Christmas Update Sunday Dec 19th (Patreon)

Hey Artnerds!

In the song It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, winter is referred to as the hap-happest season of all.  I know you've heard it, Christmas songs play nonstop from Halloween til January everywhere you go.

I don't know what that song is on about- happiest time of the year?  For me, Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year, although most of that stress is self generated because I am a genius. 

So those of yall who've been Artnerds for awhile probably know I refuse to acknowledge Christmas before Thanksgiving is over.  It's not really that I like Thanksgiving (I don't), or even that I like Christmas (I have a difficult relationship with the holiday, like many people), its just that I refuse to allow a single holiday to consume at least two months of my life.  Smarter folks who create art and media start working on their seasonal content well in advance of the season, but not this cookie.  This cookie only begins working on Winter and Holiday stuff AFTER Thanksgiving (unless it's Halloween, or Lilliputian Living, or Thanksgiving related), which means... December is a mess.

Of course, add to the fact that I'm ADHD and DONT KNOW HOW TO CURATE.  One video is good?  TEN IS BETTER.  One papercraft is fun?  TEN ARE FUNNER.  One printable to color is amusing?  HERE HAVE AN ADVENT CALENDAR FULL OF PRINTABLES.  This year, I've definitely cut things down quite a lot, and have focused on sharing what's already out there and edited, but it's still an area I need to work on.  

Do any of yall have problems with too many ideas, too much energy, and possibly burning your friends and family out?

A Whole Mess of Arteza

By happenstance and sales, I ended up reviewing a lot of Arteza this winter.  I didn't really want to strongly focus on a single brand as we slid into the new year, and I definitely didn't plan on giving Arteza that much attention right as people are buying gifts, but it happened and hopefully it's been helpful, or at least, amusing.  

It started simply enough- a review of the 12 half pan watercolor palette and buying the Metallic Mixed Media Art kit, and sorta snowballed into two Advent calendars, an additional art kit, a bunch of paper, the new Everblend Brush markers- it's a lot.  Of course, I'm not going to release ALL OF THAT before Christmas- I don't wanna overwhelm yall- plus I'd also like to create and share some wintry art with yall!

This week I finished opening the 12 doors of the 12 Day Arteza Advent Calendar, calculated the value, came up with a partial verdict, and am about to finish up the #ArtezaHolidays challenge.

Full 12 Day Advent Calendar (Playlist):https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_pXBtCqjKy9PmoFwO-qY7hdg_avckzwr

I've been sharing timelapses of those challenges on Tiktok and to Youtube shorts, if you're curious!  

#ArtezaHolidays Challenges:

Before the Holidays: https://youtu.be/fKF5WNTYPC0

Holiday Garland: https://youtu.be/OHBaSKz8tIc

Christmas Trees: https://youtu.be/5WQ8ER-kMz0

Ornaments: https://youtu.be/9IcsRPGms0Q

Poinsettia: https://youtu.be/sn7_VQ4TN14

Jingle Bells: https://youtu.be/wMskYqURXvg

Christmas Past: https://youtu.be/92UozIuZZkE

Christmas Present: https://youtu.be/h1fDzcNNQq0

Christmas Future: https://youtu.be/bNLo0BfCq90

Snow Angel: https://youtu.be/VG5kRNAkoZs

A Glittering Star: https://youtu.be/7ym1d_Fp4aE

Yall wanna know something kinda crazy?  Even though I don't like the Arteza acrylics, I've been having a lot of fun doing this mini paintings, and kinda wanna use my Blick Acrylics to get into acrylic painting as a hobby.  I gave up on acrylics years ago, assuming that I'd just never get it because I prefer to think of color as a transparent thing, but I've been having a lot of fun just playing around with acrylics as the challenge progresses.  Maybe the solution is gouache, and maybe it's time I actually open up that Himi Gouache I purchased before moving.  Either way, it's nice to make art just for the fun of making art, with no intention of impressing anyone, or attempting to use it to teach someone, or even to become proficient enough to make money doing it.

I also unboxed the 24 Day Arteza Advent Calendar! It's live now, and I hope you'll check it out!  I do NOT plan on doing the challenges in that calendar (well, probably)- if you watch the Unboxing, you'll know why!

New Papercraft Designs

I've also created three more papercraft designs, and am working on assembling them and wrapping up the tutorials.  The first will go live tomorrow- lemme know what you think!

New Papercraft Designs (Printables are a Backer Exclusive!):

Snowball Fight Kara: https://www.patreon.com/posts/2021-papercraft-60046369

Snowball Fight Tanner: https://www.patreon.com/posts/snowball-fight-60046564

Ice Princess Kara: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ice-princess-60046659

Winter Foliage Kara:  Released tomorrow!

Plans for the New Year

As Christmas approaches, and my other obligations start to become more pressing, I'm hoping to slow down and start wrapping things up.  I have a BUNCH of half edited videos that need voicing over or finishing, so while I plan on taking a bit of a hiatus in January (mainly to focus on finishing up the Volume 2 Kickstarter), Youtube should still have twice a week updates for yall to enjoy.  I'm looking forward to resuming the Student Grade Showdown, and have some neat art supplies from Ali Express to share with yall!

Top Art Supplies (and Videos!) of 2021 Awards

Instead of doing my Top 10 of 2021 before Christmast, I thought it might be fun to do an awards show!  These are the categories I've thought up- lemme know if I've missed something

Best Mechanical Pencil

Best Watercolor Pencil- Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle

Best Art Kit

Best Student Grade Watercolors

Best Markers

Best Value

Best for kids

Best for teens

Best for beginners

Most Popular (on YT)

Most Fun Field Test

Favorite Illustration

Most Hyped

Best Art Supply of 2021

Worst Experience

Worst Performance- Xiley W and SeamiArt (tied)

Worst Art Supply of 2021

I wanna get this set up as a Google Form so yall can nominate your favorites and vote, so start thinking about your suggestions now! 

Backer Exclusive and Early Access:

Printables, see above.

New to the Public:

Sunday, December 12th: Arteza Art Supply Advent Calendar- Day 12- Final Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBp8yTBZHGU&t=17s (Advent calendar, Arteza, art supplies)

Monday, December 13th- A Christmas Sprite- Watercolor Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mJU19Aggjk&t=2s (watercolor, watercolor tutorial, watercolor painting, watercolor demonstration, art tutorial)

Saturday, December 18th: Hooo Boy, We're in for a Ride- Xiley W Watercolor Palette- Unbox and Swatch- Student Grade Showdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmBbIFygbaw (student grade showdown, art supply review, watercolors, watercolor review)

Sunday, December 19th: What a Mess! Arteza 24 Day Advent Calendar Unboxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjOQ97qrEGM (Advent Calendar, gifts for artists, art supply review, Arteza)If you celebrate Christmas, I wish you a merry Christmas, if you celebrate Hanukkah, I hope you had a happy Hanukkah, and if you opt not to celebrate any holidays, I hope you remain safe, happy, and warm!