asking the artists...

[lagilman]

So, knitting as a get-off-the-computer hobby didn't work out for me - in addition to my (mild but annoying) learning disability making patterns a negative issue, knitting after an entire day spent at the keyboard was doing bad things to my wrists. So that's out, except as a very occasional pastime. And macrame, while something I can do, has a limited level of interest for me.

Photography, while a thing I love, these days also ties back to the computer. So that's a non-starter.

So my sister suggested art.

I am...about as unartistic as a creative can get. In short, I couldn't draw a respectable line if you gave me a ruler, and even my doodles are one-legged chicken-scratchings. But I do have an eye for colors and shapes. So...we're going to go with smudges. Which means pastels, things I can get messy with.

Which means I need suggestions of both pastels, and paper. Not too expensive, please (until I discover if this is something I enjoy) but not so cheap I won't be able to get full satisfaction out of them.

If you happen to know of any that actively smell do-not-eat-me to kittens, that would be awesome.

Comments

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I really love Canson Mi-Tientes (http://www.dickblick.com/products/canson-mi-teintes-assorted-color-packs/) tinted paper - Moonstone is probably my favorite color to work on. I use Prismacolor pastels (http://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-nupastel-color-sets/) with colored pencils - I'm a little too fussy to stick to pastels solely.

http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/sketchfestart.php?id=6196

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

Seconding both of those.

You might also want to consider pastel pencils, if you want somewhat more control of what you're doing. Derwent is a good brand for that. More importantly, if you have a Michael's or something along those lines in your area, you will find lower-end sets for beginners that will get you all the basics for minimal price. So if you find you hate pastels, you didn't spend too much money on them.

Surface-wise, Strathmore Pastel Pads are decent, easy to find and inexpensive. Good starter stuff. On the high end is Ampersand PastelBord (MiTientes is in the middle.) Whatever surface you get, make sure it says it's for pastels. If the paper doesn't have any tooth to it, it won't do you much good.

(Now for your moment of hilarity - I actually hate pastels. Something about the texture gives me the willies. But my brother's mother-in-law does pastels professionally, so I'm not clueless on the matter.)

[lagilman]

"More control" suggests I expect to have ANY control. This is about getting back to kindergarten levels of fun-not-stress, rather than actually creating Art....

[eleyan.livejournal.com]

Do you like jewellery? You could consider beadwork - an eye for colours and shapes helps a lot and you don't need to be able to draw.

[lagilman]

The jewelry I like tends to be of the rose gold and semi-precious stone types. :-) Plus, I have so many friends who already do lovely work, it would feel like I was trailing after/imitating them, which adds pressure rather than reducing it.

[mikaela-l.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I'm almost as bad as you are when it comes to drawing. But now I have 2 packages w watercolor pencils that I want to use.( miscommunication between my mum and my brother)

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

Water color pencils seconded. Not messy, and you can both do the line thing and color blend with brush and water.
I used to give them with pads of blank postcards as Christmas presents. It was fun seeing what other people came up with!

[lagilman]

I'm steering away from pencils deliberately - the point here is to have fun, not give myself hesitations about my ability (or lack thereof). The more hands-on I am (literally) the more it's play rather than a test...

[neadods.livejournal.com]

If not pencils, then go for the full schoolyard full body experience and go charcoals. They come in a variety of colors and you can get everything from the darkest narrowest line to the lightest of hint of smudge - and the only way to do that is to get very, very handsy with what you're working on.

I am sorry the knitting isn't working out.

[jen westberg (from livejournal.com)]

http://www.southernhodgepodge.com/now-you-can-have-a-master-artist-teach-art-to-your-entire-family/

My kids and I started out here. I have no artistic talent at all, but these are simple easy and stress free. I know you want to be away from the computer, but this is just a place to start.

[lunapalma.livejournal.com]

Some pastellists (including me) love to use sanded paper, which can hold so much color that you can get some amazing and vivid layering effects. My favorite brand of pastels is Unison, which is expensive but the colors are incredible. Many of the high end pastel lines have (relatively) inexpensive starter sets, or half stick sets. While I'm sure that NYC must have many Holy Grail art supply stores, a great online source for pastels is Dakota Arts, which specializes in pastels and papers, runs seasonal, monthly, and closeout sales, and also offers good information about all of its products (so you can read about various pastels and papers there, even if you plan to buy them in NYC). I will add that I didn't fall in love with pastel painting (or even have much fun with it) until I started sampling the higher end pastels like Unison and Sennelier. The cheaper pastels have such a high clay or chalk content (and lower amount of pure, luscious color) that using them didn't kick me up into the the realm of sensuous pleasure that I experience when working with my Unisons.

[jennielf.livejournal.com]

So to pile on the suggestions of things if pastels doesn't work, Quilting is lots of fun! I just finished my first quilt, and while I probably bit off more than I should have with a bed sized one for the first one, smaller quilts, like wall hangings or placemats would probably work really well... just saying. :)

Good luck with the pastels! I envy anyone who can make *art* work in their favor. I can't draw much more than a basic cube (you know, overlapping squares all joined up).

[rovanda.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about pastels, but origami can be fun, if they don't work out. Or kirigami, if you prefer paper and scissors to paper alone. :)