New box for drawing tools!

I have found a most practical thing from the bargain sale of local artists' shop in Jyväskylä. This wooden box actually has an easel on its upper deck and is spacious enough to store all color pencils, inks etc. needed for drawing. Painting tools would need a much bigger bag, of course, but this very box (British make)  fulfills the needs of a travelling drawer.

This is the night site for my drawing activity during wintertime: our quiet kitchen. The table stays by the window and I can watch the nearly-dark view towards the neighbors below (we live in the middle of a hillside). Traffic is almost stopped during winter nights which also helps to focus on drawing.

Learning to paint with oil colours

After starting oil painting during last winter's art school season I have found this technique very interesting. I am familiar with ink and colour pen drawing as well as acrylic colours but, for some reason, regarded oil colours too difficult for me. But now I know that they are not - and the wide variety of shades which are the results of mixing only five basic colours is very challenging!

An equipment to hold the canvas in vertical position is needed when working with oil colours. Drawing horizontally, on the kitchen table, is easy - but to see the whole oil painting canvas with one look and not to drop any colours from the brushes on finished areas is not possible without an easel. I borrowed one to continue working home during summertime. I recommend relatively large model because it is more stable than smaller ones.