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I'm an artist who enjoys sharing information about art on my blog Making A Mark and my website and my travel sketchbook blog as well as my squidoo len... (more...)
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Art equipment for artists' studios and working plein air
This site is for visual artists. It provides links to:
Additional information about specific media are available in the featured lenses at the end of this lens.
Two of my other 'resources for artists' sites also provide detailed information about suppliers of art equipment - see Art Supplies in the UK - Resources for Artists and Art Supplies in the USA - Resources for Artists
This is a work in progress. New links are being added added on a regular basis. Create a bookmark or link to be able to check back to this site - see the "save and share" section and options in the left hand column.
Do you have a friend who is interested in art equipment? If you do why not e-mail this lens to them - click on the e-mail icon in the left hand column
You can find out about.................
- Drawing Boards
- Drawing Aids
- Pencils
- Pencil Sharpeners
- Erasers - or "rubbers" as call them in the UK
- Brush, pen and pencil cases and containers
- Fixatives
- UK Art Suppliers - Drawing Accessories
- USA Art Suppliers - Drawing Accessories
- Making A Mark
- Easels
- Easels on Amazon
- Daylight Bulbs and Studio Lighting - suppliers
- Studio Lighting on Amazon
- Travels with a Sketchbook in......
- Plein Air Toolkits
- Folding Chairs and Stools - for plein air work
- Bags, Backpacks, Totes and Trollies
- Plein Air Stuff on CafePress
- Making A Mark - Resources for Artists
- Reader Feedback: Comments and Suggestions
Drawing Boards
- Drawing board - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- A drawing board (also drawing table, drafting table or architect's table) is, in its antique form, a kind of multipurpose desk which can be used for any ...
- Drawing Boards - BLICK art materials
- From Dick Blick Art Materials - Find all types of drawing boards, including cardboard drawing surfaces, watercolor paper stretching boards, and drafting ...
- Guerrilla Painter - Watercolor Board
- A high quality precision device designed to tightly stretch watercolor paper. As the screws on the edge of the board are tightened, tension is placed on the outside edges of the paper. After the paper has dried, the paper will stay flat and buckle-free during wet washes. Holds 140 lb. - 300 lb. paper. Universal tripod mount on base allows you to attach this set up to a tripod. Comfortable carrying handle. Extruded aluminum and hard board.
- Faber Castell - TK System Drawing Boards
- TK-System Drawing Boards made of high-impact plastic materials and are light weight and extra stable
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Drawing Boards
- Art shop with online purchase of art materials and art supplies. A variety of drawing boards
Drawing Aids
- The Color Wheel Company: Gray Scale and Value Finder
- Manufacturer of Color Wheels from RBY to CMYK to web safe colors. Colot Theory tools. ViewCatcher, Watercolor Wheels, Grayscale & Value Finder, Web Wheel, and other educational materials and color mixing guides for artists, crafters, and designers.
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Colour Shapers
- An artists' tool, like a brush but with a rubber silicone tip Choice of firm or soft tip. Useful in watercolour for moving colour around precisely, also for applying masking fluid accurately (the firm tipped shaper is favoured for this). Durable and cleaned easily and quickly.
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Stumps and Tortillons
- Disposable rolled paper tools for blending pastel, charcoal and pencil work. Stumps are densely rolled, tortillions loosely.
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Colour Shaper Pastel Blending Tool
- Ffor good control in blending, shaping and smudging. Double-ended tool, one end chisel tip shaper, the other a spongy blender. Silicon tips simply wipe clean.
- T N Lawrence & Son Ltd - Lascaux and Sennelier Fixative and spray diffuser
- Lascaux and Sennelier Fixative and spray diffuser
- GreatArt : drafting brush / drawing broom
- Drawing Broom - Lathed wooden handle, with finest goat hair bristles. Trusted for many years and excellent value for money.
- Great Art - Drawing Accessories,
- Cappelletto Drawing Board, Derwent Pencil Wrap, Cretacolor Graphite Powder, Transportation Tube, Drawing Broom, Blending Sticks, Clip Compasses
Pencils
- The Cult Pens Guide to Mechanical Pencils
- Cult Pens - The Knowledge - Mechanical Pencils
- The Cult Pens Guide to Lead Hardness
- Cult Pens Pencyclopedia Lead Hardness
Pencil Sharpeners
When you use coloured pencils a lot, as I do, sharpening tools and instruments become a whole new passion! ;) Especially as artist quality coloured pencils just don't seem to work at all in very many pencil sharpeners.
- Making a Mark: Two new electric sharpeners
- My Jakar Electric Pencil Sharpener is Model 5151(V-8). Its quite big and heavy with dimensions of 3.3" x 4.3" x 6.5" and a weight of 2.5lb or 1.1kg.
- Making a Mark: Two new sharpeners - from Prismacolor and Panasonic
- I'd like to share the two new sharpeners I got while visiting the USA
- Making a Mark: The isharpener - a USB powered pencil sharpener
- When you insert a pencil, it emits flashing LEDs - yes folks, that's flashing lights - in three different colours - while you sharpen your pencil in a sharpener plugged into a USB plugged into your computer
- Making a Mark: Art Equipment - and more Pencil Sharpeners
- More on the subject of pencil sharpeners - a subject which absorbs many artists who use coloured pencils. I'm including this post - and any others relating to my studio/plein air tools and equipment in my new squidoo lens Art Equipment - Resources for Artists.
This post covers Faber Castell pencil sharpeners - Faber Castell - Grip system
- The Faber Castell Grip pencil Sharpener has holes for fat pencils, normal pencils and coloured pencils. I use it all the time for sketching outside my home.
- Faber Castell Green Pencil Sharpening Machine
- Faber Castell Green Pencil Sharpening Machine - This traditional pencil sharpener from Faber Castell comes with a desk clamp and a large receptacle for catching all the pencil shavings.
- Artifolk - Jakar replacement cutter blades
- Jakar Spare Cutter Blade for Electric (Mains) Sharpeners - This spare cutter is for the Jakar mains powered pencil sharpener.
- UKCPS - Sharpening Tools
- This is a list of some sharpening tools that you might or might not find useful, with hopefully some indication of how they might be used and where to get them. Please bear in mind that the views expressed here are the personal views of the UKCPS webmaster, Bob Ebdon, or other named artists, and should not be attributed to the UKCPS. If you have anything you wish to add here, or correct, please contact Bob.
- Great Art - Sharpeners
- Aluminium Double Drum Sharpener, Elliptic Line Sharpener, Dux Graphite Pencil Sharpener, Dahle Sharpening Machine, Traditional Metal Sharpener
Erasers - or "rubbers" as call them in the UK
- Making a Mark: My electric eraser
- Using an electric eraser for the first time is rather startling - one never knew that a small stub of eraser could move so fast - then it starts to be rather satisfying as you begin to realise that erasing marks will now become a totally different experience. No more frustration with smearing. No more holes in the paper. From now on it's clean living...........
- Faber Castell - Erasers
- High-quality erasers from Faber-Castell - including classic, combination and dust-free erasers
- Erasers - BLICK art materials
- An excellent range of erasing tools and materials
- Artifolk - Blutak
- Bostik Blu Tack is the original re-useable adhesive is the innnovative way for the artist to erase very, very precisely, moulding a fine point to dab at pastel and pencil work. Use the same technique to clean up mistakes, dirty marks and so on. The list of uses is endless.
Use it as a permanent or temporary alternative to sticky tape and drawing pins. - UKCPS - Tools - Erasers
- This is a list of some erasing tools that you might or might not find useful, with hopefully some indication of how they might be used and where to get them.
- Great Art - Rubbers
- Maped Natural India Rubber, Faber-Castell Perfection Eraser Pencil, Dust Free Eraser, Cretacolor Kneadable Eraser, Maped Kneadable Rubber, Soft Drawing Eraser
Brush, pen and pencil cases and containers
- Artifolk - Pro Arte Zipped Brush Cases
- Pro Arte is a specialist brush manufacturer with years of development and experience behind it. These smart matt black zipped brush cases are ideal for storing all your brushes (not included).
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Pen & Pencil Cases and Boxes
- Pen & Pencil Cases and Boxes
Fixatives
- Great Art - Fixatives
- Schmincke Aeropump, Marabu Lacquer Spray, Lascaux Fixative, Winsor & Newton Aerosol Fixative, Talens Concentrated Fixative
UK Art Suppliers - Drawing Accessories
- Artifolk - Drawing accessories
- Artists' essentials - Winsor & Newton erasers, KUM pencil sharpeners, stumps and tortillions. A wide range of sketching and drawing accessories, from Jakar battery erasers to Cretacolor putty rubbers, even a choice between Derwent and Faber Castell pencil wraps.
USA Art Suppliers - Drawing Accessories
- Drawing and Illustration - BLICK art materials
- Drawing and Illustration - tools and accessories; books and videos/DVDs
Making A Mark
Katherine Tyrrell writing about: - Making marks with pastels, pencils and pen and ink - Creating new drawings and paintings - Influences on developing both artwork and art careers - Interviews with artists - Information about resources for artists and art lovers ....and best viewed in Firefox
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byEasels
- Great Art - Easels
- Studio Easels, Tripod Easels, Portable Easels, Table & Display Easels, Storage & Display, Accessories
- Paintings of France, Italy and Beyond » Plein air easels (or “gotta-have-it-itis”)
- Plein air easels (or "gotta-have-it-itis")
If you're an artist, (or if you're married to one) you may by now be familiar with a common artist-borne affliction: ?gotta-have-it-itis?...........While in recovery, I thought I'd at least share some of my experiences with a few ?tools of the trade?. Who knows? Maybe it will help a fellow artist or two with their decision-making process.
I'll start with what can be one of the most expensive tools? the easel. As both a plein air and studio artist, I ?gotta have? at least a couple of versions of this item in order to more easily do what I need to do. - Paintings of France, Italy and Beyond » Plein air easels- the pochade box
- Picking up on my previous post about artist easels, today I'll discuss plein air easel #2; my first pochade box. The word ?pochade? comes from the French word ?pocher? meaning ?to sketch?. Popularized in 19th century by landscape painters such as the Impressionists, a pochade box was a small wooden sketch box (sometimes called a ?thumb box?) with a hinged lid that could be held in the hand, to easily take into the field for small sketches and painting studies (pochades.) Today, what we call a pochade box comes in many different sizes beyond the tiny hand-held variety.
- Paintings of France, Italy and Beyond » Soltek- the ultimate plein air easel?
- Easel #3: The Soltek. All hail and bow down to the mother of all plein air easels! Okay, my Soltek has had its problems, but I still love this easel. The Soltek is a portable easel that seems to be in a class by itself. It is both ?space age? in technical design, and extremely flexible in its configuration:
- Paintings of France, Italy and Beyond » Plein Air Easels- A pochade box for travel
- With the airline regulations being what they are, it has become more and more of a challenge trying to figure out what items to check (if any) and what items to carry on in the ever-diminishing size of the acceptable carry on bag. While I may not be able to bring all of my art supplies with me on the plane, I prefer to have my easel in my carry-on. When traveling overseas, this sometimes means carrying my bag while running to make a flight connection, so a lightweight and compact bag becomes all the more important.
Easels on Amazon
Artist’s Studio English Tabletop Easel
Amazon Price: (as of 05/21/2008)
Daylight Bulbs and Studio Lighting - suppliers
- Bulbs & tubes - Daylight™ Art & Craft
- Daylight bulbs and tubes for Arts and Crafts
- Choosing Daylight Bulbs - (UK) Light bulbs, halogen lamps, spot lights and tubes by mail order in the UK
- Light bulbs, halogen lamps, spot lights and tubes by mail order in the UK
- High Definition Natural Daylight Lighting Systems from OTT-LITE Technology.
- OTTLITE Natural Daylight For Everything You Do.
- Broad Vs Daylight Spectrum Bulbs - Light Therapy Bulbs - Lumie
- Broad vs daylight spectrum bulbs
Broad spectrum bulbs (our standard option) include wavelengths from across the spectrum and emit a warm white light. Colour temperature of around 3500K.
Daylight spectrum bulbs mimic natural sunlight so colours are more true to life. They emit cool, blue-white light. Colour temperature of around 5400K.
Studio Lighting on Amazon
Lighting kit and tools for setting up still life or portrait subjects in the studio
Pair of 5400k day light table top photo studio light kit
Amazon Price: $74.99 (as of 05/21/2008)
Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector
Amazon Price: $39.90 (as of 05/21/2008)
Lumiquest Soft Screen, a Diffusion Sheet for On-Camera Pop-up Flashes.
Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 05/21/2008)
Digital Concepts Ps-101 Portable Lighting Studio
Amazon Price: $42.99 (as of 05/21/2008)
Digital Grey Kard Premium White Balance Card / Gray Card for Digital Photography
Amazon Price: (as of 05/21/2008)
Travels with a Sketchbook in......
When I travel, I sketch. When I sketch on my travels I record it here. Plus information about the history and facilities of places I visit and lots of related links for those who want to know more........ and best viewed in Firefox
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPlein Air Toolkits
Artists all have different views as to what makes up the dieal toolkit for drawing or painting plein air. Here are some worth reading
- handprint : plein air painting kit
- Plein air paint kit:
It took me many months of experimentation to settle on a field kit for painting outdoors and to take with me on vacation. Equipment choices are highly personal, and every painter has his or her unique outdoor working style and equipment requirements. - Landscapes Of The South: Blondheim Art Original Paintings
- Being organized will help you with plein air painting. Over the years I have had just about every brand of French easel, pochade box, and gizmo you can imagine. It is important to decide early on what sort of set up suits your personality and your physical needs. I have severe RA and so it is very important for me to go light on equipment and materials when I'm in the field. The less I have to drag around with me the better.
- Art Supplies UK the Discount Art Materials Supplier Artists umbrella at art supplies uk
- Artists umbrella at art supplies uk Discount art material supplier for business schools, creative businesses and individuals.
- daviddrawsandpaints: Painting 'En Plein Air'
- My Outdoor Easel and DIY Easel Pal - Front View: The easel is about the cheapest I have every bought, and more importantly the lightest. It is made of something like Obechi wood which feels and looks something like balsa (ha!) but is in fact quite sturdy.
Folding Chairs and Stools - for plein air work
The chair I use are the Phillips Folding Chair and the Blacks Compact Camping Chair. The first is very light and robust and excellent for travelling abroad. The second would be the preferred option if you're travelling by car and don't have to far to trek as it's not so lightweight and is quite big to carry. You can read more about them in the Making A Mark blog post below.
I've included links to other products which I know other artists use or look interesting - but I can't vouch as to quality. Check the recommendations in my blog post below (first link) for people who have used particular a product.
I've included links to other products which I know other artists use or look interesting - but I can't vouch as to quality. Check the recommendations in my blog post below (first link) for people who have used particular a product.
- Green & Stone Art Materials - folding stools and chairs
- Green and Stone stock the Phillips Folding Chair which I use for plein air work. It's travelled very many air miles with no problem at all - except for the fact that it travelled even further than me during security alerts as it always causes interest!
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Seat Easels, Chairs and Stools
- Seat Easels, Chairs and Stools - including my favourite and very used Phillips De Luxe Folding Chair
- Blacks - Compact ChairBLK AW06 Chairs and Stools(BLG Base Catalog)
- This chair folds up and is made with a strong steel frame and polyester fabric.
- Open size 56x86x90cm high
- Folds to 14x14x90cm
- Weight 3kg
I bought mine with a black bag holdall which helps with carrying although it's not the easiest of chairs to carry. - Richeson Backpack/Seat Combo - BLICK art materials
- This durable, soft-sided organizer functions as both a comfy seat and an easy-to-transport backpack. The bag is 100% canvas with a vinyl waterproof lining. Four pockets are secured by heavy-duty nylon zippers. The lightweight seat frame is made from black enameled steel tubing that opens for plein air painting or just lounging, and folds flat when you're ready to hit the road. The canvas seat is wrapped around the frame and double stitched for strength. Two adjustable straps are clipped to rings on the frame.
- Artifolk - wooden tripod stool with leather seat
- Artists' Wooden Tripod Stool - A handy, authentic leather seated three leg wooden artists' stool which folds flat for transportation and storage.
This has alway struck me as fine for those who are smaller and lighter! - Artifolk - folding travel chair
- Artists' Folding Travel Chair - This well priced, lightweight metal artists' chair is designed for portability, but still offering comfort. The chair, including the back, folds down flat for storage and transportation.
This looks like a very cheap version of the one I use. Possibly less durable during air transport? - Artifolk
- Artists' Seat Bags - Great value for money, these two artists' seat bags are both lightweight and fold flat for easy storage and transportation.
- Judsons Art Outfitters - Back Pack Chair and Umbrella
- (from site) Sturdy construction and reinforced legs make this a stable option for artists and outdoor enthusiasts. Padded shoulder straps and a rear storage pouch will allow you to carry this comfortable chair on your back during day trips. Supports up to 200 lbs. Seat height is 11". Folds down to 23' x 20' x 2 1/2". Weight with umbrella is 9 lbs.
Umbrella is held on by a easy adjusting clamp that can also be used in conjunction with your pochade box or french easel (see item #912, the Umbrella Hardware Mounting Kit). The umbrella is 40" high and 32" in diameter. Folds down to 28". - Judsons Art Outfitters - Roll-A-Chair
- (from site)Roll-A-Chair is made of extremely strong 1" diameter aluminum alloy tubing. The seat is made from three layers of polyester fabric, making it extremely comfortable. 26½" high folded, 18½" high unfolded. Can support up to 250 lbs. Adjustable shoulder strap included. 1½ lbs.
- Judsons Art Outfitters - Cooler Chair and Umbrella
- (from site) The perfect answer for where to keep your lunch chilled or hot during a day of painting outdoors. The cooler may also be used to store art supplies. Supports up to 250 lbs. Seat height is 18". Folds down to 23" x 16" x 3".
Umbrella is held on by a easy adjusting clamp that can also be used in conjunction with your pochade box or french easel (see item #912, the Umbrella Hardware Mounting Kit). The umbrella is 40" high and 32" in diameter. Folds down to 28". - Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Phillips Bag Stool
- Tubular aluminium frame, compact and easily portable with a shoulder strap.
Spacious integral bag with zipped side pocket.
Seat height 18 inch (46 cms), In green Cordura fabric - Walkstool Portable Stool - BLICK art materials
- (from site) Comfortable, portable, and strong, this lightweight stool is perfectly balanced for low angle photography or remote painting.
Aluminum construction with a large mesh seat provides outstanding comfort for long periods of time. Telescopic legs make the stool easy to collapse or extend. The stool can support up to 440 lb (200 kg), with large rubber feet that prevent it from sinking into soft surfaces. It also includes a handy carrying/storage pouch and a belt loop for easy transport. It comes in three sizes offering three different heights. - Making a Mark: In praise of my sketching chairs
- This post is about my two sketching chairs - I recommend both of them. People who have commented on this post also recommend some alternatives
Bags, Backpacks, Totes and Trollies
The one bag which will carry all you need for plein air work
Many and varied are the ways in which artists carry their art materials and supplies when working plein air
- The Guerrilla Painter Web Site
- Guerrilla Painter - Boxes; Guerrilla Box Accessories; Setup for Oils; Setup for Watermedia
- Guerrilla Painter - FAQS
- Explanation with pictures of set-ups for painting plein air
- ArtBin Studio Pak Art Backpack - BLICK art materials
- The backpack is made of durable, black polyester with padded back straps for comfort and has an easy grip handle on top. Compartments abound for brushes, markers, and other tools of the trade. Specially designed pockets stow away the essential water bottle and an iPod or MP3 player. There's even an opening to pull through the earphone cord.
- Folding Chairs and Stools - BLICK art materials
- Choice of 3
- Artist Backpack And Seat
- Artist Backpack And Seat - ARTIST BACKPACK AND SEAT
- Tran Rolling Art Cart - BLICK art materials
- A rolling studio to go, with places for everything and everything in its place! Four outside pouches have zippers for easy access to your most frequently used items. Inside are two removable holders that will accommodate brushes, pencils, markers, scissors, and more.
- Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > 'PastelTote' from Artbin
- Made from hard wearing water-resistant dark grey nylon, 19cm wide, 22cms high, 11cms deep. Zipped front and top, containing six pastel boxes with foam inserts. Could hold up to 150 standard size pastel sticks. Carrying handle and strap.
Plein Air Stuff on CafePress
Making A Mark - Resources for Artists
Art Media Lenses
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Coloured Pencils - Resources for Artists
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This site has much to offer anybody wanting to know more about coloured pencils - from experienced artists to beginners wanting to learn all they can. Topics include tips and techniques for working with coloured pencils, information about coloured p...
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Egg Tempera - Resources for Artists
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This lens is about egg tempera and provides links to all sorts of websites associated with egg tempera - other websites providing information about egg tempera, artists, supports and grounds, pigments and pigment suppliers in the UK Europe and...
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Drawing and Sketching - Resources for Artists
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This lens is about drawing and sketching. It shares information about drawing and sketching - materials, forums, books and other resources which support the development of drawings and sketches. New links are being added added on a regular basis. Use...
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Pastels - Resources for Artists
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Do you want to know more about soft and hard pastels? Whether you are an experienced pastel artist or somebody who is completely new to the joy of producing art with pastels you'll find something interesting and useful in the information and advice p...
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Paper and Non-Canvas Supports - Resources for Artists
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Another site in the "Resources for Artists" series. This one aims to provide information about and links to suppliers of fine art paper products and other non-canvas supports used by visual artists who draw and paint. The lens covers: * a gu...
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I love this lens! Great resources here. 5 Stars and a Squid Angel Blessing! Posted March 20, 2008 |
