So many of us keep sketchbooks to make quick drawings, work through compositional possibilities, and just practice mark-making. An art journal is exactly what it sounds like, a bound book of artistry that can take all of your exploration to the next level. Many mixed media artists create art journals that are stunning works of art in and of themselves. They can build around a single theme or vary throughout the book, with each page taking on a new concept or idea.

As much as the stereotype of the solitary painter working alone and shutting him- or herself off from the world makes artists seem mysterious and cool, I’ve found that artists tend to be fairly social creatures, and their cool factor isn’t lessened by their sense of community. Sometimes this is situational—you are in a painting or drawing workshop or class, and you swap stories and commiserate and encourage your fellow students because you are working through the same issues and assignments.

As we head into the holiday season and finish up 2010, I did the math and realized I’ve been working here just a couple of months shy of a full year. It’s flown by! I’m loving my time at Artist Daily—communicating with painters and draftsmen, writing articles for our eNewsletters, and sharing in the art process with so many of you.

On behalf of Black Friday, which I celebrate by staying home, watching TV, and cyber-searching for gifts my friends and loved ones will enjoy, I wanted to highlight some of the resources that have been on my radar for a while in our store. Each one is about a different topic, but the high level of instruction is a must for those of us always looking to improve our skills. And right now, our online store is offering free shipping for orders of $30 or more, so if something looks appealing, you may want to take advantage of that!

In Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Invitation to a Beheading, the pencil is described as the “enlightened descendant of the index finger.” That sounds about right, especially considering the pride of place that artists often afford their pens, brushes, and pencils. For many artists, however, the jumping-off point for creativity can also be the surface on which a subject is rendered.