It’s easy to get lost in the expansive aisles of the Art & School Supplies Department. You might come in to pick up a new sketchbook or restock on paint and end with a handful of goodies that you weren’t intending to get — don’t worry, though, it happens to our team members, too.
When you’re perusing the shelves looking for the tools and supplies for your next project, our team members can help you narrow down your search so you leave with the right supplies. Many of them have been in your shoes, whether you’re a student or independent artist, and have first-hand experience with most of the products we carry and can help you decide if they are right for your work. But when you’re shopping online, you don’t always get the same person-to-person review. So, how will you know if the paints you are purchasing will work on the paper in your new sketchbook or how that drawing gum works with certain paints? We don’t want our online customers to end up with products they don’t work for them, so to help with this we enlisted, Tessa Worley, a Eugene resident and Etsy store owner (check out her store, Fox and Bear Paper Co.) to test out some of our products for us and let us know how they worked for her.
Armed with a Duck Store gift card and the expertise of the head buyer of the Art & School Supplies Department, Rachel Witt, Tessa picked out some products she’s been dying to try.
Pebeo Drawing Gum
“I wanted to experiment with drawing gum/masking fluid with my watercolor paintings. Placing the gum down first allows me to block out certain parts of the page so that color isn't placed there. This particular brand worked well, didn't have a strong odor, and has a nice blue tint so it's easy to see once it's placed down on the page. It was easy to take off with my finger and the paper held up well underneath it. It cleans off the brush with a little bit of soap. I liked this brand a lot more than the Windsor & Newton masking fluid and would definitely recommend it.”
M. Graham Artists’ Gouache
“This was my first time using good quality gouache. M. Graham is a local company who produces beautiful & affordable paints. I am familiar only with watercolor so using gouache was a fun change of pace. Gouache has more pigment than watercolor and doesn't have to be mixed with a lot of water, but you have the flexibility of adding water if you'd like more of a color wash. I tested out this product straight from the tube & by adding water to dilute it, and the quality was beautiful! I am excited to start experimenting more with gouache and seeing where it takes my personal style!”
Princeton Art & Brush Co. Paint Brush Round No. 1 4050 R
“I used this paint brush for watercolor painting. This particular size is great for detail work, which is what I used it for. I loved this brush and am glad I got to give it a try! I would definitely recommend it for detail work.”
Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencil Albrecht Dürer tin of 12
“This was my first time using watercolor pencils. It's a very different experience than using tubed watercolor or a paint set. All you need to do is draw onto the page as you would with a normal colored pencil, and add water! No palette necessary. These are so easy & fun to use, especially on the go. There's a good range of colors included in this tin and you can also layer colors on top of each other for a mix. I recommend using these with a Pentel water brush for an even easier experience as the water brush eliminates the need for a cup of water. The only potential drawback to using watercolor pencils is that they tend to leave a colored pencil texture behind. But that may not be a drawback for some who are looking to add another layer of texture. Definitely, give these watercolor pencils a try!”
PENTEL Aquash Water Brush
“I love the Pentel water brushes! I have used them before and love how easy to use they are. They are so amazing for using on the go. All you have to do is fill up the reservoir with water and it eliminates the need for a cup of water at your side. The brush comes with a cap so you can close it up to keep the water from squeezing out when not in use. I used this brush with watercolor pencils, which I would highly recommend! With watercolor pencils and the water brush, you have the perfect combination of products to use on the go. This would be such an easy setup at a coffee shop to between classes.”
Amsterdam Acrylic Ink - Oxide Black 735
“I used this acrylic ink for hand lettering with a brush. It has a very nice, clean & smooth texture. I look forward to experimenting more with freehand lettering with this ink & enjoying the beautiful quality. I'd recommend it to anyone who is wanting to try doing freehand line work or calligraphy.”
PENTEL Pop Pens: Milky Pop, Solar Pop, and Sparkle Pop
*These aren’t available a Duck Stores, yet. The pens are arriving this summer!
“I used these pens primarily for note-taking & doodling. They are similar to your typical gel pen. I loved the vibrant colors of these pens, and how smoothly they write. Sparkle Pop has a pink sheen to the black when you tilt the page. I'd definitely recommend these to students who want to add some fun colors to their notes and journals.”