choices, and I hope you like them too. 

And of course some are the books I've written, as well...the natural history ones are out of print, but can still be found through secondhand dealers--I even have some of the nature and art books here myself, and can sign them for you, if you like!  I'm "graphicart" on Amazon, but you can find a lot of the books on my own website, at cathyjohnson.info...

Actually, I plan to write longer, more in depth reviews of some of my favorites, here...I love books!  Holding one in your hands, revisiting an old friend, relaxing in the evening--eBooks may be the coming thing, but they'll never replace the beloved books in MY library...


And on another busy front--

I'm delighted with my eBay auctions!  So far I've had bids on almost all the art supplies I put up, and it feels great to have 5 packages waiting to be shipped out today!  Henry David Thoreau would be SO proud..."simplify, simplify!"  And so I am, and it feels right.  I actually can see a workspace or two in here...

What's left of THIS batch is here: stores.shop.ebay.com/Kates-Treasures and I'll be adding more later today and the rest of the week, so PLEASE check back--these are terrific bargains.

More STUFF to move out the door and into a good home...some I give away to our local Kids Club, some to my godchildren, and some I sell on eBay...in any case, trying to take Thoreau's advice to heart and simplify, keeping only those things I actually USE regularly!

Since I write for art magazines and my North Light books, I often test out materials, as I've said.  I can't keep them all, this is a small house!  And I'd rather think of someone else getting some real good out of them...these are lightly used, if at all, and so a terrific bargain!


These are Caran d'Ache's oil-based colored pencils--fun stuff!  Look for Item #350170203837 on eBay...or my store, at stores.shop.ebay.com/Kates-Treasures --I've even got a new category just for art supplies, to make it easy for you!



These are the Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils everyone's been wanting to try--and they ARE exciting!  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=350170245908 (or item #350170245908.) 


Here's a page of tests using this set--see how bright they are?



This cool little deal is a water bucket container for watercolors--it has three compartments so you'll always have clean paint water, plus a palette in the lid and the swivelling palet you see it right--that will lift off, if you like!



It's item #350170713892, or again, just visit my store--it's all there! 

I put up a set of oils, too, that came in a lot that had other things I needed--I'm allergic to oils, so they've never been opened.  I'm throwing in a bottle of medium and some cool little bristle travel brushes with that one...it's #350171393741

Keep watching, I'm on a clearing out TEAR!  It feels great to simplify.  I can even see the top of my desk now...

Because I write how-to art books, as well as articles for The Artist's Magazine, Watercolor Magic, and my own free art tips at cathyjohnson.info, I test a lot of art materials so I can write about them for my readers and students.

I've been clearing out the studio, and finally got a start listing unused or lightly tested art supplies on Ebay--probably the BEST bargain are these full pan, virtually untouched Schmincke watercolors! These can run anywhere from $10 to $16 and more PER PAN, and I'm starting them at auction for $22.95 for ALL of them.

See http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=350170336557 or just look for item #350170336557

Schmincke watercolors are fantastic, buttery and richly pigmented. They seem to last and last...I bought a big set, and then found a tiny travel set too, so I had duplicate colors. And of course like most of us who paint frequently, I have colors I just have to have that weren't in the sets, so I replaced a few. The ones I took out are what you see here. There are:

2 black
2 sepia
1 dark red
1 cobalt green dark
1 thalo green

I've also tested a variety of colored pencils and watercolor pencils--I've got some of them up, too, mostly only tested (if that!). (Like everyone else, I have my favorite brands--I'm keeping my Prismacolors and my Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils!)


I listed a cute little Rowney watercolor travel set, too, and will be adding a brand new "possum palette," water container, beginners' oil painting set, storage containers and much more--keep checking back!

You can find things under my original eBay ID, katestreasures, check my store at stores.shop.ebay.com/Kates-Treasures
so please, help me make some room in my studio!

Those of you who get my free art tips from my website (http://cathyjohnson.info, if you'd like to sign up!) just got #82 this past week. I used to try to offer a new tip every other week, but with the new book and our rehab projects both taking lots of time, life's been too crazy to be all that dependable!

Anyway, if you read that one, you may have noticed the next tip will be on MORE free art supplies, or making do with unusual objects. I'm working on the section of the book that discusses waxed paper, paper towels, string and other oddities, so this is much on my mind just now!  (You can click on the image above to find out what that's all about...)

And here's the bubblewrap bee I did yesterday for the book:



It was fun!

The economy may be hurting, but no reason why WE must feel constrained and fearful, as creative beings. OK, so you can't order the $300 Kolinsky sable brush this week. Neither can I! But we CAN still make art that's unique and much, much less costly.

I have no idea when I'll be able to get the new tip out, though hoping for the next few weeks...meanwhile, you might like to read #78, earlier pieces on make-do art supplies here: http://www.cathyjohnson.info/tips/tip78.pdf , or "The Humble Sponge," here: http://www.cathyjohnson.info/tips/tip69.pdf or "Found Art Supplies," here: http://www.cathyjohnson.info/tips/tip67.pdf

Funny, I've written several longer articles on this subject for both The Artist's Magazine and Watercolor Magic over the years...it's an issue of ongoing interest to me, it would appear--and I hope to you, too, because it helps us break out of the box and look at the world around us anew.  I find keeping a fresh, positive outlook keeps me happy, and to paraphrase St. Paul says, I know how to be happy, whether rich or poor.

It's by staying creative, in all aspects of my life, and by appreciating what I have at hand.

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I'm curious, and I could use your advice, by the way. I have numerous articles on art how-to, going back close to 20 years. They're longer than my tips, but may or may not have the original illustrations. I'm wondering if you would be interested in having one of them available, occasionally, edited as necessary? All have been published elsewhere, but magazines have a very short shelf life!

What say you?