What's Stopping You from Creating Now? Painting & Drawing Tips

We have SNOW!! 

Well of course, it is winter here on the West Coast.  But we hardly every get SNOW and if we do, it is gone in a day or two.  What the heck is this stuff still doing here??!!

It's time to hibernate.  . . . 

Conditions are right: minus something crazy outside, no place to go, hardly any daylight.  Time to hit the studio, get the creative juices flowing and worry about coming out in SPRING.  

I have just the thing for you to do: 

1.  Try a NEW PROCESS:  Monotypes

Easy to do.  Requires few materials.  Interesting, Inspiring Results.  

I was introduced to Monotypes 2 years ago and really fell in love with the process.  It really appealed to my love of mixing abstract and realism.  You may find other ways to integrate it into your process.  But regardless give it a try.  

Three pieces created using the Monotypes Process in one of my first attempts  

Above are 3 pieces of watercolour paper which I painted using the Monotype Process and acrylic paint.  I thought each had some interesting shapes and colours.  Very Abstracty but also Interesting. I used them as pages in my Book Art.  

Do you recognize the page from above with my duck added?

I loved how this page worked out.  The feeling of rich, deep foliage in front of the duck is vivid and real.  Yet it is something I never could have planned and painted.

Can you see how the top right page was turned and became another duck swimming in the water?

Yes, this is another one of the pages from above.  It became one of my favourite pages in the book. For a step-by-step description of the process see my post: Have You Tried Monotypes?   and accompanying video " Getting Started with Monotypes (Monoprints) ".  

2. PERK UP YOUR DRAWING SKILLS

Pick a subject.  Something that interests you and DIVE IN.  I have tried this many times and each time come away with Wonderful Treasures:  Inspiration that has kept my heart pounding and mind churning with ideas for days; A renewed confidence in my drawing skills that has filled me with joy; And Projects that jumped off the shelve and out the door.  (Some were even sold while still WIP.)

Tulips in the Sunshine - My Focus Tulips

One of my favourite topics was tulips.  I used only a few tulip shapes. I reversed them, cropped them and bunched them up.  I experimented with composition.  With medium.  Zoomed in.  Zoomed out.  I got to know the shape well and felt my confidence grow and I worked them into different settings.  My sketchbook was happy and so was I.  

I tried other subjects: pumpkins, deer, squirrels, ducks, owls.  Whatever caught my eye.  Certainly the one that surprised me the most was my Snowmen.  I started off with my usual style and finished by pushing myself to the limited.  I was thrilled with the results. 

3 Snow Friends - Definitely something totally different for ME  

Surprised?  If you have followed my blogs and know my style you would know this is not my usually fare.  This was totally outside my box but I love these guys.  They remind me that if I open my box their are lots of new things waiting for me to do.  

For help in getting your Drawing underway check out my post "Can Repetition REALLY be FUN?!! There is a video to go with it as well "Repetition Can be FUN" and if you need a reference picture I have a Free Download of Tulip Pictures to get you started.  

If my Snowmen are calling to you, check out their own special post "What?? A Treasure Hunt can Help my Drawing Skills? and of course they have their own little video "Building Drawing Skills with a Treasure Hunt".  And if your snow is like ours right now - crisp, light and dry - lousy for making snowmen, I have a Free Download of 5 Interesting Snowmen that you are welcome to use.  

These are a few projects to get you started.  With your new found confidence I will try and entice into more Intuitive Work with my next post.  I know, again strange words coming from me.  But yes, even if you like things a little more structured than others, you can indulge yourself.  I like it this way, I still have my box, but I use it in many ways.  Have fun and see you next post.  

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)

Do you want your animals to breath, your flowers to sparkle or your people to walk?  Whatever subject your like to paint or draw I can build a drawing program for you.  Private Lessons allow you to focus on the skills you wish to develop.  Wendy is a experienced teacher, providing a calm, relaxing experience as you learn how to use the principles of drawing.  Beginner to Advanced are welcome.  Special rates for younger students.  More info here.

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

An Awesome Way to Capture the MOMENT!! - Painting & Drawing Tips

NO, this is not about Outdoor Sketching.  

However, this is truly an AWESOME way to Capture a MOMENT in Time.  

CURLEY - Page 1 -MOMENTS IN THE PAST - Ink & Acrylic

The Spark:

I read about the Paint the Train Juried Show.  They were looking for works that presented the present and past of the Glory of the Railway age in Surrey, BC.  

My Muse:

Not a person, it was the history.  I thought I would just take a look into the Surrey Archives Pictorial References and see if anything caught my eye.  (Let me clarify, I do have a love affair with old pictures especially with people in them.)  Somehow I wondered into the website of the Surrey Historical Society.  Pretty soon I was reading living histories.  Needless to say I was lost for days!!

I was defeated.  

There was no way I could paint a picture for this show. 

Surrey Historical Society - Curley 1894

My mind was full of the rich history of Surrey, the stories of the people that lived in the past and the changes that the railway brought about.  I could not condense that down to one picture.  

I thought about it for days.  Well, fretted about it, actually.  I really wanted to support the Arts Council's activities but couldn't figure out how.  

The Solution: 

It didn't have to be one picture.  It could be several.  This was a perfect time to try my Book Art. One of the things I had been working on during Covid.  

I was READY TO ROLL.  

I had to use 'Curley',  the locomotive,  he personified the logging industry and the railway. And really, how can you not love him.  This picture was from 1894 and so that decided my time period - anything close to 1900.

Printmaking - designing the pages for the drawings

The Process: 

First I used a process called 'Monotypes Prints' to create my pages in the book.  I wanted to give the feeling of old vintage pictures so I splattered them with paint to give that sepia tone.  

Then I arranged the pages so the 'blobs' of colour had a nice flow.  

The drawings were done with ink.  Of course Curley was first.  I wanted to show how life was then, give a sense of the industry and of course include some railway history.  Stewart Farm came next with an agricultural slant.  If found some great fishing as well but decided if the focus was railway history I should stick to the land. 

 

Surrey Historical Society - James Oxenham & Family at Surrey Centre Oxenham General Store 1910

The center of any community of commence was the general store.  I found great pictures of James Oxenham and his Surrey Centre Store.  That got me jumping in with both feet.  People. Of course.  I should include a few people.  

Kilby Historical Site - My awesome model for my Shopkeeper

I had a great picture of one of the actors at Kilby Historical site for a Shopkeeper.  He happily volunteered to be part of my piece.  The close up of him was a special project for me and one I was very pleased about.  

Suddenly only 2 panels left.  What to feature???

In the end I chose the Cloverdale Station and the BCER train.  Can you believe in 1910 you could take the Electric Railway from Vancouver all the way to Chilliwack!!  Not sure how long the trip was but I bet it was faster than the freeway on a summer Sunday evening when you are returning from a trip to the Interior.   

The Cloverdale Station was a major station and the route from New Westminster to Chilliwack opened on Nov 6, 1910.  This seemed a fitting point to end my book on.  

Surrey Archives - Cloverdale Station with BCER 1911

As I completed the drawing for each section I added my shading with an ink wash.  I loved the way the background and drawings worked together to keep the vintage feel.  

When the drawings were finished I completed the book by binding, labeling and covering it.  I love the cork fabric on the cover.  It has the feel of the softness leather but full of colour and pizzazz.  

OMG!! You are probably saying, this turned into a MAJOR project.  Yes, you got it.  I totally got carried away.  I had an awesome time.  By the time I was finished I wasn't sure I wanted to enter it into the show.  I wasn't finished enjoying it myself!!  

In the end I wished it luck and sent it off.  

Click to See the full view of my Art Book - Moments in the Past by Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM

*** Special Note:  When I wrote this blog, the show had not been opened and the results had not been published.  However, today I have just learned that my project "Moments in Past" has won 1st Place in the 3-D Category!!!  Awesome, eh!!??

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)

Do you want your animals to breath, your flowers to sparkle or your people to walk?  Whatever subject your like to paint or draw I can build a drawing program for you.  Private Lessons allow you to focus on the skills you wish to develop.  Wendy is a experienced teacher, providing a calm, relaxing experience as you learn how to use the principles of drawing.  Beginner to Advanced are welcome.  Special rates for younger students.  More info here.

2.  Online Mentoring/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

Have you heard of BOOK ART? - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you love Art Books? I do. 

I have stacks of books on painting and drawing.  I love to go through them. They fill me with excitement and inspiration.  I love to crack open a new Art Book and just study the pictures.  And dream of how I would do it.   

Opening Page of my new Book Art - Young Barred Owls in the Forest - Mixed Media 

 Book Art is NOT Art Books.  It is a Fine Art Genre of its own. . .

 Surprised!!

 Not only is it a Fine Art Genre but there are many different types of Book Art!!!

Handmade books with special paper, bindings and covers probably comes to your mind. It is one that fascinates me.  I enjoy studying the process of making a book. I have recently started to make a few of my sketchbooks to work in.

Sculptures made from recycled books is another very advanced form of Book Art.  I invite you to google images of Book Art.  You will see sculptures that are absolutely fascinating.  It is hard to image how someone could visualize and construct such things out of an old book. 

However, the form of Book Art that intrigues me is where the book and its contents are the Art Form.  I find the idea very intriguing.  To me it is a natural extension from working in my sketchbook.  My books often become theme based, devoted to a single topic. My pages are hodgepodged together on the theme with a variety of techniques and mediums.  This is not quite I mean by Book Art. 

Ducks on the Water: Book Art, Ink, Watercolour, Acrylic  $300

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

Book Art is a one-of-a-kind piece of art that uses the form of a book as its finished structure.  One of my first pieces of Book Art is Ducks on the Water.  This is an accordion style book, specifically designed to portray my story of the ducks on the water.  It is complete with a front and back cover.

Front Cover - Ducks on the Water - Book Art

Yes, designing a complete book that is a painting is a captivating experience.  It is like working in a series but not.  Everything builds to make one complete image.  My newest Book Art project is centered around three young Barred Owls.

 Max and I were out walking in our favourite forested park and happened upon the three Owls.  It was an unbelievable experience. To come down the trail and see 3 owls just sitting together on an old mossy stump.  There was 4 of us shocked and amazed, standing on the trail. They wondered about and eventually flew off to their parents that we could hear calling to them.  I decided I needed to capture this special moment in my Book.  

Full Sheet which has marks on it from the acrylic monotypes process 

Steps in my Project

1.  I took a 13.5 x 17.5 piece of watercolour paper and did some mark making with acrylics paint using a monotype process.  See post on this here.  Why this treatment you ask.  I like the randomness of the marks and I like to mix them with my more realist drawings.  

Page 1 before I started drawing on it. See Owl at the top for the finished page. 

2.  I cut the paper into 6 pieces: 6.75 x 5.5 inches.  

3.  I arranged them horizontally and put them into an order.  At this point I was looking at the shapes and colours on each page and just looking for a pleasing combination.  

4.  I began my drawings.  I am using a .08 Micron permenant ink pen for the drawing, ink washes for the shadows, white charcoal pencil to tone any acrylic paint that is too dark for an area and a bit of watercolour for added colour.  ie.  Beak on my owls page 1.  (See owl picture at the top of the page.)  

 

5.  Study vegetation and my owl pictures to decide how my setting will develop across the 38 inches of the picture and how my owls will fit into it.  This will be one of my summer projects so it will be a few weeks before I can show you the finished results. 

If you haven't tried Book Art before, take a new look at it.  Whether you sell your book at the end is immaterial.  I guaranteed you will enjoy the challenge of designing your book.  And you will enjoy studying it later when you are done.  Totally an awe-inspiring project.  

Do you have big/small projects on the go?  
Looking for a sounding board, help, suggestions, techniques. You and your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  I am available for Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75). more info here.   

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

If you are looking for Live Outdoor Sketching Classes they are now underway.  See info below.  Contact me to set something up. 

Outdoor Sketching Classes !! 

Ready to go out and do some sketching?  Have fun painting and sketching while learning new tips and techniques. Capture a moment in time without worrying about the World and the crazy problems of today.  Come Join me for a session or two.  

Class Size: 3  Rescheduling for Bad weather.  Covid  Rules and Social Distancing will be followed.  

Sessions 2.5 hours, in local North Surrey Parks, Tuesdays 10-12:30 or Saturdays 10-12:30.  

Cost: $45  

June Dates: Tuesday, June 30  FULL.   Saturdays June  27, 10-12:30 pm  - 2 spots

July Dates: Tuesday, July 28, 10-12:30pm

August Dates: Tuesday August 4. 11, 18, 25: 10-12:30:pm

Save a Spot Now. Contact Wendy    More information: artbywendy.com 

 

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