Tape

 Yes, call me a cheater, I believe in tape. And a sneak peak on something I am working on:

Thanks for viewing!

Clean Folded Corners

Art stores do not always carry the canvas size you want. More importantly, art stores sell canvases that are as loose as flags. So I started making my own nice, tight and springy canvases! Eventually, I made a tutorial on making your own canvas.

And one thing I learned is that clean corners and sides make a big difference in the presentation of your art if shown unframed. Thick profile canvases are often hung unframed but messy sides are not too appealing.


It took me a while, but I figured out a way to fold nice smooth corners. If done well (and I am still practicing) it would not look like the panel has fabric stretched over the bends of the wood bars.


Click on "Stretch a Canvas" in the top menu, or click here and scroll down for the details.

How to Somewhat Effectively use Couch Space

1. Never sit on it.

2. Attach a small pockets to the arms (I have one small red one and a shiny pink one). If you have more random pockets, attach. The more the better.

3. Seat space = safe earthquake cushion zone for printer and other stuff.

4. Place items behind couch, items below couch, items on top of couch.

5. Install an awesome paintbrush holder onto couch back.














Yeah, it's an old resistance strap from a fitness ball, and it can be adjusted to fit my couch! I finally finished stitching on some canvas and stuck all my brushes in it. No more brush canisters tipping over, spilling brushes all over the place ha!

Also, I have a show coming up this Wednesday featuring cityscapes. It is April 11th... check the shows and events tab (located in the top menu) in a few hours for information and to RSVP.

Or wait until a few days later when I will post information about it.

Painting with Bullets

Bullets of acrylic paint that is!

This new gadget is copyrighted by Xiau-Fong Wee, XFW March 2012


oh yeah.


Ready to paint! Currently working on 5 paintings!!!

Drawing Mediums and Inconsistencies

I want to make a post about the drawing mediums I use, and I want to warn you allll!!!!!
First, I use HB charcoal pencils, vine charcoal, conte crayon, and compressed charcoal shown above in that order from top to bottom.

Vine charcoal is like powdered soot in stick form. The picture below shows what the conte, compressed charcoal, and the HB pencils look like from left to right respectively. I can't really see the difference between conte and compressed, the difference lies in the feel of each. Conte is smoother and waxier, like a crayon, and compressed is dryer, like charcoal.



Here is the warning!

There are many many many inconsistencies with art supplies. Here is the first example. HB charcoal pencils are all different even though they are supposed to be the same. The last two strokes on the paper are from two charcoal pencils, both stating that they are HB Hard. One is still drastically softer and darker than the other.

So watch out!!! Save yourself from some frustration and check the pencil lead before you buy.

I still use both though- the harder one normally for smudging and smoothing the pencil strokes of softer mediums, in a small tight area. I wrap masking tape around the end of one of the HB pencils so that I can tell them apart immediately without having to test it out each time.


There are so many inconsistent art supplies. Why!?!? You can be sure I will make a post about all of them. For now, this is just on drawing supplies. You would think that it would be especially important to have art supplies be consistent and reliable! Ha.