Book Review: Caran d’Ache Workshop Handbook

Every nerd can count books as a vice – and I’m no exception. I also am an unabashed Caran d’Ache fan, so it is no surprise that I treated myself to the Caran d’Ache Workshop Handbook titled ‘Atelier Caran d’Ache’ recently.

Meet Fathima Kathrada: Hand Letterer and Illustrator

One of the perks of being involved with the Artsavingsclub blog is having a great excuse to chat with other creatives. I am very inspired by their ideas and journeys and Fathima Kathrada is no exception. She has an easy laugh, bubbling spirit and I could have chatted with her all day. Her energy and passion for design are truly contagious!

A Journey of a Thousand Contours – Meet Artist Diane Shearer

I think I might want to be Diane Shearer when I grow up. Yep, a funny way to start a blog interview, but if you’ve had a look through her website and Instagram posts you will understand why a nature-lover like myself would be enthralled. Diane is an adventurer at heart with a creative soul and has found the perfect way to combine her two passions. Her images speak of someone with a love for high and wide places and remind of a birds’ eye view. I love the details she inserts so effortlessly into her sketches – flowers, trees and interesting cloud formations adorn her contoured images. She enjoys suggesting movement and life and I can feel the energy in her drawings.

Making Waves in the World of Watercolour

Somerset West was the setting for the biggest international art event in South African history. The IWSSA (International Watercolor Society of South Africa) recently hosted the 1st International Watermedia Festival, Colors of the Rainbow Nation, which featured 150 artists from 26 different countries. The exhibition itself took place from the 4-16 September at the Art Curator Gallery, Lourensford Wine Estate, but that was certainly not the only element of interest surrounding this event.

Goldfinger Makes Gilding Great Again

You have to hand it to Daler Rowney for coming up with a brilliant name for their new gilding paste. For those of you who remember Sean Connery and the Goldfinger movie the link will be particularly appealing. But Daler Rowney have made Goldfinger the hero this time and rightly so. For the first time, I actually look forward to gilding. Let us take a closer look at this useful product.

A chat with artist Chaz Williams

I find other artists and their stories very insightful and inspiring and I was therefore very excited when contemporary portrait artist Chaz Williams agreed to answer a few questions.  I think his predominantly oil portraiture work is fascinating and have been following him on Instagram for quite a while.  The arty Capetonian started taking his art a little more seriously when a ‘little Mandela sketch’ he did, ended up selling for more than expected after a local portrait competition.  He is very involved with charity and regularly auctions off artwork in favour of various charities.

A Chat with Self Taught Artist Janet Bester

I came across Janet’s colourful art on Instagram and was instantly fascinated.  So much of what we see seems to be dark and dreary and here is an artist who absolutely embraces colour and life it seems.

Storage Solutions: Mont Marte Pastel Box

We have slowly been introducing you to various pencils, pastels and pens.  But if you have the nasty stationary addiction I have, then storage becomes a bit of an issue.  Especially if you by now have 12 sets of coloured pencils or a whole array of pastels (or, as in my case – both!).

A Chat with Graham Kearney – Wildlife and Equine Artist

Recently I had the opportunity to chat with well-known Equine and Wildlife Artist Graham Kearney.  I confess to being more than a little starstruck as I have been following his career for close on 7 or 8 years and have always been in awe of his work.

The Art of Pen Spinning

Some of us here at Artsavingsclub are compulsive fidgeters.  While stress balls and fidget toys have their place in the world, we work with art supplies all day every day, so it’s only natural that we find a way to keep our hands occupied with them… And we aren’t referring to drawing or writing.