Art by Wendy: December 2017

Dec 21, 2017

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

Dec 14, 2017

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,

Dec 7, 2017

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.