1 Awesomemazonly Sketchbook Activity - Painting & Drawing Tips

Are you up for a Challenge? 

 A Sketchbooking Activity that will keep you entertained for days?

And when you are done, you will feel sooooooooo good.  And will have some NEW thoughts about your own practice.

Ok. Put your confidence on high and give this a try.  

DUCKS IN THE WATER - Mixed Media 

See a full view of DUCKS ON THE WATER on Youtube here.   (Be sure to like and comment while your are there. 🤗)

For this Activity you need to first prepare your paper

1.  Cut 6 pieces of paper, 5.5 x 7.5 (I used Rivas paper and Arches 140 HP.  Use any paper that is strong and thick enough to take paint.  Watercolour paper of any kind is good.)  You can have more than 6 panels but keep it to even numbers)

Panel 1 Monoprint

2.  Add random colour to your papers using 2 or 3 colours.  I prepared my paper as Monotypes.  (See last post: Have you tried Monotypes There is a write up and video to help you .)  If you don't want to to prints on your paper than just make random marks with your 3 colours like I did with my Monoprints.  You can collage things to your paper or stencil things.  Anything to give it a marks but try and not let them get too dark so your ink work will show.

Panel 2 - my Monoprint - random colour that has interesting textures, shapes . . .

3.  When dry take your papers and arrange them in some kind of order.  I laid mine out horizontally as I liked the look and feel of that arrangement.  Tape them together with the tape on the back.  Fold them up like an accordion.

You're ready to draw. . .

Now settle down, I know your confidence just dropped a bit.  You can draw whatever you like. Flowers, buildings, people, landscapes . . .

When walking with Max I saw some mallard ducks and decided I would draw ducks in the water. (I am a wildlife artist so you knew animals would be in there somewhere.) Totally random idea that had nothing to do with my colours or their shapes.

Just a few of my duck pictures for reference

I searched through my photo references for ducks.  I am out at Riefel Bird Sanctuary a lot as I have work in their gift shop so I have lots of duck pictures.  I picked a few that had ducks doing different things.

I looked at my first page and decided a duck could peek over the painted area and drew him in.  I then began to make the painted area more bush like.  As I moved to the next page it had lots of marks on it and decided to make them into grasses and hid a duck in the grasses.

Panel 1 & 2 once I started drawing

That is where I stalled  . . . .  

I needed more ideas as to what could be along the water's edge. (Confidence low, for sure.) Fortunately Max and I walk regularly in a wooded area by a small stream and I could take some pictures and get ideas.  You might have to wonder the internet a bit.  (Remember, I did say this was going to take you a few days to finish)  I also realized I needed more than a little shading to make things work. (See Tools as I introduced more tools into the drawing part.)

Got some great ideas for things to put along my water's edge from these pictures.  Really loved the fern in the rock cluster in the bottom picture.  

Of course, ferns, bushes, tree trunks, rocks, branches, leaves . . .  They were all there.  I started drawing a few of these. (Confidence Way Up again.)  Always I am mindful of what I am drawing and not paying a lot of attention to the colours that were already there.

Panels 1-5 WIP - Realized I needed a another panel as I couldn't make an accordion book with only 5 panels!!

Sometimes I  captured a blobs into my leaf or rock but I mostly stayed true to my images and let the colour fall where it wanted to.  To me this is the fun of it.  Seeing how the colours suddenly make something so interesting in a way I never would have painted it.

Didn't use a lot of materials to complete my pictures.  They were added as the need arose.  

Tools: 
My choice of tools also developed as I went and as needs arose.  I need shading and values - I decided to use Herbin Perle Noire Ink.  It gave me great grayscales that matched my ink and didn't add more colours to my picture. 
I used 08 & 05 Picma Black Pens.  (found the 08 gave a stronger line)
Steadler Fine Tip Ink Pen.
Pencil to do some layout. 
Black Coloured Pencil to shade rocks and give them texture.
White Charcoal pencil to lighten the acrylic blobs.
Molotow One4all Acrylic Pen to give me a shot of white, when I needed it.

 Don't hesitate to use other things to meet your goals. 

Lots happening in this panel but after putting in the shading and softening some of the colour with the white Charcoal it turned out pretty nice.  

Yes, this project will keep you busy for awhile.  Yes, your confidence will ebb and flow as you work through it.  Yes, it is almost never ending as there will always be a little something more you can do.  And Yes, you will be very pleased with it when you're done.

But you're not done yet. . . .

Next post I will show you how to finish it up to make that Awesomemazonly Sketchbook.

WENDY MOULD IS ONLINE:  

I 'm Now offering Private Mentoring/Coaching ONLINE

Want to make pictures that sing?  Move your Art Career forward?  Get a handle on your art business?

Let's Talk

Imagine, your own personal coach, in discussion with YOUR images:  Discussing your goals; Ways to move your artwork forward.   Sessions: 30 minutes each

Package: 3 session: $75 + tx       Flexible Booking Schedule

Contact Wendy to book your session - Send me your pictures and let's Get to Work!

Get a Taste for Online Learning with my Blog & Video Combos: 

1.  Have you tried Monotypes?   - Blog post with video link on how to do Monotypes and ways to incorporate it into your art. 

 (Be sure to like and comment while your are there. 🤗)

Great Opportunities for Fraser Valley Artists: 

Arts Council of Surrey 
 Artist Calls: 

Info@artscouncilofsurrey.ca for Entry Forms

1. Together  . . . apART - Juried Art Show hosted on Arts Council of Surrey Website. Digital Entry. Deadline May 15.  People's Choice Award.  Free to enter. See website info for information on Show  Theme

2. Arts 2020: Juried Show with Cash Prizes for 5 Different Categories.  Hosted by Arts Council of Surrey and Surrey Art Center.  Digital Entry.  Deadline: June 5.  Free to  Enter.  No Theme. 

When Life settles down: 

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 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy