Blog by Angeline Marie Martinez

9/28/2022

How to buy a pen for drawing - 12 Questions

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My favorite pen, ever, besides the Cross one I would steal from my Dad: Pilot Decimo.

Buying a super special pen for drawing means asking a bunch of questions!

You would think buying a pen to use for drawing all the time is easy? Here's some considerations as you reach for that cheap pen...

1. What color ink do you want to use most of the time?
2. Do you want the ink to be permanent or wash in water?
3. Do you want to buy cartridges to replace the ink, or use a bottle to refill the ink?
4. How are you carrying the pen? Are you carring it in a backpack or leaving it on a desk?
5. Do you like caps on you pens? Do you like the push button pens?
6. Do you like “heavy weight” or “light as feather” pens?
7. Do you want gel, ballpoint, fountain, or calligraphy pen? How do you want your pen to make lines on your paper?
8. Do you prefer plastic, metal, or wood for your pens? Is a combination of these materials ok with you?

I spent a lot of money on my Pilot Decimo pen, but I LOVE drawing and writing with this pen. This pen makes me feel special, even while drawing what I think is junk.

My Decimo Pilot pen is "retractable”! No cap to lose, no ink stains in my purses or pockets! I can refill the permanent dark blue ink easily by using its converter cartridge and a bottle of ink. It writes on all types of paper. I can use it make all kinds of lines, from think and heavy to thin and light. It’s a joy to use this pen. The medium weight and shiny blue and chrome metal makes me happy. This fountain pen is a luxury.

My pen makes me happy and I use it all the time. If you're into dollar cost averaging, this pen has been the best artist tool investment for me. Even my husband and better half Andy agrees with me about this pen!

If you're interested in seeing this and other pens, I invite you 411pens.com, the website for Cincinnati's store Appointments.

Below are a few more of my special pens...but my first choice for drawing and sketching is my Pilot Decimo!

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From left to right, FaberCastell caliigraphy pen; Lamy fountain pen, Pilot Explorer fountain pen; vintage Cross ballpoint pen

9/14/2022

Hummingbirds are the newest design for Paint Your Own Classes!

Hummingbird paintings by Angeline Marie Martinez for painting class examples

Four hummingbirds I painted for fun and as samples and guides. Each is 8 by 8 inches, acrylics on paper.

Besides the design, the hummingbird paint your own class will be very different than painting a sloth.

I enjoy helping new artists paint their own sloths. You all help me learn how to be a better painter and a better art teacher, too.

With the hummingbird, you have more options of how to use the stencil.

I’ll show you how to use the stencil and then you decide how to paint your hummingbird.

It’s your painting, done with your colors and your way.

I’m just a guide for your artistry.

I’m excited to learn what you decide to do when you paint your hummingbird.

This hummingbird was done with a combination of options. I did use the stencil, but I also did some freehand painting.

You might want your hummingbird like one of my designs, or you can pick your own colors and design your own hummingbird.

These are only ideas as…

YOU can be the artist when I have the class.

I've decided to bring my Sloth to Uvita at the end of September. The hummingbirds will be waiting in the wings, lol.

In the meantime, if you're on my email list, you already know that I try to post news there, first. If you found this blog post on your own, welcome!

For more information about classes and scheduling of them, please visit my other page Art Classes in Costa Rica

8/10/2022

My Dad is with Me in Costa Rica – SCARLET-RUMPED TANAGER

Mi Papá and I loved birds.

We cared for a little baby bird for a little while, spending hours gently tossing it back and forth to teach it to fly. Twitty would be let out when I left for school and kept inside at night. Twitty would soar and land on my hand when I’d call him when I got home from school. It was sudden when Twitty stopped answering my calls.

Scarlet Rumpled Tanager zoomed in upon from the rental house patio.

Papa told me that Twitty found its parents and told him goodbye from the big oak tree in our yard. I only have Papás story. Soon after, Papa seemed to forget what he told me…and that part of the Twitty´s story was lost to Alzheimer’s.

When Twitty disappeared, mi Papa and I decided to feed the birds daily. Maybe the bird would return as an adult? I was young enough that I have no sense of time between Twitty´s disappearance and the appearance of Pinta Roja…but a red winged blackbird began visiting our yard.

We named this bird Pinta Roja, simply because of the red splash on his wings. Pinta Roja was the only bird who would land within a few feet of us. He would land on the power wire that was right outside our kitchen and Florida room. Pinta Roja would sing until we showed up with bread, just for him. Mi Mama was even trained by Pinta Roja! Mama would laugh when Pinta Roja appeared and feed him when Papa or I weren’t home. She was exasperated that we were trained by a bird, but enjoyed it, too. He was the only red winged blackbird that ever visited.

Again, I have no sense of time, Pinta Roja stopped visiting after a while. We kept feeding the birds until our habit dwindled and Alzheimer’s got worse.

When I hear red winged blackbirds calling…I’m eight years old again, running out to greet my best friend Pinta Roja with bread in hand, and enjoying each other’s company for a few minutes.

Costa Rica has no red winged blackbirds, but there are scarlet rumped tanager sargentos. Their calls and markings are different, but I get the same spark of joy when I see red feathers against black feathers. It’s like Papa sent messengers to tell me he’s ok, and life is good.

Hummingbird at feeder that’s at the edge of back patio of rental house.

To see one of the few drawings Papa did for me at the time, please visit or click on this sentence.

You can say art runs in the family!

Like what you read? Want more art and artist life in Costa Rica news? Please sign up for my emails at http://eepurl.com/b6G41 or clicking here.

8/3/2022

5 Ways to use rocks in an art studio

Paint-palette-cover-held-down-by-rocks-studio-of-Angeline-Marie-Martinez

The rocks are not from my head, no matter how much

The beaches of Costa Rica have the most beautiful rocks. Most are smooth, many have some kind of design from the type of stone, and there are many sizes. I’ve picked a few the size of my fist or so to use in my art studio and art shows. I shine them up with paint because the design and colors look brighter when they are “wet.”

The 5 ways an artist can use rocks in Costa Rica are to hold

down tablecloths, both fabric and plastic,
paintings at an angle while painting on a flat table, like a make shift easel,
paintings off the tablecloth while drying the final shine coats,
the wet paint cover down to keep the paint I’m using wet,
hold down my plastic palette sheet.

Sometimes, the paint will stick to the plastic and peel off…costing me time repairing and repainting to fix unintended damages. The rocks help my paintings dry while holding the paintings off the plastic.

7/29/2022

Paint Your Own Art Classes Began

After many years of dreaming and working very hard a day job…Andy and I live in Costa Rica.

We’ve been here 10 months.

We’ve enjoyed Pura Vida and Pura F!cking Vida.

I’m living a daydream of teaching.

I’m living my bigger daydream of being an artist, full time.

Yes. Me. A full time Artist. Teaching.

I’ve always been a helper, a learner, a teacher, a dreamer, an Artist.

I love showing someone how to do something they thought they couldn’t, wouldn’t, or can’t.

I love the spark and smile that shows up on your face when “AHA! I GET IT! WOW! Look at me! I did That!”
I gave my first painting class to a group recently.

I learned a lot.

We had a lot of fun.

A lot of paint was on our hands, but thankfully not on our clothing, lol.

Every single sloth painting is so happily silly and friendly that these students will always be in my heart along with their sloths.

Special thank you to Los Gatos Locos Bar and Restaurant for hosting these Paint Your Own Classes. Everyone enjoyed your margaritas, too!

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One of the artists snuck a photo of me, lol.

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Sloth paintings from left to right: Cuna Verde Sloth, Punk Sloth, Sloth in Flower Tree, Jungle Colors Sloth Hanging On, Sloth with Red Flowers

To see more photos from this class, please visit my website angelinemarie.net

Do you want to spend a few hours of fun painting, without worrying about supplies, etc?

Do you want to join me in a Paint Your Own Class?

I’d love to help you create your own painting with a Costa Rican theme!

For more information, including how to reserve your canvas and seat, please visit my website by clicking here or this sentence.

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