Indirect Crayon

The art blog of Stephanie Brennan, a Toronto-based artist. I am passionate about comics, creativity, education, & community arts. Follow me on Twitter @stephbrennan4 or on Instagram @indirect_crayon 

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Happy International Children's Book Day! . Here's the photo of the full finished plasticine piece. I think the name Beartholomew wins as the bear's name. I think it really suits him and it's the name that now comes to mind when I think about this bear! XD . . . . . #art #instaart #instaartist #artstagram #artofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #plasticineart #plasticine #sculpt #artofvisuals #finishedproject #finishedpiece #spring #childrensillustration #childrensillustration #canadianchildrensbooks #canadianillustrator #Canadian #beartholomew #internationalchildrensbookday https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb29YyeukK8/?utm_medium=tumblr

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In addition to my plasticine work, I recently finished a digital painting of a cockatiel. I think cockatiels are really pretty birds, especially with their bright orange cheeks! Let me know your fav bird too :) . This was only supposed to be a study for a sticker design I'm working on but I had a lot of fun working on this, so I decided to make it a completed painting. I'm definitely tempted to keep painting more birds XD . . . . . #art #digitalart #instaartist #instaart #artoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #paint #painting #digitalpainting #digitalstudy #birdart #birds #cockatiel #cockatielsofinstagram #birb #prettybirb #spring https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbs84aWOrms/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I finished my traveling bear but never uploaded photos. Here's a close-up of the bear with his bird friend. I don't know what to name these two. Does anyone have suggestions for names? 😊 . . . . . #instaartist #instaaart #art #artoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #finishedproject #artofvisuals #traditionalart #plasticineart #plasticine #3dartwork #sculpt #sculpture #toronto #childrensillustration #wipupdate #namethis https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnlpJzuag7/?utm_medium=tumblr

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It's getting close - almost done! :) . #WIP update . . . . . . #projectupdate #wipupdate #plasticine #plasticineart #art #instaart #instaartist #artoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #dailyart #artofvisuals #artoftheday #traditionalart #childrensillustration #childrensillustration #canadianillustrator #handmade #cutebear https://www.instagram.com/p/CW1ReTvLLje/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Black Friday Sale! 20% off my entire Etsy shop with the code cyber2021 :) . Handmade cards are a great way to show your loved ones how much you care this holiday season. Order you cards now so that you'll have time to send them before the holidays! Link in my bio. . . . . . #handmadecard #handmade #christmas #christmas2021 #happyholidays #artist #christmascards2021 #etsy #etsysale #sale #blackfridaysale #blackfriday2021 #blackfriday #supportsmallbusiness #shopsmall #art #artoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #instaartist #instaart #linoprinting #linocutprint #cyberweek (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWwVIuFrDwg/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Black Friday sale on my entire shop! . Get 20% off by using the code cyber2021 at checkout ($5 minimum purchase to qualify). . Give that extra thoughtful touch this year with handmade cards ❤️ . . . . . . #etsy #blackfridaysale #blackfriday2021 #cyberweek #sale #etsyupdate #handmadecard #handmade #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #toronto #Torontoartist #etsycanada #christmascards2021 #christmas #christmascards #holidayseason #holidaycards #holidayprep #happyholidays #instaart #linoprinting #linocut #linocutprint https://www.instagram.com/p/CWmde3ILZPd/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Look, it now has a bear! . WIP pic of my current plasticine project. Approaching plasticine this way involves both 2D and 3D elements, a little similar to relief sculpture. It makes for some interesting challenges with shape design. For example, I had to change the style of my bear's face from the initial sketch to better fit with the medium. . I'm happy with how this piece is coming together! :) . . . . . #art #makearteveryday #dailyart #instaart #instaartist #artinprogress #artofvisuals #artoftheday #artoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #wip #plasticine #plasticineart #cute #cutebear #childrensillustration #illustration #childrensillustrator #canadianartist #canadianillustrator https://www.instagram.com/p/CWgy3r6LFP3/?utm_medium=tumblr

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As previously promised, here's a WIP pic of a personal art project I've been working on. It's fun working with plasticine again and I love how the colour palette is coming together. . Now that my Christmas cards are all done, I'm excited to make more progress on this piece! . . . . #plasticineart #plasticine #art #artofvisuals #artofinstagram #artoftheday #artoninstagram #traditionalart #artist #artistsofinstagram #wip #artinprogress #childrensillustration #childrensillustrator #illustration #cute #illustrationartists #progressupdate https://www.instagram.com/p/CWZbW-JLMOi/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I know it's been a while since I last posted but I've been hard at work making new things. I recently finished hand-printing a batch of Christmas cards. They're available in my Etsy store (link in my bio). . I have other personal art projects that I plan to share, so I'll be posting more in the coming days. This year has been tough - in many ways I've found this year been harder than 2020. But I haven't given up and I'm still leveling up my craft. Thanks for sticking with me :) . . . . . #Christmas #christmascards2021 #christmas2021 #etsy #handmade #handmadecard #handmadeincanada #Canada #linocut #lino #printmaking #linoprint #linoprinting #art #cards #toronto #Torontoartist #artist #illustration #illustrator #holidayseason #holidaycards #holidays #holidayprep https://www.instagram.com/p/CWUDm0vLs15/?utm_medium=tumblr

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WIP painting of my favourite pupper! Special thanks to @msnaround for letting me do a painting study of her doggo ❤️ . Right now I'm blocking in the large colour shapes. My partner, @charles.hamel, did a draw-over (not seen here) to help me with the structure of the face and the foreshortening. It's a tougher pose than I expected (because of the foreshortening) but I'm really happy with how he's coming together! . . . . . #wip #dogsofinstagram #paint #painting #dogportrait #petportrait #digital #digitalart #digitalpainting #art #instaart #instaartist #artoftheday #artofinstagram #dog #doggo #artistsoninstagram #process #processart https://www.instagram.com/p/CKhtt6Qjvja/?igshid=1alueii75k1sx

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Here's a peek at my process! I'm building the foam piece that will fill the plant pot for my succulent sculpture. . I cut circles of foam to fit inside the flower pot and then hot glue them together. Then I add a later of molding paste to create texture on top. Once that's dry, I gently punch little marks into the top using the pliers to further enhance the texture and then cover it with a layer of gesso. Next I'll paint it and then, huzzah! Fake soil! ✨🌱✨ . The best part is that the wire from my sculpture will push into the foam and be perfectly supported. Can't wait to unveil the finished product! 😊 . . . . . #sculpture #succulentart #art #instaart #artist #instaartist #instadaily #artistsofinstagram #artoftheday #artoninstagram #traditionalart #artofvisuals #currentproject #wip #process #almostdone #behindthescenes https://www.instagram.com/p/CKR5q3Mj1fk/?igshid=17wimprml8vsi

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Revisiting my sculpture after taking a break. I was getting frustrated with the texture of it as well as the look of the edges, so I took some space from it to have fresh eyes again. I've actually sanded it down a bit and I'm much happier with the texture of the petals. I still want to clean up the edges more and I'm going to put it into a pot to finish it up. But it's almost done! . I've learned a lot from this project and there are a number of things I'm going to do differently next time but I'm feeling pretty good about it right now. Happy Friday! 😊👍🏻 . . . . . #art #sculpture #sculpey #supersculpey #artoninstagram #instaart #instaartist #artinprogress #wip #artistsofinstagram #artproject #sculpt #traditionalart #artist https://www.instagram.com/p/CKFSf6MDyM4/?igshid=1dr1nkcd8qqb3

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Happy Tuesday! Here's the final version of my reindeer study! What a cute blep XD . I feel like I could keep working on this forever. Does anyone else have to cut themselves off from projects? I keep tweaking the little details. It's fine until I look at the clock and realize I just spent two hours doing minor changes 😅 That said, I'm happy with how this gal turned out! . . . . #reindeer #digital #digitalart #digitalpaint #digitalpainting #wildlifelovers #wildlifeart #art #wildlife #instaart #paint #artist #paintingstudy #artistofinstagram #instaartist #painting #blep #cuteblep https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ9iIaXD5DS/?igshid=joea4ftuu5or

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I ordered some custom packing tape! I'm so happy with how it turned out! I can't wait to use it 😊 . I'm definitely a packaging scavenger. My partner has teased me for how I keep and reuse a lot of packaging. Although I do have envelopes and bubble mailers that I bought to send small Etsy orders, I try my best to reuse any small boxes and the bubble wrap inside for items I receive in the mail. . That said, I don't want to show the branded tape on the boxes I reuse and it can be really hard to remove, so now I can cover it up with my own tape! With so many people using online shopping now, I think that finding more ways to reuse and reduce waste will be very important going forward 😊🌱 . . . . . #customtape #branding #illustration #illustrator #art #artist #instaart #instaartist #etsy #packagingscavenger #artistsofinstagram #etsycanada #ecofriendly #stickermule #foxdesign https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4M8zojgUU/?igshid=24mmbzou30m3

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Does anyone else eat ice cream in the winter? . This little guy will have a bit of luck with the current cold weather - his ice cream won't melt as quickly! 😂 . My little sloth is definitely my bestseller, so I've decided to get magnets of him made! If you want him on your fridge or whiteboard, the magnet version is now available in my Etsy shop! Link in my bio 😊 . . . . #magnet #fridgemagnet #sloth #cute #digitalart #digitalpaint #meltingicecream #cutesloth #etsy #etsyshop #new #artoftheday #art #instaartist #instaart #artofinstagram #artistsofinstagram #icecream #wintericecream https://www.instagram.com/p/CJt-7BfjRpV/?igshid=1rntfsyhpvjmj

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WIP! Look at this cheeky doe with her tongue out! 😋 I've been doing some drawing studies of reindeer and really fell in love with this gal. I'll post the finished version when I'm all done painting it. . Fun fact: did you know that both male and female reindeer have antlers? And only female reindeer keep their antlers in the winter! I just learned this while researching 😆 . . . . #art #instaart #instaartist #artist #artistsofinstagram #reindeer #digital #digitalpaint #digitalstudy #wip #artofvisuals #artoftheday #artofinstagram #draw #drawing #drawingstudy #femalereindeerhaveantlers https://www.instagram.com/p/CJo4qRejncj/?igshid=1ci98zovv6rm2

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SALE! My entire Etsy shop is 20-25% off for the next week for Black Friday/Cyber week. Order your holiday cards now! I also have cute stickers and linocut prints that make pretty, very affordable gifts :) . This photo is of an order I shipped yesterday. All the snow we got in Toronto has definitely put me in the holiday spirit! . . . . #etsy #etsyshop #sale #blackfridaysale #blackfriday2020 #christmascards2020 #handmade #handmadecard #linocutprint #linocut #artofinstagram #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #toronto #artist #instaart #artistsofinstagram #traditionalart #winterbear #happyholidays https://www.instagram.com/p/CH8OXxcDteh/?igshid=mxx44y5osod8