ARE your gloves, toque and scarf ready to go?
At this time of year the rains start. It is cold, wet, gray and dreary. For many it is depressing. Not enough light. Where are the Vitamin D capsules.
But it doesn't have to be that way . . .
Get your gloves, toque, scarf, rain gear and for me the best invention ever - waterproof runners. Head out and see a different world: spidery trees silhouetted against the storm gray sky; angry clouds swooping down over the rolling farm land; busy squirrels scurrying along the fence. There is lots happening even though it is gray and dreary.
As many of you know I have a young dog, Max. Let me tell you that gray, dark and dreary doesn't stop him. (Well, actually add heavy rain and he really starts to wimp out). But at any rate, he wants out for walks, every day. We head out at least twice a day for at least 40 minutes each. So I know, there is lots happening out there even when you think all is still.
This is really a great time of year for artists. . .
Getting good Reference Material is tough. I know you can hop on the internet and surf away, but painting from your own experiences, brings more emotional involvement into your work. New adventures translate into more enjoyment for you, new inspirations, new directions, and better work.
Max and I went on a photo . . .
It was AWESOME. We have had a week of cool rainy weather, great for the mushrooms. I grabbed my camera and Max and I headed out to Tynehead park. (the old wooded section, for those that live near here) It was wet and dark tramping through the trees yet surprising pretty. Many of the leaves were down, so the ground was covered with rusts and golds, the long, straggly moss was clearly visible draped from the trees. But more exciting of all was the mushrooms. Max and I found lots of them.
Some things I think about when shooting:
- change my camera settings to see what looks good. My Auto Focus was gray but when I used the Program Mode and changed my Aperture Setting (closed up the light getting in) I got lovely golds and browns in my pictures.
- shoot my subject as closeups but also zoom out, try different angles. Collect information on the setting that could be added to a drawing or painting.
- kept myself Open to new subjects. Who knew I would find so many different kinds of mushrooms once I really started to look for them. I photographed 10 different types on that one trip.
What was Max doing ?. . . .
You probably are wondering what Max did while I was kneeling on the ground, straddled over logs, squatting down behind trees. He was being the most wonderfully trained dog I have ever seen!! When we found our first mushrooms, I was so excited I drop the leash and started shooting. He stood around, wondered a bit, but basically stayed within a few feet of me, dragging his leash. He trained himself.
There are great spin offs from every Photo Shoot and not all are predictable. . .
Wendy's Work is always available on her website: "Art by Wendy" & at her Etsy Store: WendyMouldsArt
The Secrets of Graphite - Thursday Night Art Talks with Wendy Mould AFCA, CDM. Surrey Art Center, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey.
Learn how to make magic with pencil - Artists have been doing this since 1564.
2. Thursday, Nov 22-Saturday, Nov 24.
Paints'n Bloom Workshops & Art Show & Sale in Support of the Alzheimer's Society of BC
Gardenworks at Mandeville Gardens, 4746 Marine Dr, Burnaby
Workshop Day: Tuesday, Nov 20
10-12pm - Beginner Watercolour Class
1-3pm Christmas Card Making Class
$40 ea. All supplies incl. Beginner to Advanced Welcome
Registration Happening Now Contact Wendy
Artists reading this post also find the following valuable:
How to find the Right Sketchbook Friend - here
Is Your Sketchbook Ready for You? - here
Have You Felt the Freedom of the Line? - here
At this time of year the rains start. It is cold, wet, gray and dreary. For many it is depressing. Not enough light. Where are the Vitamin D capsules.
But it doesn't have to be that way . . .
 |
| THE NEW APARTMENTS - Lots of secret hideaways can be found in the dark corners of the forest |
Get your gloves, toque, scarf, rain gear and for me the best invention ever - waterproof runners. Head out and see a different world: spidery trees silhouetted against the storm gray sky; angry clouds swooping down over the rolling farm land; busy squirrels scurrying along the fence. There is lots happening even though it is gray and dreary.
 |
| THE JOY OF SOLITUDE - framing the shot but still including lots of foliage information |
As many of you know I have a young dog, Max. Let me tell you that gray, dark and dreary doesn't stop him. (Well, actually add heavy rain and he really starts to wimp out). But at any rate, he wants out for walks, every day. We head out at least twice a day for at least 40 minutes each. So I know, there is lots happening out there even when you think all is still.
 |
| PRETTY BUT POISONOUS - Names for future paintings POP into mind, when I am drawing from my experience |
This is really a great time of year for artists. . .
Getting good Reference Material is tough. I know you can hop on the internet and surf away, but painting from your own experiences, brings more emotional involvement into your work. New adventures translate into more enjoyment for you, new inspirations, new directions, and better work.
 |
| THE HIDEOUT - Set my aperture speed so colours were rich and warm, rather than washed out as they would have been on Auto Focus |
Max and I went on a photo . . .
It was AWESOME. We have had a week of cool rainy weather, great for the mushrooms. I grabbed my camera and Max and I headed out to Tynehead park. (the old wooded section, for those that live near here) It was wet and dark tramping through the trees yet surprising pretty. Many of the leaves were down, so the ground was covered with rusts and golds, the long, straggly moss was clearly visible draped from the trees. But more exciting of all was the mushrooms. Max and I found lots of them.
 |
| THE FAIRY VILLAGE - I try and step back to get lots of location information when shooting my subject |
 |
| THE FAMILY GATHERING - I zoom in, zoom out, try different angles. You never know when you will capture that special shot. |
Some things I think about when shooting:
- change my camera settings to see what looks good. My Auto Focus was gray but when I used the Program Mode and changed my Aperture Setting (closed up the light getting in) I got lovely golds and browns in my pictures.
- shoot my subject as closeups but also zoom out, try different angles. Collect information on the setting that could be added to a drawing or painting.
- kept myself Open to new subjects. Who knew I would find so many different kinds of mushrooms once I really started to look for them. I photographed 10 different types on that one trip.
What was Max doing ?. . . .
You probably are wondering what Max did while I was kneeling on the ground, straddled over logs, squatting down behind trees. He was being the most wonderfully trained dog I have ever seen!! When we found our first mushrooms, I was so excited I drop the leash and started shooting. He stood around, wondered a bit, but basically stayed within a few feet of me, dragging his leash. He trained himself.
 |
| MAX - He is becoming the Greatest Artist's Companion! |
- I have, of course, already started to enjoy a few random sketches of my mushrooms
- My students have already expressed an interest in drawing and painting them. I can't wait to try some of them in pencil
- Naming future mushroom paintings will be easy as I am already bubbling with names and painting ideas. (see last post on The Naming Game.)
- A new series may be born: one that might not have any wildlife in it but then again, maybe it will. I wonder what kind of wildlife would be wondering by a mushroom.
- Writing and talking about my mushroom paintings will be easy, my adventurous day already has some great memories to infuse into my talks.
For me the life of an Artist is more that just working away in the studio, what about you? What else do you do?
Wendy's Work is always available on her website: "Art by Wendy" & at her Etsy Store: WendyMouldsArt
Opportunities Coming Up:
1. Nov 1, 7:30-9 pm,The Secrets of Graphite - Thursday Night Art Talks with Wendy Mould AFCA, CDM. Surrey Art Center, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey.
Learn how to make magic with pencil - Artists have been doing this since 1564.
2. Thursday, Nov 22-Saturday, Nov 24.
Paints'n Bloom Workshops & Art Show & Sale in Support of the Alzheimer's Society of BC
Gardenworks at Mandeville Gardens, 4746 Marine Dr, Burnaby
Workshop Day: Tuesday, Nov 20
10-12pm - Beginner Watercolour Class
1-3pm Christmas Card Making Class
$40 ea. All supplies incl. Beginner to Advanced Welcome
Registration Happening Now Contact Wendy
Is Your Sketchbook Ready for You? - here
Have You Felt the Freedom of the Line? - here
Be sure to like and share my posts.
You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page.
Have a great Artful Day,
Wendy
2 comments:
Hi Wendy love the mushroom pictures,and Max
I'll have to take a day and go over to the park been so busy trying to catch up on all my commitments, Talking of squirrels we had one today get into the house I was sitting in the living room having a break and thought I saw movement on top of the fridge, and lo and behold there's a gray squirrel sitting up there watching the cat on the floor having her dinner. Thank God she didn't see it.amagine the fun and games.
see you monday
MARGARET
OMG!! Those squirrels can be very daring. I haven't had that problem but the stellar jays have been after me. My grandson and I were feeding them peanuts and one day we missed. The next thing I knew that Jay was tapping on the patio door looking for peanuts!! Have a great day.
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