Bringing Scotland's Edinburgh Castle to Life - Painting & Drawing Tips

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Of course, you can't go to Scotland without going to the Castle!!  The Edinburgh Castle sitting up above the city on it volcanic rock, calling everyone.  It is certainly on our list.  So of course I needed to paint it.

Why now you ask? Why not wait til I am there?
Well first of all I will doing some drawing on site but probably much smaller or only parts of the castle.  Don't forget, I am not traveling with other sketchers.  (My sisters read my blog and are probably already wondering how long I will be stopping to draw.)  You may be traveling with sketchers, and have lots of time but most travelers are not.  So adjustments must be made.

A Must Have, the Edinburgh Castle in my Travel Journal 

Let's draw the castle . . .
For me the view of the castle overlooking the city is the most striking.  That was my focus.  And that is your first job. Pick the thing that interests you the most and start there.  I know for a full picture you often start with laying in the horizon and move around creating a great picture, paying full attention to composition and everything. But we are not in the studio, light's changing, trains are waiting and life is moving on. A sketchbook is about catching the moment, responding to an impulse. Jump in and draw.

Layout of the Castle - note the guide lines using my Watercolour pencil. 

 I use my Watercolour pencil (59 Golden Brown, Derwent Watercolour Pencil) to give me some lines of reference.  Just a roof line, cliff edge, and any special spot that may be hard to nail right away.  No detail.

Now grab your pen and draw . . .
"I can't do that, what if I make a mistake".  I know for some this will be a very hard leap, and so do it in stages.  Your goal is to move as quickly as possible to pen.  A free loose pen stroke, not tracing a line, has so much life to it.  Often we obsess on a line that is 'not right' but really, it can be a bush, a bit of shading or get lost in the paint.

Ink work nearly done.  Drawing could be considered done at this point. 

Keep the detail at your focal point . . .
Again, don't worry about all the windows, the focus for me is the cliff area.  If you do a quick visual check you will see your eye slides over the other parts of the castle and rush to the cliff view.  Suggest the rest and keep it simple.

Add some colour . . .
I love coloured pencils for color mixing.  They really invite you to mix a few colours!

Close up of the colouring with the pencils. Note the mixing of colours as I fill in an area.

The castle walls are drab gray but there are bits of golds, blues, rusts, browns and more.  Add some colour.  Here you can be quick, don't worry about being too tidy.

Colouring in the castle with the watercolour pencils.  At this point they act just like any coloured pencil. 

 Pressing hard puts more pigment on the page and gives a darker colour, pressing lightly gives soft colour.

Castle complete using the watercolour pencils dry.  It could be considered complete at this point. 

Now the Magic . . .
Bring your drawing to life.  Add your water and blend your colours.  I love the soft wash of the watercolour contrasting with the dark crisp lines of ink.  It gives me a thrill each time. (I use a water filled brush to blend my colours.  Quick and easy)

Close up: plain pencil colouring on the left and blended with water on the right

  Don't forget that  as things dry you can go back and add more colour if needed. You can see from my final picture I darken my shadow areas to really bring my castle to life.

The Castle is ready, complete with a caption!!

Where are you going this year?  Have you got your journal Revved up and Ready?  My last post had more ideas to get your adventure started.  See Revving up your Journal here.

Update on travel bag. . .
Special thanks to reader Tehani's advice to checked out the Dollar Store.  They have an amazing collection of strong mesh bags in several sizes. It works great; everything fits and I can see my pencils for quick selection. (See more on organizing your materials here)

Spring Shows are coming up fast . . .
 Sunday, April 23, 10-4pm,  Artswest Spring Art Show and Sale, . Sullivan Hall, 6306 152 St. Surrey.   Original Art, cards &  prints by local artists.  Raffle for an Original Piece of Your Choice and Light Refreshments.  Lots of opportunity to meet and talk with the artists. More info www.artswest.ca

 April 28-30, 10-4pm each day, Paints’n Bloom Show & Sale, , Mandeville Gardens, 4746 Marine Dr, Burnaby. Featuring Artists Wendy Mould, AFCA & Audrey Bakewell in Support of the Alzheimer’s Society of BC.  

Pre-Show features: Beginner Watercolour Class, Wed, Apr. 26. 3:30-5:30pm Creative Cards Class, Thurs. Apr 27, 1-3pm, $35each  All supplies incl. Register Now: Contact Me to register.

Great Opportunity to get some help with drawing: My  Drop-In and Draw Sessions  for May are Monday, May 8 & 15,  10-12pm.  Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.

       Bring your sketchbook and your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on your drawing.  $15 Pre-Registration Required. Contact Me.

 Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!!

Special Offer: 3 Horse Cards = 1 Pack = Instant Download for only $12

 My 3 Horse Doodle Cards LET'S RIDE, LITTLE ONE AND FREE SPIRIT are 1 Digital Downloads Pack at my Etsy Shop.  Yes, you can print and personalize your own cards instantly. Your family and friends will love them. See the story of their creation 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

Revving Up Your Travel Journal for Excitement - Drawing and Painting Tips

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

On your Mark, Get Set, Go! The race is on, up into the air then down into the water.  Glide,  kick and stroke.  I can still feel the excitement and focus at the beginning of the race.  When I was younger, I swam competitively for several years, the breast stroke was my specialty.  It was a sad summer day when my 14 year son could beat me in a swimming race.

Travel Journaling is very much like racing.  You find your spot, pull out your gear and 'go at it'.  The excitement of place and time is very much there.  But the moment is fleeting; a bus to catch, the light is changing, your friends are waiting.  They all call for you to move on.

Start your book with a BANG!!

 Like racing, journaling does not start there. . . .

There is prep to do first.  You can imagine the days I spent at the pool, swimming lengths, practicing starts and turns, breathing exercises and more.  Success in Travel Journaling requires prep as well.  Each trip has its own requirement.  My upcoming trip to Scotland requires  a small lightweight pack.  My last post, Time to Crack Open That Travel Journal, talked about putting a mini kit together.

Once Your Materials are ready now it's time to  Revv Up your Journal . . .

 Prep your book with a few treats to enjoy on your adventure:

A Title Page to create the mood:

This really personalizes your book, it also starts to build on the anticipation of the trip.  I choose a rock formation to feature on my title page.  It is a prominent structure on the Isle of Sky and part of our day trip.  Notice my business card in the corner.  It is a good idea to put your contact info on the front or back page of your book in case it gets lost.

Churches on the River Ness - Imagine we will walk on that bridge, really soon.

 A Map to track the adventure:

I found this a really valuable exercise.  When I first starting looking at plans for our trip I was overwhelmed.  Everything was new to me.  Once I drew my map I had a really good idea of where I was going. This is also where I discovered the painting kit I had originally planned to use was not going to work out.  (See last post)

Striking a National Note with the flag.

Pictures to spark your couriousity:

This has turned into an awesome activity. I went online and found a few pictures of places we will see on our trip. I have used these pictures to draw in my book; spacing the drawings throughout, roughly in the order we will be traveling.  Now, I can hardly wait to see them as I already have intimately knowledge about them.

Symbols make great decorations

 Little touches to tantalize and intrigue you on your trip:

Flip through your book and prep pages with colour, lines or shapes of any kind.  I used some of the symbols of Scotland to decorate my pages.  Who knew the thistle was so important to them.  And of course, how can you not have a drawing of bagpipes in your book!! When you are trying to catch a quick sketch on site, having a shape to fill instead of a whole page, makes it totally doable. After all, my sisters are not going to wait, that long for me.

Scottish Book without bagpipes?! 

Once you have prepped you will be so ready for your trip . . .

You will not only know more about your adventure but more importantly you will know your materials. You will feel confident in pulling them out at a moments notice and 'getting down to work'.  But most of all you will already have this great journal underway that makes you feel good whenever you open it.

Even simple shapes add so much to blank page.  They invite you to write or draw something.

Do you prep your Travel Journals before a trip?  What things do you do?

Want help with your pictures?  My next post is on my medium - ink and watercolour pencils - Edinburgh Castle.  I can't wait to go there!

Great Opportunity to get some drawing help: 

Come join me at the Expressions Art Gallery, Maple Ridge.  There is only room for 3 people at each session so contact me to register.

     Drop-In and Draw with Wendy Mould, 
Monday, May 8 & 15,  10-12pm & 1-3pm. 

       Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.

       Bring your sketchbook and your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on your drawing.  $15 Pre-Registration Required. Contact Wendy 

 Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!!

 Special Offer: 3 Horse Cards = 1 Pack = Instant Download for only $12
 My 3 Horse Doodle Cards LET'S RIDE, LITTLE ONE AND FREE SPIRIT are 1 Digital Downloads Pack at my Etsy Shop.  Yes, you can print and personalize your own cards instantly. Your family and friends will love them. See the story of their creation 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