Wonky portraits + making a hot mess | Artist collab with Sandi Hester | PART 2

Hi guys! Welcome to the Artist Collab series where I collaborate with other artists and share the process and art we create together.
#artistcollab #portraits #makingart #wonkyart
In this series I meet and collaborate with American artist @SandiHester.
In part 2 I attempt to get to grips with water soluble crayons on black paper.
I'm not going to lie working with a new medium is tricky, particularly one that is so different to what I'm used to and I end up with what can only be described as a 'hot mess'. However I think it's important to share the process which includes the good, the bad and the ugly. I've heard it's been said that if you want to create good art then you've got to be prepared to make a lot of bad art along the way.
So here I am, sharing all the wonky portraits I created.
Make sure you check out Sandi's video PART TWO here: • INSPIRATION EXPLOSION:...
PART 1
Sandi's: • LOOSENING UP & FINDING...
Mel's: • Loosening up + finding...
LINKS
Sandi's KZbin channel: / sandihester
Sandi on Instagram: / sandigrady1
Sandi's Website: www.sandiheste...
All music is from Epidemic Sound www.epidemicso...
ABOUT ME:
My name is Mel Chadwick and I'm a professional freelance illustrator and artist based in Cornwall. Here I share studio vlogs, sketch walks, tips and tutorials that may be helpful to other artists.
NEW PODCAST:
Myself and artist friend Natasha Newton have launched a podcast!
We chat about running a creative business, sharing struggles, successes, ideas and thoughts. Come and find us on our youtube channel over at Creative Catchup: / @creativecatchup
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MY WORK:
Illustration Portfolio: www.melaniecha...
Shop: www.melaniecha...
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SOCIALS:
+INSTAGRAM: / melanie_chadwick
+TWITTER: / mel_chadwick_
+FACEBOOK: / melaniechadwick001
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[@MelanieChadwick]

If you have found this series helpful, inspiring or just laughed a lot please consider sharing it with your friends and family! It would be great to spread this project a little further and encourage others to get out of their comfort zones and create more art. Make sure you check out Sandi's video PART TWO here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJW9YXiXerqleck Also for those of you wondering about the crayons here's a link: amzn.to/3kyiqFH

[@sandihester]

Mel, I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed this video - just watched it for the second time and I laughed my head off - great mix of humor, honesty, inspiration and fun art! I'm so proud of you and I hope everyone who watches this gets inspired to go pick up their art materials!!! I'm setting up to draw with my oil pastels right now because I was so jazzed up after watching your video. This has been such a fun ride Mel - so thankful to have had this experience with you!!!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks so much Sandi! I love reading your comments, and that's so cool to hear you were inspired to pick up your pastels too.

[@gradyhester4456]

I like the sound of the crayons on the paper. Very engaging and fun the watch! Thank you for putting yourself out there in terms of showing and talking about your "practice" work. Not easy! And still so good... Sandi is having an absolute blast! Thank you, Mel!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Aw thanks Grady and for you watching too! It has been a really fun project to work on and couldn't ask for a more encouraging collaborator in Sandi.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That was both fun and funny! Very interesting to see you experimenting in this way. What a HOT MESS (of fun). xx

[@sandihester]

You're comment cracked me up Natasha! I "heard" it in your wonderful accent!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Natasha! Felt pretty vulnerable too, but good to do it.

[@judykeathley7094]

This was SO much fun, Mel ! and super helpful ! Thank you for taking us on this journey. You and Sandi are the best. Can't wait fir number 3 !! The glimpse of your final piece looked fantastic !!

[@sandihester]

Her final pieces are FANTASTIC - I mean seriously so good - they blew me away!!!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Yay! Thank you Judy, really encouraging to hear. Can't wait to share the final video too.

[@carlyamandaart]

So great to see that it’s ok to step right out of your comfort zone, great work Mel xx

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Carly, yes been good to do it, and have that push. xx

[@BrenzerM]

I love them, don't be hard on yourself, you rocked this!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Mandy, but that first girl portrait did look really scary!

[@maisycakes1125]

Just a blast ! And great learning for me on so many levels......rocking it all you and Sandi are 😍 Thankyou

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@madelynsmith8281]

Beautiful! Just love those wonky portraits. ❤

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thank you so much 😀

[@AWonderfulSheep]

Super fun and informative video! While I can understand why you didn't like FIRE EYES GIRL WITH 15 COLORS!!!, I really liked that one! All the colors mixed together gave it a kind of depth or texture that was different from the looser pieces. But I can understand why you didn't like it as much considering your goals for this project. I'll have to try this technique from working from my sketches too!

[@sandihester]

Ok, I totally laughed out loud at your second sentence!!! FIRE EYES GIRL WITH 15 COLORS - more than I can handle!!!

[@MelanieChadwick]

That should have been my title for this video- FIRE EYES GIRL WITH 15 COLOURS!! Ah thanks, maybe I shouldn't dismiss it completely. Yes give it go see how you get on. Thankyou!

[@sandihester]

@@MelanieChadwick that would have been a great title - see how much laughter we're getting from you sharing and pushing your self - fire eyes girl is sooooo worth it!!! AND literally you will get a lifetime of laughter from it - we have some that we pull out every now and then and laugh until we think we're going to throw up!

[@kabruder]

I´m loving this collab series!! Can't wait for the third part ❤️

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Karen for watching!

[@RebekkaHay]

I'm so sorry that I'm laughing so hard, but in the 1st portrait Sandy looks like she's possessed 😜 Love this series Mel 🙌🏻

[@MelanieChadwick]

Haha thanks so funny to hear! And yes she does, that's why she's so scary!!

[@sandihester]

Grady thinks I'm possessed sometimes so this is perfect! ha ha!

[@gwenritch]

so cool and Sandi is one I always follow...great video

[@MelanieChadwick]

She is so fun! And thanks for watching!

[@cotedelpiano]

amazing! I really want to try to use crayons more, love the texture, I loved some of those portraits!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks! The texture from the crayons is my favourite too.

[@shruti91215]

I loved everything but I especially loved the first scary girl - the colours were so intense, the eyes are quite scary and I thought that added such character to it. It immediately made me think of horror stories that aren't obvious at first but get more sinister with the turn of every page, a story that creeps. I LOVED IT. Its beautiful and terrifying. Could easily be part of a children's scary story book 10/10 ❤️

[@MelanieChadwick]

Haha, thanks so much for your input on this Shruti. I hadn't even thought about it in that way, but you are right it could be the scary girl in horror book, I know I would definitely have had nightmares if I had read that when I was younger. Thank you!

[@deborahmeyers7839]

Actually I love them both have charm of their own I love the one you don't love that much but love their quirkyness ❤️ love the third one too I love them all

[@anapaulaotero-illustration875]

Great work 🖍️😍😍😍

[@debsmith7050]

Appreciate your process 💙

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Deb, glad you're gaining something from it.

[@nickadamopoulos6472]

Fantastic!!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thankyou!!

[@shoshirlb1165]

You and Sandi are the best! :0)

[@MelanieChadwick]

Ah thanks, that's so sweet of you to say!

[@kdarensb]

loved watching you work. is there a link to the materials, particularly crayons used in this video. thank you for all this great content!

[@MelanieChadwick]

amzn.to/3I2jrUU

[@JoAnneMOwens]

Hi Mel, just wondering if you have used the crayons watered down? If so, did you like the effect? I am inspired to pick these up and was wondering how they are when watered down. Thx so much for sharing this collab, it is so much fun to watch! X

[@MelanieChadwick]

I have used them like that on black paper only a few times but didn't really like the effect. However on white paper I water them down quite a bit and then layer up. I probably should give them a bit more of a chance on black paper. My next video is to do a proper review of these and show their effects on both black and white paper, dry and wet. Hoping to start filming this week 🙏

[@JoAnneMOwens]

@@MelanieChadwick Excellent! I will look forward to the review, it will be very helpful! Love Neocolor 2 but to be honest, I can’t afford to buy them with the color range that I am looking for. The Lyra seem to have a good selection in the 48 set, so am thinking that is the way to go. Thank you for your quick reply! X

[@missdeesaccount]

What wax crayons are you using? I bought many tins of Lyra wax water Soluble wax crayons years ago. They are expensive but beautiful! I love your style, mine is similar. Your collaboration with Sandi hester is amazing! I'm in the process of creating my KZbin channel so maybe in time I can collaborate with others. I'm subscribing to your channel so I'll follow you. Thank you and take care!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks so much Michele. Those are Lyra aquacolor maybe similar to what you bought years ago.

[@MrsQuam]

Beautiful! Did you add water to any of the crayon drawings?

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Ashley. Yes if you look at all the portraits there is one that looks a little bit more mushy and streaky- that's the one I tried adding water too.