Christmas Wishes for Everyone - Painting & Drawing Tips

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Holly Berries & Rufous-Sided Towhee - $225 Matted, Unframed

Max and I love to walk along the trails in Tynehead Park.  There are forested trails with strong tall firs and open grass fields that shimmer in the sunshine.  There is a small stream that flows through the middle which the salmon will travel up in the fall.  I love the little glimpses of wildlife we are treated to on our walks.  A coyote ready to pounce, an eagle circling in the sky, salmon finning in the water, we even watched two big herons lifting off the water the other day.  But in the winter months things can be slow.  The little Rufous-Sided Towhee is one of our friends.  They flutter in the bushes, chitter and call, bringing life and colour to the winter landscape.

This little guy is just like the ones Max and I see.  Stopped for minute, checking for food to eat but still watchful as we rounded the corner.  I think he has decided we are not danger and will soon resume his lunch. 

Have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and all the best for the New Year to come.  I look forward to sharing my Painting and Drawing Tips with you next year. I will be on a Christmas Break but will be back again on Thursday, January 4. 

Here are a few last minute Christmas Ideas. Gift Ceriticates are available.  

 A heartfelt gift for that special person: 

A commission - Capture that Best Friend in a Pet Portrait.  A keepsake that will be cherished by everyone in the family. 

For the Artist on your list.   Private Drawing Lessons   Get more information  here. 

A really special gift for the Artist on your list:

 All day Marketing Workshop - Let's Get Your Art Out There - Sunday, Feb 25 or March 4, 2018.  This is an opportunity to work with a small group focusing on ways that work for you, to market your art.  Whether you are looking at full time or part Art Sales, there are effective, proven strategies that will get your work out the door. $80 (+$4 GST) Limited to 8 per session.  Art by Wendy Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey, BC.  REGISTER NOW  with Wendy.   Out of Towners give me a call and we can set something up.

 Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

 Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy 

What does it mean "to Draw"? Painting & Drawing Tips

The last couple of months I have been working on a series of post about how to draw, ways to get started, things to focus on, ways to celebrate success.

But I felt something was missing.  

What does it mean "to draw"?  Many people come to me for lessons 'wanting to learn to draw.'  Talking with them I find there are many different answers.  

I searched around the Internet looking for a definition of what it means 'to draw': "In fine art, the term "drawing" may be defined as the linear realization of visual objects, concepts, emotions, and fantasies, including symbols and even abstract forms." Encyclopedia of Art . 

This seems so dry.  Not the real picture.

FAR FROM THE MADDENING CROWD - Certainly how we sometimes feel at this time of year. 

Drawing is an adventure. 

Like any explorer you study your subject and decide where you will start.  Sometimes it is very logical, a shape or a line.  And sometimes you just like the way the lines converge on a spot; eye candy. 

Then you're off and running.  Moving further and further away from your starting point, gathering more and more detail. Refining a spot.  Popping in a dark.  Checking your perspective. Stepping back.  Checking.  Feeling the pull to get back in.  Draw some more. 

Questioning?  What is that? Never mine, go back.  What do you really see?  Don't try to make sense.  Move on.

Suddenly he is alive. 

JOEY - Those eyes just grab you.  It seems like he really is there on the paper. 

Your cat, your bird, whatever you are drawing is there, staring at you, waiting.

You get pulled in again, fix the nose.  Where are the whiskers?  He needs a mouth.   Move along.  You like that feathery pattern.  So soft and yet such sharp points.  Get that soft fluffy spot under his chin.  Keep moving.

JOEY -  8 x 10 - Commission

He's done. There. Alive.

 It's dark out.  Where has the day gone?

Is drawing your adventure?  Do you get lost in it?  Drawing doesn't have to be just with a pencil, next post I will show you different ways I draw.  I am sure you have more as well. 

Looking for more Drawing Tips, check out my previous posts in this drawing series.  

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing - here

4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit - here

Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends - here

Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together - here

Get Those Values Working for you - here

Blenders the Secret to the Soft Touch of Graphite - here 
Values and Colours in Action - here

   Christmas is coming, here are a few ideas for those Art Lovers and Artists on your list:  
- Private Drawing Lessons with Wendy Mould
- Original Art
- Prints, Magnets & Memo Pads featuring Wendy's Work
See my website or contact Wendy to visit her Studio/Gallery to purchase

Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

Special Offer: Free Shipping with your order of 5 or more  Christmas Doodle Cards or Get Instant  Down Load with the digital Cards. Print as many as you wish. Still time till Christmas to personalize your cards with colour.  Your Special People will be WOWED by the Cards.

Kitten and Puppy are happy to be featured on those Special Card

Time to Move Inside and Draw
Drop-In & Draw: 
January Dates: Tues, January 9 & January 23, 2018
Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.  
Choose a morning or afternoon session. Bring your sketchbook or your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on a drawing.  $15 Pre-Register Required. Contact Wendy Here

Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,

Where are the Mid-Tones? Painting & Drawing Tips

Sunrise on Mermaid Cove, Summer 2017

Early in the morning, as the sun breaks over the mountains, the shoreline comes alive. Steve and  I discovered this hidden spot when we were camped at Saltery Bay.  You walk down the trail, come around the corner and there it is.  In the early morning calm, it invites peace and meditation.

Of course it also invites me to sit and sketch!  

Mermaid Cove, Saltery Bay, BC

When you study this picture it quickly becomes evident that there are only a few strong darks and a few whites.  Really it is a mass of mid-tones.  They are the bulk of any image. Putting them in their place is the job.  I have sketched this spot a number of times and I always feel the peaceful mood. My goal this time is to work with the mid-tones using my pen.  Ink helps me understand the punch of dark value.  However it really makes me think about the mid-tones.  Like graphite it is best done in layers rather than just jumping in.  My kind of project.

Close up of the Mass of Mid tones

What to do first?
With ink you need to work front to back. A little different from other mediums.  My darkest area is the mass of branches on the sides.  I don't want them all but I do want some to give depth and frame my work. I have chosen the left to discuss as it is the biggest mass of mid-tones. 

Branches laid out and trees set up behind - still building the value scale

What value for the trees?

Think of the values as 1 - white, 2 Medium -Light, 3- Medium, 4- Medium Dark, 5 - Dark Value

Studying my picture I can see tree branches in the foreground need to be dark (4). (note the trees on the left have more light than those on the right.)  Trees on the rocks have sunlight on one side but darks on the other (2 but spots as high as 3 & 4).  Oh, but what about the trees on the far mountain and the lowlands below. (about a 2-3)  Notice they are all in the mid value range.  But each has to be distinct but still blend together. 

As I work with each area I may be thinking a value of 2 but within that range there can be variations of tone. 

Building up the detail in that left corner of my picture.

When to Stop and Evaluate?
Actually I stop often. Set my picture on a stand. Move back and study it.  With ink you can add darks but you are never going back to lights.  Sure we inkers have our tricks but . . .   I am now at a point where I do want to study it more.  I need to put my shadows in the water in the foreground and add a little more to the water.  I do want that sunshine light on the rocks to shine out more so I will need to darken the foreground of the rocks more. All the time I am saving my little spots of white for the sunlight on the rocks.   Step by step those mid-tones will settle into their place.  Then I will add 'the jewelry' as one of my artist friends says.  The little splashes of dark (5's) that finishes it off.

Mermaid Cove in a new light?
Not time to finish the other drawing before post time so here is one of my other Mermaid Cove sketches.  This was done later in the afternoon as I was sitting with Max on the rocks.  Not as much time; Max will only sit so long.  So my plan was to mix watercolour with ink, but keep them separate.  Interesting, eh? 

Mermaid Cove - Ink and Watercolour

Are setting up your mid-tones difficult for you?  What kind of tasks do you set yourself to focus on them?

Special Thanks to Darlene and Donna for inspiring this post.

Looking for more Drawing Tips, check out my previous posts in this drawing series.  

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing - here

4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit - here

Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends - here

Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together - here

Get Those Values Working for you - here

Blenders the Secret to the Soft Touch of Graphite - here 
Values and Colours in Action - here

   Christmas is coming, here are a few ideas for those Art Lovers and Artists on your list:  
- Private Drawing Lessons with Wendy Mould
- Original Art
- Prints, Magnets & Memo Pads featuring Wendy's Work
See my website or contact Wendy to visit her Studio/Gallery to purchase

Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

Special Offer: Free Shipping with your order of 5 or more  Christmas Doodle Cards or Get Instant  Down Load with the digital Cards. Print as many as you wish. Lots of time till Christmas to personalize your cards with colour.  Your Special People will be WOWED by the Cards.

Kitten and Puppy are happy to be featured on Your Special Card

Time to Move Inside and Draw
Drop-In & Draw: 
January Dates: Tues, January 9 & January 23, 2018
Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.  
Choose a morning or afternoon session. Bring your sketchbook or your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on a drawing.  $15 Pre-Register Required. Contact Wendy Here

Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy

Values and Colours in Action - Painting & Drawing Tips

New Works from the Studio of Art by Wendy 

WINTER COLOURS - $225     11 x 14 matted, unframed

Winter Colours features a little Rufous-sided Towhee, which we see a lot in the winter.  Their bright orange bellies add a bit of colour to the birds around the feeder and of course out on a walk.  

This time of year my heart thinks of snow.  As a kid we lived in Nova Scotia and snow, snow forts, skating on the lake, snow storms and no school were the norm.  I loved the fun of snow, especially the no school part and I find that even though I don't like driving in it, I still have a love of snow.  So winter pictures must have snow!  

Values in Action

Painting snow really makes me think of values.  It is white, just like the baby goats in the last drawing post "Blenders the Secret to The Soft Touch of Graphite" .   Now instead of the gray tones of graphite you are dealing with colour.  What happens to the values then? 

Winter Colours - Compare the tonal values with the colours

All those beautiful colours have a value and keeping the value pattern consistent is important.  In working with graphite you used different values to create the 'mass' of the shape.  The same thing happens in colour.  But now you are converting your 'colours' into a value on your value scale.  

Values of Colour

When it comes to working with colour, many shorten the 10 Point value scale to only 5 values. 

There is White, 3 mid-tones and Black

To think of these values in terms of colour think: (From Lightest to Darkest)

Yellow, Yellow orange and Yellow Green 

Orange, Red Orange, Green, Blue Green

Red, Blue

Red Purple, Blue Purple, Purple

Black

Of course within each colour there is a range of values, but having this picture in your mind will help in seeing and converting your colours into value.  Of course, taking a picture and converting it to tonal values is the most efficient method but not always practical when the paint is wet and colours are mixing. 

Note the values of the colours in the leaves - all in the mid tone and black range 

Building Mass with Values
In creating the leaves in the painting, you need the different values to make them 3 Dimensional. At the same time the value range has to be close or the leaves will not read as a unit. After all, they are not the focus of the painting. 
But the real challenge comes with the snow.  Like the goats, the snow is white.  But a white blob would be one dimensional and not have the puffy, billowing feel that is needed. 

Snow can have values that range from white to black!

Again like the white goats there is in fact very little 'white'.  Most of the snow has some value ranging from the light mid tones to the dark mid-tones  and even a spot or two that is almost black.  In some ways it is like Magic.  You are creating the illusion of white snow, yet you are using some very dark values.

Take the challenge and try your hand at snow - either in graphite or paint.  Have some winter fun!!

Looking for other drawing tips, check out my previous posts in this drawing series.  

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing - here

 4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit - here

Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends - here

Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together - here

Get Those Values Working for you - here

Blenders the Secret to the Soft Touch of Graphite - here 

     Christmas is coming, here are a few ideas for those Art Lovers and Artists on your list:

Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

Special Offer: Free Shipping with your order of 5 or more  Christmas Doodle Cards or buy the Digital Down Load Cards and print as many as you wish. Lots of time till Christmas to personalize your cards with colour.  WOW! your Special People with your Cards.

Time to Move Inside and Draw
Drop-In & Draw: 
January Dates: Tues, January 9 & January 23, 2018: 10-12pm or 1-3pm
February Dates: Tues, Feb 6 & 20, 2018: 10-12pm or 1-3pm
Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.
Choose a morning or afternoon session. Bring your sketchbook or your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on a drawing.  $15 Pre-Register Required. Gift Certificates Available. Contact Wendy Here

Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy

The Salmon are RUNNING - Painting & Drawing Tips

I know, I was going to talk about values in graphite verses watercolour in this post

but when Wildlife Things are Happening you have to be ready to Move.

My Coho Salmon with the blazing red colour

Saturday, Nov 11 we had rain in the evening.  

Not an uncommon thing here on the coast of BC but a very important thing at this time of year.  The rain puts lots of fresh water into the Fraser River and its tributaries and acts as a major signal.  The last salmon run is posed and waiting out at the mouth of the river. 

Chum and Coho at the fish ladder gate

That huge rush of fresh water coming down the river, signals the salmon to move.  This run heads up the Fraser and moves into the smaller rivers.  I live near the Tynehead Fish Hatchery on the Serpentine River and their last big run was happening NOW.

Opening the Fish Trap

My Dream
I am very much fascinated by the salmon run.  When I was a teenager we moved to the Comox Valley. I saw awesome salmon runs there for the first time.  The Puntledge River by our place was plugged solid with salmon in the fall. The smell, the fish, the seagulls, what a sight. After moving to Surrey, I was happy to see that the salmon come up the Serpentine River and I visit the Tynehead Fish Hatchery often. My Dream is to get some pictures of spawning Salmon swimming in the shallow waters.  I really want to capture the  Coho, with their bright red spawning colours.

Sunday, Nov 12, 4:30am The Call Came
The coho were moving.  The hatchery has been waiting for the Coho, they harvest the eggs for spawning.  So far only 12 coho seen, 10 males and 2 females.  But now the fish were coming, they were there and ready by 5:30am.  No, I wasn't there, unfortunately I am not on their list.  By the time I got there later in the morning they had their fish for the hatchery.  Now their job was to capture, count and release. 

Sometimes there are lots in the trap and sometimes not.

The hatchery harvests eggs from the Chinook, Chum and Coho. Once they have their catch for the hatchery, the other fish will now move up the river and spawn.  The hatchery's job is also to count returning hatchery fish and wild fish, to get a snapshot of what is happening in the river. (Hatchery fish have the small fin on the back removed) 

Keeping Score

Out of the rain and waiting to open the trap - Not your best hotel, but still warm, dry and comradely to help pass the time.

These volunteers are amazing, I was there a few hours with them watching but they had been there since 5:30am.  Did I mention it was a cold, wet, day.  A big thank you to all these guys and girls that volunteer to keep the salmon coming back to our rivers. 

One of the big Chum moving up the river

Not sure if I got THE PICTURE, but I got lots of others. I did however, get a very interesting adventure.  

Special Note: 

The Eagle Festival is happening there this weekend, Nov 18 & 19 with tours, boat rides, and lots of information. Harrison Mills.

FOLLOWING THE LINE - $300 (Matted 9 x 14) inspired by the Eagles in the trees waiting for the salmon at Deroche, in the the Nicomen Slough, Harrison Mills area. BC

With the salmon also comes the Bald Eagles.  The Harrison Mills area with the Chehalis Flats is a huge collection area for the Eagles and the dying salmon.   If you can't make the Festival, the eagles will be there in high concentration for at least 3-4 weeks. 

FRESH SALMON - 5 x 7 -  Inspired by the Eagles and Salmon

I will get back to my latest drawing series next week. Next up: Values and Colour in Action 

 
Looking for other drawing information:

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing

 4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit

Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends

Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together

Get Those Values Working for you

Blenders the Secret to the Soft Touch of Graphite

     

Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

Special Offer: Free Shipping with your order of 5 or more  Christmas Doodle Cards or buy the Digital Down Load Cards and print as many as you wish. Lots of time till Christmas to personalize your cards with colour.  Your Special People will love their Cards.

Great DIY Christmas Project:  Make Your Own Christmas Cards 

Christmas Card Doodle Classes Happening in November

Kitten and Puppy are happy to be featured on Your Special Cards

You will make some Great Christmas Cards for those Special People using my friendly little kitten and pup.  You will make at least 2 cards and you will feel confident to make more.  $35 all supplies included.
Classes: 

Sat Nov 18, 10:30-12:30 or 2:00-4:00  Art by Wendy Studio, North Surrey
Wed, Nov. 22, 3:30-5:30 Gardenworks at  Mandeville,  South Burnaby 

 Contact Wendy Here to register. 

Time to Move Inside and Draw
Drop-In & Draw: 
January Dates: Tues, January 9 & January 23, 2018: 10-12pm or 1-3pm
February Dates: Tues, Feb 6 & 20, 2018: 10-12pm or 1-3pm
Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.  
Choose a morning or afternoon session. Bring your sketchbook or your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on a drawing.  $15 Pre-Register Required. Contact Wendy Here

Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy

Blenders - The Secret to the Soft Touch of Graphite - Painting & Drawing Tips

Whether creating a Drawing or Painting

 Values Make the Difference

WE'RE IN TROUBLE NOW! - WIP - Graphite (Completed $200 Matted, Unframed)
Working with values means that even white goats have a range of tones, without them the goats would just be a flat, white blob

As an Artist you know Values are Important. But when you are deep in the trenches, working on a picture, it is hard to see if the values are right.  Drawing with a pencil is a great way to train your eye to see values.  In a pencil drawing the values are clear.  You can see the tones of gray and compare them with a value scale. 

White being a Value of 1 and Black being a Value of 10.  (Often you will see the numbers reversed, White being 10 and  Black being 1. The important thing is you have a range of 10 values.)

In my last post the focus was on using a range of values to create the 3-dimensional poppy on the left.   One that had volume and felt like it was alive.  (See the post here) For that poppy the majority of the values were in the dark range, closer to the Black.  But what if you wanted to create some of those lovely light values like the ones in the poppy on the right.

Poppy Reference: The Poppy on the right has quite a range of light values in the petals. (Contact me if you would like a larger reference file to work with.  I would be happy to send it to you.)

This can be done with graphite pencils, using very light pressure.  However, there is another way to create soft tones - using a blender. (Note: I would not do one poppy in pencil and one with the blender, I wanted to show you how a blender works and the range you can get with it.)

I have drawn the poppy on the right - tools are lined up 2B & 4B Derwent Graphite Pencils, larger blenders, kneaded eraser, vinyl eraser, brush for cleaning off debris, Note the scrape of paper with the graphite on it. 

The names Blenders and Tortillions are often used interchangeably, basically they are rolled paper or cotton in various lengths and thickness. One approximately .5 inch thick and one approximately .25 inches thick is a good starter kit.  Often they will come in a package of 3 or 4 thicknesses.  The thicker ones are good for bigger spaces and the smaller ones for those tight corners.

When you get your Blenders they are nice and clean.  They will become black as they pick up graphite.  They can be cleaned with sandpaper but I have never found the need for that. (Notice how black mine are)

Tricks to using a Blender:

A light layer has been applied and now I am blending it

1.  Put a light layer of graphite down with a 2B, then blend it by rubbing hard with the blender.  Pay attention to the direction as you are sculpturing your shape at the same time. When working in a darker area use a 4B to set down a layer of graphite.  Work in stages to build up your value rather than trying to "slam it" on the first go.

Using my 4B to add some of the shadows on the petal

 2.  To build up the value, add another layer of graphite then blend it again.  To increase the value a small amount put a light layer of graphite using a 2B.  To increase the value alot, use a darker layer of graphite with a 4B or 5B. Build up your layers accordingly.  It is easier to darken an area then to be lightening it.

Holding the blender in a more upright position to keep the dark and to give it a hard line next to the petal

3. Holding your blender upright allows more pressure on a smaller area.  This gives you a sharper edges or line.  Holding it more on its side allows for a softer blend over a larger area.

4. Making circles with the blender will give a more even layer without streaks or lines.

Using the blender to give a very soft layer on the petal that is rolled over and reflects the light

5. Once your blender has graphite on it, you can also use it as a drawing tool for a really soft, light touch on your paper.  If it does not have enough graphite on it, take a 6B pencil and scrabble on a scrap of paper then rub your blender in it.  It is now loaded with graphite and ready to draw with.

Using the thinner blender to soften the dark shadow lines.  

6. You can soften a line by first drawing it then running your blender over it.

Rub the area softly with the kneaded eraser to lift off and lighten.  You will need to go in with your blender to soften any edges.  

7.  Use your kneaded eraser to lighten an area.  

A Closeup: The center has not been blended and makes a nice contrast with the soft petals.  (Petals are not complete, I would like to darken the far petal a bit more. I will wait til more of the flower is completed so I can compare the values in that area.) 

Using a blenders gives an image a very soft look, one that works well with flower petals, fur, feathers and more. Combining this soft look with a textured surface makes a great contrast in a drawing. Notice how I did not blend the center of the poppy.  This gives a roughness to the center that contrasts nicely with the petals.  (Note: I would not do one whole flower in pencil and one whole flower with a blender unless I wanted to practice and compare the results.)

 See my Post: Drawing A Seagull Part 2  to see how another way of mixing the two types of textures with a Seagull and to see other blending tools.

What are your favourite blending tools?  Do you mix it up in your drawings?

Looking for other drawing information, See the previous drawing posts:

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing
  4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit
Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends
Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together

      Next up: Values and Colour in Action  

Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

Special Offer: Free Shipping with your order of 5 or more  Christmas Doodle Cards or buy the Digital Down Load Cards and print as many as you wish. Lots of time till Christmas to personalize your cards with colour.  Your Special People will love their Cards.

Great DIY Christmas Project:  Make Your Own Christmas Cards 

Christmas Card Doodle Classes Happening in November

Kitten and Puppy are happy to be featured on Your Special Cards

You will make some Great Christmas Cards for those Special People using my friendly little kitten and pup.  You will make at least 2 cards and you will feel confident to make more.  $35 all supplies included.
Classes: 

Sat Nov 18, 10:30-12:30 or 2:00-4:00  Art by Wendy Studio, North Surrey
Thurs Nov 16, 2:00-4:00 or 6:00-8:00   Art Expression Gallery, Maple Ridge.
Wed, Nov. 22, 3:30-5:30 Gardenworks at  Mandeville,  South Burnaby 

 Contact Wendy Here to register. 

Time to Move Inside and Draw
Drop-In & Draw: 
January Dates: Tues, January 9 & January 23, 2018
Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.  
Choose a morning or afternoon session. Bring your sketchbook or your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on a drawing.  $15 Pre-Register Required. Contact Wendy Here

Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy

Get those Values Working for You -Painting & Drawing Tips

Have you ever finished a painting and felt it just looked flat?

There is no life to it.  Yet, you planned, worked hard and tried everything.  

Where did you go wrong?

Bright Bold Poppies - One of my favourite things to draw.  Especially in Ink.

Take your painting, photograph it and then turn it into a gray scale picture.  (You can do this easily with the Edit feature in Photos on your phone or Ipad.  It's a great little feature.)  When you see the picture in gray scales, without the distraction of colour you have a much better feel for the values that are in your work.  This is where the Magic happens.  It is the strength of the values that can turn that flat shape into a Dense, 3 Dimensional Mass that really seems to come to life. 

Seeing Values in Action - The MAGIC Element of Art

Here is a drawing of the poppies from the last post (see here)

Take a look at the poppies you worked with in my last drawing post.  In that post you completed the line drawing.  The drawing gives a sense of Depth and Mass because of the layering; petals in the back, the center, petals in the front, stems and little leaves and flowers layered on the page. I love the look of ink but adding graphite (values) can make it even more interesting.

Add some values - I used a pencil but you painters can use paint.

Here is one of the poppy with one value on it.

Yes, this poppy looks pretty 3 Dimensional, but not because of the shading.  It is more the work of the stem and the little leaves that gives it Volume.  The graphite almost flattens it. It is all one value.   Cover up the stem area as you look at it and you will see what I mean.

Here is my Poppy Reference. If you want to try the drawing, Contact me if you would like a better reference file to work with.  I would be happy to send it to you.

Now study the picture reference and add the values.  (I used a 6B pencil for the darker areas and 2B for the lighter areas.) Work by layering your graphite.  Using circular strokes build up your darker areas, always blending them into the lighter areas.  Yes, you can use just a 2B pencil to put in your values and use lots of pressure to get the darks.  I prefer to use a variety of pencils to get my darks as it requires less pressure and I get more texture on my paper.  I am not flattening the tooth of my paper with lots of pressure.

Some things to note: 

You have a value scale of 1 to 10.  1 is white and 10 is your darkest dark.  There are no 1's or  10's on the petals.  You need to keep your values inside of that range.  The white (no. 1) needs to be saved for the main poppy on the right.

When shading the light petals: the petal on the far left is the lightest, the one on the far right is next and the light petal off the center at the back is next. 

When shading the dark petals: the front petal has the darkest areas and the back petal is not as dark. None of the petals has a full Value of 10. 

The only 10 is just where the flower, leaves and stem meet.  Notice how that really grounds the flower and gives it that sense of life you are looking for.  You can see the same affect on the lower poppy where the darks have been done in ink.

Poppy with full Values

Now this is a POPPY.  The darks and lights of the graphite really give that Poppy mass.  It definietly looks alive, open to the sunlight. 

As you work with your drawings and paintings you need to always be comparing the values; who is lighter, who is darker and who is the same.  Go back to that gray scale picture of your painting/drawing.  How do those values compare? Punch some of them up and drop some of them back.  You have a scale of 1-10, make sure you use all of it.  Working on pencil drawings really helps to sharpen your sense of values. 

 Working in colour really doesn't change anything.  There is still values to be modulated only now it is done with your colour choices rather than graphite.  Often artists comment that it is really not the colour that is important it is the value.  As you can see from the two painted pictures I have included their volume is developed with the values of the colour.  I even played around with colours with my gull to emphasis that.

READY FOR MISCHIEF - 5 x 7 - $135 (Matted, unframed)
Note how the dark values create his Mass, your eye totally accepts the strange colours (green, orange, purple) When the value is right the colour is not important

Looking for other drawing information, See the previous drawing posts:

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing
  4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit
Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends
Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together

Next up: Working with Blenders - the secret to the soft touch of Graphite.   See you next week.

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