Lucky Bat Blog

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE little sketchbooks & notebooks. There's always one in my bag and I use them for everything (to do lists, drawing, address book, jot down a quick idea, etc.). They are super easy to make and are great to have on hand.  I’m going to show you how to make a sketchbook/notebook that is 4”x5” but you can use these steps to make any size little book. Materials: PaperHeavy weight paper (for the cover)RulerX-acto knife Staples Push pinClips Paper creaser (or any flat edge)   Paper I’m using scrap paper for this notebook because I’ll be...

Hi! Over the next few weeks I’m going to be focusing on creating some new watercolor illustrations. I wanted show you a little behind the scenes peek at my process from painting to art print. HAND-PAINTED:All of my watercolor prints start as original, hand-painted illustrations. My style of illustration is playful and organic – not super realistic - but I still look at reference photos or better yet, the real thing. I am usually setup at the Farmers Market every weekend so I love to bring home a bunch of amazing produce and draw from life. I just have to...

As I mentioned in my last blog, tea towels are a fantastic, ecofriendly alternative to paper towels, with tons of uses (other than just drying your hands). Check out these ten unique ways to use a tea towel: A cozy for your French press or teapotAs soon as I get up, I shuffle downstairs, make a French press of coffee, and do my best to only drink half of it. If I succeed in saving the rest for my husband, I like to wrap a little towel around it to help keep it warm.  PotholderIf you fold your tea towel...

  What Makes It a Tea Towel?  Traditionally, tea towels are made of flat-woven cotton or linen and are about the size of a hand towel. The broad spectrum of uses makes them a much-appreciated accessory in the kitchen.  While towels made of terry cloth are the most absorbent and therefore great for drying hands, they often leave behind lint and shouldn’t be used around food or to dry dishes.  Materials like cotton and linen, however, are absorbent without leaving behind lint.​ A Brief History Tea towels date back to 18th century England where they were used for delicate tasks...

Hi! My name is McKinley Bryson and I’m the artist and designer behind Lucky Bat Paper Co. – a small, Baltimore-based business that creates colorful watercolor art prints, notecards, and tea towels. I grew up in a family of artist and have been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember.   Left: I was very excited about my little brother being born and offered up my illustration skills for his birth announcement (5 yrs old).  |  Right: Me (age 5 maybe?) proudly showing off my newest drawing.  I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee but fell in love...