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Hey guys !

You know I am a sucker for new art supplies and I have to restrain myself when new goodies come out (still a starving artist at the moment). When I discovered Jane Davenport was releasing a (big) line of mixed media stuff with American Craft, I was giddy with anticipation. I mean: art journals, paint (both watercolor and acrylic), even a fountain pen (!!!).

So armed with my coupon, I asked my husband to drive me to our nearest Michaels (after having called to ask if they were carrying the line).

I bought the two types of art journal she offers: the canvas journal and the butterfly journal. If you know me, you know I like binding my own journals and I actually did some journals quite similar to the butterfly one (love love love). I pick both blank so I can decorate the covers as I see fit once I start playing with them. One thing though: I find the butterfly journal quite small and was surprised by the size of the paper and the fact that it comes with only one signature inside (of course, you can buy more eh); so I guess I will be making my own to add to it. The canvas journal is really nice, the paper is thick and slightly textured so working in it will be interesting. To go with it, I bought the gold journal girdle. Like its name indicate, it is a belt that goes around the front cover, and it is a pouch.

I hesitated between the Magic Wands (color pencils) and the Mermaid Markers (don’t you love the names ?? I do) and eventually went with the markers. You saw in the video (and I feel totally dumb but left it anyway, keeping it real you guys !) but I had a bit of struggle… The colors are really really vibrant and the range is nice (there is 12 markers in the pack). Can’t wait to expand what I do in my art journal with those markers. So far, I love the nylon tip because it makes it sturdy but not “hard”. One thing I am excited to play with is the fact that they react with water (I need to play and check what happens once they are dry… do they still react ?).

Last but not least I could not leave the store without the INKredible pen, which is a fountain pen. I kinda collect them and love love writing and making marks with them. What’s great about it ? It comes with a converter cartridge, which allows me to use any ink I please with the pen. oh yea !

Her line is really wide in what she offers. You can add charms to your journals, rub ons, washi tapes, different covers are available for both journals etc. It seems to be already successful so I will not be surprised for it to increase with time 😉

Have you tried her products yet ? What are your favorites ? Please share in the comment 😉

This is no secret I am an obsessive person. To the point of frustration sometimes (because I top that with impatience, of course). So I decided to make this series of blogpost in which I share what I am currently obssessing over 😉

Joy Williams released her first solo album since the crash of her duo The Civil Wars. It is called Venus. It is lucious, raw, inspiring. Beautiful.
Oh and you can listen to Joy talking about her process and the meaning behind each song on her album right here.

Penny Dreadful, the tv show starring Eva Green. She is just breathtaking in her role of Vanessa Ives, she goes through such a vast range of emotions and she makes it SO believable. The show is set in the Victorian Era but clearly has a gothic flare to it (oh my… Vanessa’s clothes are to die for). I love the take they have regarding characters we thought we knew. Season 2 is even more dreadful and visual than season 1 so we watch only one episode at a time instead of binge watching like we usually do. But it.is.good ! (note, the video below is pretty visual so maybe if you know you are sensitive to scary things and sensuality, avoid clicking <3)

Chocolate chia pudding parfait from Danielle Walker. You might or might not know I am a foodista. I love food, I adore cooking and discovering new ways of enjoying eating. I am not Paleo but I enjoy some of their principles, and avoid gluten as much as possible because it does not make my IBS happy. I own several Paleo cookbook (and vegan cookbooks and… yes, tons of them, I confess). I fell into the chia wagon long ago, I however have an issue with their texture and the fact they stick inside my teeth (yuck), so I am always looking for recipes that actually grind them. My favorite is from Danielle Walker, who writes the blog Against All Grain (she published two cookbooks and is currently working on her third one). She combines chocolate chia pudding with banana and almond butter (you can add more food to it but I don’t). and that is just perfection to me. It fills me for the entire morning, too, which is good. I never know what to eat for breakfast, honestly (any suggestion welcome ;)).

Photo by Danielle Walker

Abstract painting. I have been exploring this for a bit now and right now… I am even having night dreams about all the possibilities in front of me. It is about telling my stories differently. In September, I will start working a few hours with an artist, Jenn Williamson; she will be mentoring me and I feel so blessed to be able to have my path crossing hers. I cannot wait for the exploration to deepen further. This is so different than my usual paintings, and to be honest I still see faces emerging and once they come to me, I just have to bring them to life or it will bug me 😉

Art Journaling. I used to work in my art journal every day. But I have been scared. Weird, right ? I have been in a whirlwind of emotions and personal things happening and usually, what happens in my art journal is unexpected (even more than on my paintings) and I guess I have been afraid to have seen the darkness pops out too often on the pages, so I shut it all down for a while. But I am back and accepting to feel all the feels. I am a teacher in the upcoming online class Radiant 2 and can’t wait for you to discover what I’ve been up to for it (it starts October 1st and I will soon have a spot to giveaway. But you can sign up and join the fun already on our facebook group).

Learning like i was in 12th grade, but this time for the most important exam of my life: the Canadian Citizenship knowledge test. It’s happening tomorrow morning. And I am really really nervous. We have to know about history, culture, politics of Canada. Tons of dates and people to remember.

Obsessing about the new Of Monsters and Men album, Beneath the skin. It is so so good. I am planning on learning all the songs by heart. This song in particular strikes a personal chord:

Reading Dangerous Creatures and coming back to Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s gothic universe filled with modern Sirens and Incubuses and Casters. I forgot how much I loved their writing. (and yes I unapologetically read tons of YA books).

Planning my lesson for Radiant Faces 2, that has recently opened its registrations. I am surrounded by artists I deeply admired (the pressure is on).

Redefining why I love painting and why I have to keep doing it. No quitters in that home of mine.

Looking for my True North.

Remembering how good it is to spend time with a friend, laughing and sharing and eating sushi so good we both just can make some “hmmmm” with a nodding head because it is just so so delicious.

Typing this lying in bed. I am not sick, just my body is making me pay for the hour of fitness assessment I made him suffer on wednesday. I can barely move.

Loving the short driving lessons my husband is giving me in the morning, once a week. That we are learning to better communicate with each other. That he reinforces my confidence.

Expressing who we are through painting our walls. Giving personality to our home. Finally.

You know I am an art supply junkie. Just earlier this week, I was playing in the Studio with my two daughters on a big canvas, and then Koala turned around, and said «Mom, you really have a looooooot of things in here !» (pointing to the entire room). To which her sister answered «It is not that much, this is a creative space. So it’s meant to be filled with supplies… and stuff». Ahah !

I can’t help it… I love new babies to explore with. (secret confession: I am trying to sort everything and put aside what I know I won’t use at all. and… I need *really need* to use all the papers and paints and other things I already have before buying anything else. Not sure I can’t do it though).

So for the first episode of this series in which I share with you the products I currently use over and over, here are they:

1) NeoPastels | Oil pastels from Caran D’Ache

You may know I love the Neocolor II-s which are watersoluble crayons. Amazing. I really wanted to try their oil pastels (my favorite until now where the Senellier ones, which I still really enjoy don’t worry). These pastels are soft and oh so vibrant ! The pigmentation is simply out of this world. I use them for mark making and for shading. 
–> (Click to see the NeoPastels on Blick’s site)

2) Matte acrylic paints | Dick Blick

I love my Golden fluid acrylics, but they are glossy and sometimes this is not I want (and using in my art journal, it tends to make my pages stick together, which sucks big time). Plus, Blick came with amazing colors. Another very positive thing is their low price point: $1.99 for a 2oz jar. 
I even discover color I would have never thought I would appreciate using (over and over). Right now, my new favorites are: orange light, aqua, beige (I use it on my Nixies’ face a lot) and blue light. 
–> (Click here to go to Blick’s page for these paints)

3) Embossing powders | Lindy Stamp Gang

Lindy Stamp Gang is amazing at creating unique two-tone products. The embossing powders do not disappoint. The colors are vibrant (some are softer and more translucent though). And the combo of pigments and shimmer is just gorgeous. 
I love using them with stencils in my backgrounds. They add this different touch that I simply can’t do without right now. I use them on everything. 
–> (Check the Embossing Powders on Lindy’s website)

4) Super Heavy Gesso | Liquitex

You probably know by now that texture is a huge part of my creative process. This is what makes me utterly happy and the place I go for when I feel stuck. 
This specific gesso holds very well, I use it on its own or through stencils (wash them thoroughly afterwards). It is titanium white and can be tinted (but it will affect the color and make it more pastely)
–> (Check it on Dick Blick)

What supply are you currently using the most ?