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Ergonomic Arm Rest for Artists: A Must-Have Accessory for Your Workspace

23/2/2024

Ergonomic arm rest review by Karen M Berisford

As a professional artist, I spend significant time working at my desk. While I have an easel, I only use it when working on large paintings. The easel's adjustability, both horizontally and vertically, is impressive. Still, it lacks arm support, making it uncomfortable to work on for extended periods.

Working at an easel for long hours can be challenging for artists, as it can cause pain and stiffness in the shoulders, arm and wrist. This can affect the quality and enjoyment of the art, as well as the health and well-being of the artist.

A while ago, I bought an ergonomic arm rest which attaches to a solid surface, and use it to support my forearm and wrist when working from my easel. It provides the necessary support to reduce the strain on my hand and wrist as I work and it has helped to improve my posture and reduce the stress on the muscles and joints. It also allows my hand and arm to move freely and smoothly, giving more control and precision over the strokes.

I have provided a video below showing how the arm clamp operates.

My armrest is constructed of metal, which is necessary to support the weight of my arm. The armrests need to have some weight behind them to clamp onto a desk securely while also supporting the weight of your arm. A few companies sell ergonomic armrests, and as I am not endorsing any particular brand, the fittings may differ from one brand to another.

An ergonomic arm rest is adjustable and flexible and the height of the arm rest can be changed to suit the preferences and needs of the artist. There are five different height settings, up to 4 inches, to choose from. The arm rest can also swivel and move with the arm as the artist works. The arm rest has a clamp that fits most easels, and can be attached and detached easily.

The one I have is from BONTEC which I purchased on AmazonUK, however there are others brands available which may differ slightly in their design.

There are numerous arm rest designs available if this style is not suitable.
Here is the link on Amazon.

By sharing this information, I hope others may also benefit from its usefulness. Please note that I am not promoting or endorsing this product but offering friendly advice for those who may find it beneficial.

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5 MUST-HAVE products for the graphite pencil ARTIST

14/10/2022

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Are you a graphite artist, or trying graphite pencils for the first time?
You don't need a large assortment of products. If you enjoy drawing outdoors, you can travel light, with no need for solvents and little to no mess.

The pencils are the most important part of the graphite toolkit, but they are more effective when combined with other products. In this blog, we discuss the five essential accessories for the graphite artist. If you are new to graphite pencils, you may prefer some over others, conditional on the style of your work. Let's take a look at them.

ERASERS/RUBBERS

Erasers are a must for any artist. Not only are they useful for erasing mistakes from your work, they can also be used as part of the creative technique. Highlight areas by erasing, lifting and softening the graphite to achieve the correct definition needed. An eraser is essential, but search any online art store and you will find so much choice. You may see it as overkill, and to a point, you are correct. Many art companies market similar products which they endorse for their own product ranges, so deciding which is the better option can be overwhelming.
Although we don't lean towards any particular brand, we provide images of the products we use ourselves, or have chosen purely for representation.

We discuss five different styles of eraser, that, depending on your artistic style, could be of interest to you. Do let us know in the comments section at the bottom of this page, what your personal favourite eraser(s) is and why.

standard eraser

This style of eraser is most commonly used. The corners, edges and the flat surface can be used wherever you need to erase. Choosing a dust-free option minimises dust drop, and is safer. These erasers do not contain any harmful phthalates (chemical compounds), but contain a mixture of balanced plastics.

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Kneadable putty rubber

Kneaded erasers have great flexibility, allowing you to stretch, compress, split, and mould it into shape to achieve precision. You can create highlights, clean edges and trim lines during the drawing process. You may struggle to remove dark marks, and they can also smear or stick if they get too warm.

PENCIL RUBBER

The Perfection Eraser Pencil is an eraser core in a wood-cased barrel. It is ideal for detailed erasing. The white end erases ink. The pink end erases graphite and coloured pencil.

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PEN ERASER

The refillable precision eraser Mono Zero Classic erases fine lines and small detailed corrections, where precision is essential. The classic version is available with round and rectangular tips.

the must-have eraser

Battery powered eraser

If you like detail, a battery powered eraser is the most useful tool to have in your arsenal. Use this alongside other erasers, to get the very best out of your work. There is no other eraser on the market that removes pencil from paper, like a battery powered eraser. It lifts almost all pencil from your paper, removing marks effortlessly, and doing all the hard work for you, leaving you to concentrate on accuracy. We highly recommend you practice how to hold and control this product before trying it on important work, as it is quite powerful!

The white hairs were created with the battery powered eraser

soft brush

Avoid touching your paper with your hands. The natural oils in your skin can transfer onto the paper, leaving behind smears and dirt that can stain. This may cause the graphite to congregate in patches, which you may struggle to remove. We recommend that you use a soft bristle brush to remove excess graphite or eraser dust from your paper, to avoid any surface contact. A make-up brush is a low-cost option. We recommend that you place a clean sheet of paper or glassine, between hand and drawing to avoid the transfer of oils.

Emboss tools

Embossing tools are used to indent your paper before you apply any pigment. This protects the surface of the paper from saturation. This is applied in areas you require highlights, such as catchlights in the eyes and strands of fur/hair, but it can also be applied between layers, to isolate and imprint any contours. Embossing tools are an indispensable product for artists. Sold individually or in multiple packs, each one has a metal ball attached to the tip, each with differing widths. Embossing tools can be used for a whole manner of arts and crafts, so we would recommend you purchase a pack, even if you don't use them for graphite work. Caution should be applied when using on soft papers like cotton as you may damage the surface. Abrasive paper, are not suitable for this technique as it will weaken the grit on the surface.

Royal Langnickel soft grip embossing tools 3 pack

Building up the layers of a graphite drawing of a dog's eye

Indenting is not a challenging technique, although, as you are making a mark in your paper, you do need to plan. If you are new to this technique, practice on a spare sheet of paper first, or why not try our tutorial here, which explains this technique.

blending tools

There are numerous tools that you can use for blending graphite. Tissues, tortillions, cotton buds, even make up sponges. We discuss two of the most effective tools to blend.

paper stumps & tortillions

Paper stumps and tortillions are tightly packed rolls of paper which form a pointed tip, allowing you to burnish your work across both large and small areas. Although you can peel away a layer of the paper when it becomes over-saturated, it can be useful to leave any excess pencil on the tip, as you can use this to apply a softer layer of pencil to your paper.

Paper stumps are pointed at both ends and are available in multiple thicknesses which can be purchased individually or in a pack. Tortillions are shorter and thinner and pointed on one end only. They are sold in multipacks as the are not as durable as the stumps. Stumps and blenders can be used with other mediums such as coloured pencils and pastels, but we suggest you keep them separate and avoid cross-contamination.

tissues

Tissues are the ideal product to use if you do not have any blending tools. Wrap it round your finger to blend larger areas, tear off a strip and wrap it round the tip of a blunt pencil to smudge and blend smaller areas. You should never blend pencil with your fingers as the natural oils will transfer to your paper and can damage your drawing. Pocket tissues are the ideal size to rip and tear to fit your needs, but you can use standard size tissues and even sheets of toilet roll. Kitchen roll may be too coarse, so may not be ideal. We do not recommend tissues that are infused with anything.

fixative

If you work with graphite pencils, we recommend that you fix your drawing once you have finished. It protects from accidental smudging (although it is not smudgeproof) and can add an extra layer of preservation if you buy a fixative with UV protection.

It is important to keep some distance between the can and your artwork (around 12"), in order to achieve an even layer. Make sure you shake the can thoroughly, and give it a light, even spray, using deliberate motion of left to right and up to down. Don't over saturate.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE USEFUL

We include a couple of other products that you may find useful, if not for your graphite pencil case, maybe for your other artistic ventures.

Sakura gelly roll pen in white - nib size 08

white gelly pen

If you want to add some really vivid highlights into your drawing, the white Sakura Gelly roll pen is the ideal choice. With 3 nib sizes, it is waterproof, acid free and fade resistant.

ERASING SHIELD/STENCIL

The drawing template shield is made of flexible stainless steel. They are very thin and work easily with an eraser. Good for precise and controlled erasing and drawing.

LEAVE US A COMMENT

What is your favourite product when working with graphite pencils and why? Have you changed products or brands over the years, or do you have a product that you have used for many years, even decades? Share with us all below.

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Articles found in our latest Newsletter (Q2)

20/6/2022

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Our newsletter has dropped and we have four new articles, including a brand new medium for our mini tutorials section, the oil pastel. If you haven't tried oil pastels, we would highly recommend you give them a go. Our new tutorial only takes 10 minutes to create a highly effective piece of work, and maybe you will fall in love with the medium too? We certainly love them!
We like to cover a different medium or product, in each article, so this quarter, we provide a list of blending tools for soft pastel artists, a selection of black papers for artists who enjoy working on a dark surface. We have chosen various surfaces and brands, suitable for numerous mediums, not just pencils.
Finally, we have updated the Prismacolor pencil artist. We really delved deep into the history of these pencils and believe us, these pencils have a great history. They span over a hundred years! We also discuss what these pencils can achieve, as we are aware that they are a favourite of many coloured pencil artists.

Click on any of the images below to visit the article and have a read. Why not grab a coffee, as we do throw lots of information into our articles, so we hope you enjoy them.

About the Prismacolor pencil
Updated

In this quarters' newsletter is the Prismacolor pencil. We analyse the claims found on the Prismacolor.com regarding their pencils. We share our personal views, as well as those of other artists', found from online research, and explain the metamorphosis of the Prismacolor pencil, which spans over a 100 years and is fascinating! Click the link to read the article. It is a long one so you may wish to grab a coffee before you start.

10 blending tools for soft pastels

Do you work with soft pastels or relatively new to the medium and require guidance? Have you found a particularly efficient way to mix soft pastels? Did you know that there are many ways to blend pastels? In this article, we provide a list of 10 blending tools that will assist you in your work.

12 Popular black papers for artists

During our search for the 12 black surfaces in this article, we found many more, with companies producing their own ranges, in varying shades of black and different textures. The following article provides you with a selection of the most popular brands, including some lesser known.

Brand new medium added to our tutorials section
Oil pastels

Are you new to oil pastels or wish to try the medium, but unsure where to start? Oil pastels are so easy to manipulate, which make them an ideal medium for the absolute beginner. We provide a simple step by step guide, allowing you to create a highly effective drawing in just 10 minutes.

Juicy strawberry oil pastel painting for a tutorial

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Let us know if you would like to see any other articles or tutorials by leaving us a comment below this article. Also, if you enjoyed an article in particular, let us know so we can do more like it. We always like to hear from you, the reader, so we can continue providing you useful content, and that you become a returning visitor to step by step art.

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Art Spectrum Colourfix 'Smooth'

19/11/2020

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A while back I purchased a couple of sheets of the latest Colourfix paper. It is a smoother version of the standard paper that was launched by Art Spectrum in 2017
Available colours are the same as the standard Colourfix options which you can view HERE

Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Smooth is manufactured by screen printing Colourfix™ Smooth Primer onto European Archival 300gsm Hot Pressed watercolour paper making 340gsm pastel paper.
Colourfix™ Smooth is a versatile surface that can be used for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
The Colourfix™ Smooth texture is ideal for pastel artists who are looking for a not so toothy surface. The surface still has enough soft tooth to enable the artist to do multiple layers of pastel.

Colourfix™ Smooth is available:
Colours: 20 (As the Colourfix standard)
Sheet sizes: 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) and 50x70cm (20” x 28”) 10 sheets per pack.
Rainbow packs available in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”)
Cool and Warm packs in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) size

Primer

You can also purchase Colourfix smooth as a primer which allows you to paint it over any surface and create your art over the top. The primer is available in all colours found in the paper surfaces.

Comparison between the standard Colourfix paper and the smooth version

Below is a magnified image of the Colourfix standard paper versus the smooth surface. As you can see, the standard surface appears quite gritty next to the smooth surface. You can see how the smooth compares to the very popular Pastelmat paper below.

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Here is a magnified image of the Colourfix smooth and Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper comparison. They look and feel exactly the same and I suspect Art Spectrum brought out the Colourfix smooth paper in competition with Pastelmat, knowing how popular the paper is.

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

Having completed a soft pastel drawing on this paper, it reminded me of the popular Pastelmat paper. Pastels go on smoothly and is easy to blend on. As I blend by overlaying pastels rather than using my fingers or tools, this paper makes it easier to do this because of its smoothness, not as easy on the original surface which has more of a tooth. This paper is great for those just starting out with pastels and is suitable for other mediums such as pencils and acrylic paints.

Violet flower in soft pastels on Art Spectrum Colourfix smooth Leaf green dark tone

The latest tutorial available on our website, created for inclusion in our autumn newsletter 2020, shows you how to create a Violet flower on the Colourfix smooth paper. Using soft pastels on the Leaf Green Dark tone (you can use any colour surface) we break down the process of base application with pastel blocks to creating the fine details using the PITT pastel pencils (you can use your own pastel range)

Why not give our pastel tutorial a go - Click to visit the page

NEW COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

The Colourfix original paper surface is also available in a more robust form known as the 'Optimum board'.
Unlike the Pastelmat surface, who has their own version which includes the foamcore (and was the first to offer this type of surface I believe?), the Colourfix surface also includes a thin layer of aluminium to prevent warping.

Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board is a high density archival and acid free foamcore board, hand screen printed with Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Primer..
The secret that separates this board from all others is a super thin layer of Aluminum within the board that prevents warping and helps provide this substrate’s lightweight and sturdy characteristics.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board has a robust toothy surface that will hold layers of pastel without the need for fixative, allowing the velvet bloom and vibrant colour of pastel to be preserved.
The new Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board comes in 6 lightfast colours all with the Original Colourfix™ tooth. It is a superb substrate for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours, and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board is available in 16 x 20” and ready to be framed without the need for a backing board.

What else you should know about this board:
The substrate board is acid free containing no lignin’s.
The glue used in this product is also acid free.
Aluminum thickness: 6.3μm
Colours available: White, Soft Umber, Terracotta, Rose Grey, Blue Haze and Deep Black.
Also available Rainbow Pack which includes one sheet of each colour

Available at Jackson's Art online store (UK)

Search the art spectrum website for a store near you (rest of world)

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Ergonomic Arm Rest for Artists: A Must-Have Accessory for Your Workspace

Ergonomic arm rest review by Karen M Berisford

5 MUST-HAVE products for the graphite pencil ARTIST

standard eraser

Kneadable putty rubber

PENCIL RUBBER

PEN ERASER

the must-have eraser

Battery powered eraser

soft brush

Emboss tools

blending tools

paper stumps & tortillions

tissues

fixative

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE USEFUL

white gelly pen

ERASING SHIELD/STENCIL

LEAVE US A COMMENT

Articles found in our latest Newsletter (Q2)

About the Prismacolor pencil
Updated

10 blending tools for soft pastels

12 Popular black papers for artists

Brand new medium added to our tutorials section
Oil pastels

Art Spectrum Colourfix 'Smooth'

Primer

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

NEW COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

Author

Archives

Categories

QUICK LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT US

Ergonomic Arm Rest for Artists: A Must-Have Accessory for Your Workspace

Ergonomic arm rest review by Karen M Berisford

5 MUST-HAVE products for the graphite pencil ARTIST

standard eraser

Kneadable putty rubber

PENCIL RUBBER

PEN ERASER

the must-have eraser

​Battery powered eraser

soft brush

Emboss tools

blending tools

paper stumps & tortillions

tissues

fixative

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE USEFUL

white gelly pen

ERASING SHIELD/STENCIL

LEAVE US A COMMENT

Articles found in our latest Newsletter (Q2)

About the Prismacolor pencilUpdated

10 blending tools for soft pastels

12 Popular black papers for artists

Brand new medium added to our tutorials sectionOil pastels

Art Spectrum Colourfix 'Smooth'

Primer

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

**NEW** COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARDORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

Author

Archives

Categories

QUICK LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT US

Battery powered eraser

About the Prismacolor pencil
Updated

Brand new medium added to our tutorials section
Oil pastels

NEW COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE