Giveaway: The Black and White Journal

  If you haven't heard yet, I'm part of an eight teacher team of artists that will be teaching an online course titled "The Black & White Journal: A Minimal Approach to Artful Journaling". There will be some live lessons (with replays of those lessons), and some pre-recorded lessons. All the teachers will be a part of a Facebook group that will be created specifically for this course. In the Facebook group, you will be able to connect with other students, ask questions, and get feedback on the things you draw and create. :) It'd be so much fun, I'm sure you'll learn something new.

  As a way for me to say "thank you" to you for your continued support through all of my artistic endeavours, I am giving away one free seat to this course. It is open to everyone, no matter where you live. :) Entering the giveaway is also really simple! You just need to let me know why you'd like to win this giveaway. That's it.

  I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love for a living. It's been just shy of two years since my company, Everything Is Art became a reality, and it's been a crazy awesome journey so far. Thank you for being a part of it. I'm ever grateful for the opportunities I've been given so far, the wonderful people I've met and taught, the happy memories I've made... and I can't wait to see what the coming years will bring.

Review of Visualtroop + July Giveaway

  Visualtroop is an online store that sells products with designs from various artists on them. They print on shirts, tote bags, notecards, and even produce art prints. Any artist can submit their works to the site which gives you a wide variety of art styles across the site. The artists still retain the rights to their works and get 15% from products sold. It's an awesome way to make merchandises if you’re an artist, or support an artist by buying awesome merchandises.

  The site is well designed and easy to navigate. I love the “Quick View” function that the site has. Local shipping is made via Singpost. Charges vary depending on whether you choose regular or registered mail but they're very affordable. International shipping starts from $6 to $50, depending on what you order.

  I made an order with them on the 9th of July 2015 and the order was fulfilled on the 21st of July 2015. The order reached me the very next day. :) And here are some pictures:

The flat cardboard packaging contained the print, while the box contained everything else.
The box was a little bent, but nothing in it was harmed.

And here's everything that I bought. ^-^
From top in clockwise rotation: "Abyssus" archival print, "Love #2" photo print in white frame, "Penguinception" T-shirt, "Moths" notecard with envelope.

I have a soft spot for "The Little Prince"...
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."
(If you noticed, I also switched out the frame that the print was originally in. The frame that I got from Visualtroop felt better with the "Abyssus" print.)

Everyone loves a good graphic tee. I already had ten T-shirts before this purchase.
But I just couldn't resist the cuteness of "Penguinception".

  The prints were crisp and clear. Everything felt good to the touch. And it's just great to see a company that is hitting all the right marks on what a good website should be like.

  As a lovely gift to you, Visualtroop has offered me a discount code to share. Use the code "10EVERYTHINGISART" for a discount on your next purchase with them. You'll be supporting local brands and artists while getting awesome merchandises at the same time. Win-win!


  My experience with Visualtroop has been really positive. And seeing that I was due to run my next giveaway, I decided it'd be a great idea to give one lucky reader the chance to have something from Visualtroop!  ^-^


Here are the rules:

• If you've been a long-time reader, you should know that this isn't the first giveaway I'm hosting. However, this will be the first giveaway that is opened worldwide. So matter where you live, you're eligible to join. I'll cover the postage fee so you don't have to worry about that.

• The giveaway starts on 27th July 2015, 08:59, Singapore time and ends on the 24th August 2015, 09:00, Singapore time.

• Please provide an e-mail that I can contact you with if you win the giveaway. The winner will be drawn randomly and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends.

• The winner will get to pick whatever design that they like. You can view all available options if you (click here)

• If you have any additional questions, feel free to send me an email- stephanie_jennifer@ymail.com

Other than that, you can join via the widget below. Anddd~ Good luck!

(Obligatory disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Visualtroop. I paid for the items within this review. All words within the review are my own, and this really *is* an honest review and not a sponsored blog post.)

Result of the April 2015 Giveaway

  Congratulations, Terence Yap! You won yourself a set of Derwent blender pens. I've already sent out the gift and it should reach you in a couple of days.

  To the rest of you who took part and didn't win, I still read all of your messages. I really appreciate you supporting my artistic journey... I blog to keep myself inspired, to show you what awesome new art products and books are in the market, the Art events that happen in Singapore, and the new things I learn along the way. 

  These giveaways I host is my way of trying to engage more people in Art and to also thank you for following me on my blog. ^-^

Obviously, I haven't filled out his address due to privacy reasons...

  I wonder what I'll be giving away next time.... You'll just have to stick around to find out!

April 2015 Giveaway

  I can't believe this will be my fourth giveaway already. ˆ-ˆ

  If you recall, I did a review of the Derwent blender pens before and loved them. They're really great for coloured pencil artists who are looking for a smoother "look" to their drawings. (Link to review here.)

  Since then, I've bought three more packs of Derwent blender pens and have also decided to give you one of you lucky readers a set!

Rules:

• You must live within Singapore to join this giveaway. I'll cover the postage fee so you don't have to worry about that.

• Giveaway starts on 6th April 2015, 10:00, Singapore time and ends on the 4th May 2015, 10:00, Singapore time.

• Please provide an e-mail that I can contact you with if you win the giveaway. The winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends.

• If you have any additional questions, feel free to send me an email- stephanie_jennifer@ymail.com

Other than that, you can join via the widget below. Anddd~ Good luck!

Update: Here's a post with proof that I sent out the prize to the winner ---- (click me)

Result for January 2015 Giveaway

  Congratulations Russell Tan on being the winner of this giveaway.

I will be mailing the prize (consisting of two Eco-Qua sketchbooks and a blister pack of Derwent Fine Art Pencils) to you soon.

  To the rest of you lovelies that didn't win; thank you so much for taking part.
  I loved reading all the lovely comments in this giveaway. I can't wait to host another giveaway.

  My next giveaway will be happening in April, so look out for that!

January 2015 Giveaway

[Originally posted on the 15th of January 2015. Reposting to boost.]

  Here's to my third giveaway~

  This time, I'll be giving away two lovely Fabriano sketchbooks and one Derwent Fine Art Pencils set.

  Art Friend has recently started selling loads of new Fabriano loot, so I decided to grab a few of them to try out. And since I already love Fabriano, I thought it'd be great to let one of you lovelies to try out something from them too.

  I've chosen Fabriano's Eco-Qua sketchbooks. They're made from ecological Bioprima Book paper and are 85 gsm. Acid free, and has a slight ivory tint. They're lovely to hold and I'm sure you'd love to use them. The larger yellow one has ruled paper, while the orange one is blank.

  Eco-Qua's come in a variety of sizes... There are three different types of finishing- stapled papers, spiral-bound, and with the elastic band to close it. They also come with three variety of papers- blank, ruled, and grids. With that wide a variety to choose from, you'd be spoiled for choice.

  As for the Derwent Fine Art Pencils set; it's not a new product but I love that their pencils are watersoluble. The set even comes with a little brush. :)

Rules:

• You must live within Singapore to join this giveaway. I'll cover the postage fee so you don't have to worry about that.

• Giveaway starts on 15th January 2015, 20:00, Singapore time and ends on the 23rd February 2015, 20:00 Singapore time. 

• Please provide an e-mail that I can contact you with if you win the giveaway. The winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends.

• If you have any additional questions, feel free to send me an email- stephanie_jennifer@ymail.com

Other than that, you can join via the widget below. Anddd~ Good luck!

Update: Here's a post with proof that I sent out the prize to Russell ---- (click me)

Giveaway Results

  Congratulations, Hui Yun. She replied to the email I sent her and has confirmed her postage address details. I've just finished packing the pens into an envelope and will most probably send it out tomorrow.

  I'd like to thank everyone who took part in this giveaway. Look out for my next giveaway which will probably happen in December. :)

Update: An e-mail from the winner...

Dear Stephanie,

  The pens you have given me have safely arrived and thanks for the small little note!
  They are very convenient to use and very fascinating to me. The blue one gives off a very paint like feeling! the black one don't really bleeds through the opposite page too much! Great for making good line art! Double joy! XD

  I sincerely thank you for these wonderful pens.

Yours Sincerely,
Hui Yun

----

  If you'd like to see my review of these new Derwent pens, click here.

Derwent Graphik Pens Review (with a giveaway!)

  It's.... Try Out Thursday! ^-^

  Today's totally rad product is Derwent's new line of pens called "Graphik". What I tried were the Line Painter and the Line Maker (for the longest of time, I read them as "Line Marker"...)

  First impressions; isn't the packaging super gorgeous? I mean, just look at the pretty designs of the packs.... High-quality packs with a metal stud button to keep it closed. You could totally just leave the pens within the packs and take the entire thing with you when you're sketching en plein aire. What I liked about the Painter pens was the fact that the pens come individually wrapped, to prevent any accidents from happening during transportation; and the wraps weren't difficult to remove. So, A+ for packaging and design.

  The Painters are opaque, permanent, water based paint pens; with ink filled barrels that have a little shaker in them- kinda like those old school correction fluid pens. I assume that what I have are blister packs cause I'm missing a couple of colours from the set... It could be that Derwent is selling them in sets of five, though.... Also, they're all 0.5 nibs.

  The first time you use these pens, you have to shake the pens well, then press the nibs against a paper for 2-3 seconds to allow the ink to follow out to the nib. You can watch this video to see what I mean and also to see what kind of effects you can achieve with the Painter pens: Introducing Derwent Graphik Line Painter Pens

  They each have a cute name to correspond to each colour.

  Minted is a gorgeous mint green colour that a pastel princess would absolutely die for; Paradise is a very clear cerulean blue; Herring is a fire-engine red; Tom is an orange that leans more towards red; and Brickroad is a very very pure, bright yellow.

  As for the greys; Fox is a silver that would really show up well against black paper; Snow is obviously white, but it's not a very very opaque white (the best opaque white I've found was uni-ball's  white Signo Broad); Magic is a good solid black but it does feather a little more than I'd like, it'd be good if you have large areas of black that you want to ink in; while Graphite and Jungle are shades of grey.

  As for the Line Makers... They're standard artist pens- lightfast pigment inks, with three varying nib sizes- 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5. They remind me of Sakura's Micron pens, but somehow the Graphik Line Makers feel better in my hand. The nibs don't feel so scratchy against paper and I imagine I would be using them a lot for zentangle drawings in the future. I wonder whether Derwent would add a 0.05 or 0.8 nib in their Line Maker set anytime in the future.... Just found out that Derwent did, in fact, roll out a 0.05 and a 0.8 nib version of these pens.  Totally rad.

  Here's a quick little doodle I did with the Line Makers...

  Ink Test for the Line Makers:

  Neither the Painter pens nor the Line Makers pens had any bleed-through the paper I used. (I used Derwent's Inspire Me Sketchbook for the ink test. You can read a review about the Inspire Me Sketchbook here.)

  I can see myself doing more projects with the Line Painters and also buying the rest of the lovely colours within the set. Also, I could possibly have the Line Makers take over my preferred brand of pens for zentangle drawings. And that says a lot. Great job Derwent on a brilliant new product.

  If you'd like to purchase these pens, Art Friend sells them. The Line Painter are sold $23.50 for each set. The black Line Maker cost $16.90 for each set. While the sepia and graphite Line Maker cost $9.95 per set each.


  After reading through this review, are you excited to try out the new Graphik pens for yourself? Well, you're in luck. I'm giving away a free sample pack that comes with two brand new Graphik pens- one Graphik Painter in the colour "Paradise", and one black 0.3 Graphik Line Maker. :)

Terms and Conditions:

- You have to be living in Singapore. 

- Tell me why you deserve to win and you'll be entered in the giveaway. Simple as that! Don't forget to add an e-mail that I can reach you if you're the winner of the draw.

- Like my Facebook fan page to gain two more entries in the draw. This isn't compulsory, but I'd appreciate the likes. ^-^

- Giveaway closes on the 16th of November 2014, midnight, Singapore time. Good luck~ 

  If you'd like to ask me any questions about Graphik pens, or about the giveaway, I can be reached at stephanie_jennifer@ymail.com .

Update: Here's a post with proof that I sent out the prize to the winner, Hui Yun ---- (click me)

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