Catching the Light - Out Door Sketching - Painting & Drawing Tips

 Are you feeling stifled, stuck in your studio?

Does the outdoors call you?

I know how your feel.

THE STONE LION - This is one of the lions that guards the Forbidden City in Beijing (no I am not in China right now, I only wish!!)

 Painting and drawing are my passions but I get so tired of the AC world.  I want to be out and about. Trying new colours, painting something different or taking on a new challenge. 

The good weather is here and I am ready to roll.

 

I promised a new medium to wet your appetite and give you something new to think about.  Of course it incorporates ink.  Now, don’t panic and turn away.  A little black ink can really make your work pop.  I find that no matter how hard I try, without including ink, I just don’t get my darks, DARK. 

Without that true dark, things just don’t pop. 

So as you guessed, the new medium for outdoor work is mixed. 

1.     Permanent ink:  in the form of Micron or Staedler pens.  I like to use 03 for a small sketchbook, 5.5 x 8.5 and a 05 for a larger one.  Of course, it is nice to have a 02 or 01 in the bag when you want a light crosshatching shadow. 

2.    Coloured Pencils: Prismacolour.  Yes, coloured pencils with a bit of ink look awesome together.  Note my Stone Lion above. 

I find a pack of 24 has a good colour selection and doesn't take up too much room.  

Now why coloured pencil . . .

The pencils are very portable: light weight, clean, small. A 24 pk gives you lots of colours to play with and yet take up little room.  The colours can be mixed easily:  this can be done working in layers; different pressures; glazing; putting colours side by side.  Your old rules of mixing still apply.  Opportunities to include different textures by glazing over colours or leaving them rough. 

They can give you fast results when your time is limited.  Note the mix of colour (the Lion) and plain ink (the stand) They can both can stand together or alone on your page to bring your ideas to life.  

Working quickly is soooooo important in Outdoor Sketching. . . .

 light changes, things move and time disappears. 

Yes, you need to be quick because life is changing in front of you.  But more importantly working quickly teaches you so much. 

LITTLE BUCKETS - note the colour mixing and light strokes to quickly add colour to the outline drawing

1.     You don’t dither and doubt:  so easy to do in the studio.  And yes, when working on a large finished piece you need to think before you act.  But you loose the spontaneity in your work.  That lively line or stroke. Working in your sketchbook, gives you permission to not be perfect and give things a try.

2.    You mix and move on: Experimentation happens more readily when you need to move.  Working in a sketchbook allows that freedom to say “What the heck” and give it a go.  I have discovered many new ‘colour combos’ from these moments.  Note all the colours in the bark below.  Certainly a brown tree is more than just brown.  

LITTLE BUCKETS -  Note all the colour mixing on the tree - deep black and indigo for the grooves in the bark, some reds, oranges and browns and even green, the reflection from the foliage and a bit of grays, the reflection from the buckets.  

3.    You don’t stumble and stall: How often has an errant line or stroke caused you to stop.  You get hung up on the mark.  You restate the mark.  You correct and restate.  In short you are stalled.  Unable to move on.  The freedom of the sketchbook and the hum of the sunlight will keep you moving, letting that wayward mark sink into your work and get lost.  Yes, believe it or not.  A wayward permanent ink mark can get lost in your colouring and shading.   Once you are finished, it's gone.  Give it a try and see for yourself. 

LITTLE BUCKETS: pressing hard to glaze white over the buckets, mixed and blended the colours and gives a smooth look.  Light pressure to colour the tree with a yellow glaze leaves a more granular texture and tones it down

So grab you pen and pencils and head out to draw. 

What is your favourite medium for outdoor sketching? 

Up next, a few tips and techniques for getting your pen moving and into your sketching more.

Looking to get your Sketchbook Up to Snuff: check out my Italy series on Sketch-Booking: 

1.  Is Your Sketchbook Ready to Roll
2.  My Really Smallmendous Art Kit
3.  Did you Test Run your Portable Art Kit
4.  Sketch-Booking in Italy - Part 1
5.  Sketch-Booking in Italy - Part 2 

My Etsy Store is always OPEN: Etsy - WendyMouldsArt

Originals, prints and Instant Printable Cards for all Seasons available.


Join me for a morning of  Outdoor Sketching: 

Small group Outdoor Sketching Classes on Tuesday morning, July 30, August 6, 13, and 20. 

The classes will be small, max  5.  We will meet at 10-12:30 in a few of the local parks in North Surrey.  ie. Bear Creek Park, Tynehead Park.  The cost is: $45 tx incld. per session  Book all 4 sessions for $150. Bring your own supplies
Contact Me to register.   and for more information. 

FYI
Plein Air Event at Kilby Historical Site - August 16 -18, 2019

215 Kilby Rd, Harrison Mills, BC – approx. 1.5 hr drive from Vancouver
(or stay our there. I like to camp at Kilby Campsite but there are lots of  places to stay close by.  Makes for a great little adventure.)

 On Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, painters will be capturing  breathtaking historic vistas, 1920s farm equipment, historic buildings, lush gardens & orchards, delightful farm animals and surrounding mountains.  Not hard to find something to catch your eye.

This is a fun, outdoor adventure for everyone.  Sunday afternoon, brings live entertainment and awards ceremony.  There is a competitive and non-competitive part to the event, so great prizes for everyone.  Cost $15 Registration: events@kilby.ca  more info: kilby.ca

I have been part of this event since it started 5 years ago and I never get tired of wondering the grounds and finding little vignettes to paint.  I know you will enjoy yourself.

If you decide not to join us to paint, come out and see the fun.  On Friday and Saturday,  Artists are set up all over the grounds working away or come see the 'Showing and Sale' on Sunday.

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy