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Choosing the Best Circle Tools for Drawing
Circles can be challenging to draw, but there are a variety of circle tools for drawing available to make the process so much easier. Whether you are drawing mandalas or creating circular shapes, choosing the right circle tool can make or break your project. I have recently discovered some inexpensive but super useful tools for drawing circles. Today I will review my favorite circle tools for drawing and how to choose the best circle maker for your creative practice. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Why Use a Circle Tool for Drawing?…
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Creating Art Journal Textures with Gelli Prints
I love creating textures in my art journal and Gelli prints are a great starting point for adding depth in any project. I’ve been experimenting with ways to add textures on my Gelli prints so that they pop on my journal pages. Today’s art journal page covers several easy techniques for altering gel prints with a variety of mediums and tools. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Creating Shapes Lately I have been enamored with simple shapes in my art journal projects like circles and rectangles. I recently discovered the Helix Circle…
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Distress Embossing Glaze Techniques for the Art Journal
I love when new colors of Distress Embossing Glaze are released, these beautiful bright colors are perfect for spring! Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite embossing glaze techniques and how to use these glazes to create beautiful resists. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Distress Embossing Glazes If you haven’t heard of Distress embossing glazes, this is a unique embossing product. These translucent embossing powders are so versatile because they can be layered and color mixed unlike traditional embossing powders. The Distress embossing glazes are also…
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My Journey in Learning How to Draw
Learning how to draw can feel challenging and intimidating. Many of us learn to draw as children but don’t practice drawing as we get older. As an adult, how do we regain our drawing skills and improve on them? Today I will be sharing a few simple ideas to start you drawing again and my personal journey in this process through a drawing course. I Can’t Draw Have you ever told anyone that you can’t draw? I have said these words too many times over the last few years. Learning how to draw has always been an area where I struggled. Often I compared my work to others and felt…
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Neurographic Art with Pan Pastels
If you haven’t tried neurographic art, this is a great self-care exercise for your creative practice. I was recently introduced to neurographic art by a subscriber on my YouTube channel and wanted to show you how to do this easy technique using blendable Pan Pastels. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. If you are new to art journaling or a creative practice, knowing where to start can be half the challenge. The beauty of neurographic art is that you don’t have to have art experience to enjoy this technique. It is…
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Choosing the Best Watercolor Marker
Choosing the best watercolor marker for your creative practice may seem daunting. There are many brands, styles, and colors of pens and markers available. How do we figure out which brand would be the best for us? Today I will share with you my experiences using watercolor markers and what to look for when purchasing a watercolor marker. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Choosing the Best Watercolor Marker There are several things to consider when choosing the best watercolor marker to use for your creative practice. What are You Using Your…
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Textured Background Techniques for the Art Journal
I love adding interest to my projects with art journal textured background techniques. These beautiful techniques work for both my art journal projects and canvas projects. Adding texture as part of the initial layer before adding color lends to unique and beautiful results. Textures enhance the final look of your project and can help with design cohesion. Preparing the Surface Before adding background textures make sure to add a layer of gesso, especially on stretched canvas surfaces. This will strengthen the surface, add tooth, and allow you to add texture easily to the surface. Art Journal Textured Background Techniques There are many art journal texture techniques out there, but here…
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Canvas Preparation for the Art Curious
If you’ve been art journaling for a while, you may be interested in trying a project on canvas. For many of us it can be intimidating to know where to start with canvas preparation. When I first started painting and using canvases for mixed media, choosing a canvas, and learning how to prepare them for painting was confusing. This tutorial will show you how easy it is to prepare a canvas for painting including tips and techniques to give you great results. Materials for Canvas Preparation A Stretched Canvas or Canvas Board Choose a stretched canvas or canvas board that you would like to use in a project. Most stretched…
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5 Creative Techniques with Watercolor Markers
Watercolor markers are a fun and easy way to add beautiful blends of color to your creative projects. Watercolor markers and pens are easy to use and work well on a variety of surfaces. Today I am sharing 5 easy techniques for using watercolor markers in your creative projects. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Watercolor Markers Watercolor markers come in many brands and styles. These range from fine tip pens to dual brush markers in a variety of thicknesses and nib styles. If you are new to watercolor and watercolor…
The Art of Self-Care
