Techniques & Tools: Chapter 1

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts which will run every Sunday.
Style File was the first project posted and links to all 12 posts can be found on the sidebar of my blog. The second project, Techniques & Tools, begins right now...

Participants were asked: 'The one technique or tool that you cannot live without is... ' I have added links of my own choosing to each contribution below, sometimes to products, sometimes to videos, sometimes to the artist's own work, and sometimes to something unexpected. Even the contributors do not know what I will be linking to!------------------------------------------- Erin Perry
Paint splatter. I learned this from Lynne Perrella and I find myself using it on almost everything I do. I love to experiment with thin and thick paint mixtures and different angles and brush tapping techniques. Endlessly diverse results.------------------------------------------- Anne Bagby
I love my stencils. I use stencils when it would be easier not to. They protect the best areas, they can add pattern or texture. I like sticky stencils, quilting stencils, paper stencils, hand cut stencils. scrapbook stencils, and every other kind of stencil. Anything with a hole in it can be a stencil. Anything you can cut a hole into is potentially be a stencil. ------------------------------------------- Stephanie Hilvitz
Caran d'Ache water soluble wax pastel crayons.
------------------------------------------- Paula Art
Dremel Tool------------------------------------------- Shirley Ende-Saxe
Spray ink and stenciling/masking. So versatile. I am constantly finding new ways to use spray ink.------------------------------------------- Rachel Whetzel
There are too many! I'm still in love with Creative Paperclay. There are so many ideas I have for its application. Now I just have to find the time.------------------------------------------- Lani Gerity
At the moment (and this changes from year to year) I would have to say Photoshop. I can't go a day without playing with my Photoshop.------------------------------------------- Deryn Mentock
I can't live without my Fretz hammers. I refuse to consider it. My best piece of advice on this is: get the best tools you can afford.  ------------------------------------------- Kim Logan 
Hmm...so many...have to say TomBow glue sticks! ------------------------------------------- Lise Hoffman
Alcohol Inks from Ranger.-------------------------------------------
Next 'Techniques & Tools' will be posted on Sunday, September 25th