Here is the recipe for the ‘chocolate clay’ we used this week for our bakery class.
Chocolate Clay
(makes 3 large balls of clay, they should last around a month if kept in ziploc baggies or storage containers)
- 2 cup AP flour (plain flour)
- 2 cups water
- 6 tbs salt
- 4 tsp cream of tartar
- 8 tbs cocoa powder
In a saucepan (preferably nonstick), mix the dry ingredients together so the mixture is as smooth as possible. It is OK if a few little lumps remain. Add water mix again.
Heat slowly, stirring regularly. As the mixture starts to thicken, stir constantly. Soon it will begin to start to pull away from the sides of the saucepan and form one lump. You may need to flip the clay to cook both sides if the top looks gooey. This takes about 6 minutes. You will know it’s done when the clay no longer sticks to your hands/or utensils.
Remove from the heat and place the play dough ball on some parchment paper. Let cool and then knead for a minute or so.
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I just sent off my artwork to be auctioned off for
this excellent fundraiser in aid of Bath Festivals:
This is your chance to own a unique piece of original art by one of the UK’s best and most popular illustrators. Come along on the night to bid on one of several framed pieces of art – each depicting the famous Bath Children’s Literature Red Chair.
Amazing artists including including Chris Riddell (Goth Girl), Ben Cort(Aliens love Underpants), Nick Sharratt (The Story of Tracey Beaker), Korky Paul (Winnie the Witch), Alison Jay (Welcome to the Zoo), Michael Foreman (War Game) and Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo) have all donated pieces featuring their own, entertaining interpretation of the Festivals’ iconic red storytelling chair.
Help secure the future of the Bath Festivals internationally renowned programme of popular Festivals and be in with a chance of acquiring a piece of artwork to treasure for your family, school or business.
An Online Auction of many more Artworks will be launched on the night.
My picture is painted using all materials I have picked for the art lessons and workshops I'll be giving soon via
The Kraken Studio - all cheap stuff but really nice.
Go and admire the rest, there are some Mighty Fine Red Chairs to be had.
Here's a little review for those of you who are considering trying out fountain pens but don't want to spend much: an OK pen for under a fiver.
I needed a new cheap fountain pen to write with - I always write with fountain pens, it helps my handwriting. Ballpoint pens tend to run away and scrawl when I use them. I don't like writing with my sketching pens, they aren't designed to move that quickly.
I wanted a pen that uses standard cartridges - normally I like writing with LAMY pens, but the cartridges are expensive, and although converters are available I don't want to carry a pot of ink around to refill it.
I had to climb up a ladder at the stationer's to get to this one, they put it out of reach, probably because it's so very cheap. Anyway, it's surprisingly nice to use: it's got a chunky grip, so it would be good for school children to use and it won't give you writing cramp as quickly as a slim pen.
It's got a very pleasing mechanism that grabs the cartridge and clicks it into place, so no accidental messy unscrewing.
You can write quickly with it, it's not the smoothest but it doesn't scratch - a good everyday writing pen.
If you want a fine line to scribble with, you can turn it upside down - that means that the grip isn't as grippy, but it's a nice line, good enough for a quick sketch when you didn't take any fancier equipment along.
I just added another thing for my portable studio collection:
Yesterday in New York City, I found this artist traveling bag
which holds a lot of things like brushes, watercolor pencils, mini skecth pad, etc:
This is perfect for my next trip:
Below is the artist travel pouch which you can tie around your waist:
Inside this artist Pouch you will see the following tools and materials below:
Another view of the Artist Pouch:
Here is my favorite tool: a brush that you can put water inside
( no need to dip in water anymore)
Here is a really small and cute but handy material I have, the size of a business card:A mini colored pencil case with its own miniature sharpener:
Children's Illustrator Rebecca Sweet has a new blog, Caspia Cottage.
Wow...thanks Amy for making this announcement. I was checking back on everyone’s blog and did a double take when I saw my name on your site. I think my jaw literally fell open….it’s nice to know the bookies care about their members…you can’t imagine how deeply it touches my heart…..thank you.
Rebecca,
It's a pleasure...i sent you an email...did you get it?
Yes, I opened it today. Thank you. It's always nice to hear from you.