Thumbnails

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Roxanne

Thumbnails they are called. It is important to sketch [on any scale] small drawings as research compositions before you start a new drawing or painting. Use your favorite graphite pencil or charcoal. The main objective is to figure out composition and what works the best in your artwork. First figure out what the main focus will be; what do you want the viewers to see as the subject. Remember how color will affect main focus as well as lighting. Then taking into consideration the light source. Each thumbnail is meant to be different; change the light source, move the main subject within the small sketch to see how the composition changes by moving the objects within the small sketches. You may find you like for example the main subject matter not in the middle but the left side. Very importantly not to copy someone’s artwork. You may look at photographs of the subject matter but do not copy. Copying destroys the integrity of your artwork; plus you are not learning at a pace you could be advancing. The artist you are looking at has figured it all out for you. The reward comes from the honest beginning.

Remember line direction, movement with line within the composition; the way your eye follows line and how it moves throughout the piece. The gesture of lines and how they are hard or soft flowing lines or gesture lines.

Here are a few sketches Tom is working on for insight to his next painting.

The Unsent Letter..

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Roxanne

This is how far I have been able to paint to. This is a large oil painting that I am not in a hurry to finish. It is better to produce quality vs, quantity. Some students say to me, “You’re still working on this?” and my answer is I would rather like what I painted then never be satisfied or question my work at a later date. I have been very busy outside my studio and haven’t had the time window that I need to paint, so eventually there will be the time. My photography here isn’t as focused as I think it could be or my glasses aren’t strong enough! Anyway, the light I am now starting to put in is beautiful. Whom ever views this once hanging and takes the time to read the letter the painting will have so much more depth then just the title explanation.

Remember the Light source in every composition in any medium you work with. Complete flesh tones through out with consistency is key. Looking at where the light is coming from and how the light changes and affects tones. If you are not sure then set up a Still Life to help aid you. mannequins are wonderful for this purpose; if that isn’t an option for you then ask a friend or family member to sit for a little time. Take pictures as reference to help guide you in the process.

Graphite Drawing

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Roxanne

Graphite drawing by Jordan. Learning to draw is not as hard as some make it. You need a good teacher; someone who understands realism and wants to teach you foundation. I can’t express enough how important Foundation learning is. You must learn to understand form and how to create it with warm and cool tones in graphite. Starting to draw with a “Hill and Valley” concept { which I created in my teaching experience } is key to understand more complex skill sets.

I guarantee I can teach you!!!

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Roxanne

Starting to add tones and set form with values.

portrait painting

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Roxanne

Oil painting is easy when you have knowledge about drawing forms. Realism in any medium is about layers and lighter layers of building forms. I will add more on this later, don’t have the time now, but stay tuned. This is titled, “The Un-sent Letter”. It is about a young woman sitting getting ready for her wedding day. She is holding a letter she never sent to an old love. It is about life decisions and “Letting Go” of the past’ heart wrenching. There will be several clues painted to add to the story, which line up with my recent photography. More to come.

Art lessons in Easton, Pennsylvania

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Roxanne

Notice the material on the smaller mannequin, the gray, silver color of the dress. A shiny material can have Refracted light which causes a Reflection in the valleys or deep parts of the folds. These folds are darker in tonal values on cotton for example. Drawing shiny material are small stokes, tedious lines of smooth value ranges. So, shiny material is classified as 102 level.

I added a few mannequins to my studio to help me and artist friends with Life drawing, foreshortening views and so on. I want you to notice how the eyeball is a sphere in a socket! Drawing spheres well will help you later on with drawing ans shading portraits.

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Roxanne

Much information added under painting instruction and oils.

watercolor

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Roxanne

In the past few days I have been able to work a bit more; fine tuning the details. I still want to recess the background some. 7/27/13.

This is how far I was able to paint. I really enjoy the lace and the material is moving. It’s pretty cool to see my growth as an artist since the first time I painted; better known as my first watercolor. Just the skill level alone……awwww right!

Learning to see.

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Roxanne

Learning to see the details around you; what a leaf or tree for example looks like when you are standing next to it versus how a tree or the detail of a leaf look in comparison farther away or distance. Take the time to look and notice color and how the color changes and the details or realistic details slightly become unfocused as they go back or a way from you in distance.

I advise you to start thinking about color or graphite in values [one to ten; light to darkest] for all colors as well as grays/blacks. Are they warm or cool in tone? Warm tones will come forward in space and cools will sink in space. The way God designed it, not an artist trick. Think about how color fades in distance and lack of detail in landscape.

Don’t worry so much about the name of the color printed on the tube of color, look to see if it is warm or cool in tone and where would you use it on form, shape etc.

Wanting to learn to draw and paint.

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Roxanne

I want to share a few thoughts with you about drawing and painting. If you are becoming frustrated with your painting skills and it seems like you can paint to a certain point, but you know something is wrong? Something just doesn’t look right or you wish you just knew how to proceed and improve your skills. This is why you are frustrated, you do not have a solid foundation to work off of. Remember: VERY IMPORTANT; also draw in the direction of the form. Once you are a master of drawing then you may shade in opposite and various directions. Once you completely understand drawing and your skills can hold their own and understand form and shapes {how to bring them to realism} then painting will be easier and you wont be as frustrated. Trust me with this.*********
***********TRUST ME::::::::once you learn to draw and control value and use the warm and cool tones to your advantage the painting and form will be easier. Always draw in the direction of the form or shape of the objects you are drawing. I will be adding video demos in the next few weeks which will help.

I suggest and recommend you go back to learn the basics and fundamentals in drawing. Drawing 101…….I have several post regarding drawing and improving your skills, in the search tab in the menu. Also, in the menu there are tabs regarding drawing and papers.

Start with re-learning the values in graphite; the H graphite pencils, [warm tone] and B graphite pencils [cool tone]. Make a value scale from one to ten; the first block is just paper white and the tenth block is the darkest you can get the block. Number five is middle tone; therefore number two block light until block five and block six to ten shaded in gradual increments.as seen in the graph. Learn what each pencil can do for you. Notice the hardness and softness of the graphite. H’s are hard and B’s are soft.

Then work on perfecting a sphere. Use a 4H to begin, once drawn well, then add a 2B to the core, the darkest part.

Roxanne

Artist, Art Teacher, all mediums and Miniature Art 1/12th scale.

Tag Archives: art instruction