A work of art
Creating art is something we have the freedom to do at any time of year. One of the advantages of drawing and painting in September is the weather allows us to comfortably do so outside. The quality of light is wonderful and there's an abundance of subject options in nature.
Since the temperature is comfortable, there are plenty of people outside and you can ask someone to pose outdoors if you're interested in portraits. Landscapes are also great. We're particularly lucky in Niagara to have myriad selections: vineyards, Lake Ontario, the Niagara river (and, of course, the falls), historic downtown scenes and buildings, the escarpment, etc. Fruit trees are ripening and plenty of vegetables such as squashes and corn, if you prefer to draw still life images.
Do you draw? Paint? Have you wanted to try? Some mediums are more portable than others. Marker pens and drawing inks that dry waterproof are great options because they don't smudge and allow you to layer on watercolour paints, if you wish. They're also lightweight and easy to carry and transport. You have the option to stick with black and white, grey or brown shades or a range of colours right from the start. Let's take a look at some options in the shop:
In addition to felt-tip pens and markers, you may enjoy using waterproof inks to draw. You may choose to use these alone to create your artwork, or along with another medium on top, such as watercolour paint, which can be used as a translucent layer of colour. Coloured waterproof inks creates even more options to mix and match.
When in comes to using these inks, there are a few options: you can use some with a fountain pen (though care must be taken here to not allow the ink to dry in the pen and it must be thoroughly cleaned afterward), with a steel nib and nib holder often referred to as a dip pen, or a glass dip pen, which is essentially a nib and holder all in one instrument.
We hope this issue has inspired you to try your hand at drawing and painting outside. If you do so, let us know! We're so uplifted by the creative activities of our customers and neighbours.
