#supplyseekers

[mabgravesart]

Okay, so one of the most frequent requests I get is for process videos. I decided this year for Drawlloween I was going to try to make as many videos of my process as I can, because I know they can be great learning tools! @laurencetheprince helped me set up a stand and a light since I paint mostly at night, in a candlelit cave 😂🦇 I started this underpainting last night at about midnight. I painted till 6 am, then picked it up again this afternoon for a few hours. Once this layer is dry I’ll start adding in transparent layers of hue. For my #supplyseekers out there: This piece is on a @trekell_art_supplies mini coffin cradled wood panel, painted with @gamblincolors oils with @trekell_art_supplies brushes. I used mostly cat’s tongue and grainer brushes with a small mop and of course, golden taklon for details. Colors used were Warm White, Burnt Umber, Van Dyke Brown, Naples Yellow Hue, and Transparent Red Oxide. #mabsdrawlloweenclub #mabsdrawlloweenclub2019 #oilpainting #processvideo #trekellproteam #trekellartsupplies #gamblinoilcolors #vampire #mabgraves https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Fssecn6ld/?igshid=1t3myyp8e7i1k

[mabgravesart]

Okay, I got several questions about my traveling studio, so here you go: In the past year I’ve had to be away from my studio more than I’ve ever been in my entire life. The anxiety I felt leaving my studio is hard to describe...I spend sleepless nights before I began a trip, trying to carefully and methodically think through everything I would need to take with me so I could work on the go. I decided to make myself a travel-sized studio that contained a little bit of all the things I use daily, so I wasn’t packing new bags each time I left. It’s been the BEST medicine for that desperately home-sick-hermit anxiety because all I have to do is grab my little “doctors bag” and I know I’ll have whatever I need for any mad inspiration that takes hold. The contents of the case vary slightly depending on what I’m working on (sometimes containing extra sewing or needlefelting things) but the following are the absolute essentials that are always inside: My sketchbook, @alvindrafting pencils, replacement lead, eraser, a tiny bit of rope, my @trekell_art_supplies brushes, watercolor half pan set, tiny colored pencil set, paper, blenders, a small brush for scrubbing, miniature measuring tape and pliers, slim wire cutters, scissors, screwdriver, sandpaper, a tiny jar for paint water and a small cloth for spills, latex gloves, a dropper, a small cutting board, tweezers, a crochet hook, emergency tea rations, a few rubber bands that double as hair ties and makeshift clamps (bobby-pins work well for that too) a sewing needle, a wing of thread, cotton pads, q-tips, a tiny tin for nausea meds and Benadryl, some specimen collection bags, a couple pouches to hold things in, and the a set of tiny bottles of the glues and solvents I use constantly. I’ve flown all over the country with the case and never had TSA blink! #travelingartist #travelingstudio #mabgraves #suppliesiuse #supplyseekers #trekellproteam #mabmaticpencils https://www.instagram.com/p/B1T8DnEHCP_/?igshid=1ob9hukdp9a9b

[mabgravesart]

It’s GIVEAWAY TIME! Here’s the first of 3 special giveaways I have for you guys this month. This one is brought to us by the fabulous @trekell_art_supplies This giveaway includes two full sets of my signature Trekell brushes, three Halloween hardwood panels, a sample of Trekell’s Brush Restorer (my life saver!), a paint rag designed by my pal @vitalmarks, some stickers, a print of my Little Artist piece, and most precious of all - an heirloom artist palette in rich walnut made by my dad. How can you win? Well, I talked with @trekell_art_supplies and we both agreed we’re kinda bored with the old “follow, repost, tag two people” type of giveaway. We decided it would be much more fun to play and interact with you guys - plus it gives you a sporting chance! We want you to take your VERY worst brush, and have it tell us why you need an upgrade. Tag your picture #ineedatrekell - Swipe to see an example! 😜 😂Be as creative as you like 🖌🖌🖌🖌🖌 @trekell_art_supplies and I will pick a winner in one week! #mabsdrawlloweenclub #mabsdrawlloweenclub2019 #supplyseekers #suppliesiuse #mabgraves #trekellproteam #trekellartsupplies #trekellbrushes https://www.instagram.com/p/B3kQ5p8HBK5/?igshid=s0hhx5zgyemc

[mabgravesart]

Werewolf is always my favorite prompt day for #mabsdrawlloweenclub - it’s just one I feel very connected to. I decided I wanted to try to create something soft, subdued and unexpected for today. I played around with texture on the background, with layers of washes and build-up. #supplyseekers : This piece was done in @gamblincolors oils on a hardwood panel. #mabsdrawlloweenclub2019 #werewolf #mabsdrawlloweenclub #mabgraves #oilpainting https://www.instagram.com/p/B34-rEbHinq/?igshid=a1lp1clb5axw

[mabgravesart]

Werewolf is always my favorite prompt day for #mabsdrawlloweenclub - it’s just one I feel very connected to. I decided I wanted to try to create something soft, subdued and unexpected for today. I played around with texture on the background, with layers of washes and build-up. #supplyseekers : This piece was done in @gamblincolors oils on a hardwood panel. #mabsdrawlloweenclub2019 #werewolf #mabsdrawlloweenclub #mabgraves #oilpainting https://www.instagram.com/p/B34-rEbHinq/?igshid=a1lp1clb5axw

[mabgravesart]

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Here’s a little palette cleaning video. I know it may seem like obvious-town, but as a self-taught artist, you’d be amazed at how many times I’ve watched something that is probably just second nature to most artists and been like “OH! Thaaat’s how it’s done!”. Every artist has a different process and preferences, and you never know what you might learn. I’ve always preferred to use really classic old-world hardwood palettes. They’re an extension of me when I’m working and I get pretty attached to them. This is a process video of how I clean and resurface them between pieces. At the end, I rub them down with Linseed Oil and write the title of each piece I’ve painted with it on the back of the palette, so it’s got a little tattoo of its history and our life together 💕#mabsdrawlloweenclub #mabsdrawlloweenclub2019 #supplyseekers #suppliesiuse https://www.instagram.com/p/B3cyDA7H7nZ/?igshid=czr7efb2rgld

[mabgravesart]

Sneak peeks of the underpainting I’ve been working on for my piece for the @beautifulbizarremagazine exhibition Gaia Reborn: A Future Utopia opening at @urbannationberlin on 11 May! We were asked to create pieces that were visual dialogues about conservation and dreams of future solutions to issues our planet is facing now. 🌎🌘🧒🏻👽🐺🐣 For my #supplyseekers out there: this underpainting is done in sepia and ivory white oil paints. My favorite paint brands are @holbeinartistmaterials and @gamblincolors #mabgraves #underpainting #oilpainting #gaiareborn #beautifulbizarre #urbannation #direwolf https://www.instagram.com/p/BuDCA0yhah4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oxqppqunf7qh

[mabgravesart]

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I decided to use @brettmanningart’s book “We Are Not Alone” as my inspiration for my Cryptid piece today. First, I flipped through the book and found a few creatures that made my heart thump, then got to it. I’m using my VERY favorite paper - Translucent Yupo by @legionpaper but it’s pro grade and very finicky, so it’s not for sketching. I sketched out my creatures on scratch paper first, to work out and compositional issues, then placed it under a fresh sheet of Yupo and started transferring. I add details and shading to both sides of the paper to get softness and deepen shadows, then when the drawing is done, I add color to the reverse side using gouache. It makes the pieces pop and still preserves the cleanness of the lines, so the finished piece when scanned almost looks like a digital drawing. Placing a sheet of colored paper underneath makes the figures stand out even more. @legionpaper sent me an awesome box of pads to giveaway this year to you guys, so I’m going to be having a giveaway soon if you guys want to try it! I’ll post the finished shot of my piece in a little bit so you guys can see it! #supplyseekers : pencil is an 0.3 Draftmatic by @alvindrafting Brush is a size 6 Cat’s Tongue by @trekell_art_supplies Paper is Tanslucent Yupo by @legionpaper and Gouache was Acryla by @holbeinartistmaterials https://www.instagram.com/p/B3iQChqHzdD/?igshid=1xuva5kmgbmoa