Do You Sign your Art Work? - Painting & Drawing Tips

Are you quick to sign?  Do you hesitate, put it on the side or back? or Don't sign it at all.  

PICK OF THE HERD - Signature in lower left, value contrast with horse's leg is limited so it does not pull the eye away from the main focus of the picture.  

I must admit there has been times when I have really sweated over my signature. A masterpiece has been created and now I have to sign it.  No place seems right.  Every spot seems out of place.  Finally I decide on a place and put my mark.

Oh not!! It's too dark. It's crooked.  Too small. Too big.  . . .

You have been there, I am sure.  

In Robert Genn's latest Letters "The Painter's Keys" he talked about the signature.  I realized it is something that is not talked about much but all artists struggle with it at some point.  

SHORT EARED OWL: ON THE PROWL - Signature placed to facilitate eye movement - Softer value than darks on the owl so the eye moves over it and quickly returns to the owl.

From a Marketing point of view there is only one rule: Sign the painting on the front in a clear legible manner.  But not all artist think with an Entrepreneur View Point. Most are busy with their creative side. 

LITTLE WATERFALL - a signature can provide balance and flow to a drawing.

For many, the signature means it's finished.  You have put the final stamp on it.  It's ready to show.  Robert suggests that viewers look for the signature and may read things into it.  It can give the impression of strength, resolve, weakness, haste, officious, humility . . . and more.  

APPLE BLOSSOMS by Becky McMahon - Her Signature adds to meaning and style of her work. 

My artist friend, Becky McMahon, is a Chinese brush painter. (TriskelTreeCreations)   Her signature is an important part of her work. "I started out painting in Oriental Brush Painting style so I chose a signature that phonetically represented my name. Li Bek A for my name Rebecca. I also wanted to add artist seals and had one made by a master carver Kosho which means Dancing Brush. I also have a seal that means Powerful Dragon. The seals use a red 'ink' that makes the seal sing."

Close up of Becky's Signature 

The placement of the signature in Oriental paintings is also important.  She says "it is supposed to compliment the painting, working as a counterpoint or balance point at times."  This placement is true for most styles and usually ends up on the sides,  near the bottom.  

I find the best method for me is to plan the signature as I plan my picture for 2 reasons: 

1. For my graphite drawings the corners may be very dark making it is hard to put a signature. When that happens I need to embossed my signature into that area before the shading.  

2. I like my signatures to add to the eye movement within the picture whenever possible.    

BUDDY - Commission Piece. Signature was embossed into the lower left before the fur was shaded in. Resulting in a clear signature without a high contrasting value with the background and one that leads the eye into the drawing rather than away from it. 

In the end, whether you sign or not, it is up to you.  For myself, I agree with Robert Genn.  "It seems to me that front-signing is a simple, time-honoured convention worth caving in to. I like the company. Bending down with a small sable, I figure if Titian, Turner, Tissot and Toulouse-Lautrec did it, it’s gotta be okay."

Wendy is on Youtube:
Wendy has FREE Tips & Techniques on Video now, many with supporting blog posts and FREE download PDF's.  

See a full linked listing here - artbywendy.com - workshop - Videos by Wendy

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  is HERE!!

Next Sessions:  Wednesday, June 2 (Forecast Sunny & 20°)

 Saturday, June 5 (Forecast Sunny & 16°) 

10am - 12:30pm 

Upcoming Dates: Wednesday  June 9 & June 16
Saturday, June 12 & June 19

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

Did you Nail the Darks in Your Painting?- Painting & Drawing Tips

Are you busy preparing your flower garden for the summer?

Thinking about shade and sunlight; perennials and annuals; blues or reds; levels of upkeep; length of bloom.  So much to consider.  

ROCKY ROAD IN THE CREEK BED - WIP - layout drawing with study 

I must admit, some years I get so caught up in the choices I end up with a hodge-podge. Each plant on its own looks great, but when I stand back. . .  Well let's just say it is a mass of colour but no real focal point.   Or there is a focal point, but it is lost in the mix.  

I know all about that, loosing a Focal Point is easy to do!!

How do you lose a Focal Point?  Yes, it is possible.  A Focal Point, is the highest contrasting area.  A place where your lightest light meets your darkest dark.  On a Value Scale that would be your Darkest Dark, a 10 meets your Lightest Light, a 1.  

You would think that working with black permenant ink, like I do, that setting up a strong Focal Point would be easy.  But it's not.

Drawing the layout for Rocky Road in the Creek Bed with my pen, means there is lots of sharp contrast, black lines with white paper. Each time my pen touches the paper, it seems soooooo dark. When I do a bit of cross hatching or restate a line, it is reallllllly dark.  It's like OMG! I think I over did in that spot. I really have to steal myself to not react that way.    

Close Up of  Drawing Layout - Lots of really sharp darks in this area 

Take for example this close up area in my layout Drawing of Rocky Road in the Creek Bed.  It looks quite dark when working/looking at it.  However, when you stand back and look at the whole picture that is not the case.  It settles into the picture and really doesn't draw the eye too much.  Which is a good thing.  That wasn't suppose to be my focal point, just an interesting place in the picture.  (Side note, still it is darker than it should be but I don't panic.  I know with my watercolour I can settle it in.)

So stand back . . . .   

Look at your painting. . . .  

Does the Focal Point catch your eye. . .

Or does it blend in? . . .   Is it lost??

If it's lost, don't despair.  There are ways to deal with it.  If you are dealing with pencil or pen, like I often am, you can go in and darken an area and lighten another.  If you are dealing with colour consider the value of the colours you used.  Looking at this chart you can see that some colours (hues) have darker values than others. So chose a different hue.  Or note that changing the tone can change the value.  Another option. 

Notice how colours have a value in a similar manner as the grayscale on the left

Another way to bring your Focal Point back into view is to look at the Visual Complements of a colour.  This is different from the regular complements of a colour that we usually talk about.  I find this a very interesting phenomena and certainly useful.   Take for example the Yellow on the chart.  You know that purple is its complement and will gray it down.  But look how the Cobalt Blue really pops it on the chart below.  

Visual Complements that will make your Focal Point Pop 

Not confident that your Focal Point is there?  Take a picture of your piece and change it to grayscales in a photo editing program. It is often easier to see when colour is not in the mix.  These tools are useful in your tool kit to make the fix you want. 

For more information see:

Values and Colour in Action 

Getting Values Working for You 

Wendy is on Youtube:
Wendy has FREE Tips & Techniques on Video now, many with supporting blog posts and FREE download PDF's.  

See a full linked listing here - artbywendy.com - workshop - Videos by Wendy

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  is HERE!!

Next Sessions:  Saturday, May 22 (Forecast Sunny & 20°) 

Wednesday, May 26
10am - 12:30pm 

Upcoming Dates: Wednesday  June 2 & June 9
Saturday, May 22,  June 5 & June 12 

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

Exploring with SHAPES - Sketch Booking - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you have a Sketchbook Practice?

Finishing Touches to THE FLOWER SHOP - Sketchbook Practice

I must admit when I first started drawing I scoffed at Sketch Booking Practice.  It seemed like such a waste of time.  I felt each of my drawing were way too 'important' to be in a mere sketchbook.  Each of them had to be 'A Masterpiece".   

I am older now.  (Not sure I am wiser though . . .)  But I have learned the value of Sketchbook Practice.  I love having my own treasures in my books.  Flipping through the pages and enjoying the "moments of discovery" once again. 

What you ask "are Moments of Discovery"?

I enjoy things like: 

- when I discovered how much I liked it when things went off the page 

- when I realized how I could make corrections in an ink drawing

- when I experienced the joy of mixing colours with my watercolour pencils

- when I grasped the beauty of the mix of abstract and realism

- when I knew in my heart that I could actually draw . . . people, trees, scenery, 

. . . . . . .  and so much more.

I have a Sketchbook Activity that will really give you one of those Moments.  

Karen Stamper, an British Artist was the inspiration for this Activity.  She is a multimedia artist and avid sketching booker.  She has inspired me to try things like collaging and stenciling.  But mostly to just jump in and try something different. 

Exploring with Shapes is one of those activities. 

Designing Vases - THE FLOWER SHOP - Sketchbook Practice

Video Support: I have a video posted with the Arts Council of  Surrey Instructional Series based on this activity.  View it HERE for more ideas and direction.  

Materials: sketchbook, pens, crayons, coloured pencils, watercoloured pencils, anything you have for mark making - favourite stuff and even stuff you always wanted try but haven't yet.  Glue, bits of coloured paper or magazine, heavy paper for making stencils

Use your 'vase' stencils to draw on your page 

Process: Make stencils by cutting 2 or 3 different shape vases. Place them on your page in a pleasing manner.  Open your book wide and work with both facing pages.  I added an extension to my pages to make it even wider.  I also used a variety of papers as this was my handmade sketchbook with my own papers in it.  

Start Adding decorative bits with different mediums

Use your mark making tools to decorate your vases.  This is where you can really experiment.  Use different mark maker tools (ie. pens, pencils, coloured pencils, charcoal, etc.) For cohesiveness repeat colours/mediums in 2 or 3 places.  I used pens, watercolour pencils, pencils and collages material from a magazine. 

Add foliage & flowers to the vases. 

Add foliage to your vases.  Make the plants go right off the top of the page.

Final touches: 

- give the vases shadows to create a 3-D effect

- place a horizontal line approx. 1/3 of the way down the page to give the sense of a bench or table. 

Enjoy!!

I really enjoyed working on this activity. And I enjoy looking at it. 
Whenever I finished a page in my sketchbook,  I always set it up on a stand open to that page.  I find it very inspiring to look at when I come into my studio. I always see little things happening that I hadn't noticed in the creative process.  

I would love to see what you did with this activity.  Be sure and send me a photo. 

 

A video version of Exploring with Shapes with Wendy Mould is available on Youtube.

Wendy Mould is now on Youtube:

Wendy is a Producer of Gallery Talks - A video interview with the featured artists in the Arts Council of Surrey Community Gallery. New talk each month.

Wendy is a Producer of Art Activities - Each month Wendy produces a 5-8 minute video on Creative Activities you can do for the Arts Council of Surrey's Instruction Series.  These can be viewed by visiting www.artcouncilofsurrey.ca or www.artbywendy.com - Workshops.  Many of these activities have a blog post with more information and downloadable PDF's so you can follow along.  

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  is HERE!!

 Wednesday, May 19: 10am - 12:30pm 2 Spots Left

Upcoming Dates: Wednesday May 26, June 2 & June 9
Saturday, May 22,  June 5 & June 12 

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

Putting Eye Candy into your Painting - Painting & Drawing Tips

I know 'candy' in any form is suppose to be bad for your health.  And as such I shouldn't be encouraging it. BUT Eye Candy is Calorie FREE!!

That's right.  No Calories.  Available any time of day. And Free. 

A DISTINGUISHED CANADIAN - Graphite, 13 x 19 Matted, Unframed $500

Eye Candy in Art - The What?

Eye Candy is by definition something pleasing to see but intellectually undemanding.  However, in Art you can make it so much more.  Eye Candy can be something that captures the eye, moves it around and entertains it for sometime.  And Yes, it can be interesting but also it can be intellectually demanding as well.  

Why is it important?

Eye Candy can control the viewer.  It demands their attention.  It tells them where to look. It entertains them.  It stimulates their mind.  But more importantly it keeps them looking at your painting.  And the longer they look, the more interested they are in buying it. (Definitely a great byproduct for us) 

Eye Candy in Art - The How?

Eye Candy is something pleasing to see.  The eye loves to look at curvy lines and following them.  The eye loves to see things that are different; That sudden break in the pattern.  The eye also likes to rest;  But only for a moment. 

As Artists we can put Eye Candy into our Art and CAPTURE the Eye. . . .

I know, you are saying but yes, I know all about focal points, colour, unfinished edges.  Yes, they do capture the eye and provide interest. But there is way more.  

As I worked on my pencil drawing of this Canadian Goose, I realized how many more ways there are to grab the eye and entertain it, WITHOUT Colour. 

Get the Eye to Dance. . . .

Animals and people, if there is a face our eye immediate goes to it.  That is the starting point.  Of course if you have no eyes in your piece,  the starting point will be your focal point - the strongest dark light contrast point.  But now What? 

With Wildlife and People the eye will go to the Face First

That is my favourite part. Sure the eye rushes into the picture to that focal point but getting it to dance around your picture is the real challenge.  Where should it go from there?  

Every painting has lines in it.  They can be the straight lines like a telephone pole but often they are more subtle.  In my Goose it can be the edge of the wing, the feathers, the markings on his chest, the movement in the water. Even the row of light on the forward wing tips.  

So where does the eye DANCE when looking at my Canadian Goose?

Look away/close your eyes then look at my Goose.  Where does your eye travel?

Your eye is grabbed by the head.  It is a strong contrast of light and dark and it has the face.  The curve around the head is interesting and eye has two choices follow the neck down the body or jump to the wings.  The Dark/Light contrast of the wing line pulls the eye over. (I thing our nature tendency to go across rather than down also comes into play here.)

Whether the eye follows the back wing (lighter one) or front wing (darker one) it moves along. There are lots of interesting shapes to interest the eye.  As well a bit of mystery. "What do the shapes form? What makes the back wing? What makes the front? I didn't realize it was so intricate."  These are some of the thoughts it inspires.  

  

 No, the wing edge does not take the eye across and out of the picture.  Notice the wings get lighter as you move to the tip.  This slows the eye movement and causes it to look around.  Suddenly there are 2 choices again.  The strong line of the wing takes the eye down or the dark mass in the water grabs the eye's attention.  (Note the dark mass is darker on the bird side and lighter on the picture edge side,  this is a stopper to prevent the eye from leaving the picture. The signature also acts as a stopper, sending the eye towards the bird. )

The Wing line and the water mass demand the eye choice a path and move on. 

As the eye travels down the wing it reaches the tail feathers, the sharp contrast of light and dark pull the eye and speed up the movement.  

Once at the tail there are lots of little interesting things to look at.  Little mysteries for the eye:  What is that dark mass? Oh, is that the shadow in the water? Look at the legs, they are thick and powerful.  

But once again the eye is pulled away.  The sharp contrast and dark edge of the belly demands attention.  Again, there are 2 choices for movement.  Each taking the eye back to the face.  

Leaving the unsolved mysteries around his feet the eye is pulled back to the face.  

The eye has made a complete circle. But there is a sense of incompleteness.  The little mysteries along the way require a second look.  The eye begins to dance some more as it moves around to solve the mysteries.  The Dance continues.  

Look for the movement in your painting.  Is there a few mysteries along the path?  Choices? Resting spots?  

In choosing your view/pose do you consider the movement?  Often you do but it is in an intuitive way.  Eye movement or views pleasing to the eye is just one more tool you use in designing your painting.  

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  is HERE!!

 Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm 2 Spots Left

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