Tag! You're It! The Rules Are To State 5 Random Facts About Yourself. Then, Go To Ten Blogs And Tell

Continuing on a theme.

What brand of gouache do you use? Have you tried using student-grade gouache, particularly Lefranc & Bourgeois Fine Gouache? I am always told to stay away from student grades, but I was also told that if they worked for me (color-wise), I should be fine. I am worried about "permanency", or that my gouache paintings will break down in the future.

I enjoy Winsor & Newton a lot. I've never used Lefranc & Bourgeois before, but I used Daler Rowney throughout school. (Is that considered student grade? I don't know. I still use it occasionally and I like them ok, but oh man, their yellow ochre! what happened? s'not good.) About the worst thing I've experienced with "lower-quality" gouache is that there will be more variation in how the paint dries, so that you'll get some colors that dry with an annoying semi-gloss for some reason. But my older paintings done in said "lower-quality" gouache are still holding up just fine! I think you should be good so long as you mix (mix (MIX!)) your colors, look for a nice even consistency in the pigment of your paints, and be mindful about storage. That way, your works should last you a good while!

Good luck!

cotton candy magic wand pin! I made a super-limited set of these hard enamel pins that will be available at SPX on 9/19!

___

HOLY HELL KALI YOU ARE AMAZING (she got my colors right and everything <3)

Not only is Andrea Kalfas an amazing artist, but she’s my best buddy, all-around lovely lady, AND IT’S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY! THIS IS FOR HER! I wanted to pay her back for her bootylicious gift to me, and I’m sure you can guess what we’ve been watching a lot of, lately. Happy Birthday girl! Thank you for protecting us all with your powers of love and justice and badassery!!!!

I had the pleasure of working with Francois Vigneault at Scout Books again, on an illustrated set of their blank mini notebooks. My theme was, fantastically, the cosmos, so I went completely indulgent with this and decked out the constellations Virgo, Capricorn, and Perseus in gleaming gold armor. My kind of project! This was a lot of fun and I'm psyched to have been paired with the talented Lisa Perrin whose beautifully illustrated set will be released in conjunction.

If you're in Baltimore a week from today, we will both be at Trohv in Hampden for a little release party for the notebooks from 6 - 8pm. Stop by, pick up a set and say hello! Event page here. Hope to see you there!

For Valentines Day I give you a galactic prince reclining on a nebula. Space flowers are perfect for pondering the timeless "She loves me, she loves me not. She loves me, she loves me not..."

Here's a painting I made for my grandmother on her 85th birthday this last Sunday.  I chose calendula and white cosmos because those are October birth flowers, and a skylark for our Danish roots, which all come from her! She's a great lady with all the vigor of someone whose far from 85, and I always love seeing her. I think she liked the gift :)

Jimmy & I had such an amazing time at SPX, we're a little sad that it's over! We met so many great folks! (I feel foolish that this + a picture of a leaf shaped like an "H" are the only photos I took)

clover ink wash

Me and @Jimpaler at #SPX. It was super & I can't wait to do it again! (Taken with Instagram)