As we all wrap up projects, prep for winter, and dream up what’s next, I’m curious: What’s one creative thing you’re working on (or hoping to start) before the year ends? Big, small, mini, giant, messy, or polished~ it all counts~! Share it below so we can cheer you on, swap ideas, and remind each other that we’re not creating alone. 🌙🎨💬Your spark might inspire someone else tonight.

If you have walked around a Michael's, you have probably seen the Artist's Loft brand with the blue logo. Normally, these are located in the more inexpensive section of the store and they have A LOT of supplies. Rulers, paper, paint, brushes, and canvas pads just to name a few things that they offer. But have you ever wondered if their brand is worth buying into? After I've spent several years using some of their products, I can say: Yes....depending on what you're trying to use. Let me preface by saying you can create art with so many materials and supplies. Have you seen Howard Lee's videos of him using a burnt-out matchstick to create one half of a drawing???? If you haven't, please check him out: $0 vs $300 Pencils Drawing Challenge!. The point is, you can use anything from Crayola to Sennelier to create art. It just depends on your art style, budget, and what your art goals are. So, what are the pros and cons of Artist's Loft art supplies? Pros: -Their catalogue is HUGE! Like I said before, if you are looking for acrylic paints, pencils, canvas pads, markers, graphite sets, and artist tables, you will find something that meets your needs. Honestly, I think you can build up your entire studio with Artist's Loft supplies and materials. -You can experiment without breaking the bank. If you ever wanted to try a brush head type or watercolors without committing, Artist's Loft can help you figure out what you like. You can easily get a set of nice brushes for less than $10 to help figure out your preference in brushes. If you want to try soft pastels, they have 12, 24, and 48 sets available from $12 to $33 for you to experiment. Speaking of prices..... -Everything is at least 10-20% cheaper than the lower to mid-rated brands. The money I saved from buying their rulers, palette knives, and blending stumps allowed me to buy higher-quality acrylic paint or oil pastels. A ruler is a ruler (although some would disagree). I can get away with a cheap ruler or protractor so I can put more money into my medium of choice.

I got some procreate brushes that have some face/body guides, hair/face part detail stamps, and soooo many textures. Decided to try my hand at drawing a character that’s been in my head for a long time. Felt like cheating but I feel like it was nice to be able to quickly achieve something that vaguely looks like what I want with the assistance. It really helped me to not toss in the towel five minutes in. The face guide was female. How did I do making it more masculine? Now that I have this basic outline down I’ll try drawing on top of it later with more detail. He is missing his freckles badly! Also the care bear stare is a bit uncomfy. I think I’ll wait to be in a more comfortable physical position though. You would think that a chemo infusion place would have more comfortable seats for the supporting person but JEEEESUS. I think a high school cafeteria chair would have actually been more comfortable.

I retrieved my old wood monitor stands from work and decided to incorporate them into my workspace. I now have more room and better designated spaces. The cat also loves it😅

Hey everyone! Just a quick heads-up ~ we’ll be a little quieter here this weekend since the ACI team will be out at an event! 💫 We’re so excited to meet new folks, share our work, and spread the word about what we do here together as a community! If you’re local, come say hi ~ and if not, don’t worry! We’ll be back soon with updates, photos, and maybe even a few stories from the weekend. Event: Spooktober @ Basic City Beer Co. for everyone local~! Saturday and Sunday (12PM-6PM) Keep creating, keep connecting, and we’ll see you after the event! 💛