Get to know the artists behind Spectrum Noir Advanced Discovery Kits

As well as a way to channel your creativity and express yourself, art and colouring can be a fantastic way to relax. Putting pen to paper and focussing on the colours, shades, shapes and patterns before you can help your mind unwind and begin to travel in whichever direction it likes -who knows what untapped thoughts and reserves of creativity you will discover!

And, if you're also keen to pick up a new artistic discipline at the same time, then the Spectrum Noir Advanced Discovery Kit - Masterful Mandalas is for you! Part of the new range of Spectrum Noir Advanced Discovery Kits, this set invites you to join artist Baz Furnell to learn how to use colour to create stunning realistic depth and eye-popping dimension

As well as premium Spectrum Noir TriBlend markers, this carefully curated set includes intricate hand-drawn colourable mandala designs and step-by-step instructions from Baz Furnell so you can discover his unique 3D colouring technique to master the art of the mandala!

A talented artist, Baz has heaps of experience – so what better time for a quick Q&A to get to know him a little better, find out how he discovered his unique style and maybe even pick up a few helpful hints and tips!

Factfile:

Name: Baz Furnell

Advanced Discovery Kit: Masterful Mandalas

Based in: UK

Instagram: @bazfurnell

How long have you been interested in art?

I guess I’ve been interested in art my whole life, many of my family members were artistic so it runs in my family. That being said, I only really started to draw on a regular basis within the last six or seven years.

What made you start creating art?

Like I said I’ve always had an interest in art and drawing but as I’ve become older I’ve found that it’s a great way to relax.

What do you enjoy about it?

I enjoy the process. Starting with a blank page and creating something from scratch is rewarding for me, regardless of what I end up with. I work in quite a stressful job so spending time concentrating on creating something is a great way for me to relax and forget about my work.

How long have created art in this particular style?

Even though I’ve always been interested in art, since leaving school I hadn’t really picked up a pen to draw something properly for over 20 years. I started by drawing animals and anything else that came to mind. However, I started to find the repetition of trying to copy an image slightly unfulfilling. I happened to see a symmetrical design called a mandala that intrigued me, so had a go. I found the process really enjoyable and the rest, as they say, is history!

Please tell us about your Masterful Mandalas kit

In 2020 I worked with Spectrum Noir to create the original ‘Blended Mandalas’ Discovery Kit. I really enjoyed working on this project with the Spectrum Noir team and ‘Masterful Mandalas’ is a natural evolution from the first Spectrum Noir Discovery Kit. The Masterful Mandalas kit has designs that are larger and there are more of them. This enabled me to create a range of designs that varied in complexity & detail which gives buyers of the kit more choice in terms of their own ability. This kit also has more Tri-Blend Markers to choose from, giving an additional six 3 in 1 markers, all of which are different to those in the original blended mandalas kit. The bigger box also allows for a more comprehensive instructional guide. All in all, I’m very happy with how the kit has turned out!

Which is your favourite drawing in your kit

Personally, I like the swirly design I created. It’s a little different from some of my other work and it’s great fun to colour/shade. When I say the swirly design, it’s the one in the centre of the designs in the contents section on the back of the box.

What can people expect from the kit?

Bigger designs with more variety. This kit has also allowed me to produce some more in-depth instructions which should help anyone wishing to give 3D colouring a go.

What is your top tip for creating art using your technique?

My top tip is to just enjoy the process, don’t worry too much about the end results, or comparing yourself to others. The more you practice, the better you’ll get and don’t forget to share your results with me on social media!

What made you want to partner with Spectrum Noir and why do you enjoy using their products?

I’ve tried a lot of art products over the years, but when I stumbled upon the Spectrum Noir Illustrator markers at a local art shop, I was really impressed with the quality at what I consider to be a very reasonable price. With so many colours available I started to use them in most of my designs which I then shared on Instagram. Through social media, the Spectrum Noir team reached out to me and asked if I’d like to try some of their other products.

Again, I was very happy with not only how the products performed, but also with the professional quality of the packaging. Since that time, I’ve got to know some of the team and can honestly say that they are really nice people. They’ve always been friendly and helpful, encouraging my work through their own channels and I can say I’m very proud to be working with them again on this product.

What’s your favourite colour combination with the colours in the kit?

I picked all the colour combinations so I’m happy with all of them. But if pushed to make a final choice, I have to go with the Jade Green Blend Tri-Blend Marker which I absolutely love.

In the kit:

Spectrum Noir TriBlend 3-in-1 Markers
- Jade Green Blend
- Gold Yellow Blend
- Dark Red Blend
- Ice Blue Blend
- Purple Blend
- Magenta Blend
Spectrum Noir Artliner
- Black 01
- Black 03
Printed line-art sheets x 9
How-to guide
Masterful Mandalas Tutorial

Spectrum Noir Advanced Discovery Kits are the perfect way to discover, enjoy and develop a passion for Art and Colouring, why not take a look at the full collection and try something new?

If this post has inspired you to start creating and colouring we’d love to hear about it!
Make sure you share your project photos with us on Facebook UK, Facebook USA, Twitter, Instagram UK, Instagram US, Pinterest UK or Pinterest US using the hashtag #crafterscompanion.