MY TOP 10 FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES

One of my secrets to is always carry a sketchbag! One may paint in the car or whenever! Strive to sketch 20 hours a week – in one year you will have painted 1,000 hours. After 10 years you will have accomplished 10,000 hours and you will be a master!

ART SUPPLIES THAT TRAVEL WELL IN A SKETCH BAG

Note: These art supplies can be purchased anywhere however Dickblick is nearly always the cheapest I have found, including from amazon.

Strathmore visual journal (140 lb.) 5x8

Tthis watercolor sketchbook is small and has great watercolor paper to get you creating on the go!

Tombow Dual Brush Pens

Incredible Watercolor Markers.  I use them weekly.

Niji Water brush

a water brush with a water supply - no mess!

Derwent inktense pencils

Watercolor pencils that are made from ink – very bright and colorful.

Sargent Watercolor crayons

Very fun to create watercolors!

Pentel Oil Pastels

Inexpensive and very opaque.

Yarka 12 Color Watercolor Paint

Most Inexpensive set of high quality watercolors.

OIL PAINT THAT DOESN'T SLOW YOU DOWN

Griffin Alkyd Winsor Newton Oil Paint

this oil paint dries in 24 hours, so you don’t have to wait a week for layers to dry.

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colors

Water-based Oil Paint – no need for turpentine – just use water!  Great for plein air studies or painting around kids!

Shiva Oil Sticks

Oil paint sticks that dry in 24 hours!

How to help your child become an Artist - Part 2

This is part 2 of 2  of a blog post on helping your child become an artist.

My 1st tips from the previous post are the following:

#1 - Teach your child to work.

#2 - As a parent pursue your own goals and dreams.

#3 -Give your child art supplies for birthdays and holidays.

#4 - Encourage them to fill 10 sketchbooks.

#5-  Take your children places.

#6 - Hang inspiring art in your home.

My mom played an important role in my development as an artist because she created a beautiful home that fed my visual well.  I had a few months of art lessons but my greatest influence were all the amazing paintings and beauty that my mom hung up in my childhood home that was a visual feast for me!

Hanging up art doesn't have to be expensive. 

My mom cut out calendars and framed them, she hung quilts, put up monthly decor that I enjoyed studying for many hours while I would do boring jobs like folding laundry or cleaning kitchens.

My mom loves to quilt but her 7 daughters only like to color - so we made a crayon quilt!  I drew these ladies on fabric with a fabric pen and then we colored this quilt wall hanging with Crayola crayons and ironed it which makes the color permanent.  (Use a paper towel for the wax to melt onto the paper towel and leave the color behind.)

The walls of your home are a silent teacher - that can influence your children.

How do you want to influence your children?

For me, I hang pictures of Jesus, religious buildings, fairy tales, hero art, patriotic pictures, and family photos because that is influence I want to give my children.

The other thing that helped me was going to the library.

Guess what??? 

Books have art.

Especially children's books and famous artist biographies!  Children learn so much from being exposed to great artwork.

#7 - Discover how your child likes to create.

I was the oldest of 11 children, so after my jobs were done I wanted to draw in my room.  But I didn't like to draw in my room because I felt lonely.  But if I colored out in the open, then I would be asked to run errands, or do little jobs, so I spent my time with video games, tv, or friends so that my time would be respected. 

Does your child like to create alone, on the go, or with people in the room? 

If they like people in the room then try not to interrupt them so they can create.  My friend Melissa puts an art table in the corner of her kitchen with art supplies always out and it works great!

Maybe your child would enjoy an outdoor art studio?

#8 - Take art classes in school, the community, and FIND AN ART MENTOR!  Work with a professional artist or art mentor in an apprenticeship. 

Art school is a recent invention, which is a wonderful opportunity.  But the way that one became an artist during the Renaissance was working with a mentor.  I didn't even think of finding a mentor as a child but I wish I had!

Steve Laney is a retired local art teacher that mentors me!  At my recent art show he taught me 10 amazing truths which I appreciated so much!

In elementary school we had an awesome art program at our school which gave us lots of hands opportunities to try different arts and craft projects.

Elementary art was fun, (especially melting crayons and folding paper in half to create art) but I had so many grand visions in my head I wanted to paint and I really needed to know the basics of drawing, composition and design. 

I felt like a bird in a cage that could not fly! 

In junior high and high school the art teachers were kind and wonderful people, but they had learned how to teach not how to draw or paint, so I didn't get the tools I needed to give voice to my dreams until I went to college.

(My pride could have also got in the way as well, because I thought I was so good in high school that I skipped some of the foundation classes.  I really needed a demanding teacher who would insist that I go through the paces of learning the foundational art principles.)

I felt like I wasted 5 years, which always haunts me.

These 5 years were not wasted, because it lit a fire inside me to gain knowledge that can not be quenched!

Thankfully, I got to go to college where I really learned the foundations!

If the art teacher at your school is not teaching the foundations of figure drawing, perspective, light and shadow (with reflected light), color theory, composition and design then find a mentor to teach you or give you advice.

If you can't find a mentor.  Take art lessons. 

If money is a challenge then you may barter for art lessons or work as an apprentice for free.  I taught a student who would work for me for an hour and then I would give her an hour art lesson.  She helped me prepare canvases and I helped her learn!  It was a win-win.

I teach art lessons once a month because I am passionate about helping artists learn to fly!  I have a You Tube channel that also teaches how to paint.

#9 - Learn from art tutorial books, online books, and Youtube! 

I recommend books under art books and tools on my site.  You Tube and Vimeo are amazing resources to learn and there are art schools online like SVSlearn, the Christ Oatley Academy, Pixar in a Box at the www.khanacademy.org and Podcasts that can teach one so much!  One can learn Photoshop on Phlearn.com and so many other amazing things on You Tube - even Bob Ross!

One's opportunities to learn are nearly limitless!

My son Ben and I have painted a painting with Bob Ross from You Tube which was a great learning experience.

#10 - Encourage your child to learn about art options so they can take a college level art class or pursue an art career.

When I went to college I didn't even know that art school existed!  Let your child know about this opportunity and take a tour of an art school, or a college art program, so they can learn about the opportunities to pursue art as a career if they desire.  They could be a web designer, graphic designer, art teacher, animator, interior designer, architect, floral designer, fashion designer, etc.

Good luck as you lay a rich soil for your child to pursue their flowering talents.  I hope these simple tips will help your child develop their talents - and don't forget to pursue your talents because it will inspire your children to follow their dreams!

Please post other helpful tips below!

Sincerely,
Krystal Meldrum
The Color Dancer

How to help your child become an Artist - Part 1

My parents recognized I was an artist when I was in first grade after I drew a picture from the book titled The Poky Little Puppy.

Here's the picture I drew when I was 6 years old.

Neither of my parents were artists.  So how did I become a great artist?

First of all, your child needs to have some desire to become an artist.  My son Hyrum reminded me of this because he is an artist, not because I am an artist.  He enjoys art and he does it on his own. 

Desire is key!

This is sad, but true. 

Even though a child has talent, that doesn't mean they will pursue their talent. 

As a parent you can not give your child desire, but you can create an environment that makes it easier for their talent to grow.

Here are 5 of my top 10 tips of advice for parents of budding artists.

#1 - Train your child to work.  Artists work and they have grit!

This is my first 3 children when they were 3-7 years old.  Teach your children to work when they are young so they can pursue their dreams when they grow up!

If you're child can work, they can become an artist. 

If your child can take an overwhelming job like a dirty kitchen, bathroom, or playroom from chaos to order, they can become a great artist because art takes discipline and mastery.

How does one train a child to work?

When they are 3-5 years old they think doing jobs with their parent or older sibling is a game. 

Work with the child doing simple things like folding small rags, sorting laundry, unloading the dishwasher, etc.  Most parents baby their children and do way too much for them because it's time-consuming to teach children to work.

Training children to work will pay rich dividends.  It's raising your child "Hard, Easy" instead of "Easy, hard." 

I paid a neighborhood girl $10.00 a week to clean my bathrooms, mop the floors, and fold and put away the laundry with me on Tuesday afternoons so I could have the "emotional strength" to work with little children training them to do simple jobs like peeling carrots, cooking, cleaning, etc.  Sometimes working with them is fun and it is best done one on one, but sometimes one feels like you are beating your head against a brick wall to get them trained. 

I spent 61% of my energy each day training my children.  Now they are amazing teenagers who can work!  It's worth it!

As they get older don't be afraid to give them harder jobs - I always ask myself - is this job at least as hard as milking a cow night and morning.  If it isn't - keep adding jobs so you can raise a child with grit.

Artists have grit.

#2 - As the parent pursue your own goals and dreams.

So many parents worry and encouraging their child to pursue their talents.

"Do you as a parent pursue your own talents?"

Becoming a parent, is a very time consuming task but it's important to pursue some hobbies and "sharpen the saw" as Steven Covey would say to keep yourself excited about life and to fill your bucket.

Actions speak louder than words!

My dad inspired me by pursuing his talent of running a 5K during one of the lowest points in his life!  He had huge financial reversals, he was very sick and not sleeping for months.  He ran a Santa 5K Run after preparing for 90 days.  He said he couldn't have done it without my little brother and sister running beside him.  He said that they were like angels running beside him giving him wind beneath his wings!  My mom and my 8 other siblings were also cheering him on!  He's an inspiration!
 

My dad Jeffrey Cooper, Steven Cooper and Sister MaraLyn Cooper helped my dad pursue his talent of running a 5K Santa Fun Run during own of the lowest points of his life!

If you as a parent can pursue a talent or hobby and still be a great parent, that will inspire your child to go for their dreams as well!

My mom's Gracie Mae Interactive Paper Doll Quilt was a life-long goal that she accomplished.

During the same time that my dad was preparing to run the 5K, my mom decided to accomplish her dream of creating a paper doll quilt.  She had always loved paper dolls, quilting and decorating her home around the monthly holiday. 

So she created a paper doll quilt on cloth where she can dress the doll each month!  I drew and colored it for her and she sewed it together!  Each month she changes Gracie Mae's clothes and she is so happy that she accomplished her goal!

Even if your talent is something simple like reading - read books and share your passion with your children so they know you enjoy it!

#3 - Give your children, grandchildren and neighbor children art supplies for their birthdays, Christmas and rewards.

I love my small watercolor sketchbook, waterbrush, and watercolor markers because you can create anywhere! Check out my article on my top 10 favorite art supplies.

I didn't realize that I wanted art supplies because I always got dolls and they were beautiful and fun for awhile.

But my jaw would drop and I would practically be drooling when I saw some child get an art set for Christmas.  I didn't realize how bad I wanted it, so give your children art supplies and lots of white paper so they can create!

Another tip:  If you give a child an art set - get it out of the case it comes in and put it in a handy travel bag so it doesn't look like a shiny museum piece but actually a usable art tool instead!

#4 - Encourage your child to fill sketchbooks and help them limit their time on electronics. 

Here's all my drawing sketchbooks I have filled by age 40!  I have filled at least 20 since I've lost a few over the years!

Teach them to always carry a sketchbook so they can draw on the bus, at the doctor's office, at school, while waiting for their piano lessons or for you to pick them up instead of playing on a phone.

Warn your children about the dangers of pornography so they don't waste their life in time-wasters and sleaze.  A great site is to help you teach your child to avoid pornography is https://protectyoungminds.org/

Back when I was a kid I watched so much tv and played so many video games that it really bugged me, but it didn't change me. 

I wish my parents would have encouraged me to draw or do something else with my time.  Figure drawing is super important, but the figure can be learned with swimsuits on and from good resources.  Learn from art books, Youtube, coloring books, comics, etc.

When I was in college studying art one of the students was a very advanced draftsmen.  I asked him how he was so good at figure drawing and faces, etc.  He went to his desk and brought back 10 sketchbooks and slammed them down on the desk.

It made a great impression on me.

He had filled 10 sketchbooks and that's why he was such a good artist! 

Wow!  I started sketching more after that!

Always carry a sketch bag or sketchbook because life is made up of lots of carpe diems - lots of little moments to seize the day! 

#5 - Take your children places.

Take your children on trips to see nature like Yellowstone, National Parks, the ocean, lakes, mountains, and sand dunes. 

Take them to art museums and any kind of museum so they have visually rich inventory to pull from later in life. 

Especially take them to the library to get books they like, fairy tales, picture books, artist biographies for children. 

Guess what?  Books have lots of art inside!

The next 5 tips will be coming next week!  So stay tuned!  Good luck inspring your children!  You can do it!

Your friend,
Krystal Meldrum
The Color Dancer

What Was it Really Like to go to Art School?

First of all, I didn't go to Art School.  I received a Bachelors of Fine Art from Brigham Young University which was an incredible education, but it wasn't a prestigious art & design school. 

But more about that later. 

Going to college is in my opinion the fastest, cheapest way to climb the Artistic Mountain of Knowledge to become a professional artist because one may gain an education in only 4 years and get to sample many different artistic directions.

I attended BYU-Idaho, a junior college for 2 years where I received an Associate's Degree in Illustration & Graphic Design, then I married my high school sweetheart and finished my degree receiving a Bachelor's of Fine Art in Illustration after 3 more years from BYU which was a 4-year university.

How much does Art School vs. College cost?

Art school would've have been a great opportunity, but I didn't even know art school existed until after my first year of college.  My college education for 4 years cost me around $20K from 1996-2001.  (I think one could get an education from a normal university for $30K now). 

In 1998 Art Schools cost $64K for 4 years.  In April of 2016, I visited an amazing art design school in California and saw many graduates with their final show.  I asked one graduate how much she spent and she said she was $275K in debt! 

That's more expensive than my house!

I planned on having children and being a stay-at-home mom and I wanted to support my husband as the primary breadwinner so my $20K BYU Art education was fabulous!

I knew that since I didn't go to art school I would always need to supplement my education to be able to compete in the art world.

And it is so easy today to continue gaining knowledge without an expensive education because there are so many online art schools and Youtube is so helpful!  I love SVSlearn.com, ChristOatley.com, Watts Atelier and there are so many amazing podcasts too!

Also, I have so many professional artists that mentor others in my area of Utah - it's a real Art Mecca with Beau-Arts Academy, Howard Lyon Fine Art & Illustration, Casey Child's Fine Art & Illustration, The Master's Academy of Art School, Creative Collaborative, Critique Groups at libraries, Dr. Micah Christensen, also known as Bearded Roman who gives free lectures on art and gallery stroll evenings to mix and mingle and get inspired with artists.  

Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself! 

I want to tell about my experience at BYU-Idaho, which was a 2 year college where I got my Associate's Degree in Illustration.  I wanted a small college to start at so I could get attention from the teachers and I chose BYU-Idaho over another 2 year college because BYU-I had 8 art professors opposed to 3 at the other junior college so I felt like I could learn more. 

Many of my friends felt that I received a better education than they did at a 4 year institution because all their foundation classes were taught from graduate students and adjunct faculty, however my classes were taught from professors that had attended Professional Art Schools or had Master's Degrees. 

To find a good art school, one needs to find a challenging school that will teach them the fundamentals;  good figure drawing, light & shadow, perspective, design, photography, marketing skills, and computer program skills such as Photoshop, etc.

I learned recently that dolphins that were captured from the wild had been taught to communicate by pointing their noses at words or images.  The dolphins were asked what they missed about the ocean. 

The dolphins responded, "Sharks."

You may wonder, sharks? 

Yes, sharks.

The dolphins missed the struggle, the fight, the challenge that occurred from inhabiting the same waters as the sharks.

Art school or college level art classes are the opportunity to learn in the ocean at shark speed!

Often times, as artists we get discouraged or distracted because we are emotional beings.

We get discouraged because our eyes improve faster than our hands, and so we stop painting.  But not when one is in college.  As long as one keeps doing the homework one keeps learning from a fire hose of 5-7 classes a semester!

Artists also tend to get distracted because there is so many exciting possibilities.  Artists experience option overload and stall out and do nothing or do something but because it wasn't perfect enough they tend to give up.

Giving up is the wirst thing to do.

College keeps one on the train track, chugging along up the mountain until one has enough tools to hop off the train and keep trekking.

In art school one doesn't just paint when "one feels like it."  One assignment comes after another, which are opportunities to get critiques. 

One doesn't just learn from one's personal critique because the teacher puts up all 30 assignments and critiques all the paintings in the class.  If one is teachable each assignment can teach one 30 ways to improve!

It's learning through a fire hose all right!

I have only had 2 negative critiques where the teacher turned it into a rant session about how lazy we were, but I knew I was a hard worker so I tossed off the words.

Critiques were my education! 

Don't be afraid of critiques.  They are one's stepping stones if one wants to climb the  mountain of art knowledge.

Artists are opinionated people that think they know what they want to do. 

School is great to help artists get out of their "boxes" and see and try so many new things - like dip art, fluid painting, mixed media, sculpture, digital programs like Illustrator, Corel Painter, Adobe Photoshop, Typography design, Graphic Design, Animation, product design, etc. 

For example, when I went to college I thought that Abstract paintings like Picasso's Guernica and Jackson Pollock's drip paintings were "not" art.  But after my education I am thankful for these artists because art is not only realism, we have been liberated.  Art is Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and I get to try them all to find my niche!

College had been awesome - it had given me a little taste of many things but definitely not everything - I remember feeling disappointed as I ran to get in line for the graduation procession.

There was still so much I did not know!

College doesn't teach you everything - when I graduated I still needed to learn to paint landscapes, drapery, web design, and story writing, but it had given me many of the tools that I especially needed.

I had hoped to graduate as a successful artist, but I graduated with my art toolbox securely in my backpack and the mountain still lie before me. 

So after I took a 15 year sabbatical to raise my 6 children, I started my intense education again.

I am having a blast painting 20 hours a week for the last 2 years experimenting with many different medias and styles.

I am showing my art in art shows and competitions and I am receiving helpful customer feedback.

My current next step is to find a mentor to work with me for 3-9 months to put the finishing critiques on my art and then get a gallery and a publisher!

Good luck in your artistic journey!

Your friend,
Krystal Meldrum
The Color Dancer

How to Paint in Acrylics - an Abstract Woman

Hello My Color Dancer Friends,

I just recently finished a painting called “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”.

I have always loved the proverb, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”.  So, the person who raises a child determines the character of that child and so influences the type of society that the next generation will create.

While raising 6 children there were many long days of cleaning up, making meals, washing loads of laundry, chores with children, homework, 5 boys rough housing, not too mention my children have had 3 brain surgeries, 2 reconstructive facial surgeries (after a sledding accident), one spinal surgery, and 2nd degree hand burns (fireplace accident) which has made me feel weary to the bone.

I am a person that loves to be in the limelight, but that is not my calling right now. 

I remember one day thinking in my mind, "When will it be my great performance?" 

I felt the Spirit of God whisper in my mind, "This is your great performance!"

God appreciated me being a mother. 

God appreciates you.

God sees the work that parents do and He is so thankful for us!  We watch over his children and train them so when they grow old they will not depart from the truths they have learned.

One of my favorite quotes of all time is by David O. McKay which follows:

“The noblest calling in the world is motherhood. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece, or who can write a book that will influence millions, deserve the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will exert influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God.”

Mothers are priceless!  Mothers truly effect generations!

Enough, about the meaning of the painting.  Below is a one hour video tutorial of me teaching how I painted this painting.  It's interesting.  I give lots of tips and then the last 10 minutes I finish the painting like a speedy rabbit to music.

You can see the video here!

Be sure to like my post and leave a comment. See you soon!

Welcome to Krystal's Blog!!!

I love to write, teach, and paint!  I am so excited we have found each other!  Are you an artist or do you just love art!  I think we may find that we have a lot in common!

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Krystal Nanette Cooper Meldrum.  I am 40 years old and I am a happily married artist to my high school sweetheart Jeremy Meldrum and we have 6 beautiful children in Payson, Utah.

I graduated in 2001 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration.  I love to paint very colorful, fantasy paintings that have powerful motion and rhythms.  My dream is to create art that teaches, enlightens, and inspires!

I put my art on a shelf for several years when my children were young so I could train them to run the house when I was ready to start painting again.  I got myself and my family organized and built a home organizing business which may help you get organized as well at www.house-organization.com.  I love organizing because it opens up time to paint!!!

Finally, 2 years ago I started painting again! 

At first, I was scared.  I hadn't painted for years.  What if I'd lost my talent?  What if my family couldn't support my dreams?  What if my children became vagabonds because they're mom became a famous artist!  Anyway, you can probably tell I am a worrier (and a little nutty.)

Anyway, I found strategies to paint that I would like to teach you - even if you have a busy life as a mother, caregiver, employee, business owner, student, etc. 

You can paint! 

You can draw. 

And it can bring you a lot of joy and satisfaction!

Here's my first tip!  Sketch or Paint 15-20 hours a week and log it on an logging app on your phone or keep track in a notebook.  15-20 hours a week may seem crazy, but it's surprisingly doable!  Keep track of your hours for 90 days. 

When I started logging my hours, I found that by Friday usually I'd only painted 5 hours so I started carrying my sketch bag with me all day Saturday and I'd somehow get my 15 hours finished! 

Always carry a sketch bag with you is my other tip! 

I remember one week my son said, "Mom, you have painted 60 hours this week!  I am struggling and I think I will have psychological damage.  I need you to clean my kitchen!"

I listened to him and wondered, 'did I really paint 60 hours this week?'  I checked my log. 

I calmly responded, "Son, I only painted 17 hours this week.  I've been home the whole time and I think you are going to be ok.  Go and clean the kitchen."  He wandered out of the room and cleaned the kitchen.

BooYah!!!  I am a mom and I can have a LIFE!!!  I can do something for myself and the house will not fall apart!  I became a lot happier developing my talents and my children eventally, were happy that their mom was more happy too!

So, remember my tips:
1-  Log your sketching hours for 90 days
2- Always carry a sketch bag with you wherever you go!

Your friend,
Krystal Meldrum
The Color Dancer

P.S. How do you accomplish your talent hours?