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The other day I was in an art supply store and purchased 5 random Copic markers. Now, I had never even heard of Copic markers until my fave bloggers started dazzling me with them. But, I was curious about the hubbub. They are sitting in a drawer right now as they are essentially useless without other ones or at least the blender one and some talent!! LOL
But then I got to thinking -- my favorite stampers dazzled me with prismacolor pencils, and watercolor crayons, markers, etc. In other words, it is the stamper that is dazzling, not necessarily the product. An artist can take a paper bag and make it shine (and sometimes they do!!).
How much have I bought because of what I've seen design team members do? A LOT!!!
All I can say is that I hope they are paid in more than product alone, because their work is stunning and they lure us all in to buy buy buy!!!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
Isn't that the truth? How many times have you heard that someone would never have bought such and such a stamp set or this product or that product if they hadn't seem some talented artist on here use it? We all want to produce beautiful art. While we are all not at that level it is fun aspiring to it!
__________________ I LOVE being a SU demonstrator! my gallery my blog
Amen sister, Amen!! I have purchased TONS of things because of them & their works of art. There are a handful of them I'd like to have even a sliver of their talent someday when I grow up!!! Until then, I'll just keep drooling, spending, stalking and trying!!
__________________ There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but few will catch your heart. Pursue those.....
I have had my twinkling waters for a couple years and FINALLY got them out the other day to play for the first time. Sad I know, but you are right about it being the artist who inspires and owning the medium, doesn't make me any better at art. Oh well, at least I get the inspiration to TRY new things from the good artists.
__________________ ~Vee
It's not who you know-it's whom you know.
I have to agree as well, that the artist inspires us.
I have been thinking about these copic markers, but I am definitely not an artist. I bought the prismacolor pencils because of what I saw here. I bought the stumps and the generic gamsol. I tried it once and did a terrible job, and have never used them again. What a waste of money!!!!!
You definitely need the talent to go with the product!
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I'm just gonna outright BLAME AmyR for half of my spending! Shoot....I blame her when DH asks where all that "new stuff" came from, so I'll blame her here too! Hee, hee!
Ya know......I finally jumped on the Prisma pencils and Gamsol bandwagon. I just picked up the supplies at Michaels yesterday......but I really don't think it will improve my coloring. I never would have done it without all the fabulous blogs cheering me on!
I'm just gonna outright BLAME AmyR for half of my spending! Shoot....I blame her when DH asks where all that "new stuff" came from, so I'll blame her here too! Hee, hee!
(I'm merely AmyR's little puppet!)
Me too! I'm always saying I wish she'd just order 2 of everything, send one set here and send a bill to me as well. If she did a montly kit of "Amy R must-haves" I'd sign up right away!
__________________ My BlogMy GalleryAll dog's feet smell like Fritos. I know you don't believe me, go check... See, I told you so.
I should add that I LOVE the big famous bloggers! I really do think my card making has improved due to them. It's like having a friend say, "Now Erin, get these markers and use them like this..." Anyhow I wanted to add that.
I love you famous bloggers!
__________________ My BlogMy GalleryAll dog's feet smell like Fritos. I know you don't believe me, go check... See, I told you so.
I love to buy things that the design team members buy, but I also realize my own limitations in certain areas, most of the time. Thank goodness Hobby Lobby took back the set of Prismacolor markers I bought!! However, I will say that with the Prismacolor pencil thing I think it just takes practice, practice, practice. I also had it demoed to me by one of the artists from Inky Antics, the only thing she keeps saying over and over is circle, circle, circle. I really have never figured out blender pens though!
i was soooo close to get the copic markers CAUSE of all the big bla bla that is going on about it and of course the great images i have seen.
But than... i bought the prisma color pencils and all this other stuff people say it is great ... most of it i use and i like it. BUT the copics are just crazy expensive and iam just not a good artist and i do not have the patience to practice so much.
i dont think if i buy all this stuff i will get more positive feedback here on the board or beeing more favorited... and the people i sent the cards to dont even realize if i used a copic marker or something else.
voila!
i guess iam in the right direction. i have on my new order list the stinking regular su markers! i did not even consider the prismacolor markes i could get at michaels.
iam happy with the things i have and even more that i was able to make this desicion. (cause i must say it was hard :-0)
__________________ My SCS Gallery My blog : Pretty Pressings
Designer for Magnolia, Sweden, Lili of the Valley and Sir Stampalot
Consider me enabled by the great ones as well--Amy, Jeanne, Debbie, Ellen (among others). . .if they suggest it, I will buy :-) I'm buying my Copics, little by little. Thank goodness I get the Dick Blick Educator's discount and have one locally so I don't have to pay shipping!
__________________ Kathy
Proud Mama to Mason 4/3/99, Miles 5/25/02, and Maya 8/26/04
I hear ya, I am a tad slow on jumping on the bandwagon. I am not an artist either, I try to conquer one technique at a time. I have the prisma pencils and gamsol. That is pretty much all I do at this time. Patience and lots of practice. As a musician, practice is the only way to get better. Just work on developing one technique at a time. You don't have to be like someone else, being yourself and setting your own pace is good enough. And the dirty dozen and alumni are there to inspire us to keep trying.
I love to buy things that the design team members buy, but I also realize my own limitations in certain areas, most of the time. Thank goodness Hobby Lobby took back the set of Prismacolor markers I bought!! . . . I also had it demoed to me by one of the artists from Inky Antics, the only thing she keeps saying over and over is circle, circle, circle. I really have never figured out blender pens though!
I remember that circle, circle, circle chant from the Inky Antics' demo. It was probably the same person! LOL I have to say that I do really love the prismacolor pencils!
Some of us are just born with raw artistic talent (Anna Wight and such) but most of us have to work at it. I agree that the Prismacolors and Gamsol take a little getting used to, but the end result is so worth it! If at first you don't succeed, try try again (especially if you paid out the hiney for it!)!
As far as the copics go, they aren't really for me I don't think. I have a few but I'm nt sending cards to the Pope or selling them to Oprah so I think that the supplies I have do me just fine!
If you guys have never been to Craft Critique you really need to visit there! Talk about convincing you to buy!
__________________ {Heidi} Trying to get ready for my first craft show!
Too funny Joan. Mytime is the design team member that influences me. I haven't jumped on the Prismacolor or Copic wagon and I doubt I will. I'll stick with my trusty SU watercolor crayons, I can handle that.
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keep on trying
Quote:
Originally Posted by lynnewithane
I have to agree as well, that the artist inspires us.
I have been thinking about these copic markers, but I am definitely not an artist. I bought the prismacolor pencils because of what I saw here. I bought the stumps and the generic gamsol. I tried it once and did a terrible job, and have never used them again. What a waste of money!!!!!
You definitely need the talent to go with the product!
I'm not saying anything against Lynne, just that her post twigged me to think about this.
Sometimes I have had the same experience- I try something and it doesn't work like it did in the demo, or for somebody else. I tuck it away, feeling a bit guilty about having spent money on something and not using it.
Recently I have come to the conclusion that I need to persist a bit more. I didn't learn to walk the first time I tried. I didn't learn to type a letter my first time at the keyboard. I didn't learn to draw the first time I tried with a pencil or India ink (!!!!!! what a mess...))))))))
I'm trying not to expect too much of myself with a new thing. To give it several , or many, really good opportunities. The freedom to (waste) and use up some of my resources in order to explore all the in's and out's of a new medium.
Those wonderful card artists probably didn't do everything perfectly their first time either.
There's a lot of wisdom in the 'keep on keepin' on' phrase- it takes a bit of time and experience to become familiar with our tools and supplies.
If you still have the stumps and the gamsol, why not give it a few more trys, Lynne? Set yourself a minimum- say five or six, and compare your later efforts to see how you are progressing with practice!
Oh, the practice posts are spot on!! Even those of us who weren't born with an artistic bent, or had training, can improve soooo much by reading, watching and practicing. It is so much fun to pull something off that I couldn't do or didn't even know about a year ago.
ps. I'm still debating the copics!!!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I'm not saying anything against Lynne, just that her post twigged me to think about this.
Sometimes I have had the same experience- I try something and it doesn't work like it did in the demo, or for somebody else. I tuck it away, feeling a bit guilty about having spent money on something and not using it.
Recently I have come to the conclusion that I need to persist a bit more. I didn't learn to walk the first time I tried. I didn't learn to type a letter my first time at the keyboard. I didn't learn to draw the first time I tried with a pencil or India ink (!!!!!! what a mess...))))))))
I'm trying not to expect too much of myself with a new thing. To give it several , or many, really good opportunities. The freedom to (waste) and use up some of my resources in order to explore all the in's and out's of a new medium.
Those wonderful card artists probably didn't do everything perfectly their first time either.
There's a lot of wisdom in the 'keep on keepin' on' phrase- it takes a bit of time and experience to become familiar with our tools and supplies.
If you still have the stumps and the gamsol, why not give it a few more trys, Lynne? Set yourself a minimum- say five or six, and compare your later efforts to see how you are progressing with practice!
I'm so glad you shared this!
The job of any good designer is to experiment, and persevere through *many* failures, to find what DOES work, and then share the successful attempts with everybody so they can achieve success much faster and with less frustration than the designer may have originally gone through when testing a product and trying to get a handle on all the possibilities for it.
I have a *very* nicely filled circular file in my studio. ;)
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Consider me enabled by the great ones as well--Amy, Jeanne, Debbie, Ellen (among others). . .if they suggest it, I will buy :-) I'm buying my Copics, little by little. Thank goodness I get the Dick Blick Educator's discount and have one locally so I don't have to pay shipping!
What??? Dick Blick has an educator's discount?? How much? Any educator, or art teachers only?? Do you think that they'd believe I'm teaching my kindergarteners how to color with Copic markers?
[QUOTE ps. I'm still debating the copics!!![/QUOTE]
Joan, you make me smile! I have to admit jumping on the bandwagon more times than I care to admit, but I keep telling myself that my kids can use these great supplies as well as they get older. I guess that this is due to my mom who keeps telling me this. LOL I guess she is more of an enabler because this thought goes through my head while I'm debating the purchases. Either way, I'm having a great time trying all of these new supplies I probably wouldn't have known about if it hadn't been for SCS!
i wonder how long the copics are going to be the hit???
i remember when i started scs it was about the prisma pencils than the cuttlebug with all the embossing folders came with the scalloped punches the general forum was FULL of posts about it.
now there are the copics.
it is like fashion!
i dont have the $$ to catch up on all that. i wish i had!
i dont know but do you think all the enabler bloggers buy the copics for the same price we will? i doubt it... why would there otherwise always be: you can get those faboulous makers or tools right here: just clicky de click
check out some of the posts there are sometimes more than 3 links (like were to buy the ribbon, brads)
Well.. i admitt thats how i bought a lot of stuff... i bought at all that scraps cause debbie olson reccomended it, i bought at ep cause somebody else posted the link.... hehehe the chain works.
i buy at cindys and anna wright ebay store cause they are both scs are nice and i feel if i spent money on ebay thant they should make the cut.
but iam happy with all the stores i have bought so far
__________________ My SCS Gallery My blog : Pretty Pressings
Designer for Magnolia, Sweden, Lili of the Valley and Sir Stampalot
Some of us are just born with raw artistic talent (Anna Wight and such) but most of us have to work at it. I agree that the Prismacolors and Gamsol take a little getting used to, but the end result is so worth it! If at first you don't succeed, try try again (especially if you paid out the hiney for it!)!
As far as the copics go, they aren't really for me I don't think. I have a few but I'm nt sending cards to the Pope or selling them to Oprah so I think that the supplies I have do me just fine!
If you guys have never been to Craft Critique you really need to visit there! Talk about convincing you to buy!
OMG... totally blushing... and totally flattered! THANK YOU!
I love to color, and can't have enough tools at my fingertips. I'll never tire of my Prismacolors, that's for SURE! Same goes for my aquapainter... as far as I'm concerned, the aquapainter is an absolute MUST HAVE tool. It's a brilliant product!
OMG... totally blushing... and totally flattered! THANK YOU!
I love to color, and can't have enough tools at my fingertips. I'll never tire of my Prismacolors, that's for SURE! Same goes for my aquapainter... as far as I'm concerned, the aquapainter is an absolute MUST HAVE tool. It's a brilliant product!
Bowing to Anna's greatness...... I just NEED everything she has ;)
__________________ Jeanne S - Inky Paws SCS Moderator
i wonder how long the copics are going to be the hit???
Copics have been around for a long time and have always popular among professional graphic artists/illustrators. But, many stampers are only beginning to explore the potential of using these same tools in their work.
Beginning stampers may indeed find them too expensive to invest in at this time, while long time stampers, such as myself, are excited about adding yet another option to our skills and tools, if it holds appeal or they see a use for it that other products do not fulfill.
Ask me how many different ink brands I own! Each serves a different purpose! And, I need them all, to create the different effects I want! *chuckle*
Quote:
i remember when i started scs it was about the prisma pencils than the cuttlebug with all the embossing folders came with the scalloped punches the general forum was FULL of posts about it.
now there are the copics.
I never bought Prisma Pencils nor gamsol, believe it or not! :shock: I am satisfied with the colored pencils I do have, because I'm not personally interested in pursuing colored pencil techniques myself. But, I do greatly admire the artists who are use them and their AWESOME works!
I also never bought a Rubi-Coil when that was a popular craze. *chuckle*
As far as the Cuttlebug and embossing, etc. I had always wanted a commercial grade die cutting system, but they were waaaaay out of my budget. So, when personal die cutting systems came along, well, at last there was a system within a price range I could afford.
Scallop punches. I'm a sucker for scallops. I owned mine long before they became a craze, and I'll love and use 'em long after they no longer are.
Really, truly, if I can afford it, or save up for it, I buy what I like, simply because I truly do like it, not because it's the current craze!
Quote:
it is like fashion!
i dont have the $$ to catch up on all that.
Well, then you sound like me, and just about every other stamper/crafter I know! ;) {{{{{{Claudia}}}}}}
Quote:
i wish i had!
i dont know but do you think all the enabler bloggers buy the copics for the same price we will? i doubt it... why would there otherwise always be: you can get those faboulous makers or tools right here: just clicky de click
check out some of the posts there are sometimes more than 3 links (like were to buy the ribbon, brads)
Well.. i admitt thats how i bought a lot of stuff... i bought at all that scraps cause debbie olson reccomended it, i bought at ep cause somebody else posted the link.... hehehe the chain works.
i buy at cindys and anna wright ebay store cause they are both scs are nice and i feel if i spent money on ebay thant they should make the cut.
but iam happy with all the stores i have bought so far
Sometimes I give the manufacturer's link, so viewers can learn more about the product itself, straight from the source--the source may or may not offer consumers the ability to shop right from their site. So, that varies greatly.
I sometimes provide possible retail shopping sources because I am constantly asked where to find things that may not be commonly available at "just any" or "most any" stamp/craft store, UKWIM?
Whether or not the viewer chooses to shop, and where they choose to shop, is entirely up to them! And, if they're lookin' for best price or a discount, well, it's also up to them to research it. I personally don't have time to research that for anyone else--I frequently don't know, because I'd rather pay full MSRP to the reliable, friendly, hard working business owners I am familiar with and trust, than buy at discount.
Many designers simply, and frequently, share products they love and the ways the use them because they simply *love* them.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I'm not saying anything against Lynne, just that her post twigged me to think about this.
Sometimes I have had the same experience- I try something and it doesn't work like it did in the demo, or for somebody else. I tuck it away, feeling a bit guilty about having spent money on something and not using it.
Recently I have come to the conclusion that I need to persist a bit more. I didn't learn to walk the first time I tried. I didn't learn to type a letter my first time at the keyboard. I didn't learn to draw the first time I tried with a pencil or India ink (!!!!!! what a mess...))))))))
I'm trying not to expect too much of myself with a new thing. To give it several , or many, really good opportunities. The freedom to (waste) and use up some of my resources in order to explore all the in's and out's of a new medium.
Those wonderful card artists probably didn't do everything perfectly their first time either.
There's a lot of wisdom in the 'keep on keepin' on' phrase- it takes a bit of time and experience to become familiar with our tools and supplies.
If you still have the stumps and the gamsol, why not give it a few more trys, Lynne? Set yourself a minimum- say five or six, and compare your later efforts to see how you are progressing with practice!
You are absolutely right. I intended to buy some watercolor paper, but haven't done that yet. As I understand, that gives a better effect with the prismas. I intend to give it another try when I have time, and that will be coming soon. I'm off for the summer and sufficiently recovered from surgery that I'm not falling asleep all the time. It should be fun!
I am reminded of the time when I was subbing for a class of fifth graders who had tried their hand at Carving. Their first efforts were surprisingly good, but they were very frustrated because they couldn't get exactly the results they had "in their head"
The art teacher wisely said " How many times have you been carving?" One. How many days have you spent holding a pencil? Hundreds. But in carving you are the kindergarten students.
She told of having a carving "artist" friend who "practiced" every day because he wanted to "get better" And when you have been carving a hundred times you WILL be better.
So um, who wanted to go shopping?? I think of that when I get frustrated with my watercoloring and that is why I am "better" using things that are "pencil " based.
OK, that must be a whole copic marker's worth.(mine are on order... )
I am reminded of the time when I was subbing for a class of fifth graders who had tried their hand at Carving. Their first efforts were surprisingly good, but they were very frustrated because they couldn't get exactly the results they had "in their head"
The art teacher wisely said " How many times have you been carving?" One. How many days have you spent holding a pencil? Hundreds. But in carving you are the kindergarten students.
She told of having a carving "artist" friend who "practiced" every day because he wanted to "get better" And when you have been carving a hundred times you WILL be better.
So um, who wanted to go shopping?? I think of that when I get frustrated with my watercoloring and that is why I am "better" using things that are "pencil " based.
OK, that must be a whole copic marker's worth.(mine are on order... )
Betsy
I love my Copics. Every day that I use them I learn more.
__________________ Jeanne S - Inky Paws SCS Moderator
I like to try new products and ideas that I see "work". And though...my artwork may not be Dirty Girl quality....it pleases the people in my life that I make cards for! ;)
I'm so thankful for all ideas that inspire me to keep on stampin!
__________________ Hollie Lisk ΦΜ
SCS#5115 My Humble Gallery "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it" My Blog
I have to agree as well, that the artist inspires us.
I have been thinking about these copic markers, but I am definitely not an artist. I bought the prismacolor pencils because of what I saw here. I bought the stumps and the generic gamsol. I tried it once and did a terrible job, and have never used them again. What a waste of money!!!!!
You definitely need the talent to go with the product!
suggestion: My demonstrator suggested I take a little container and put a piece of sponge in in. Then just moisten it with the gamsol. All you need is to dab your stump on the moistened sponge, and then go over the prismacolor area (one color area at a time, of course. It worked for me. You have to keep moistening.
I'm new to stamping, or relatively so (a little over a year). I bought a lot of things I saw people using successfully. I have used all of them in some way, some more than others. Sometimes I think to do a great job, you have to have good tools (quality paper, quality inks), and other times, it might not matter as much. I have prismacolor pencils and I have crayolas. I use them interchangably and see little difference.
This week I bought a cheap set of bright alcohol markers like the Prismacolors. I have some Prismacolor markers, but they're very subtle. I wanted bright colors and when I saw a set of art markers for $25, I jumped at it. I can learn with cheap ones and if I like what I do enough, I'll worry about more expensive. Much like buying a $20 paint brush won't make me a good painter, buying a $5 marker won't make me good at coloring. I will try new things as I see them and want to, but I also know my limits and I won't kill my budget on something I know I can get a cheaper version of and learn with that.
I don't blame anyone for my spending problems. I could control myself... if I wanted to.
suggestion: My demonstrator suggested I take a little container and put a piece of sponge in in. Then just moisten it with the gamsol. All you need is to dab your stump on the moistened sponge, and then go over the prismacolor area (one color area at a time, of course. It worked for me. You have to keep moistening.
Actually this is the proper way to do it...you can find the artist jars and sponges in the art dept at Michaels....I"ve been doing this for years. If you don't do it this way...how are you doing it? Just curious?
I have to disagree. Everybody can be an artist. Maybe not a professional artist, maybe not a graphics artist who can draw Manga that they use in Anime, but everybody can be an artist if that's what they want to be. The best artists in the world started out not being artists. They had a natural talent, but they still had to learn their art. And they had to practice, and practice, and practice. The tools like the copic markers and soft pastels (not chalks, but the soft pastels used by "real" artists") have long been outside of the realm of "crafters" because they weren't "real" artists. What an elitist load of nonsense. I bought the expensive pastels because I wanted to, and because I will learn to use them well. I bought expensive pencils (even though I later found that cheaper ones work too, they're just more work). I want to feel like my craft is worth the really good stuff, not just the "cheap acrylics in the craft aisle", but the really good stuff that "real" artists use.
I just don't want anyone to think that what many of the women do here isn't art simply because it doesn't meet some arbitrary standard. If you make something that pleases someone's eye, anyone's eye, and it makes their day better by eliciting an emotion, it is art. Art is not just for the professionals.
And Sophie is an artist, a real artist. She and her husband both are from what I've seen in her gallery. Her work is original, and amazing, and often freehanded and beautiful. Don't sell our art short, please. It takes a lot of work to make people see that making cards isn't just slapping on a bunch of stickers, stamping an image or two, and calling it a day. It does take a real talent, one that every person on this board can possess with lots of work and patience and practice.
Influence of Design Team Members!
