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Elayne Crain's avatar

Yay! Art supply talk!! <Arsenio Hall-style arm pump> And I *also* make an ornament every year--loved to see you used air-dry clay! (I will ponder that for this year!) I usually do needle felting, like this year's raccoon: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1D9jxVOBvO/?img_index=1, but it would be fun to mix things up!

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Kayla Stark's avatar

That little raccoon is so cute!!!! OMG! I love needle felting, I think I want to return to that next year. 2 years ago I made this komodo dragon haha https://www.instagram.com/p/CXwplIbvi8L/?img_index=5

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Elayne Crain's avatar

Ahhh! So adorable!! AND I love the whole idea of a Komodo Dragon ornament! Very random; not sure if you are a Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, etc.), but he also wrote a nonfiction/travelogue-y book before he passed called Last Chance to See, and that book got me really interested in them. :) So cool!

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Oooooh I haven’t read that one! But I’ll look it up! 😍

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Carolyn Yoo's avatar

oooh that sharpener is SHARP!

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Kinga's avatar

OMG. My friend gave me the Blackwing Matte pencil and then my husband gave me Sailor FUDE Fountain Pen, and these two are now my main sketching supplies. And I am also a leftie :D

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Omg! We’re living parallel lives!!!! 😱💛🥰

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Rachel Michelle Wilson's avatar

I LOVE lion! And your tests -- great newsletter

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Thank you! 💛 I'm about to start the next one..it's food AND illustration related. :)

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Rachel Michelle Wilson's avatar

The best combination ;)

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Eliza Kinkz's avatar

You're inspiring me to play more with pens this year. I'm a huge pencil person, and I do mean huge as I love the chunky ones. But I've been craving some chaos as I've gotten too perfecto with them lately. So bring on the ink!

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Kayla Stark's avatar

YES get out the ink and sling it everywhere!!!! I also get too comfy cozy with my pencils...using ink feels like drawing naked...if that makes sense 😂 Join me in the naked ink club.

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Reagan Lehman's avatar

I always reach for my fudenosuke for journaling and sketching, but I looooove the texture of your sailor FUDE lines. You’re making me debate if I need to add it to my art hoard.

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Kayla Stark's avatar

I think I’ll have to keep sailor fude and fudenosuke in mine permanently now! They are so different! Ah that unexpected texture is just so good 🤌

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Kaly Quarles's avatar

Aaaaaand okay, I'm ordering it! 😆

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Awwww yeaaahhhhh! One of us! One of us!

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KJ's avatar

Thank you for sharing, as always! I also got the Sailor fude and I am scared to try it! I love seeing your sketches though. Inspiring! :)

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Kayla Stark's avatar

You're welcome! Happy to share, and thank you! Ah try it today! I think you'll love it!

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Julie Benbassat's avatar

Your drawings have so much charm to them, it's insane!

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Kayla Stark's avatar

😭💛 Thank you! It feels like I'm getting closer and closer to drawing like myself!

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Becca Leisen's avatar

I love the air dry clay ornament idea- pinning that for next year!! And I’m soooo close to pulling the trigger on a fude pen too, I got my first fountain pen this year (Kaweco) and I mostly use it for my office job/writing. I want the fude for drawing! This was a fun read as always!

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Oooh just looked up the Kaweco—so sleek! If you get the fude, I want to see what you draw! I was immediately impressed by it. And $15 felt like a great deal!

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Beth Spencer's avatar

I'd be LION if I said this post didn't make me want to go buy some air-dry clay! What a sweet tradition and they're so lovely.

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Hahha!!! Warning! His head and foot did fall off during the drying process...had to do an emergency procedure with super glue. lol

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Dr Claire A King's avatar

Look forward to seeing your response to Ronald Searles style. I love the Molesworth books so much.

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Kayla Stark's avatar

There's something about his lines that spark a feeling in my chest! I LOVE them!

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Anna Aronson's avatar

Oooo! I want to try these Blackwings- I only use the 602 right now! For the sharpener- I leave an exact knife next to it- for the life of me, I cannot find another way to pop it open. Thanks for sharing! I always love seeing supplies other artists use!

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Anna Aronson's avatar

Xacto knife*** dang autocorrect

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Kayla Stark's avatar

Ohhhhhh I didn't realize I'd need a tool to pop it open! This thing is a feat of engineering haha

The 602 is still my fave, but I see how the Matte can be helpful getting dark darks!

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