I’m excited to share an opportunity for artists to take part in the upcoming “Imagination 25” Juried Fine Art Exhibition hosted by Mills Pond Gallery.
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Exhibition Details

• Exhibition Dates: October 11 – November 9, 2025
• Juror: David Reuss
• Entry Deadline: August 31, 2025 (both artwork and online submission must be completed)
• Eligibility: Open to artists aged 21 and older. Work must be original and never before exhibited at Mills Pond Gallery.
• Accepted Media


• This call is specifically for 2D work in traditional mediums, including acrylic, watercolor, oil, pencil, gouache, pastel, ink, charcoal, or mixed media. Photography, digital art, and AI-generated art are not accepted.

Artwork may not exceed 60” in width or 84” in height. Gallery-wrapped canvas or simple, professional framing is encouraged.

Awards

• Best in Show: $800
• Second Place: $500
• Third Place: $300

Submission Process

• Up to 3 works may be submitted.
• Entry fees: $45 for non-members, $35 for STAC members.
• Images must be submitted in JPG format, 300 dpi, longest side no more than 12 inches. Upload through the official entry form or email submission as specified in the prospectus.

About Mills Pond GallerySince 1972, Mills Pond Gallery has been operated by the Smithtown Township Arts Council, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts, offering classes for adults and children, and preserving cultural heritage. The gallery is known for its strong support of local and regional artists while connecting art to the community.

Why Enter?

​This year’s theme emphasizes dreams, humor, fantasy, and creativity—art that sparks curiosity, delights the senses, and inspires imagination. If you have work that invites viewers into your unique vision and encourages dialogue, this is the perfect opportunity to share it.

​When living with small pets, one thing that surprisingly requires attention is securing the cage door.
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Guinea pigs and hamsters are curious and surprisingly strong, so they often open the cage door themselves when pushing or pulling on it. This can lead to escape accidents, so caution is advised.

However, there's a simple solution without having to buy a separate lock or fastener: a bread clip (a bread bag clip)!

As you can see in the photo, simply attach the bread clip to the hook on the cage door.

It prevents the door from swinging open easily,

and prevents escapes while still allowing easy opening and closing.

This is a handy, easy-to-use tip that doesn't require any special tools or investment.

I tried this on my guinea pig cage, and it held the door securely in place, effectively preventing children from getting out. It's a truly useful way to keep your pet safe, even with a simple idea.

​What you need: One bread clip

How to: Attach to the latch of the cage door

Benefits: Prevents escapes + Easy opening and closing

When living with pets, these small ideas can make a big difference in safety. Don't throw away those bread clips lying around the house. Use them as safety devices for your pets!

​Pencil drawing is one of the most accessible art techniques, allowing you to create rich works with minimal materials. In this article, I'll walk you through my step-by-step process for depicting a hand braiding hair. All of the steps were done using only the economical drawing materials linked above.

1. Sketch the Outline
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• Use a soft pencil (HB or B) to lay out the overall composition.
• Focus on large shapes and proportions before adding any details.
• Keep the lines light so they can be easily adjusted with an eraser.

2. Block in the Shadows
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• With a 4B–6B pencil, fill in the darkest areas first.
• Establishing contrast early will help the subject stand out later.
• Dark backgrounds enhance the focus on your main subject.

3. Create Mass Tones
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• Use the side of your pencil to shade large shadow areas smoothly.
• Blend with a blending stump, tissue, or cotton swab to create soft gradients.
• This step helps define the general light and shadow structure of the hands and hair.

4. Add Details
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• Draw fine elements such as wrinkles, hair strands, and fingernails.
• Use 2B–4B for mid-tones and 6B–8B for the deepest shadows.
• Create highlights by lifting graphite with an eraser for a realistic, three-dimensional effect.

5. Work on Texture
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• For hair, layer long, continuous strokes to follow the natural flow.
• For skin, use light, varied strokes to suggest subtle texture.
• Separate the figure from the background by keeping a clear tonal contrast.

6. Final Touches
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• Review the entire drawing and adjust the balance of light and shadow.
• Darken the background if needed to enhance focus.
• Finish with a fixative spray to protect the artwork from smudging.

Materials Used

• Pencil Set: HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B
  
• Erasers: Standard eraser + kneaded eraser
  
• Blending Tools: Blending stump, tissue, cotton swab
  
• Sketchbook: 160gsm or heavier paper
  → See detailed material recommendations
  

As an artist and educator, I’m always on the lookout for art supplies that combine quality, vibrant color, and affordability. While browsing Amazon recently, I came across the Artecho Oil Pastels, and they immediately caught my attention.

According to the product details, Artecho has been dedicated to developing and producing paints with stable quality and vivid, long-lasting colors. These oil pastels are described as non-toxic, which is always an important factor for me—especially when using materials in a classroom setting with students of various ages.

What excites me most are the features highlighted by Artecho:

1. Brilliant Colors & High-Quality Pigments – Promising bright, rich tones that remain vivid over time.
2. Soft Texture & Easy Blending – Ideal for techniques like shading, layering, stenciling, scratching, and more.
3. Thoughtful Packaging – Each pastel is individually wrapped for protection and designed in a portable size (70 mm × Ø 10 mm).
4. Perfect Gift Potential – Suitable for beginners, students, and professional artists alike, making it a versatile option for birthdays, holidays, and creative workshops.
   
   

While I haven’t tried them yet, the combination of affordable pricing, strong color performance, and versatile use makes this set very appealing. I can already imagine using them in my own art practice and introducing them to my students during class projects.

​When you first start drawing, it's often difficult to decide which materials to choose. Too expensive materials can be overwhelming, and too cheap ones can be of poor quality. Today, I'll introduce some beginner drawing materials that offer excellent value for money. I've personally used them and recommended them to my students, and they're all readily available on Amazon.

1. Faber-Castell Kneadable Eraser

A kneadable eraser is a must-have for pencil, charcoal, and pastel work. You can shape it with your hands to erase fine details without damaging the paper.

• Pros: Soft, pliable, and excellent for precise corrections
• Best for: Highlighting, gently lifting graphite/charcoal
  View on Amazon

2. Pencil Eraser Set for Artists​

Pencil-shaped erasers shine when it comes to detailed work. They allow you to erase small areas or work around lines that regular erasers can’t reach.

• Pros: Easy to hold like a pencil, perfect for precision work
• Best for: Eye highlights in portraits, refining fine lines
  View on Amazon

3. Mr. Pen Drawing Brush & Kneaded Eraser Set

This kit includes kneaded erasers, a standard eraser, and a drawing brush — a great starter combo. The brush helps remove eraser crumbs without smudging your work.

• Pros: Variety in one set, excellent value for the price
• Best for: Beginner drawing kits, keeping artwork clean
  View on Amazon

 4. Blending Stumps & Tortillons

These tools help you blend pencil or charcoal shading smoothly. They keep your work clean by preventing oils from your fingers from transferring onto the paper.

• Pros: Variety of sizes, can be sharpened with sandpaper for reuse
• Best for: Soft shading, creating smooth gradients
  View on Amazon

5. Faber-Castell Graphite Sketch Pencil Set

This set includes a range of grades from HB to 6B, ideal for everything from basic sketches to deep shading. Faber-Castell is trusted by both beginners and professionals.

• Pros: Consistent lead quality, clean lines, and rich shading
• Best for: Sketching, portrait drawing, still life studies
  View on Amazon

6. 9" x 12" Drawing Paper (65 Sheets).

With a medium weight (100gsm) and smooth texture, this paper works well with pencils, charcoal, and colored pencils. The price makes it perfect for practice.

• Pros: Smooth surface, versatile use
• Best for: Practice sketches, study drawings
  View on Amazon

Final Thoughts

When starting your drawing journey, it’s important to choose materials that are affordable enough to use often without hesitation. The products above strike the perfect balance between cost and quality, making them ideal for beginners.
Shopping on Amazon means quick delivery and the ability to compare multiple options — so pick the tools that fit your style and budget, and start creating today!