Getting Good DARKS into Your Artwork - Painting & Drawing Tips

The Challenge: Make Images "POP' in my Artwork

The How: Use some Good DARKS

Sounds so easssssssy.  But really it's not!

FANTASY FLOWERS - Sketchbook Activity 

You have probably already discovered that.  Either things are too light or there is way too much "dark" in your picture.  There doesn't seem to be a happy medium.  

I decided to do some experimenting to see what a Good DARK really looked like.  And how to tell 'when I was there'.  

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*** Further discussion can be found on my YouTube video: How Dark Values bring your Artwork to Life

*** Looking To Join Me for Online Drawing Lessons? 3 Live Online Classes in February. See below for more information

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Follow Along with me as I conduct my experiment or better still, start painting too. 

Step 1 - Background in 3 different layers of lights

Step 1 
Create a very light background of splashes and spots.  I used the colours I was planning to use for my flowers.  I only thought was to leave a space for my main subject.  But at the same time I wasn't worried about getting paint in that area as it was light.  

Step 2 
I did 3 different light layers of splashes.  Each slightly darker than the first.  I was also thinking that I wanted to get darker closer to my subject.  

Drawing in the Flowers 

Step 3
Drew in the fantasy flowers.  A rose with a few little forget-me-note around it.  I wasn't worried about any of the colours under the flowers, as I knew it would be covered up by painting the flowers.  

Blocking in the Flowers and Some Leaves

Step 4 
Here is where the fun begins.  I blocked in the flowers and they looked horrid.  No life to them. I press on.  I had to remind myself this is just the first layer.  

Darken the Rose Petals

Step 5

I used a darker version of my pink to add shadow to the rose petals. Still not working. 

Adding Dark Purples to Rose and Deep Darks to background

Step 6
I mixed a purple with my pink and blue and used that as shadows around the petals.  Now that made quite a difference.  

I also placed a real DARK in the crevices around the rose, being mindful that the light came from the left.  Right away I could see some of the petals on the rose perked up.  Even the main leaves started to look more interesting.  

Suggesting more leaves in the Background

Step 7
Rather than bumping up the shadows more with the flowers I adding more foliage around them.  I kept it lighter than than my fully drawn leaves but made it darker than the leaves suggested in splatters.  Right away I could see things were really popping. 

Finished - FANTASY FLOWERS - Sketchbook Activity

Step 8
Put some of that purple on the blue flower (center, left) and on the leaf (center, right) close to the rose;  suggested some leaf shapes at the lower bottom; went back and added a few dark splashes to the shapes spreading out from the middle.  It was popping!!  

Things that I noticed (learned)

1.  Putting a darker pink on my rose didn't do anything. It needed that dark purple to pop.  

2.  Putting a deep dark in the crevices where I would expect to find a dark, made a real difference.

3.  Sometimes it is better to darken things around the subject rather than just getting darker and darker with the subject.  

4.  Not all of the subject needs to be the dark: ie. not all the petal, not all the leaf, not all the blobs 

Experimenting can be fun.  We had 3 days of major snow, and nothing moved.  Very unusual for us.  It was great to play with the flowers and not worry about being snowed in!!

*** Further discussion can be found on my YouTube video: How Dark Values bring your Artwork to Life

Coming Up:
Online Drawing Classes for February 2024
All inclusive 4 Day Art Retreat,  June 21-24, 2024
Outdoor Sketching Classes this summer 2024

Enhance Your Drawing Skills

Come Draw with Me 

“I attended an online drawing class from Wendy. I loved it and learned so much. She is very thorough and provides terrific feedback on your works of art. I highly recommend it.”

Ready to Enhance your Drawing Skills and Explore new Mark-making Techniques in a relaxed, fun setting? 

During your Lessons You will:

- Learn when it’s best to erase and when to wait

- Dive into the little Secrets that make drawing a success

- See how light can transform your subjects

- Make friends with your inner critic and make it work for you

- Nail down that perfect perspective and proportion

- Use lines, shapes, and shadows to guide your viewer’s eyes and keep them engaged in your work

Online Drawing Classes

Feb 15, 22, & 29, 2024, 5:30-7:30pm (PT)

Early Bird $75 Before Feb 12, $90 after

Contact Wendy toRegister 
Gift Certificates Available 

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

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Have a great Artful Day,

  

Wendy

Is the Creative Process really just one BIG BUMPY ROAD??

Magnolias in the Sunshine - 16 x 20 Vanished Watercolour on Wood Canvas  $850

I am sure you have heard that the Creative Process is a Joyful One.  You’re Lost in the Moment.   It's full of Excitement.  The feeling of Success can sometimes be Overwhelming.  I am here to tell you, The Creative Process is all that and more. 

 However, it does have its Dark side. . .

 One that can take you deep into Despair.

 That can’t be right, you are thinking.  Excitement, Joy, Euphoria are just a few of the words that you hear from Creatives all the time.  And yes, you will hear those words from me as well. 

 But remember, the Creative Process is a Journey.  And like all Journey’s it has its ups and downs.  The ‘Downs” can be setbacks or stoppers. How you react to those moments will certainly affect your outcome. 
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*** Join me for Online Drawing Lessons, October 12, 19, & 26, 2023.  Enhance Your Drawing Skills –Light, Line, & Shadows can make your work Come Alive. See below for Registration & Information. 

***See my YouTube Video with further discussion: Magnolias, One Painting's Hard Fought Creative Journey.  

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 Let me explain as I take you on my Creative Journey to paint, Magnolias in the Sunshine. 

See what I mean?  Fun to create that light with Pencil.  

Early spring finds me collecting and photographing the first colours of the season.  The Magnolias are part of that group. I got some great pictures of the flowers and decided I wanted to draw them.

At first it was only sketchbook stuff.  It was fun to try and create ‘white’ petals with a grey pencil.   I found the more I drew them the more I wanted to do.

 I decided to paint them.

 There is a wonderful feeling of excitement, as plans are made for the ‘new project’.  I was bursting with ideas.  After all the practice drawings I had done, I felt confident and ready to roll. 

Threw Down my colours and 'got-at-it'.

The work began in earnest.  Size determined.  Colours chosen.  Composition decided.  Type of paper chosen.  Everything was a go!!

 I love this part of the process.  The decisions are all made.  I can just paint. 

 But then disaster occurred. . .     Everything came to a standstill.

Definitely the Background is not looking Good

My background wasn’t working.  I added layer after layer of paint. But still it appeared blotchy.  And certainly not as soft and satiny as I wanted.  And worst of all, I had a BIG space in the bottom left corner that was just tooooooo empty. 

See what I mean, That corner looks VERY empty😢

 This could be a Stopper in my Journey. . .

 And for a few days it was!

 I have several strategies that use when these moments happen.  First of all, I step away from the painting.  Not a good idea to paint when your frustrated and disappointed. 

I do a bit of research and practice.  I experimented with my background colours on a separate piece of paper.  I discovered:

-    I need to have a wet brush with a nice amount of pigment on it
-    I needed to do one wash over it.  Not try to put thick paint on it and ‘instantly’ make it dark.  Rather be happy with lighter and more even layers. 
-    Not rework an area.  You know, fiddle with it.  That only disturbs the area below
-    Let it really dry between layers.  Easy to be impatient.

My Second Strategy and certainly the most Important One is Look for ENCOURAGERS.

Yes, ways to keep myself encouraged (happy, successful, feeling good with the world).  I decided to jump in and work on the flowers.  That was my favourite part anyway. I love the process of glazing to bring the petals alive.  I started with the right corner because I loved all the things happening there.  

Definitely lots more fun than painting BLUE all day!!

That really made me HAPPY.  I could see my flowers coming to life and best of all looking GOOD. In the meantime I kept adding another layer of blue to the background and even introduced a bit of purple.  I liked the way the deeper purple-blue on the left moved into a deep blue on the right.  

Isn't that Flower in the top right Looking Interesting?

Still working on the background as you can see. Started hinting at flowers and leaves in the background and even came up with ideas for the bottom corner. My big worry now was, they weren't going to be white.  I tried and tried to left off the colour but . . .  

You know with watercolour, you can never really go back to white!!!

I pressed on.  I decided to ignore the bottom corner till more work was done.  I was also hoping once I attached the painting to the wood canvas that some of it would be cut off!!!😆 Ok, I was feeling a little desperate!

Hey, maybe those bottom petals ARE going to be  Okay??

I kept working. 

Yeah!!Things are really coming together!!

Guess What?  Things did work out!  

The bottom petals did get cut off by quite a bit and the remaining petals had colours that tied in well with the rest of the piece.  They did their job too.  Fill the space and lead the eye into the picture.  (notice that sneaky line with the bent petal that moves the eye along?! Neat eh?!)  The background did really improve over time.  Couldn't tell you how many layers it has.  There were still a few light spots but I started to encourage them.  I liked how they suggested more depth. 

I have come to realization that if you want to Challenge Yourself in your Creative Process there will be Bumps on the Road.  The bigger the Challenge, I think the BIGGER the Bumps.  My advice is to Hang-In-There, keep practicing, and always build in ENCOURAGERS in the process.  

***See my YouTube Video with further discussion: Magnolias, One Painting's Hard Fought Creative Journey.  

Come Draw with Me 

Enhance Your Drawing Skills --  Light, Line, & Shadows can make your work Come Alive

Date: Thursday, October 12, 19 & 26, 6:30-8:30pm PST.

Cost: Early Bird $60 Before Oct 8, $75 after

Registration: Wendy@artbywendy.com

    Experience new ways to interpret your line; Explore the magic of playing with light and shadow with Wendy in this series of 3 Online Zoom Classes.  Classes are 2 hr with access to recordings for limited time, individual discussion on weekly projects and limited class size.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome

These are Live Group Classes including, 

     ·            A Fun, Relaxing Atmosphere for Making Your Mark

·               When to Erase and when to Wait 

·               Making a A Setup Drawing that Works 

·               Understanding the Subtle Points that create Success in the Drawing

·               Exploring how Light affects the Shadows in your subject 

·               How to Harness Your Inner Critique so he works with you

·               Use your Line, Shapes and Shadows to Control the Eye Movement and keep your viewers in your space

Contact Wendy to Register 
Gift Certificates Available 
"Thank you for a great workshop!  I have enjoyed myself and learned a lot and am loving my pencil!" Patricia, artist
  

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

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