Christmas Wishes for Everyone - Painting & Drawing Tips

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Holly Berries & Rufous-Sided Towhee - $225 Matted, Unframed

Max and I love to walk along the trails in Tynehead Park.  There are forested trails with strong tall firs and open grass fields that shimmer in the sunshine.  There is a small stream that flows through the middle which the salmon will travel up in the fall.  I love the little glimpses of wildlife we are treated to on our walks.  A coyote ready to pounce, an eagle circling in the sky, salmon finning in the water, we even watched two big herons lifting off the water the other day.  But in the winter months things can be slow.  The little Rufous-Sided Towhee is one of our friends.  They flutter in the bushes, chitter and call, bringing life and colour to the winter landscape.

This little guy is just like the ones Max and I see.  Stopped for minute, checking for food to eat but still watchful as we rounded the corner.  I think he has decided we are not danger and will soon resume his lunch. 

Have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and all the best for the New Year to come.  I look forward to sharing my Painting and Drawing Tips with you next year. I will be on a Christmas Break but will be back again on Thursday, January 4. 

Here are a few last minute Christmas Ideas. Gift Ceriticates are available.  

 A heartfelt gift for that special person: 

A commission - Capture that Best Friend in a Pet Portrait.  A keepsake that will be cherished by everyone in the family. 

For the Artist on your list.   Private Drawing Lessons   Get more information  here. 

A really special gift for the Artist on your list:

 All day Marketing Workshop - Let's Get Your Art Out There - Sunday, Feb 25 or March 4, 2018.  This is an opportunity to work with a small group focusing on ways that work for you, to market your art.  Whether you are looking at full time or part Art Sales, there are effective, proven strategies that will get your work out the door. $80 (+$4 GST) Limited to 8 per session.  Art by Wendy Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey, BC.  REGISTER NOW  with Wendy.   Out of Towners give me a call and we can set something up.

 Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

 Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy 

Values and Colours in Action - Painting & Drawing Tips

New Works from the Studio of Art by Wendy 

WINTER COLOURS - $225     11 x 14 matted, unframed

Winter Colours features a little Rufous-sided Towhee, which we see a lot in the winter.  Their bright orange bellies add a bit of colour to the birds around the feeder and of course out on a walk.  

This time of year my heart thinks of snow.  As a kid we lived in Nova Scotia and snow, snow forts, skating on the lake, snow storms and no school were the norm.  I loved the fun of snow, especially the no school part and I find that even though I don't like driving in it, I still have a love of snow.  So winter pictures must have snow!  

Values in Action

Painting snow really makes me think of values.  It is white, just like the baby goats in the last drawing post "Blenders the Secret to The Soft Touch of Graphite" .   Now instead of the gray tones of graphite you are dealing with colour.  What happens to the values then? 

Winter Colours - Compare the tonal values with the colours

All those beautiful colours have a value and keeping the value pattern consistent is important.  In working with graphite you used different values to create the 'mass' of the shape.  The same thing happens in colour.  But now you are converting your 'colours' into a value on your value scale.  

Values of Colour

When it comes to working with colour, many shorten the 10 Point value scale to only 5 values. 

There is White, 3 mid-tones and Black

To think of these values in terms of colour think: (From Lightest to Darkest)

Yellow, Yellow orange and Yellow Green 

Orange, Red Orange, Green, Blue Green

Red, Blue

Red Purple, Blue Purple, Purple

Black

Of course within each colour there is a range of values, but having this picture in your mind will help in seeing and converting your colours into value.  Of course, taking a picture and converting it to tonal values is the most efficient method but not always practical when the paint is wet and colours are mixing. 

Note the values of the colours in the leaves - all in the mid tone and black range 

Building Mass with Values
In creating the leaves in the painting, you need the different values to make them 3 Dimensional. At the same time the value range has to be close or the leaves will not read as a unit. After all, they are not the focus of the painting. 
But the real challenge comes with the snow.  Like the goats, the snow is white.  But a white blob would be one dimensional and not have the puffy, billowing feel that is needed. 

Snow can have values that range from white to black!

Again like the white goats there is in fact very little 'white'.  Most of the snow has some value ranging from the light mid tones to the dark mid-tones  and even a spot or two that is almost black.  In some ways it is like Magic.  You are creating the illusion of white snow, yet you are using some very dark values.

Take the challenge and try your hand at snow - either in graphite or paint.  Have some winter fun!!

Looking for other drawing tips, check out my previous posts in this drawing series.  

How to Find Your Starting Point in a Drawing - here

 4 Ways to Grow the Sketchbook Habit - here

Time to Meet Your Drawing Friends - here

Ready to Start Drawing - Get Your Materials Together - here

Get Those Values Working for you - here

Blenders the Secret to the Soft Touch of Graphite - here 

     Christmas is coming, here are a few ideas for those Art Lovers and Artists on your list:

Etsy Shop now Open: WendyMouldsArt  Come on In!! 

Special Offer: Free Shipping with your order of 5 or more  Christmas Doodle Cards or buy the Digital Down Load Cards and print as many as you wish. Lots of time till Christmas to personalize your cards with colour.  WOW! your Special People with your Cards.

Time to Move Inside and Draw
Drop-In & Draw: 
January Dates: Tues, January 9 & January 23, 2018: 10-12pm or 1-3pm
February Dates: Tues, Feb 6 & 20, 2018: 10-12pm or 1-3pm
Expressions Art Gallery, 227 & Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.
Choose a morning or afternoon session. Bring your sketchbook or your project and come draw.  I will be happy to give you a few pointers as you work on a drawing.  $15 Pre-Register Required. Gift Certificates Available. Contact Wendy Here

Be sure to like and share my posts.
 You won't miss a single one if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page. Keep up with all the art events by joining my email list (see sidebar on my blog)

 Have a great artful day,
Wendy