Painting Is . . .

 This entry was originally posted on Saturday, October 6, 2012

Painting is drawing with color. 

An Easy Way to Draw in Proportion

  This entry was originally posted on Monday May 21, 2012

Proportion can be a difficult concept to grasp as you are drawing.

Especially if the mathematics of it eludes you.

Well, there is an easy way to draw in proportion if you are drawing from a photograph or a sketch.

And it doesn't require math.

Which is even better.

 

First take your photograph and draw a diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right corner.

Next place a piece of tracing paper over top of your photo and draw the side and bottom edges, extending the lines out. This creates 2 lines that are perpendicular to each other.

Then draw another diagonal line from the lower left hand corner to upper right corner of the photo and extend it out further. 

Then find the height which you want to work with and draw a line that will meet the diagonal line. 

 

Where that line meets the diagonal line, draw another line down.

 

 

This size is now in proportion to your photo and you can use it to draw a more accurate drawing.

 What is great about this is that you can draw the diagonal line out further and make the drawing even larger.

Sunday Secrets #18

 This entry was originally posted on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Drawing for Autumn's Bounty

 

Today's Sunday Secrets is a question that I was asked a couple of times during my studio tour concerning my poured watercolors.

The question is:

How do you know where to put your masking fluid?

 

That is a very good question.

 

I first draw out what I am going to paint.

I make sure this drawing is dark.

Usually you draw with a light pencil line but for pours, you need the pencil lines dark.

This is because when you wet the paper and add layer upon layer of paint, the pencil line starts to fade.

If it isn't dark enough, that pencil line disappears by the time you want to mask for the last couple of pours.

 

Then using my black and white photograph, I determine which values I want to save with my masking fluid.

I start by saving the lightest value, which is white. 

I apply the masking fluid to the white paper before I apply a pour of paint.

Once the first pour has dried, I again look at my black & white photo and figure out what the next value is that I want to save.

Then I apply the mask to that value and pour again.

I continue to build up the layers of masking fluid and paint until I am left with the darkest areas.

Finally I remove the mask and viola! 

I have my painting!

 

Paint and Draw From Life

   This entry was originally posted on Thursday, May 17, 2012

One of the best ways to improve your drawing and painting skills quickly is to paint from life.

This can be especially difficult for those that do their best painting at night.

 

Set up a simple still life or go outside and paint (also called plein air painting).

Especially now that the weather is getting better.

 

Photos tend to flatten out objects and landscapes.

When you paint from life, you learn how to capture the 3 dimensionality or the perception of depth of your subject better.

It will also help you understand and paint that dimensionality when you do paint from photographs.

Modified Blind Contour

  This entry was originally posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Modified Blind Contour is another drawing exercise.

It is where you start off with blind contour but you allow yourself a couple of peeks during the process.

This is to reorient yourself and your drawing tool.

 

It is sometimes best to time yourself with this because it can be tempting to take lots of peeks.

One suggestion is to give yourself 5 minutes to do a drawing.

Set a timer at the 2 minute mark and again at the 4 minute mark.

You can only peek at these two intervals.

It will keep the temptation to look at bay.

Blind Contour Drawing

  This entry was originally posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Blind contour is a drawing exercise that improves your eye-hand coordination.

It is something that is often done in drawing classes and I have always enjoyed the exercise.

 

The concept of blind contour is that you are to draw your object without every looking at the paper you are drawing it onto.

You are to feel the object with your eyes as you draw it.

 

To do blind contour, set up an object or two in front of you.

Cover your hand with another piece of paper.

Slowly follow the contours of the object as you slowly draw it onto your paper.

Do not lift your pencil/pen as you do this.

If you have to go back over an area, do so without lifting the pencil.

Do not be tempted to look at your drawing until the end!

Blind contour also makes for a great game with kids.

It is always fun to see what silly things they can come up with from the same object.

It is also fun to see the improvement you will have in your own drawing over time.

 

Practice Sketching With A Marker

 This entry was originally posted on Monday, May 14, 2012

I discovered long ago that when I sketch with a pencil in my sketchbook, I want to erase.

And erase some more.

I probably spend more time erasing than sketching.

Then nothing gets drawn.

Does that sound familiar?

 

If you are someone that spends all your time sketching with your eraser more than your pencil,

try sketching with a marker or a pen instead.

 

The temptation to erase is no longer there.

You are forced to commit to a line.

This commitment can be such freedom.

 

The more you commit, the better you will get.

I saw a huge improvement in my drawing skills when I gave up the pencil.

I'm sure you will also.

 

But please keep the marker to the sketchbook and don't use it on your watercolor paper!

(My mother would also recommend that you not use it on your sheets, walls, or stuffed animals like I did when I was younger)

Carry A Sketchbook

   This entry was originally posted on Saturday, May 12, 2012

Carry a sketchbook wherever you go.

Or a tablet if you have one.

You can sketch at games, in church, sitting in an airport, sitting on the bus, or just waiting for time to pass.

It can be a quick sketch or something more detailed.

It is all about eye-hand coordination so it doesn't matter how long you spend on it or if the sketch is completed.

All that matters is that you practiced.

Sketch It!

  This entry was originally posted on Friday, May 11, 2012

Never underestimate the importance of drawing.

Even though I allow my students to trace a photograph, 

I tell them that drawing is an important skill that will improve their paintings.

Take some time to practice your drawing skills by sketching what is around you.

It doesn't need to be seen by anyone but you.

Remember it is the process, not the product that counts.

Easy Way to Draw

   This entry was originally posted on Monday, February 6, 2012.

When I teach a class or workshop, I don't make my students draw out their work.

The reason for this is that if I did have them draw, we would never get to painting.

Instead of drawing, I have them transfer a photocopy of what we will be painting onto the watercolor paper.

This is done by placing the photocopy onto the watercolor paper and taping it down so it doesn't move while transferring.

Then a piece of transfer (also called graphite) paper is placed underneath the photocopy with the dark side down.

The photocopy is then transferred onto the watercolor paper.

Now you are ready to paint.

Pencils

  This entry was originally posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.

I like a sharp point on my pencil when I draw. I use to be constantly sharpening my special drawing pencils everywhere I went. I even went so far as to buy a battery powered pencil sharpener. Ha! I found that I was so concerned with have a sharp point that I never got to painting.

Then many years ago I discovered how handy mechanical pencils can be.

No more pencil sharpeners and I always have a sharp point.

Yay!

I buy packages of them and have them all over the house and in my studio now.

The lead in the mechanical pencils is usually a 2B, which works well. 

Lead that is too soft tends to smudge all over your paper when you brush your hand against the paper as you work.

Extra lead for mechanical pencils is also available as an H. This is harder than a 2B and also works well.

Especially if you are a smudger.