This is Becky’s glass watercolor study. Great job for the first time painting glass. Tip: when drawing eclipses {oval shapes} on any glass shape such as a vase, can or any cylinder shapes draw the oval eclipses first and then connect the vase for example together.
Frannie is learning watercolor. These ballerinas have full beautiful skirts formed from clear plastic wrap! On the one skirt to the right you can see the plastic wrap, the paint is not yet dry enough to be removed. You will be able to tell when the paint is near dry when to remove the plastic wrap, the paint will not move and have a puddle or wetness. The paint used is Page of London watercolors. Please continue to follow the progress. Important note: place the wrap in the direction of the form, in the case notice the direction of the wrap. the lines of the wrap are going in the direction the skirt would go.
This is a friends artwork, Karen’s artwork, color pencil and oil pastel. Really nice job Karen!
I must testify how great Our God is; as today’s world is…. most people have many issues, circumstances on their plates. We all need a bit of divine help and God in our lives. God loves you and He is not mad at you, any of us! I have been praying about a situation that needed much clarification and after praying with John Haggerty on TV yesterday within twenty minutes God had made a path to reach the right person to answer and help.
God will always answer our prayers when we come to His throne with a pure heart. Invite Jesus into your heart, ask him to forgive you of your sins, ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and watch what happens in your life.
Here is the progression of Elvis the goat in graphite pencils; 4H {warm tone}, 4B {cool tone} and a HB Neutral tone. Notice how I only have an outline sketched and not set in stone. When you have trouble sketching a form out start with one shape such as an eye. Work from one eye out, therefore allowing it to be easy to erase an outside form lines. If you try to draw the outside lines first and then go back and “TRY TO FIT” in the eyes in later in an open space it will not work unless you have Mastered drawing and realism drawing. Work from one form such as an eye and work from the eye and outward.
In the following picture this is how far I was able to get in two hours.
I can not stress enough if you are an over-sketcher on cheap paper of 140lbs. or less you are wasting value sketches turned into a drawing on CHEAP paper. You are not doing yourself any favors by doing this. Get yourself a really good drawing paper pad of 140lb or better. Even buy Illustration hot press drawing board this way when your over-sketched doodle is over-sketched it can become a serious composition because it is on good acid free paper or board. Use the cheaper drawing pads of 140lb. or less for Doodles or thumb-nail sketches. You have better results from the graphite on better paper too. Cheap papers are not made to hold serious artwork.
This is Elvis the goat in color pencil and oil pastels.
Here is an updated picture of Joan’s goats.
When you are drawing with graphite, color pencils or any other medium tools always follow the direction of the forms. Look at the following pictures below; notice the direction of the goat hair and draw it in that direction. .
Notice the direction of the chin fur or hair. Pressing with the “B” graphite pencils such as a 6, 7, and 8 Bs. will allow you to see realism sooner rather than later. If you draw in values of 5,6, 7 H range you will not see realism in your drawing. It will be flat with not much blending of forms and shapes. Do not be afraid of using the B pencils which are cool in tone and will “go Back into” in space. If you are having trouble using the higher B pencil because you are afraid or just do not understand how to use them I suggest practice sketching with a few higher numbered B pencils. For example; use a 6, 7 and a 8 B pencils and draw a few simple shapes such as a sphere, a square, an apple. Use the number 6B as the lightest in the three range. Getting over your fear is the only way to break through to realism.
The first mistake is to declare you have no talent! Don’t set your mind and yourself up for failure. With the right teacher you can learn how to draw. You need to start and understand how to draw realistically before you can draw surrealism for example. Look through my previous post for examples of shapes to start with such as a sphere and then cylinders, squares. I know there are people with different skill levels, but maybe you never were taught basic techniques to start out right. Do not get “Stuck” in using a grid technique. You need to rely on seeing and transferring on your merit. You will not learn proportion, drawing shapes, weighted forms and learning to understand drawing elements.
If you really want to improve your skill level start figure drawing in charcoal. I know that everyone does not have access to a Life drawing class, but most of us have someone who will sit for you for 30 minutes or so. If nobody will sit for you we all have a family member whom sleeps in a chair, draw or sketch grandpa from different angles. One newsprint tablet later you see much improvement. There will be improvement in the way you draw, see objects and form. You ability to transfer from life to paper, still-life will improve. There is No magic pencil, you must practice and press through. My father always said to me, “You only get out life what you put into it”. How true is that? Hard work is hard work, no way around it.
Remember composition. Good composition provides lines taking you through the picture from one point to another. There is movement throughout either with texture, pattern, lines, shapes, balance and lighting. A composition subject leaves the viewers with emotion and feelings; could be a memory provoked because of your artwork. Your artwork reminds them of an experience from their life therefore making a connection. Subjects that people can relate to; everyday life scenes, children and pets are a common thread. If your drawing is busy meaning a lot going on you need a resting spot for the eyes. If the paper is completely filled the drawing can become overwhelming to look at for very long and just too frustrating to figure it out. Be careful how much information you actually need to draw or include in the composition.
A solid title is important especially if you have a subject people need to figure out what exactly you the artist is trying to convey. If someone looking at your artwork does not understand your type of art they are relying on the title for direction. Look through out The Masters and compositions they provide a way out of the drawing either through a window or door in the setting. For a more this century contemporary artist look at Andrew Wyeth and his use of doors and windows in his paintings and drawings. Remember the light source as well. Light will help depict the time of day.
Work on 140 lb. paper or better! Tape a border edge because you do Not draw to the edge of the paper. You need an edge for matting, framing and or presenting.
Here are a few pictures of Elvis the goat Joan is learning to draw. REMEMBER and I can NOT stress enough that when you are drawing always draw in the direction of the form. The lines you are drawing should go in the direction of the object [ hairs ] are going in. Look at the beginning of this sketch and the direction even in the start of shaping the form.
Joan sketched this out a few months ago and wasn’t able to get to this until now and she was amazed to see how much she has learned and how her drawing skills have improved. If you need help with your drawing skills then you need lessons with me!
The color wheel is now added under painting tools!
Happy Healthy New Year to everyone!
Roxanne 