Art by Wendy: June 2021

Jun 18, 2021

Is Art Really just Patterns and Lines? - Painting and Drawing Tips

When you get up in the morning, Do you have coffee and sit? Eat breakfast? Go for a run? Pack a breakfast and head to work?

Rocky Road in the Creek Bed - 12 x 16 vanished on board - $650

Everyone has little routines: Routines for meals; Routines for work; Routines for play. They shape your day and they shape your life.

I am a 'get up and eat person'. I wake up with a bang and get busy with things. My husband is the opposite. He is a morning sitter. Likes to relax, drink his coffee, then slowly get into breakfast mode. I am long gone from the kitchen by then.

Art making has its own routines. How we plan, how we start, how we proceed.

My latest picture "Rocky Road in the Creek Bed" is about routines and patterns. The routines and patterns of my work.

Reference Photo for Rocky Road in the Creek Bed

The subject matter comes out of my walks and the pictures I take. I love the mossy rocks nestled within a creek bed. They would have so many stories to tell, if they could talk.

This little creek is slow and quiet now on this summer day. But in the fall the water will be raging by and there will be spawning salmon resting in every little hollow and backwater. The creek is surrounded by large big old cottonwood trees, ready to fall with the next big storm. Large cedars and firs amongst them, reaching for the sky, ready to take over the space. Many of the firs and cedars are already over a hundred years old. A magically place for me.

Do you have a special routines that start you on your creative path?

As I work, I identify patterns to create: the flow of the rocks, the drape of the ferns in the background, the leaves on the little shrubs. These are patterns I want. I try to instill them into my painting to keep that sense of realism.

But sometimes I create patterns I don't want. . . .

Rocky Road in the Creek Bed WIP - note the fast moving water 😟

It happened this time without my noticing. I was working on the reflection in the water. I wanted to be sure I had lots of colour. I wanted those colours to be pure and to shine. I decided to use a medium wet brush and not let the colours mingle. More of a brush stroke than a merged wash. I had fun. I dropped different colours everywhere. My eyes were dazzled. I was feeling really good. You know the feeling.

Then I stood back.

My quiet sunny spot in the creek bed had bumpy, flowing water. What happened? In creating my water reflections and patterns I hadn't noticed I was also creating a bigger pattern. It was not what I wanted.

I started to panic.

Have you ever had those moments, when you are working on a piece? I quickly dropped my brush and stepped back. Time to think. Patterns can be created and Patterns can be changed. I picked up my pen and started working in the right corner. Drawing in the water lines seem to settle down my rippling water.

I could see my way. . ..

More lines were drawn and my water settled. A new pattern had been created.

Rocky Road in the Creek Bed WIP - note the changes to the water to make ii slow moving😀

As I studied my piece, I thought about patterns and lines. There were patterns and lines everywhere. Not just the obvious ones of rock formation and ferns but more subtle ones created by the flow of the colours, the sweeping lines of ink, and the hard and soft edges of shadows. Do you see and feel them in your work as well?

As an artist, you need to create patterns but at the same time be on guard. Each small pattern joins together to create the big pattern which is your finished piece. Just like each of your little daily routines join to form the routine of your day. Keeping an eye on the big picture is just as important as each little part.

Further reading:

How to Paint the Background - Creating patterns in the background that support the foreground.

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 23 & Saturday, June 26

10am - 12:30pm

Great Weather forecast next week!!

Upcoming Dates: Wednesday June 30 & July 14
Saturday, July 17

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

Jun 13, 2021

OMG!! Change my Palette, NEVER!! - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you have a favourite Pallete?

Working in: Watercolour, Acrylic, Oil, Pastels, or Pencils - Do you reach for the same colours all the time or do you make changes??

What's Happening with Your Palett?

I have my favourite colours. I have many reasons for those colours - they reflect my passion, they seem to mix well together, but mostly I know what they do and what makes them happy.

Yes, I have a big palette with lots of colours in it. I have a basket full of tubes of paint. I don't even want to think about how much money is sitting there. But when I look at the tubes and my paint trays I see many that are untouched.

Is that your tray as well?

I have taken some classes and followed some blogs, attended tutorials and bought their colours. You probably have done the same thing. But afterwards you went back to your pallet and they were forgotten.

I have started making some changes.

My motivation comes from two directions: I am ready to try something new and I want to use some of those expensive paints that sit in my paint tray. (Ok, I guess I am a little frugal too.) However, just dropping in a new colour into a "Masterpiece" that is well underway, may not be a good time for making that change.

Rocks and Small Waterfall - The Cobalt Teal Blue makes for different colours of rocks the blend well with the moss.

How to Test Run a New Colour

The first thing is to do colour samples using your new colour and mixing it with some of your old ones. That, I think is a universal thing. But I find it only tells me part of the story.

I like to see my new colour in action. . . .

As you know, I am a wildlife artist and I like to paint my animals in natural settings. So painting nature is my testing ground. I take my sketchbook and start drawing. Weather permitting I will go out to sketch.

HARBOUR SEAL: SUNBATHING - I love the way Phthalo Blue and Cadmium Orange make such interesting mixes of greens, golds and rusts in this picture

Cadmium Orange was a new colour I added not too long ago.

I love the nice opaque orange it produces. But when thinned, it makes some nice yellows and golden tones. And of course mixed with Permanent Rose or my yellows I got some very exciting oranges.

PUMPKINS ON THE SHELF - Just loved the orange mixes with Cadmium Orange as the starter.

Cobalt Teal Blue is also quite new to my palette.

I like mixing it with my yellows to make that cool, limey green of the moss and leaves. I like using it as a glaze over my other greens. It seems to brighten them up and cool them off at the same time. And note in my little creek bed painting above, how mixing it with a touch of burnt sienna makes for very interesting rock colours that blend with my greens.

Adding a colour here or there to my palette has proven to be a bonus for me. Bringing it in slowly, trying it in different situations has really helped me to understand what it can do and how it can fit into my world. It takes time, but for me it has been worthwhile.

Have you given a new colour a try lately? How do you give it a Test Run?

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 16 & Saturday, June 19

10am - 12:30pm

Upcoming Dates: Wednesday June 23 & June 30
Saturday, June 26

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)

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

Jun 3, 2021

Finding the Right Spot - Outdoor Sketching - Painting & Drawing Tips

Today was a scorcher!

Sun was blazing. Air stifling. No breeze to speak of.

A Real Scorcher.

Where was I?

Wendy n Max at Tynehead Park, BC

I was sitting on my little stool, perched by a big old cedar stump, by a babbling little stream. The air was clean and fresh. Cool. The area around me was green with lush, sparkling greens: ferns, leaves, moss,. . . Every once in awhile a bird would flitter by, drop down to the water then slip away.

I was painting. . .

Max was quietly guarding . . .

Life was good.

Outdoor Sketching means FINDING A SPOT. . .

Forested little creek leading to Serpentine Fen

Before heading out to sketch, I use to dither about where to go. Once there, I walked forever along the trail looking and looking. Looking for that spot. You know the one. The Prefect Spot. Anxiousness would start. What if I can't find a spot? I have to go soon, I wont have time to draw. Disappointment and Failure would begin to take shape.

Now things are different.

I have learned an important lesson. I was looking for the wrong thing!

Not what you wanted to hear, I am sure. I know I wouldn't have believed it before either. But actually it is true.

Before I walked around and looked for "The Spot". A really interesting, inspiring, awesome scene. But Outdoor Sketching is about capturing the feeling, the ambiance. Those awesome sketches we see on Instagram and Facebook are not staged scenes. They are just a selection of the images in front of the artist. It is the the composition, the play of lights and darks that gives them life.

Just a few moss covered rocks with the water trickling by.

Check out my rocks. This was an eye opener for me. Those are just a few mossy rocks. But they're interesting. Eye catching. Capture the feel of the place. This didn't have to be some 'Perfect Scenery" to be engaging. I was thrilled with it.

When I studied my picture I realized it was composition, the play of colours, the detail that really made it work. And eye opener.

Now when I am Outdoor Sketching I look for a dry, shaded place to sit. Then I look to see what catches my eye.

Sketching at Starbucks, Edinburgh, Scotland

Check out my Spot.

1. Starbucks, Edinburgh, Scotland, right in the middle of the Golden Mile. This was an awesome place to be. I scored a second floor window seat. Rain was pouring down. (note the windows). I was happy to draw and paint. The rain didn't spoil my day!!

Gowland Pt, Maine Island, BC

2. Found a shady spot after hiking the trails at Gowland Point. I started with the trees on the bluff and then just added more and more detail. Before I knew it, I had a great landscape.

Journal Page from my Trip to Italy, 2019

Working with your surroundings rather than searching for The Spot can also lead to surprises. The statue in the left corner was painted while sitting at a restaurant in the Square in the old part of Rome. It was my first day and I was dying to try painting something. I never do statues but it was right there. I had to try. I loved it. Sketching the statue in ink then adding a bit of colour just seemed to work for me. I found for the rest of my trip I was constantly seeking out statues to paint.

My Sketch at Tynehead Park from above

Looking for "The Right Spot" wont make for the best picture. However, picking a location you are interested in - nature, urban sights is important. Then find a spot to work, see what shape, colour, light catches your eye and get to work. You will be surprised what you come away with.

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