New palette: Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI 14-color portable set

It's been almost a year since my last post. And all the while I thought I wrote something here early this year. I guess I posted it on Instagram. (Too much soc med, yes.) Anyway, maybe I'll just share with you my surprising discovery of a new palette called Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI 14-color portable set. 

A few weeks ago, I finally decided to order a graphite tint watercolor set made by Zig Kuretake. I'd been eyeing this set for a long time but often had to postpone the purchase because I've way too many supplies already and I didn't have a clear idea then how I would use that set. Years later and seemingly out of the blue, I placed the order through Lazada. I made sure to buy from the official Zig distributor here in the Philippines. 

Item was shipped immediately and was delivered in a few days. So, I was so excited and eager and all ONLY to find out that I'd been sent the wrong product. This is what I got instead: Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI 14-color portable set

Funny how I felt disappointed and happy at the same time. I had great plans for the graphite tint set and was itching to use them to add shade to my figure drawings. And then, this cute Japanesque palette came, and I felt like opening the thing and painting with it already. I mean, it's a Kuretake Gansai Tambi set, yah know. I have the bigger gansai tambi sets and I am in love with them. 

But, I didn't open THIS box.

Instead, I sent a photo of it to the seller and informed them about the mistake. I did get an instant reply... from a BOT, however. So, I sent another message. And I got a reply again, in Filipino, from a BOT. I sent another message saying that I'll just opt for a Return/Refund. Just to be fair. Since I know that this set costs twice the price of the set that I actually ordered. Ayaw naman nating malugi si seller, di ba?

The days came and went. Still no authentic reply from the seller. Lazada finally issued a refund after like 3 or 4 days. I waited 2 more days before opening the box, hoping that someone would pick it up and replace it. But no one came. 

So.... I finally opened the box with a big smile. I was unsure about how I might use the beige and the gray. Surprisingly, when I painted this red-breasted robin, those neutrals along with white and black turned out to be indispensable. I used my own synthetic sable brush and painted on a small sketchbook with 100% cotton paper. I was so happy with how this little birdie turned out. 

I made another small painting on the same sketchbook. I wanted to see how I could mix the colors to create a landscape. Once again, the neutrals helped me mute or add some colors. I was also surprised to see that I made various shades of green using this gansai tambi pocket set. True enough, you don't need much to be able to paint nature. I'll be using these watercolors for a few more small paintings while the other travel palettes can rest for a while. 

I find the palette good enough for simple nature sketches, still life paintings, and crafting projects. I must also mention that the plastic casing is hard and sturdy. I don't know the chemical engineering behind it, but I seem to prefer it over the plastic casing of Cotman, Daler & Rowney and other pocket sets from known brands. This set has a lot of mixing compartments too. And that's definitely a huge advantage especially if you're sketching outdoors. 

If you are curious about this set and would want to try it yourself, you can order through Lazada or Shopee or inquire at a brick-and-mortar art supplies shop in your own locale. 

You can also buy this set from Amazon for less than $30: 

Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI 14-color portable set

Portrait of a Poppy Seed Pod in Carbon and Graphite Pencils

It seems that I'll be enjoying my pencils in the weeks and months to come. Here is a small portrait of a dried poppy seed pod done in carbon and graphite pencils. The background is done using a water-soluble graphite pencil (8B Staedtler). I used both carbon and the regular graphite pencils to draw the poppy seed pod. I'd been meaning to draw simple, black and white botanical portraits like this for the longest time. And I'm glad to have finally done so. It was my first time ever to draw this subject, and the experience was just the right combination of ease and difficulty. (Perhaps less of the difficulty, if I may be quite bold and brazen.)

This small piece on 200 GSM watercolor paper measures 6 inches x 6 inches. I have lots of these small cut-outs that I made out of 12 in. x 12 in. papers. They were originally meant for collage art but then I've found that they're just as good for graphite drawings. And, even if the initial plan was just to make noncommittal drawings, I believe this piece has become an intentional artwork on its own.

Supplies used:

• Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Watercolor Pencils
• Staedtler Mars Lumograph Black, Carbon Blend Pencils
• STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Art Drawing Pencils
• Corona Watercolor Paper 200 GSM (local brand)

Back to pencil drawing

It's such a pain to lose one's painting groove, especially when you know that you need to get it back as soon as possible. I stopped painting sometime in April or May in preparation for our US trip and while we were trying to slowly empty the small apartment and the big house in the province. I could simply not concentrate on any artwork, so I thought to just stop and focus on what had to be done. It was tough to put away my supplies but I had to do it. 

Well, we've since returned from the US and have dutifully emptied the small apartment. I have boxed and unboxed most of my supplies and organized them in the most convenient way. But I still feel like there's a desert within me. So, I took out my pencils and tried to revive an old love: figure drawing

I had fun for a while until I felt the excitement wane again. I took out my watercolor sets and brushes and started doodling and swatching colors and mixes. Nothing much came out of it except a few small landscape paintings that seemed like drills. Better than nothing, I know. 

Should I just stick to my trusty drawing pencils? I get impatient every time I finish a drawing because I would immediately want to turn it into a painting. But for some reason, the motivation to paint isn't there. Perhaps I should stay with my pencils for a while and just draw whatever I feel like drawing. Let the pencil be the stump and the self be not stumped. 

Quiet and Without Content

This blog has been like that, yes. I'd been meaning to update since the last time but for some reason I keep getting stalled and ideas just keep going down the drain. It must have been that addictive lure of social media. I practically soaked my brain in feeds that didn't make me so productive at all. Sure, there's that thrill of getting hearts and likes. But, no, by and large that didn't serve me well at all. This year I really hope to blog more and write more about my creative process and projects.

No promises here, though I've got a nice lineup of posts to make. Those will have to wait a bit until I'm able to transfer all my smartphone photos into this laptop. Until then, here's wishing that you're having a nice creative day and doing something that adds perk to your soul. Happy weekend! :o)

Art Journal: A Game Of Chess

Sometime last year, Stella learned some basic chess moves. She was 6 and totally hooked on every kind of board game she might find interesting. (She has also created some of her own, how very cute is that!) Chess is one of those board games that she enjoys. She looks forward to castling and having one of her pawns reach the end so she could take back her bishop or Queen. She and I would play together while a stew is simmering at the stove. I don't always have the time for board games, but I'd hate to disappoint my kids when they ask for play time. It's like I'm shortchanging them if I refuse. So for like two weeks, the then 6 y.o. played chess with me. Sometimes I win, sometimes she does. Of course, I do it all for love. 

I made this sketch in my vintage-themed sketchbook. It's supposed to be my entry for Day 2, but that project's on hold for now. So I thought to not write Day 2 on the title of this post. I used a drawing pen, some watercolor markers and Inktense pencils, and Portfolio water-soluble oil pastels. I just love how creamy these oil pastels are!!