Start Your Outdoor Sketch with Confidence - Sketch Booking - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do your Outdoor Sketching Trips fall flat?  

I know the feeling.  

I love sketching outdoors but it does have its challenges. 

I was camping on Texada Island last summer and met my Artist Friends for a day of Outdoor Sketching. Not being familiar with sketching spots I listened to the discussion and agreed on their decision.  We met at a little pull off on the side of the road and headed into the bush. Very shortly we were out on the rocks. 

North End of Texada Island - Awesome view, Awesome Day to Sketch!!

It was stunning: beautiful blue sky, snow covered mountains in the distance, deep blue water, sailboats out in the water (you can't see them in this picture but there were a few), and an awesome rocky coastline with lots of interesting vegetation.  

I panicked!

I was overwhelmed.  What could I possibly work on.  Everything was overwhelming.  You know the feeling.  

My calming voice took control.

Do the most important first; find a place to set up.  This is important.  It was 30 degrees, the sun was beating down and for sure I was going to be there for a few hours.  I needed a shady spot to set up.  There was a tree with a bit of a flat area behind me so off I went. 

Step 1: find a place to set up.  (I started in the shade but after a few hours I was out in the sun.  Note everything is covered up.  Even my feet. )

Once you are set up take a good look around.  In my case, every angle was an awesome view.  A feast for the eyes. But hold it, my inner voice said, "WHAT REALLY CATCHES YOUR EYE?"

Is there a shadow or shape that draws you.  Are you loving the grand vista?  Me, I am a Zoomer.  I like to zoom in on some part of the vista and draw that.  In this case the tree along shore from me caught my eye.  

(A video version of this post is in the Arts Council of Surrey's Instruction Series - Start Your OUTDOOR Sketch with Confidence.  You can also access my reference picture as a free PDF download and draw along with me.  Little Tree on the Rocks Reference. )

Loved the rocks. Loved the curl of the tree trunk. Loved the contrast of the sharp lines of the rock against the curvy lines of the tree and roots. 

I had my subject and I was ready to start. . .

Starting with a light pencil sketch I drew the tree and then began to branch out.  

Step 2: Start with the most important section - what caught your eye.  
This is quite different from your usual studio work.  But very important in the field: light changes, birds fly away, boats move, and your companions want to go.  Your time is up. 

As I drew I added more detail to the tree and the rocks, always moving out from my main area of interest. 

This is also a more practical reason to start with your focal area.  It is overwhelming to be out in nature, there is no photograph to box in your drawing and keep you to a certain area.  If you start at your interest point and move out you will quickly find all the things you wanted to put into your picture will not fit.  It helps to bring you back to what is really important and draw just that. 

Drawing completed and now I am starting to add paint.  I could have stopped with the drawing but I like to add watercolour to my drawings. 

I start with a light pencil sketch placing the tree and the rocks.  No detail.  This gives me the scale of things and lets me see where it fits on the paper.  I then move to my pen.  (This is my choice, you can certainly stay with your pencil if you like.)  As you can see, once I decided on the size of my tree, it affects how much of the surrounding rocks I can include in my drawing.  It is often far less than you originally envisioned. 

Starting to finish up but need to take a good look at the shadows.  I also decided that branch on the side needed to be painted to add depth. 

Final drawing: 

After a lunch break and things are dry I sat back and took a final check of my picture.  Of course the shadows were all different now.  This is when I focus on the planes of my rocks and trees and try and place the shadows.  (Tip: photograph your focal point before you start so you can check back at the shadows when you need too.)  Once I have done what I can, I check my photo to see how I did.  (Just one of my own personal challenges to teach myself more about shadows)

Little Tree on the Rocks (Texada Island) 

FYI:

I know my rocks are not exactly the right colour, but I do like to infuse my own feelings in my painting.  I was really pleased and excited with my work and my colour choice reflects that.  

Special Note:

I have a video version of this post in the Arts Council of Surrey's Instruction Series - Start Your OUTDOOR Sketch with Confidence.  You can also access my reference picture as a free PDF download and draw along with me.  Little Tree on the Rocks Reference.  

Other Posts of Interest:

It's Time to Get Organized for Outdoor Sketching : includes a video 

5 Tips to Get You Ready for Outdoor Sketching : includes video and downloadable PDF

3 Ways to Mix Watercolour on Paper : Step by step diagram and video examples. 

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  Coming up Fast!!

Starting Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm 

Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I will take small groups out for Outdoor Sketching.  Get Tips and Techniques for Sketching in Nature.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome. Max. 3 per class. (Other times available upon request) 

Mediums supported: pencil, pen, watercolour, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils 

Location: Parks in North Surrey and Langley

Cost: $50 per session

Supplies: Bring your own supplies, don't hesitate to contact me about your supplies

Rainy Days: Not fun to plein air in the rain.  You can defer to another available day or join me in my studio and work with me. (when Covid rules allow small inside gatherings) 

Contact Wendy to Book Your Spot!! 

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

  Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)

Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings.  I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion based on your goals.  I am a sounding board, coach and teacher,  with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward.  More info here.   Looking forward to Zooming with you.  

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

How to Draw Ferns: Outdoor Sketching - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do the bright colours of the lush foliage in Nature defeat you?

CASCADING - 

When you head out to sketch are you happy and excited with all that Nature has in store for you?  Does the sunlight dancing on the branches give your heart a jolt?  Do you find yourself admiring a mossy tree stump nestled up to a bank of ferns?  

Then suddenly your heart is filled with despair. . . .

Moments of doubt fill your mind, how can this beautiful scene be captured.  Those lushes ferns are gorgeous but . . . where to start? how to capture the moment?  Your heart and smile begin to droop.  

Hold on a minute . . . 

Ferns like every element in nature are drawable.  You just need a plan.  Those lush ferns are probably sword ferns, the more common fern found on the west coast.  They are beautiful, I agree.  One of my favourite  things to draw.  They look awesome in an ink drawing, so much movement and bounce to them. 

 

A Lush Full Sword Fern - begging to be drawn.  This picture is available as a Printable Download Here.    

Let's Draw but First, Parts of a fern.  

When looking at ferns, note how the pinna is attached to the stem.  

How to Draw Ferns

1.  Sketch a layout focusing on the stalk.  

Like any new element you need to first study it and determine the patterns.  The sword fern has a very identifiable stalk.  Draw the stalks to set up your plant.  Leave spaces between the lines to allow for the pinna (leafy part) to be added.  Rather than make generic lines, pick particular fronds to draw.  Of course you won't be able to fit them all in your picture so pick an interesting selection that will represent the plant.  

The Beginning - The lines represent the stalk of the fronds I will draw.  Can you figure out which ones I choose to draw?  

2.  Start Drawing - Front to Back

This is a little different from painting where we often start at the back and move forward.  I use ink to draw and front to back is very important.  Box in the shape of the frond with your pencil as a guide to drawing the pinna along the stalk. 

Start Front to Back in the Drawing Process: Drawing the shape of the frond and then use a pen to ink in the pinna's will help keep things in place.  

As you draw in a frond, notice what is happening with the pinna.  They are not all the same length.  They do not all go straight out.  You do not often see individual ones. They are often in groups of 2 or more.  They turn and twist to follow the bends in the stalk.  

Draw Systematically, one frond at a time and work around the plant.  (Always the one in front first) 

3.  Build your fern plant, one frond at a time

Work in layers front to back. 

I love this part of the drawing.  I have picked out my front frond and drawn them 1 at a time.  Note the spaces between them.  There is already a sense of 'bounce' to the fronds. I will decide which fronds underneath to include as I begin to fill in the spaces between my main fronds. 

Add the Shading - choose your darkest spot and let everything else be in relation to it.

4.  Add your shading and more detail. 

No matter whether you are painting, sketching with pencil or drawing with pen you need to stop and study your shadow patterns.  Just like you looked for patterns you need to look at the value of the shadows.  Those dark holes are not solid blobs of black: rather dark and light as things are hidden in them; edges are soft and hard depending on the location.  Often the soft shadow extends to the neigbouring fronds.  

This is where I start filling in the spaces.  Sometimes with bits of detail to suggest a frond and sometimes adding the frond.  Although the center of the plant looks quite dark in the picture it is important to 'suggest layers'.  You do not want a large black hole in the middle of your drawing. 

You can see in my final picture that I added a few things below the fern to ground it.  I also added/suggested more fronds in the shadows.  Note the layers of shading, they give a sense of  depth to my fern.  

Try drawing along with me, the reference picture is available as an instant download HERE.   Now is the time to get organized for Outdoor Sketching. Here are a few other posts to help you on your way.  

Other Posts of Interest:

It's Time to Get Organized for Outdoor Sketching : includes a video 

5 Tips to Get You Ready for Outdoor Sketching : includes video and downloadable PDF

3 Ways to Mix Watercolour on Paper : Step by step diagram and video examples. 

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  Coming up Fast!!

Starting Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm 

Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I will take small groups out for Outdoor Sketching.  Get Tips and Techniques for Sketching in Nature.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome. Max. 3 per class.

Mediums supported: pencil, pen, watercolour, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils 

Location: Parks in North Surrey and Langley

Cost: $50 per session

Supplies: Bring your own supplies, don't hesitate to contact me about your supplies

Rainy Days: Not fun to plein air in the rain.  You can defer to another available day or join me in my studio and work with me. (when Covid rules allow small inside gatherings) 

Contact Wendy to Book Your Spot!! 

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

  Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)

Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings.  I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion based on your goals.  I am a sounding board, coach and teacher,  with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward.  More info here.   Looking forward to Zooming with you.  

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

3 Ways to Mix Your Watercolours on Paper: Outdoor Sketching - Painting & Drawing Tips

Have you ever planted a flower garden? 

 There are several ways to arrange your plants: Plant the flowers a short distance apart so they will grow and intertwine with each other where they meet;   Mix the flowers together so they create an exciting splash of colour;  Or drop a different plant into a cluster and let it blend and shine with the group.  

Working with watercolour is very much like this . . . .

Little Hummingbird on a Branch - Outdoor Sketching

Painting Outdoors is my passion and one I hope to encourage you to try and enjoy.  I love to sit on the beach and capture the moment. Or settle in the shade by a lazy creek that is meandering through the trees.   I always feel a sense of peace and happiness. You will find the memories stay with you long after those photos are lost on your phone.  

But painting Outdoors is NOT LIKE PAINTING IN THE STUDIO. . .

In your studio things are under your control.  Well, as much as anything in the creation process can be.  Outdoors the light changes, the weather changes and life changes.  That pretty mossy rock is suddenly in the dark shade, the wind is blowing and it starts to rain.  (True story.  But with a happy ending.  By the time I had my wet things packed up the sun was back and so I sat down and tried again. With Success. 😊)

Now I don't mean to scare you off but rather to impress on you that working quickly is important.  Hence, mixing your watercolours on paper is a real time saver.  Rather than spending time mixing endless puddles of water, learn how to mix on paper.

 

FYI: I have a Youtube Video that gives more examples of mixing on paper: Playing with Nature's Greens there is also a free Printable PDF Reference Picture for drawing along with me. Hummingbird Picture. 

3 Ways to Mix Your Watercolours on Paper

1.  Working Wet into Wet: 

Note the mixing and moving of colour as the wet blue is added to the wet green on the paper. 

This is something you may be familiar with.  In this case your brush is wet with 1 colour of paint and you have already put another colour, which is still wet, on the paper.  Touch the new colour to the one on the paper. A new colour is formed. Like that splash of colour when you intermix all the plants.  Once grown it is hard to find the individual plant. The amount of intermingling of your watercolours will depending on how dry the first colour is. 

In my example above, the green was just dry enough at the edge to not mix with the blue so I was able to have the light green at the top of the leaf and then have it gradually become darker.

In the field you have to work quickly as things will dry quickly but in the studio you will be waiting for things to dry. 

2. Work Damp into Damp: 

Use a damp brush and to add a new colour to a damp colour on the page: note the slight intermixing of the colours at the edge where they meet.  The edge will be a soft edge. 

This is something I do a lot. I will paint part of a leaf and then leave it for a few minutes. (weather dependent) Once it is damp, I will touch another colour beside it.  The wet colour will bleed a bit into the damp colour but both colours will still be visible.  Very much like those plants that are planted beside each other.  Their edges intertwine but the plants themselves are still quite visible. 

This can be done quite easily outdoors as things are drying quickly, but if the air is damp, it can take forever for that paint to dry. 

3. Work Dry into Dry:  ( better known as barely damp into dry) 

Working Dry into Dry: When you do this the edges will be hard, depending on what you are painting you may want to soften the edges.  

If you do watercolour you are probably aware of dry brushing. This is a bit like this.  In this case your brush is almost dry but has paint on it.  The picture is dry.  You add your colour.  I was adding a bit of dark to the shadow areas of the leaves.  Note how the edges are hard.  I dampen my brush and just touched the edge to smooth it out. 

This can be tricky outside. If it is warm or windy your paint will be dry before you can get it to the paper.  Definitely not like working in the studio.  

Finished Leaves: Note the interesting colours and blends on the leaves

If you look at the finished leaves carefully you will see several examples of where I have used these 3 techniques.  The red on the stem (dry into dry, edge not blended).  The yellowish tip of the left leaf (dry into dry, edges blended).  Can you spot any others?

I have a Youtube Video that gives more examples of mixing on paper: Playing with Nature's Greens there is also a free Printable PDF Reference Picture for drawing along with me. Hummingbird Picture. 

 

Other Posts of Interest:

It's Time to Get Organized for Outdoor Sketching

5 Tips to Get You Ready for Outdoor Sketching 

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  Coming up Fast!!

Starting Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm 

Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I will take small groups out for Outdoor Sketching.  Get Tips and Techniques for Sketching in Nature.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome. Max. 3 per class.

Mediums supported: pencil, pen, watercolour, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils 

Location: Parks in North Surrey and Langley

Cost: $50 per session

Supplies: Bring your own supplies, don't hesitate to contact me about your supplies

Rainy Days: Not fun to plein air in the rain.  You can defer to another available day or join me in my studio and work with me. (when Covid rules allow small inside gatherings) 

Contact Wendy to Book Your Spot!! 

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

  Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)

Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings.  I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion based on your goals.  I am a sounding board, coach and teacher,  with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward.  More info here.   Looking forward to Zooming with you.  

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

5 Tips to get you Ready for OUTDOOR Sketching

Spring has Sprung

Sketchbook Practice - My favourite subjects, rocky creek bed with mossy rocks and ferns

Well here on the West Coast of Canada we are deep into Spring: daffodils, and crocuses are blooming; trees are greening up and birds are chittering everywhere.  We even have a Northern Flicker that has decided to tap on our chimney to call his mate!! 

Time to get Organized for Outdoor Sketching!!

Now don't get too excited, I didn't say go out and sketch.  It is still not quite warm enough for that here, although getting very close.  I am talking about getting organized. I find being prepared makes any activity more fun.  

5 Tips to get you Ready for Outdoor Sketching 

To get you ready I looked at some of the things I do to get fired up for Outdoor Sketching.  I have also prepared a video version of this blog "5 Tips to Get You OUTDOOR Sketching" with a reference picture if you would like to follow along with me in the video.  (Reference Picture Here). 

My kit is small but has everything I need to work in ink and watercolour (Learn more about my kit Here)

1.  Test Run Your Kit:
This to me is a must.  It seems in the winter I use my travel kit and 'steal' from it.  The first day on the road is usually when I discover that.  Not so good.  

But actually using your kit in the studio helps you make sure everything is there.  Over the winter you may have a few new techniques, materials or paints that you want to include.  Also, there may be things you no longer want to pack.  A light, packed kit means you are ready to go at a moments notice.  

You can see what's in my pack in my post "Getting Ready for Outdoor Sketching"

I have tinkered a lot with my palette but right now I am happy with this combination. 

2.  Work with a Limited Palette:

When you are out in the field, life happens quickly.  Light changes, birds fly away, partners want to move on.  Having a large complicated palette can really slow you down.  My sketching trips are out in nature, in places I like to hike.  So my palette reflects the kind of colours I will need for that environment.  If you have two very diverse areas you like to sketch in, consider having a different palette for each of them. 

 

Rather than do tiny rocks, I filled the page.  Suddenly they look very interesting. 

3.  Work Big:

My sketchbook is approx. 7 x 10 inches.  Big enough to comfortably fit my hand for working but not so large it takes forever to fill a page.  Working big I find is more fulfilling.  I can include the detail I like, I can use bigger brushes and my page fills up quickly.  It feels very rewarding. 

Note the rocks above.  Working big allows me to include the little plants that really add interest to the rocks.  

A Rocky Creek Bed - My Favourite Subject - But so much is happening here.  

4.  Zoom In:

This may be a personal preference of mine.  Rather than paint the grand vista, try zooming in and focusing on a mini-environment.  

Note my Rocky Creek Bed, certainly a favourite spot for me on one of my walks.  But rather than capture the whole scene I like to zoom in.  

That mossy rock is really the story for me, so that's what I zoomed in on.  There are of course many more ways to zoom in on this scene.  

You can download a good copy of this reference picture for your own practice here.  

Mixing your colours right on the page is fast.  It also makes for exciting colour punches. 

5.  Mix your colours on the page: 

This is a great time saver when you are out in the field.  Rather then preparing puddles of colours you can just jump in and paint.  I think this adds a real spark to my field work.  Working quickly I am dropping colour and not fussing.  (Fussing seems to be so easy in the studio but does not keep that liveliness in my work) 

If this is something new to you, it is certainly another reason to practice a bit before heading out.  

As you can probably tell, Outdoor Sketching is a real passion for me. 

You can paint along with me with my Video "5 Tips to get you Ready for OUTDOOR Sketching" and get your copy of the Reference Picture here.  I would love to see your work when your done. 

Next post: Mixing Your Colours on Your Paper 

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  Coming up Fast!!

Starting Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm 

Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I will take small groups out for Outdoor Sketching.  Get Tips and Techniques for Sketching in Nature.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome. Max. 3 per class.

Mediums supported: pencil, pen, watercolour, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils 

Location: Parks in North Surrey and Langley

Cost: $50 per session

Supplies: Bring your own supplies, don't hesitate to contact me about your supplies

Rainy Days: Not fun to plein air in the rain.  You can defer to another available day or join me in my studio and work on a Test Run with me. (when Covid rules allow small inside gatherings) 

Contact Wendy to Book Your Spot!! 

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

  Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)

Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings.  I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion based on your goals.  I am a sounding board, coach and teacher,  with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward.  More info here.   Looking forward to Zooming with you.  

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy