Chromatic Alchemy

Class Resources

Books & People

These are a few of the books I keep going back to for inspiration and exploration:

• The Secret Lives of Color

• The Color Scheme Bible https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S30C2936069

• Make Ink https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S30C3405726

• The Elements of Color — The Seattle Public Library

• Color — The Seattle Public Library

• Color Harmony for Artists https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/item/show/3508997030

• An Atlas of Rare & Familiar Colour — The Seattle Public Library

• Blue and Yellow Don’t Make Green: Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green

These artists are GREAT for color instruction

• Jane Blundell swatches paint samples from just about everyone: Jane Blundell Artist

• Josie Lewis (@josielewisart) • Instagram photos and videos

• Peter Donahue (@art.pete.repeat) • Instagram photos and videos

I also make my own paints from found pigments under the tutelage of these fine artists:

• Heidi is an ochre collector and forager: https://earlyfutures.com/

• The pigment foraging club I’ve been a part of for years: PIGMENTS

• Julie taught me how to make my own paint: https://www.instagram.com/zhookie/

Paint

• I use this kid’s set when teaching because the paint is surprisingly high quality. Very pigmented and it’s nice to carry around. If you want to explore watercolor or are looking for a solid travel set, this is a great place to start. Yarka Semi Moist Watercolor Pan Sets

If you’re wanting to expand your colors, this is a great way to find great quality paint that you love:

• Dot cards: Search: 12 results found for "dot card"

• Confetti packs: Daniel Smith Watercolor Confetti Packs

• More dot cards: Jackson's Art Supplies

• W&N Dot card: Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors - Dot Card | BLICK Art Materials

You should also definitely try working with fountain pen inks!

• Nick Stewart does some really cool stuff and swatches a ton too: FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART

• Get your fountain pen ink samples here (a little goes a loooong way): Fountain Pen Ink (4ml Samples)

Brushes

• The best are the 5 for $3 at Daiso. Only get the ones with the white nylon tips though. The rest are not great.

• I have lots of fancy brushes, but I keep coming back to these. They’re solid and you can go so far with just a handful of these. At a minimum, get a round 10, but if you want a few more, get a round 4, and a 1” wash will give you nice full set. Snap watercolor brushes

• This is one of my favorites in general. Holds lots of water and a sharp-ish point while being able to do lots of washes. Casaneo Watercolor Quill Brushes

Paper

Sketchbooks that are less expensive and good for trying stuff out:

• Nature Sketch Mixed Media Notebook

• Hand Book Paper Co. Watercolor Journals | BLICK Art Materials

• Hahnemühle Watercolor Books | BLICK

• Hahnemühle The ZigZag Book | BLICK Art Materials

• https://shop.stlartsupply.com/collections/watercolor-paper/products/canson-xl-mix-media-pad

• https://shop.stlartsupply.com/collections/watercolor-paper/products/fabriano-studio-watercolor-fat-pad

This is where I spend my birthday and holiday money:

• Great way to try lots of paper types Cheap Joe's Watercolor Paper Sample Packs

• Blick 100% cotton paper is a really nice paper for less-ish. Blick Premier Watercolor Blocks | BLICK Art Materials

• Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper Blocks | BLICK Art Materials

Classes

• Online course - Creating Liquid Watercolors and Botanical Inks (Gina y Miguel (Tortolita Inventiva))

• https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/1538-watercolor-travel-journal

• https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/154-modern-watercolor-techniques

Who’s Inspiring Me Right Now

• I’m delving deeply into fiber arts and gel printing and these women are teaching me so much:

  • Shelley Rhodes and her beautifully destructive mixed media artwork home

  • I’ve taken a few workshops with Gimena Romero, both on Mexican styles of embroidery and integrating watercolor and embroidery together. https://www.instagram.com/gimenaromero/

• I love her mixed media and sketchbook classes: Karen Stamper

• Sally does a lot of urban texture collecting https://sallyhirst.co.uk/

• Jayne prints using fabric, which has blown my mind! https://www.instagram.com/jayneemersontextiles/

• Here’s a few artist friends who also heavily influence my work:

• https://www.instagram.com/davidchangstudio/

• https://www.instagram.com/larartstudio/

• https://www.instagram.com/leafbyjana/

• https://www.instagram.com/findingbeautyseattle/

Last but not least, if you want to visit our studio, grab some time here: https://calendly.com/luzbratcher/studio-mercia-visit