A few months ago Derwent sent me a set of their new Artbar. They only sent me the set of 12 which was such a teaser! Of course I was sure I needed more. I was very busy at the time they arrived and I was not able to find time to play with them. I watched the demonstration videos and found them intriguing but not really in line with the art I usually produce. I did find some interesting uses for them in my art journal pages. But not much else. I did purchase the set of 24, though. Because even in the art journal backgrounds, I was pretty sure I needed those soft pastels in the set of 24.
I was happily surprised when the set of 24 arrived and I discovered that there were only a very few duplicates from the set of 12 I already had. And they were basics like black and browns - colors you will use up more quickly anyway.
Then recently, in the Tiny Masterpieces Studio Group on my Creative Pencils site, we were discussing the fact that it had been a while since any of us had worked on any artist trading cards. So, on a whim, I pulled out a tiny Strathmore canvas precut to just the right size for an ATC, and I opened up my newest set of Artbar.
The ATC nest full of eggs with wind blown feathers that you see above is the result. I used a tiny paintbrush and the scraper tool to help the process. I loved doing this. In fact I was almost late for my afternoon class because I found it difficult to stop. I loved the soft gentle look I was able to create quite easily with them and I delighted in the way I was able to embellish it with the scraper tool.
The Artbar are compact and, based on this project, I believe they will last a long time. I predict I will use them a lot. I love that I could take them along with me so easily should I choose to. Perhaps that will be a way to keep me from being late for class. I'm looking forward to trying them on a number of surfaces. I'll share them with you here when I do.
Wind and Honey Creations
