A few years ago, I was really inspired by Ashley Picanco's
Lucky Dip Videos on YouTube. The idea of taking all my subscription box art supplies, putting them together, and randomly choosing just a few with which to make an art piece was super exciting! When I started this blog, I realized I could do the same thing in my own way. So in 2015, I set up my system and created my first Lucky Dip!
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My first set of randomly selected supplies. |
For my version of Lucky Dip, to make sure I chose as randomly as possible, I made a spreadsheet listing all of my subscription box supplies (at the time, I was subscribed to both
ArtSnacks and the now defunct Pigment + Palette) and used
RANDOM.ORG to generate five random numbers. Those numbers pointed out which items from the spreadsheet I would use for my Lucky Dip.
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My selected paper and random tools. |
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Test of each tool on the paper. |
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I wanted to give my Lucky Dip series a sense of structure, so I actually wrote down my own rules to follow, like a game. If you want to start your own Lucky Dip journey, I do recommend making rules (or feel free to use mine!) because it makes the challenge that much more fun. Working within the confines of your randomly selected tools and your predefined rules is actually one of the most exciting creative things you can do, in my opinion. Creativity flourishes under restriction.
Here are my rules consolidated and typed out for future reference (and easy copying!)
- A pencil for underdrawing is allowed, but all marks must eventually be covered/erased.
- Extra tools such as paintbrushes, blenders, and erasers are allowed.
- Substrate can be selected freely, based on appropriate use of the Lucky Dip items.
- Final piece must clearly show use of all Lucky Dip items.
My ultimate goal when doing a Lucky Dip piece is to somehow get art supplies that I may otherwise
never have thought to use together, to look as if they were chosen on purpose.
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Underdrawing |
Based on the colors I had to work with, I decided to draw a blue version of my favorite raptor: the peregrine falcon. I found a reference image online and sketched it out with my usual pencil.
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Copic Sketch Marker, BG57 Jasper |
After sketching, I started with the lighter blue Copic marker. I can't remember for sure, but this may have been my first time using marker-specific paper. I do enjoy it and I've used it again for a different marker drawing. It definitely gets to show its strengths more when you have access to a full range of markers, instead of just a few, though.
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ZIG Fudebiyori Metallic Marker, Silver |
Next I moved onto using the metallic ZIG marker. It comes across more like a typical grey pigment unless you're in really good lighting and even then, the color seems more like it has a reflective sheen rather than being full-blown metallic. It's a subtle marker :3
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Kurecolor Fine & Brush for MANGA by ZIG, Navy |
In the third stage, I started using the dark blue Kurecolor marker as well as the previous two markers to add dark areas and details all over the drawing. The falcon really started coming to life.
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Copic Multiliner, Black, 0.05 |
With the addition of ink details using the Copic Multiliner pen, the falcon itself was complete. I may have called such a drawing done if I didn't have one more tool left to use. I already knew what I wanted to do from the very beginning, which is why I saved it for last.
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Sharpie Peel-Off China Marker, Red |
I used the china marker at the end to add a wash of color in the background and to bring that color onto the body of the falcon, as if it were in the midst of a sunset. This not only helped fill the page and give depth to the image, I think the blue and silver palette looked incomplete on its own. I'm glad I had one warm color to balance it out with!
So there we have my very first attempt at a Lucky Dip art piece! I was extremely pleased with the result and I had a ton of fun figuring out how to utilize all the randomly selected items together in a cohesive way. I've already completed a second Lucky Dip piece and have two more sets of supplies selected for future entries! I hope you'll look forward to those pieces and maybe even give Lucky Dip a try yourself.