4 Must Do Things to End the Year - Painting & Drawing Tips

OMG!! is there really 4 Must Do Things to End the Year 

What am I forgetting? You ask. 


Don't panic.  There is still time.  I find that the Whirl of Christmas Prep has an ebb and flow to it.  Sometimes I am in a panic and feeling totally out of control.  Other times I cross something off my list and feel 'hey, I can do this.  As you can tell, right this minute I am in the 'hey, I can do this' mood.  

POPPIES: FULL OF LIFE - With this picture I felt I had reached a new level.  I really loved how successfully I worked wet-into-wet to bring these Poppies to Life.  (Vanished Watercolour on Wood Cradle $700 )  Read its creation story Here. 

No matter what is happening each day I have to head out for a walk.  Max, really isn't concerned about Christmas Shopping but he is concerned about his daily walks.  I find them calming and a great opportunity to think.  I am sure you have those moments too.  Maybe driving. Waiting for the kids at a pickup. Watching a . . . 

This is the moment to . . .

1.Review your Art Successes this year.   Your other successes too.  What really went well?  Was there a new style you tried that really made your heart sing?  Special Event? A painting that nailed it?  Take a moment to celebrate your Successes.  It may be a little thing like a new colour you added to you pallet that really seems to bring new life to your work.  But it should be celebrated and cherished. 

Winning the Sketch Off was definitely a highlight for me - I knew I could draw animals,  but in 20 minutes?! . . . Read more Here

As Artists you work alone.  You face challenges, problems, defeat and failure.  Sometimes all in one session. Focusing on the positive is a great motivator and encourager for me.  It may help you too.

MUSHROOMS IN THE LEAVES - Sketchbook Practice - Working with coloured pens and Coloured Pencils, I discovered there was more to Pen Art than Black Ink.  And guess what?  I liked it.  Need to try more for sure.  Read more Here

2.  Start thinking of the Future.  I know, that is what New Years resolutions are all about.  But I find as I think about successes it inspires me to try more. Which in turns leads me to the future. New things I want to try, places I want to go, series I want to develop, materials I want to experiment with, . . . Sometimes I can get carried away.  But I am excited, ready for the new year.

My 3 Juncos SOLD - I discovered that I really could combine my Pen Work with Watercolour in an Awesome Way
Read more about this collection Here

My pictures of the 3 Juncos really gave me confidence to add more Pen Work to my work.  I found I really could make interesting images.  I have several new ideas I want to try in this area.

VARIED THRUSH: DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS - My latest pieces and a style I want to pursue as a series.  I love the combination of Wildlife, Pen Work and Watercolour.   Read more Here.  (Vanished Watercolour on Wood Cradle $400 ) 

3. Relax and enjoy the Christmas Season - Something I need to be reminded of.  Stop. Breath. Enjoy. I am a planner and organizer and when there is lots to do I sometimes forget to just 'live in the moment', relax and enjoy. 

4.  Capture Memories to Cherish and Share in the Future
Have a wonderful Christmas Season with Family and Friends and I look forward to connecting with you again in the New Year.

Art by Wendy Studio/Gallery is always Open: 

Looking to move your Drawing Skills to the Next Level?

Book a 3 Pack of Private Lessons with Me - 3 Lessons 2.5 hr each $225

Drawing/Painting lessons in graphite, ink, watercolour, watercolour pencils or coloured pencils Or any combination of these.
Flexible Schedule, at my Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey. 

Gift Certificates Available 

February is Marketing Month for Artists!!

Each February I offer an all day workshops “Let’s Get Your Art Out There!!”
2020 Date: February 23, 10-3pm

Having trouble getting started or knowing where and what to do?

This workshop gets your Marketing Plans fired up to new and more successful levels. Learn the basics of today’s Marketing World, learn how to develop markets both online with Social Media and off line in your community, learn how to develop a productive network, and set up a Marketing Plan that will work for you. Taking this workshop is a valuable step in moving your business forward. Workshop runs 10-3:00 pm with a lunch break.    Class limited to 8 people

Cost $90 Tax Incl      Pre-Registration Required, contact Wendy      Gift Certificates Available

Save the Date . . . . . 

January 18, 2020 - Opus Langley Demo:  Put WOW! into Your Mark Making with Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM  11-12:30pm and 2-3:30pm.  Free but must Register: (604) 533-0601

See you there!!

My Etsy Store is always OPEN: Etsy - WendyMouldsArt

Originals, Prints, Commission Work and Instant Printable Cards for all Seasons available.

Be sure to like and share my posts to keep me coming into your box, 

You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page.

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

Things You NEVER knew about Your BLUES - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do You Play with Your Colours?   Make Test Swatches?
But
When you are in the Trenches, Things fall apart?
Doesn't that just kill you?..

BOAT BUDDIES - Sketchbook Work

You're Ready: Ideas, materials, time.  You're in the zone.  The creative juices are flowing.  Paint is flying, brushes are swooping and Life is good.  

Suddenly everything falls flat. . . .

The Colour is not Right. 

What to do. 

Fear not.  We have all been there.  

No, I don't have a magic wand that can make it all better for you.  I sure wish I did.  In fact I really don't know any quick way to solve your problem.  I do have some practices that may help.  And as your probably guessed, it involves your Best Friend.  She is probably languishing on a shelf because it is winter time and your are not taking her out for a spin.  Who is that, you ask?  Your Sketchbook. 

I use my sketchbooks year round.  On the warm days I will paint from life but other times I just head to my photos on my Ipad and find a picture.  And yes.  I use my small travel paint kit instead of my larger studio set up.  

Why paint picture in my Sketchbook? What has all this got to do with Learning About my Blues?

Painting test Swatches certainly tell you about mixing your blues and all the different colours you can make with your blues.  But that is not the whole story.  

Test Swatches tell you lots about the colours you can mix with just 2 or 3 pigments

Test Swatches tell you what colours you can mix but they don't tell you how they will work within the framework of your picture.  For example, if you want something to shine and sparkle which blue should you use.  Cobalt Blue. Winsor Blue. Ultramarine. Tourquois. Are only a few of your choices.  

A Mixing Complement will tone it down, a Visual Complement brings the sparkle. Seeing your colours in action gives that important information.  (See Post Putting Sparkle into your Colours for more on these two kinds of complements.)

Painting in my sketchbook means to me a small quick study focusing on my own personal challenge.  Here I am freer with my colour choices.  It seems so much easier to experiment.  To just jump in and give it a whirl.  Not sure why but it does.  

BOAT BUDDIES WIP - This is a gray aluminum boat with no other colours. I wanted to paint it because he has such a sad look.  No swagger like the speed boat beside him.  I needed to push colours a bit so decided to warm it up with a bit of yellow. 

BOAT BUDDIES - Close Up, Before and After - 

In my sketch Boat Buddies - I played just with my Blues in my small travel kit: Ultramarine, Winsor Blue Green Shade and Cobalt Teal Blue.  I used my Burnt Sienna with the Winsor blue to get that greenie blue colour in the water and on the side of the boat.  And New Gamboge for the yellow. I played around with my blues to see how/what I could do. This playing about showed me many things about my blues that I would not have learned otherwise.

Interesting things I noted:

1.  Adding the yellow as a glaze on the side of the boat then glazing my dark colour over it.  Resulted in making a warm light reflection in the dark shadow areas.

2.  Using the Cobalt Teal Blue on the sunny areas and Ultramarine inside the cabin gave a nice warm cool mix.  

3.  When I first put the yellow on I felt like "Oh, Oh"  That might not have been such a good idea.  But I charged on.  Once I glazed over the yellows with my other colours it worked out just fine.  And in fact did warm things up in the shadow area and cool it down in the sunny area.  It also made the colours more interesting.  Colourful. Not just plain gray blue.

4. I mixed the Brunt Sienna with Ultramarine and Winsor Blue. Very interesting to see the different results and to play them beside each other.  Note the wharf darks and the boat darks where they meet. 

5.  Glazed with Ultramarine over the light areas around 'the eyes' to darken the shadow side.  The light side and dark side needed to be different values but similar colours.  I liked how it 'did the job'. 

Each time I work on these little vignettes in my sketchbook I come away with new thoughts and ideas.  Playing and learning about the Blues in my kit was just one of the outcomes for BOAT BUDDIES.  

How do you practice with your colours?  What works for you?  

Looking to move your Drawing Skills to the Next Level?

Book a 3 Pack of Private Lessons with Me - 3 Lessons 2.5 hr each $225

Drawing/Painting lessons in graphite, ink, watercolour, watercolour pencils or coloured pencils Or any combination of these.
Flexible Schedule, at my Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey. 

Gift Certificates Available 

February is Marketing Month for Artists!!

Each February I offer an all day workshops “Let’s Get Your Art Out There!!”
2020 Date: February 23, 10-3pm

Having trouble getting started or knowing where and what to do?

This workshop gets your Marketing Plans fired up to new and more successful levels. Learn the basics of today’s Marketing World, learn how to develop markets both online with Social Media and off line in your community, learn how to develop a productive network, and set up a Marketing Plan that will work for you. Taking this workshop is a valuable step in moving your business forward. Workshop runs 10-3:00 pm with a lunch break.    Class limited to 8 people

Cost $90 Tax Incl      Pre-Registration Required, contact Wendy      Gift Certificates Available

Save the Date . . . . . 

January 18, 2020 - Opus Langley Demo:  Put WOW! into Your Mark Making with Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM  11-12:30pm and 2-3:30pm.  Free but must Register: (604) 533-0601

See you there!!

My Etsy Store is always OPEN: Etsy - WendyMouldsArt

Originals, Prints, Commission Work and Instant Printable Cards for all Seasons available.

Be sure to like and share my posts to keep me coming into your box, 

You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page.

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy