HOW TO GET STARTED
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
HOW TO GET STARTED
The first rule of art ? it ’ s never too late to start exploring your inner Picasso . There are no upper ( or lower ) age limits ; there are no restrictions when it comes to knowledge , skill , or talent ; and there is no ‘ wrong time ’ to pick up a new , invigorating hobby , or to reignite a love of art that has tailed off due to life and other commitments . If it is something you want to do , then you must do it – just ‘ doing ’ anything is nourishing for the soul and will keep your mind sharp too .
The cost of taking up art depends on what kind of art you want to take up – each one varies . If you want to take a class for example , the cost will be different to starting out on your own . The class may include all the equipment you need , whereas if you just want to get on and create you will have to purchase everything before you start . And what do we mean by everything ? Again , it depends on the type of art you want to do , but there are some essentials that all artists ( professional and amateur ) should be in possession of .
QUALITY DRAWING PENCILS
If you want to be a sketch artist then a set of quality drawing pencils is probably the most important thing you ’ ll need in your arsenal of equipment . Whatever kind of art you ’ re into though , it ’ s likely pencils will come in handy . You may want to make a rough sketch of what you are going to paint , sculpt , or make , and having good pencils with which to do so will make the difference between something usable and something that becomes smudged and difficult to see .
SKETCHBOOK
A sketchbook is any artist ’ s go-to tool . Take it with you when you ’ re out and about – you never know when inspiration might strike . If you see something that you think would make great art in your chosen medium then sketching it will help you remember what it was really like .
STORAGE
Where are you going to keep your art ? You might be lucky enough to have a room or outdoor shed that you can dedicate to
the purpose , but if not , you will want to consider where your art is going to live when it ’ s done . You may not be able to display it all , so rotating what ’ s on the wall is a great way of keeping your art fresh and showing off what ’ s new in your oeuvre to visitors . As for the rest of it , investing in a good art storage bag or box is a good idea . It will keep your work safe and it will mean you know where to find it when you want it . Storage for your equipment is important too . Don ’ t leave it lying around ( unless you have a studio , of course ) because it can all too easily be broken or lost . Take care of it all .
EVERYTHING ELSE
If you are a painter , you will need good paints - watercolours or oils , depending on what you prefer to work with . You may want a palette to mix your colours ; an easel to make painting easier ; you might even want to invest in some high-quality canvases . A potter will need good clay , a wheel , and access to a kiln , and a sculptor may require tools such as rasps and rifflers , which are used to enhance the shape into its final form .
NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOPS with the Woolly Felters
It ’ s so easy ! No stitching , no glueing , no mess ... just a felting needle and some wool ! Come and learn the magic of needle felting with us at our new 2017 workshops . Our venues include Maidstone , Chatham , Hythe and Whitstable . Workshops run from 10am until 3.30pm All materials are included £ 60
For more information visit our website www . woollyfelters . com email : info @ woollyfelters . com or telephone 01622 620455
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