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?..
Looking to move your Drawing Skills to the Next Level?
But
When you are in the Trenches, Things fall apart?
Doesn't that just kill you?..
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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. |
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| 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
Flexible Schedule, at my Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey.
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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
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!!
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Have a great Artful Day,
Wendy
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