Good Tools Make Great Artists

Good Afternoon Creative Cabana visitors! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to give you a new post this week. Life has been pretty busy and I haven't had much time to sit down and share more creative goodness. It's a beautiful Saturday morning here in Ohio and I hope wherever you're reading this post from it's just as gorgeous outside. It's the weekend so if you're going to be out and about bask in some fun activities with the family to help start the summer season! If you're staying indoors for the weekend, I've got some great tips to help exercise the drawing skills we've been discussing this month.

Since I've been dedicating June as the month of drawing, I think it's important to talk about what tools you should have to help enhancing your drawing skills. Most people think you have to be some kind of Picasso in order to create good art, that's not entirely true. Drawing serves many purposes other than just basic art principles. Personally, I've drawn out many essential plans in my life such as designing my bedroom before I moved, drawing a outline plan for a scrapbook to cut costs, t-shirt designs, etc. So you don't have to be an expert, but to have expert results you should invest in a few good tools.

The general rule of thumb is a Number 2 pencil and a piece of paper- yeah, but let's go a little bit further. If you plan on keeping a collection of your drawings try getting a sketchbook to keep these pictures in. The sketchbook doesn't have to be super fancy most run anywhere from $3 to $15 depending on size and design of the book. I've got about 5 sketchbooks and a few tablets, but I like to draw a lot so I'm a bit advanced in that department.

The second tool to invest in is quality pencils and erasers. A regular pencil is ok, but I've noticed that drawings done in No. 2 pencils can fade quicker and can be messy if you smear your pictures frequently. Drawing pencils usually come in packages so you get different sizes to use. Most pencil packs range between $3 to $25 depending on what level you need. It sounds strange that someone would pay over $1 for a pack of pencils, but these are not your ordinary writing utensils. Drawing pencils come in different strength settings and different materials. Some pencils are made from charcoal to give subjects more detail and darker imagery, while other pencils are designed to provide light/smooth lines. You may see pencils labeled "HB", "2B", "8B", etc- this indicates the hardness of the pencil. The harder the pencil the darker and deeper the lines will appear to be. You may not need pencils this advanced depending on what you intend to draw, however if you want to practice using a variety of strengths in your pencils it would be a good idea to invest in a small pack of drawing pencils. You can also practice the shading scale with these pencils to see how each one can be adjusted in value as you draw.

The one final tool you should invest in is an eraser. This will probably be your best friend throughout the drawing process, so be kind to it. You'll want to have a standard eraser and also a special eraser called "kneaded". The kneaded eraser is one of the coolest things you'll ever come in contact with. It's an eraser that you can stretch and change forms- think of it like chewing gum. This allows you to reach and erase small spaces where normal ruler wouldn't be able to clean. Plus if you get frustrated with your work, it's a fun way to relieve the stress by simply playing with the eraser! 

Please note that while these materials aren't exactly essential to your drawing needs, they're good investments to have if you plan on maintaining your drawing habits a lot. Don't over do it though, start out small and stick to the basic tools before you move on to more advanced (and expensive) tools. While you're at, share your drawings here at The Creative Cabana! I would love to see your work and you can have your talents known throughout the world wide web! Simply share it on Facebook or Twitter just search for The Creative Cabana. Go fourth and explore your drawing abilities. Have a great weekend and we'll see you all back here for a new weekly Creative Mastermind. 

*Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. These photos were used for visual representation and educational purposes only. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Creative Mastermind for Week 06/09: Jim Reed, Extreme Weather Photographer

Happy Monday friends! Hope you've all had a terrific weekend and that you're having a good start to the week so far. It's a new week, so that means we have a new Creative Mastermind to announce. Over the last few days, I've been contemplating about which direction I wanted to go with when deciding this week's mastermind. I like relevancy, and I try to pick subjects (and people) that center around current trends based on what I see in the world around me. One of the things that has really caught my attention lately is the weather. A very broad subject, the weather is changing and because we're in the transition period between Spring and Summer we see a lot of patterns in the weather that effect us- our daily plans, moods, and even our health. Recall last week's post "What a Beautiful Day for Sketching!" in which the weather was so gorgeous outside I just had be a part of it. There's the really good and beautiful side to weather, but there's also the mysterious, dangerous, and breathtaking part of weather too which sometimes I think people tend to or try to forget about. 

I have a strong passion for weather and believe me when I say that for many years I had every intention of going to college to study meteorology. When I got to high school though, I was discourage from the field because of the struggles I had when it came to harder studies in Math and Science. None the less, of all the research I've done one of the pieces of evidence that scientists rely to study the weather is photography. Using photographs, scientists can use visual evidence to study a weather pattern and determine the movements of a particular storm (even in the aftermath). One man who stands out among many nature photographers is Jim Reed, this week's Creative Mastermind. 

 Jim Reed was born in Georgia in 1961, but raised in Springfield, Illinois. From an early age he developed a love for storms and passion for photography which literally came together as "the perfect storm" for him. He went on to receive his Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of South California and started his career in film-making in the 1980s. He was producing many pieces such as commercials, music videos, and occasionally working on motion pictures. In the early 1990s, Jim Reed settled in Kansas and returned to his love of storms with his new skills in photography and cinematic arts.

His work has been seen throughout many books and TV programs spanning all across globe. He's been featured on channels such as Discovery, National Geographic, and even The Weather Channel to display his work and showcase his knowledge of storms through his art. Reed has also been honored many times through several organizations for his outstanding work in photography within his field. 

What makes this field of photography so unique is that not only does it open doors for creativity, but it's also unpredictable and spontaneous. Even with today's technologies, scientists still do not have a full understanding of weather systems and how they can predict the wrath of nature. So when photographers like Jim Reed go out into the field, you really don't know what to expect and what work they'll bring back with them. Hundreds of severe thunderstorms form throughout the North American region each year, but only a handful of them will produce really significant storms that spawn phenomenons like tornadoes, baseball sized-hail, or devastating flood levels. So when storms like these develop, Jim Reed takes advantage of the situation to document these developing cells. 

It's hard to exactly define the qualities that are precise reasons why Reed is a Creative Mastermind. I have a lot of respect for the art of what he does- it's more than snapping a picture of clouds. Each moment he captures tells a story from an event that could change history. For example, Reed has several photographs that captured the critical moments of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005- before & after, damage, during the storm, people driving through the storms, etc. Sometimes photos like these are the evidence that meteorologists use to survey storm strength and damage for insurance companies. After all a picture is worth a thousand words- but sometimes these pictures can be worth a thousand lives. Businesses looks back on these pictures and can say "this is where we went wrong and this how we're going to fix it". 

On the creativity side of Reed's work, I have to give major kudos for color and angle of his shots. While these images may reveal somewhat scary situations, they also have a certain degree of beauty in them. In this field nature is the canvas, and timing is everything, so Reed does an excellent job of using these elements carefully in a timely manner. Weather can change so quickly, and safety is important when documenting nature's wonders. Reed handles each of these factors with excellent consideration and precaution- though a few of his images I'm sure you'll agree appear to be "too close for comfort".

 

Overall, I think Jim Reed is a pure talent not just to photography, but also to science. Reed captures images that portray visual evidence of our scientific understanding of weather. I encourage you all to watch some of the various documentaries on extreme weather and see just how far crew members, such as Jim Reed, will go to get the perfect picture. This work is truly fascinating, and you can tell from the images just how passionate he his about weather. Don't take my word for it though. Visit his website: http://www.jimreedphoto.com/index.html and get up close and personal with nature's fury. 

Congrats to Jim Reed, Extreme Weather Photographer for being crowned this week's Creative Mastermind! Your talents have not gone unnoticed, and you are an incredible contribution to art and science lovers everywhere! If you would like to nominate someone to featured as a Creative Mastermind, go ahead and share your ideas with The Creative Cabana. Leave a comment on this post with the name and details of your nomination or you can share your nomination on Facebook or Twitter just search "Creative Cabana". 

* All images used in this post are the sole property of Jim Reed and Jim Reed Photography. The images were gathered from Google Images Search Results and are used for educational purposes only. Bio information was used from Jim Reed's website directly and I hereby give citation to the following website: http://www.jimreedphoto.com/index.html. All opinions in this post are my own views and do not reflect the views of Jim Reed or any of the organizations he has serviced. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

What a Beautiful Day for Sketching!

Good Afternoon everybody and thanks for stopping by at The Creative Cabana! It is so gorgeous outside today compared to yesterday's weather when it was rainy and gloomy, but hey that's what makes everything so pretty outside right? Well, this beautiful weather inspired me to sit outside and do something I really haven't done for awhile...sketch. In my previous posts, I talked about June was going to be dedicated to drawing and I've started out with the first step into creating develop drawing fundamentals.

As far back as I can remember in my art classes, usually the first project we would do is what's called "freehand style", you basically draw the object as you see it giving the subject as much or as little detail as you'd like. This is a common warm-up exercise for many artist because it exercises your muscles, but also your sight. The concept is designed to help practice for more detailed drawings that may come later on. With these exercises you can practice your skills in things like lines, shading, value, and sometimes color. Most freehand styles are completed in a short amount of time, so it's best to stick with the basic outline of your subject and go from there. I'm going to show you an example of the drawing I did and you can see a clear visual of the freehand technique. So lets get started!

You can do your practice sketching anywhere you choose. I wasn't going to let a beautiful day like this slip away, so I picked outside in my backyard/patio area. Grab your sketchbook (or just a few sheets of paper), pencil (preferably), a drink (because Art can make you thirsty), and maybe even some music if it inspires you. I had my sketchbook, pencil, water, and phone outside with me. My cell phone served as my radio, but I'm also one of the few households that still has a land-line phone too.

When choosing your subject, don't go for something complex and overwhelming. Especially if you're a beginner in the field of drawing, you don't want to kill your arm on the first try. Half of the experience in free-hand style is getting you to relax and see objects with a clearer vision. Personally, I think landscapes or small, still life objects are good for sketching because they remain fairly stationary and they give a decent canvas to start with. For my example, I've decided to sketch a group of flowers we have hanging in the back area.

Now if you're wondering "is there a secret as to where you should start drawing first?", I say NO. I've always started at the bottom and worked my way around in an outline form, and then filling in the rest later, but everyone has there own preferences. The main thing to remember is to sketch the basic shapes first and then go back for detailing later. I think flowers and trees are easy to sketch since there's so many random lines within each one's texture you don't have to follow the exact patterns in detailing. Yes, you want it to match as closely as possible... however, it's ok if you don't always "stay within the lines" and go outside the box a little bit. Once you've got your basic outlines drawn, then it's up to your creative skills to lead you through the rest of drawing. Remember sketching is practicing, no one expects your picture to come out looking like something Van Gogh would've had hanging in his bedroom. In fact, here's how my sketch turned out:

Sure, it's far from perfect! But for not having done any serious drawing in a few years, I'd have to say I don't think I did too bad in this round. People and Cars are probably the hardest things for me to draw, but I love a good challenge and I think we can work on those two subjects later on. Overall though, how did your drawing turn out? Don't worry if it's not the greatest looking piece of work you've ever seen, we are all creative in our own unique ways and art is in the beauty of the beholder. 

  

Now it's your turn! Share your sketches with The Creative Cabana by simply leaving a message with an image of your sketch on this post, or you can share it with us on Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't done so already, be sure to "Like" The Creative Cabana on Facebook and follow us on Twitter- @CreativeCabana. 

Go out, enjoy the fresh air and expand your creative minds! Stay tuned for more posts on our Drawing series and be sure to watch for the next Creative Mastermind coming up on Monday! Take care and have a beautiful day.

*All images used in this post were taken by myself and I am the sole owner of these photographs. 

Creative Mastermind for Week 06/02: Edwin Binney & C. Harold Smith, Founders of "Crayola"

Good Day to you my friends and welcome to The Creative Cabana to help kick off the start of the month of June! I hope you all had a great weekend and that you're ready to begin the summer season with a variety of creative projects. Each week to help me get inspired for the week's discussions and Creative Mastermind candidates, I tend to do a little brainstorming and eventually I get drawn to a particular concept of who shall be named Creative Mastermind for the week. Over the weekend I spent a day trip with my family visiting a home decor and home hardware store shopping around for the endless list of things we need to help fix our the house the way we want. One area of the store I went to was the paint section- naturally I'm looking into re-painting my bedroom at some point and wanted to get some color ideas. Upon looking at the various brand names I came across one name that I haven't read or thought about in many years- Crayola.

Whenever I see the name or a product titled "Crayola", I instantly think back to my childhood. For many people Crayola is a staple symbol in our childhood. We grew up drawing with the crayons, and being amused by the in-box sharpener that came in bigger packages, or we used the markers that seemed to dry out after a few uses. Crayola is by far the most popular art supplier for children because they pride themselves in making their products "child-proof" with no mess technology and easy to use instructions. In order to establish Crayola as this week's Creative Mastermind, I have to give the credit to the two men who created the "Crayola" brand, Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith

Binney and Smith, who happened to be cousins, formed their business partnership in 1885 which initially began as the "Binney & Smith" company. The men were working to create colorants to be used for industrial businesses. Remember that colors during this time period were limited because of dyes and pigments that were available (and affordable). In the early 20th century, the men began selling basic slate pencils to be used for tablets in schools. After doing some experiments with various industrial materials, Binney discovered a unique concept that would become known as the "first white dustless chalk".

 In 1903, Binney and his wife began development of their own wax crayons which today bears the name "Crayola". By the way, in case you didn't know where the term "Crayola" comes from, it derives from the french word "craie" which stands for chalk and "ola" for oily. Crayola becomes a big hit and goes on to become the household name that it is today. Crayola now isn't limited to just the crayons though, the products have ranged from paints to silly putty and even coloring books. This has become a childhood favorite for many decades and popular tool for even the youngest of artists. 

When I sat down and thought about what makes Crayola shine in creativity, the main idea that comes to my head is that the products inspire the creativity. Having the option of applying colors to everyday surfaces can spark imagination and exercise our artistic skills, no matter how limited they may be. I think what makes Crayola so creative too is that with crayons in general, there's really nothing else like them. Who would've thought that a few colored pieces of wax could amount to such artistic detail. Paint is one thing, and pencils are great too. But when the crayons were first introduced, there really wasn't anything to compare them to. Many people were intrigued by the fact that there's no dust from these crayons- a revolutionary idea. These fundamental tools are essential to our creativity because they help to illustrate our thoughts. Maybe you should dig out that old kindergarten picture you drew of your family- it may not look like much now, but once upon a time it was valued portrait. Crayola's products help children build memories, spark creativity, and set the standard of learning through art. 

What are you waiting for? Grab your crayons, coloring book, and go do something creative! Crayola's name will be around for quite some time, but you're not getting any younger and besides, it's fun to relive your inner-child. Thank you Crayola for giving children of all ages a chance to develop artistic skills and teaching us to be creative in everything we do. 

Thanks for spending time with me at The Creative Cabana! If you have an idea for someone who'd make the perfect Creative Mastermind, send me a message by leaving a comment on this post, or you can share ideas on Facebook or Twitter just search "The Creative Cabana". Have a beautiful afternoon and keep checking back for more creative topics this week! June is going to be the Month of Drawing, so watch for upcoming posts related to drawing tips and tricks. Stop by again soon! 

*I do not own Crayola or any of the Crayola brand-named products. Those products and their patents belong to the Crayola company and their respective developers. Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. I have no relations to Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith, I have used the Crayola brand in this post for discussion and educational purposes only. No Copyright Infringement Intended.