Graphite Pencils
H to the B! You may remember needing 2B pencils for taking standardized tests in grade school. Pencils have a range of graphite hardness to softness that’s known as the HB scale, where H is light and B is dark/blackness. The letters are also paired with numbers. The higher the number, the farther it is on the scale toward its extreme. The higher the number paired with the H, the harder the lead and the lighter the mark. Similarly, with B, the lead is softer and makes a darker mark. So if you want to lightly sketch out your sigils before you ink over them, I’d recommend getting a 4H or 2H pencil, because they are very easy to erase and don’t make too much of an indentation on the paper. Once you get into the B’s, it will become increasingly harder to erase your marks. For just standard sketching with a pencil that provides a smooth and dark line, I’m a big fan of the 6B. You don’t have to press hard to make a dark mark, which is very helpful to avoid cramping up your drawing hand! Similarly, there is the Ebony brand pencil that’s essentially a 6B, usually a little less expensive than the marked pencils.
Tip: Invest in a good manual sharpener, preferably one that has a container attached to it to catch the shavings. Electric sharpeners eat up soft pencils like crazy.
Mechanical Pencils
The easiest mechanical pencils to find are the ones that you just push-click and that come a dozen or so to a bag. However, they have a small, sharp lead that can easily dig into your paper, plus they are prone to snapping and breaking. So yes, they’re convenient for having a sharp point, but they’re annoying for disrupting your line trance. There are fancier mechanical pencils out there that are designed for drafting (engineering and architectural plans). They can be really nice—with a price tag to match, but they are designed to be refillable. If this interests you, I’d recommend going to an art store and testing them out to see if you like them.
Erasers
Forget pink erasers. I don’t know whose lame idea those were, but they can stain your paper and don’t erase well. There are essentially three real erasers on the market to look for: white vinyl erasers, kneaded erasers, and gum erasers. Vinyl ones tend to clean up the best, kneaded ones don’t produce any debris (and you can “knead” them clean, which is also great stress relief), and gum erasers (which often get confused with kneaded erasers, because the latter often look like gray gum and are pliable) work better for some mediums and surfaces.
Tip: Many art shops carry basic drawing kits (often for a reduced package price) that come with an assortment of pencils and erasers so you can try them out and see what you like.
Colored Pencils
If you’re into coloring books, then you’ve probably already developed some preferences for colored pencils. Pretty much the only ones I bother with are the Prismacolor brand. They are definitely more pricey, but they have a smooth, consistent texture and fantastic color coverage. There are also water-soluble colored pencils and fancy crayons that you can draw with and then go over those marks with a wet brush, to get a mix of drawn and painted effect.
Pens (by Level)
Easy: One of my favorite tools for sketching is also one of the cheapest out there: your basic ball-point Bic pen. This kind of pen makes a fine line that can be even finer and lighter with a light touch and heavier/darker when you press down harder. You also can’t erase your mistakes, so it can teach you to be more focused on how you are drawing, as well as allow you to build up a tableau of sketches instead of being tempted to erase and start over again and again. These types of pens are often available for cheap to free at your local bank, pharmacy, hotel, etc. (I mean the ones they give away. I’m not advocating stealing them.)
Medium: When I’m working on a final design to send to a client, I often draw the sigil using a Micron pen by Sakura. They come in a variety of colors and nib (tip) sizes and have archival ink. You can go from super fine (005) to fine (01) to medium (03, 05, 08) to thick (1, etc.). The 05 thickness is typically my go-to for line work. The super-fine tip is easy to damage, and the 01 tends to dry out faster. The 05 can take a beating, yet makes a nice viewable, clean line without bleeding or getting blocky. These pens cost between two and three dollars apiece.
Traditional Pen and Ink
Expert: You can always go old school (and technically more ecofriendly than the disposable pens just mentioned) by investing in a pen base, metal nib, and bottle of ink—or a feather quill if you’re extra-adventurous. You can try out all sorts of interchangeable nibs for your pen base, from drawing ones to calligraphy tips. This kind of pen is definitely a tool that takes a fair bit of practice to use, and even then, a fiber in the paper can catch the nib and cause a blob of ink to collect. I tend to hold all of my pens fairly close to the base, so I often end up with inked hands as well, despite my best efforts. If I want something more organic, I replace the pen and nib with a fine paintbrush, as I feel I have more control over how the ink runs through the bristles. (See the upcoming section on brushes.)
Gel Pens
Gel pens come in an insane number of colors, including pearly, metallic, and sparkly finishes. They often provide a smooth drawing experience. They are especially handy for drawing on dark surfaces (like black paper). However, they can be pricey, and some brands don’t last very long, so invest in a couple of colors you want before buying a big set (usually filled with nearly identical colors you won’t ever use).
Sharpies and Other Permanent Markers
Sharpies are the king of permanent markers! Need to write on metal, glass, or plastic? Black Sharpies will do it. They also make very nice gold and silver metallic Sharpies, which I prefer over the fancier metallic pens that require you to shake them constantly and push on the tips, all the while smelling really bad. A note about odors: While Sharpies don’t smell quite as bad as other permanent markers, I don’t recommend using them for tiny details or in an enclosed space with your nose practically on top of the marker. Use Microns instead, because they are odorless and achieve better details without making you sick.
Tip: You can clean up or remove the marks made by most brands of permanent markers on nonpermeable surfaces with rubbing alcohol. Try a small area first with a cotton swab lightly dipped in the rubbing alcohol to make sure you won’t damage the surface.
Dry Erase Markers
Need to mark a non-porous surface for a very temporary amount of time? Dry erase markers may be your buddies, but they don’t always work on all things, so test your surface first. They are especially handy for drawing on mirrors and other kinds of glass surfaces.
Brushes
If you haven’t looked at a brush since you used a camel hair one in grade school with poster paints, you may be in for a bit of a shock. Remember Ollivander’s Wand Shop from Harry Potter? It’s kind of like that. No, the one true brush for you isn’t made of unicorn hair—but when you look at the price, you might think it was!
Kinds of Brush Tips
Good brushes are a big investment for artists—and there are hundreds to choose from, varying in shape, size, and material. For starters, I recommend looking for a brush with synthetic hairs that feel smooth and silky to the touch. I prefer the round and rounded tip varieties, especially the Winsor & Newton University Series 233 brushes. The smaller the size (000, 00, 1, 2), the smaller the tip; the larger the size (3, 5, 8, 12, 14), the larger the tip. Look at how the bristles are arranged—each gives you a different kind of line quality. Round, pointed round, and detail tip shapes are especially good for creating fine, consistent lines. Flat and bright shapes are better for making bigger, bolder strokes and covering larger surfaces. A filbert shape is good for blending. An angular flat or chisel shape will give a sort of calligraphy effect to your strokes, as you can work the brush to get both thinner controlled marks and wide bolder ones.
Consider the scale of your project when selecting brushes. If you’re working on a large format (like a mural), then you’ll want bigger brushes. If yo
u’re working on something very small and refined, then you’ll want to choose a much smaller brush. If you’re overwhelmed and unsure, look for a starter kit or sample pack. They usually include half a dozen differently shaped and sized brushes.
Ink, Pigment, and Paint
If you thought the brush aisle was overwhelming, prepare yourself for the paint aisles! So many kinds of paint, so many colors, so many tubes and jars! Really, all you need is a jar of archival India ink (the one I currently have has a nice little squeezy dropper on top, which makes it easy to dispense some ink into a ceramic dish and add water to it as needed) or whatever color pleases you. But in case you’re wondering what all of these paint types are, here’s a quick and dirty list:
Oil Paint: pigment suspended in linseed oil; requires turpentine for cleaning; takes a long time to dry (permanent finish)
Acrylic: pigment suspended in acrylic resin; uses water for cleaning; dries quickly (permanent finish)
Watercolor: transparent pigment suspended in gum arabic; uses water for cleaning; dries quickly (not permanent)
Gouache: opaque pigment suspended in gum arabic; uses water for cleaning; dries quickly (not permanent)
Tempera: dry pigment mixed with egg yolk and water per use; uses water for cleaning (permanent finish)
Paint Grades: Every paint has a grade, usually marked from student to professional. Student grade colors tend to be less true in tone and synthetically produced, with the binding element being of average quality. Professional grade paints are usually made of pure pigments and the best binders.
[contents]
Chapter 5
Practice Exercises
In this chapter I’m going to walk you through some imaginary scenarios to demonstrate how I may go about creating a sigil for each, if presented with that situation. I’ve also included ideas for sigil application and acknowledgment where possible. Note: All scenarios here are completely fictional but are modeled on common occurrences that you might find familiar.
Before you start reading, pull out a pen and paper so you can do it yourself, too. I’ve set this up so that you can read about the scenario on one page, make your own notes and sketches, then flip to the solutions afterward to see what I’ve done. There is no wrong way—what you draw may look completely different. It’s the process of thinking about it and trying it out for yourself that is the most important. Now let’s make some happy little sigils!
Scenarios
Scenario: A Festival Sigil
It’s the first day of the weeklong festival Pword Power Gathering! 13 As part of the opening ceremony, the attendees have gathered to create a sigil for this year’s festival. The producers have put a call out for words that embody what everyone would like to experience at this year’s festival. Since it’s a seven-day event as well as their seventh annual event, they’ve decided to pick seven words from the submissions. The selected words are unity, love, understanding, inspiration, safety, energy, and happiness.
Scenario: A Coven Sigil
The New Crescent is a newly formed coven, off-shooting from the Full Moon Coven and Tradition of Witchcraft—with permission. It is made up primarily of second-generation Witches who are children of members from the initial coven, all now in their late teens to early twenties—and some new folks who are of a similar age. They want to create a sigil to identify and represent their group. Their name, the New Crescent, refers back to the Tradition while signifying they are a new cycle. There are currently six members, and each one has chosen a word or phrase to represent what they wish to get out of working in the coven. Those words are foundation, finding identity, wisdom, growth, mastering skills, and balance.
Scenario: A Business Plan Sigil
Michael is starting a new business. Technically it’s a developing side business for him, as he already has a tech job that he enjoys, but his weekend and evening experiments of crafting incense have been really successful at small events. He loves doing it and would like to grow the business more, but he isn’t ready or prepared to give up his tech job. He’s looking for steady growth, and he wants to do only limited batches so he’s not producing the same thing over and over. The name he’s using for his business is “Censered Scents.” He’s creating a web presence for his business and has done the legal paperwork so he can sell at shows and other events. His plan involves making one special incense every month, offering monthly subscriptions as well as the ability to buy directly through the website as long as supplies last. He wants a sigil that is both a logo and a business plan to put on all of his packaging.
Scenario: An Office Ward Sigil
Pearl works in a cubicle, like most of the people in her company. Certain coworkers seem to stop by a little too often for non-business chat, and that behavior is disrupting her work. She doesn’t actively engage them or encourage them to hang out and chat; they’re the floor gossips and busybodies. She’s tried to be nice and to be direct, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. It’s a conservative company in a similarly conservative area, so Pearl wants to create a hidden sigil to put up that will make them leave her alone and won’t be obvious or raise questions.
Scenario: A Healing Sigil
Geraldine, age forty, has been battling breast cancer. She has had a double mastectomy and undergone radiation. She is in remission and the prognosis looks good. She has decided against having reconstructive surgery and is adjusting to the new shape of her body. Geraldine wants a sigil that she will get tattooed on her chest. It will signify the battle she’s undergone, give her strength and vitality, help her heal both physically and emotionally from her experience, and aid her in rediscovering herself and reclaiming her sensuality and sexuality.
Scenario: A Transformational Sigil
Marissa was born with the name of Marcos and the gender assignment to match, but she never felt at home in her body or being designated as male. At the age of twenty-nine, after much soul-searching, she decided to fully embrace her identity as a woman in all areas of her life. It has been a somewhat difficult experience with her family and for some of her friends, but they are slowly coming around. Marissa wants a sigil to continue to empower her as she undergoes physical changes, protect her from those who would harm her, and aid in helping her family understand and embrace the transition.
Scenario: A Sigil against Bullying
Christopher is twelve years old and a sixth grader. He is a good student, loves animals, and is a budding theater kid. Lately he’s been targeted by fellow classmate Hank, who has been calling Christoper names, pulling pranks on him, and basically being a bullying jerk. Despite Christopher reporting Hank’s behavior to teachers, which resulted in detention and a parent-teacher conference, Hank is still bothering him and his friends. Christopher asked his mom to sign him up for self-defense classes so he can better defend himself and others. You are good friends with his mom and know that Christopher is empathetic. As an extra measure, you decide to create a sigil that will build Christopher’s confidence, as well as shield and protect him from bullying.
Scenario: An Anti-Anxiety Sigil
Danielle is a competitive swimmer who was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder when she was twenty-three. She takes medication to help her, and recently also began doing meditation and yoga. It’s been a difficult path, but she feels like she’s been slowly gaining control over her anxiety. Occasionally, though, she will have anxiety attacks when she’s trying to fall asleep at night, and sometimes it manifests as insomnia as well. Her sigil will be a focus of meditation and designed to keep anxiety at bay, help her fall asleep more easily, and get more restful sleep.
Scenario: A Fertility Sigil
Brenna and Nick have been married for ten years. Three years ago they decided it was time to start a family, but despite their best efforts they have not yet been successful. It turns out that Brenna has a condition that makes conception difficult, but it may be overcome with medica
l intervention. She has been undergoing fertility treatments for the last year, and they are very hopeful. They are both new to the Pagan path, and Brenna has been personally drawn to the Greek goddess Demeter. She would like to craft a sigil that honors Demeter and will help her conceive a healthy baby, carry it to full term, and have a successful birth.
Scenario: A Focus Sigil
Vernon is going back to school to get a law degree at the age of thirty-nine. He had to drop out of college back in his twenties to take care of his mother, who had developed cancer, and care for his baby sister. His mom passed away two years later, and he focused on work to support himself and his sister. His sister is now grown, and he’s decided it’s time to go back to school. He’s balancing his job, a promising new relationship, and his schoolwork. He has just two more semesters to finish up, and he wants some help to keep his eyes on the goal and keep everything in balance—or at least prioritized.
Scenario: A Banishing and Binding Sigil
Meg was in a relationship for six years with Kim, until she had to end it and move out two months ago. Kim is an alcoholic, currently refuses to get treatment, and gets both physically and verbally abusive. Meg got a restraining order and has been working on removing Kim from her life. Meg wants to do some magical work to keep Kim away from her, stop Kim from finding her, and stop Kim from further hurting herself or others.
Scenario: An Inspiration and Creativity Sigil
Alex is a talented professional artist who suffers from clinical depression. Like many Aries, when he’s making work, everything is great. But when the depression starts to kick in, he finds it difficult to work, essentially leading to a long slippery slope of inactivity and blockages. He gets into a cycle where he starts to worry that he won’t have another creative idea again. Alex needs a sigil to help him overpower getting stuck in that sludge, and direct him to find inspiration and creativity when he’s in doubt.
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