Have you ever had a
problem with a gritty pencil core? Newsletter Group Member Daphne L. from Toronto has the
following question for me...
“I have a quick question. I sharpened a pencil recently
and started working with it. There was a scratchy feel as I was applying the
colour to the paper. I didn’t think much of it and kept going. Suddenly I laid
down a dark streak of colour, much darker than the pencil’s actual shade. I was
able to remove the dark streak of colour but then I realized that the
scratching of the pencil over the paper had actually left an indent in the
paper. I haven’t had this happen before. Is this common? I am using Prismacolor
pencils and I thought they were a good brand. Thanks for your time.”
Thanks for the question Daphne. First up, Prismacolor is a very
good brand of pencil. What you experienced isn’t common when using coloured
pencils but it does happen. I suspect this bit of hard ‘something’ is simply a
tiny bit of undissolved pigment or binder that has been formed into the core. Considering
you actually laid down a dark streak of colour, I am guessing it is a bit of
pigment.
I have had this happen to
me. Here is how I deal with it...
When I feel that obvious scratching that you described, when
applying the colour to my paper, I stop working and I break the point off
completely. I then re-sharpen. This should take care of it. I have only had one
pencil that I had to break the lead a few times as the core had something
really weird in the mix. It really doesn’t happen very often though and getting
rid of just one sharpened tip should do it. You do want to get rid of it though
because (as you found) it can scratch your paper.
Try going over your scratch with a colorless blender pencil
(Prismacolor makes one). This pencil is waxy and you should be able to fill in
the scratch with the colourless wax. Then lightly apply the colour you wish to
have in that area. If the area is dark in value, keep going over it. By using
light pressure, there is less chance that your stroke will end up leaving
deposits on the edges of the scratch’s tunnel, which would end up outlining the
very scratch that you are trying to hide.
I hope this info helps Daphne.
If you have a question you would like me to
tackle, send it in. It just might make it into a newsletter.
_________________________________________________________________
Now about last week’s questions regarding 2014 – did you read
them over and then go on to something else?
If so, here is some feedback from a Newsletter Group Member whose name is Janice. She has a message for you.
“Hi Teresa. Thanks
for the list of questions in last week’s newsletter. I wanted to share my
experience in case it helps someone else get more value out of the questions
than I first did.
When I first
opened the newsletter, I just skimmed the questions. I answered some of the
ones that were obvious to me. I just answered them in my head. I could easily
remember the exhibit I attend last July and I remembered that I had renewed my
membership with my local art club. But I confess I didn’t actually think much
about most of it. I considered doing what you suggested, that is writing out my
answers but I was too lazy to go get a pen and paper and I didn’t want to go
dig out a calendar from last year to help me remember stuff.
On Sunday I met
a friend for coffee. She started telling me about how at work last week her
manager had put her team through a similar year in review sort of process. My friend
was astonished by just how much her department had accomplished. She could see
the targets they reached, the goals they met over the year and she also saw how
much her work had contributed to this.
This
conversation made me think of your questions. That night I went home, opened up
your email again and this time I had my 2014 calendar and some paper and my
favourite coloured pens. Might as well make it pretty right? J
Well I couldn’t
believe the results. I really thought about the parts of the questions that
asked me things like what I learned and what impacted me the most. I ended up
with pages of notes. You said it would be “powerful stuff” and you were right!
I am so glad I
decided to answer the questions properly.
I got so much
out of doing this that I have decided to put this to use in 2015. Instead of
waiting until next January, I am going to write down what I got out of an art
show (or whatever) right after it happens. That way I won’t forget.
Is there any way
my story could be used to help someone else that didn’t answer the questions?
Thank you for
writing them out for us.”
Thank you very much Janice for taking the time to write such a
thoughtful email. I am delighted that you went through the questions a second
time.
As you all can see, I am publishing her email in the hopes that
Janice’s experience will help
.
I am so delighted that Janice found the process powerful.
Living life with
awareness is always powerful stuff but we usually need a poke or a prod to ‘do the work’. Her chat
over coffee fortunately gave her a prod!
Please let Janice’s email, be a prod for you!
And Janice has a great idea. Why not grab your journal and
write out your thoughts immediately following something – write out what you
got out of that art seminar or presentation, what you liked about the exhibit.
Think about what you learned, what moved you or inspired you. Think about how
these insights can be used to improve your art making or your art habits.
Perhaps set aside time every month to review what happened
in the past four weeks.
If you have nothing to make note of, then this could be a
good reminder for you schedule in some artsy experiences.
________________________________________________________________
Dates for my spring classes will be announced in next
week’s Newsletter. Registration opens on January 23 (next
Friday). Spaces are limited so I always
encourage early registration in order to avoid disappointment.
________________________________________________________________
The further up you go, the more mistakes you are allowed.
Right at the top, if you make enough of them, it’s considered to be your style.
(Fred Astaire)
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