Collage Fodder: Adding Stems and Leaves to Your Flowers - Painting & Drawing Tips

Similar? Or Perfect? Are these Opposites or Nearly the Same?

Flowers are starting to 'Pop UP' Everywhere - Why not in your Sketchbook too!

When painting and drawing, somehow ‘Perfect’ becomes the best way. But actually, the more I draw and paint, I think ‘Similar’ is really the goal.

Have you ever thought about it?

As I was doing my video for this post, ‘Drawing Leaves and Stems”, I found myself thinking these words over and over.

____________________________________

____________________________________

*** Learn more about my Sketching Practice at The Thursday Night Artist Talks, April 4, 2024, 7:30-9pm. - 'Capturing Nature's Beauty on the Go' with Wendy Mould. Surrey Art Gallery, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey., V3W3L1

** Further discussion for this post can be found on my YouTube video: New Ways to Add Stems and Leaves to Your Flowers. 

 __________________________________________

__________________________________________

Do I really want ‘perfect’ leaves? Not really. . .

Nature is messy. It has leaves that are bent, chewed, broken, and spotted. When we view them, we see them, sideways, foreshorten, 3/4 angled and even upside down. Few leaves are seen in their perfect pristine shape. Yet, somehow this is forgotten, when pencil hits paper.

My last post was about drawing 5 Petal flowers. (See it HERE.) Today, I want to put some stems and leaves with those flowers. This is the fun part. Now, you are making the stage for those beautiful flowers to shine.

I have drawn a flower and 2 buds and I am ready to add the Stems and Leaves.

With Pen (.05 Pigma) Pencil and Kneaded Eraser I am ready-to-roll.  

Drawing Leaves and Stems

1. Stems - using a pencil, draw a line emanating from the center of the flower. Stems aren’t straight, curve your line to make an interesting shape. Once you’re happy with it, make it wide enough to support your flower.

Once I have roughed in the Stems and Leaves, I am ready to put pen to paper

1. Leaves - Here is where you really begin to learn about leaves. How big are they? Are they near the flower or further down the stem? Are they attached to the stem in pairs? Larger than the flower or smaller? When I first started drawing leaves, I realized I had never really looked at them. It made me take a second look. At this point I rough in my leaves with a pencil. (And remember, similar in shape not perfectly the same)

2. Take your pen to paper and draw in the stems and leaves.

   

   Basics are Done - Now add the Fun Stuff. 

3. Embellishments: There are endless things that can be added to your flower. Here again I first use my pencil to draw some lines where I feel I want to add a shape. Then its time for vines, branches and twigs. Use them to balance your arrangement and bring in some dark values to set off your flowers. Let your pen work flow, making the leaves on these little branches, interesting, wondering in different directions and again, similar in shape not perfectly the same

   

   Adding patterns to get different textures and darks and lights

4. Finish with your pen. Don’t forget to add shadows to stems and branches.

   

   Those little Shadows and Darks make your flowers shine

I must admit, I love the black and white sketch but you’re welcome to paint them if you want.

Try a few more designs: more flowers, large and small. Try a more graphic type leaf. (see my video for more examples). Add your own twigs, grasses or branches to spice it up. You will find you are soon jumping in with your pen very confidently. BTW You will also find you have a greater understanding for drawing flowers and plants from life.

***Check out my YouTube video "New Ways to Add Stems and Leaves to your Flowers" for more ideas as to leaves and embellishments.

Enjoy your drawing.

Coming Up:

All inclusive 4 Day Outdoor Sketching Art Retreat,  June 21-24, 2024 - Includes travel from Lower Mainland, accommodations, instruction and lots of Fun. $500  Wendy will be the instructor and Retreat Hosted by Joanne Dennis.  Only a few spots left.  Register Here. 
Aventuras Artist Retreats with Joanne Dennis and Wendy Mould.

Outdoor Sketching 2.5hr Classes this summer 2024 - July & Aug. Dates to be Determined.  Contact Wendy to get updates as to times and places.  

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

Is Attending an Art Workshop like Riding A Rollercoaster? - Painting & Drawing Tips

This past week I was SUPER excited.  I was going to an Art Workshop.  You may think this a strange comment as I often go to workshops. But as a Teacher.  

This time I was a student!

Our Class Throwdown - Can you pick out Mine??

I am the program organizer for our art group and I arrange a special 2-day workshop each year. I don't usually go to the workshops but this year's instructor really caught my eye.  

Linda Bell, SFCA and her topic: Playing with Abstraction.  

You're surprised, I am sure.  Me, a realist, wildlife artist that loves to paint nature and all its elements.  What am I doing 'playing with abstraction' with dishes, and tables and vases. 

I found I really liked her work and I loved what she did with her colours, patterns and shapes.  She really grabbed the eye with her pieces and kept it in the frame.  I thought that there were things there I could learn.  And I felt with completely different subject material I would not be distracted by my usual detail. I felt I was ready for the challenge. 

Linda and some of her work in the background

When our supply list and handouts came, I could hardly wait to open the email. OMG!!! There was so much STUFF.  I didn't understand half of it: Mediums, Glazing Liquids, Open and Fluid Acrylics.  I deal in watercolour, pens and pencils.  This was way over my head!  

I felt like that Roller Coast had taken off without me firmly planted in my seat.  . . .  What have I done!!

Abstraction with collaging needs Lots of Stuff

Fortunately a friend talked me off the edge and I got over the first bump.  Although the Art Store, certainly benefited.  

First Day started. . .

Got set up, scribbled like mad while she explain how abstraction principles worked and then FROZE!!  

It seemed easy as she used words like: simplify, distort, flatten, fracture, exaggerate.  But now take a bird, a vase and a wine glass and draw 6 different ways of applying abstraction to them.  

Try it! . . .

It's hard if that is not your way of thinking.  One or two ways come to mind but 6.  This was a BIG BUMP on that rollercoaster.  My confidence was shaken.  Maybe this isn't fun.  Maybe this is not for me.  (Should I mention here that I have a problem with heights and riding any rollercoaster is scary) 

I am feeling like I have a Plan

We pressed on.  We sketched a few things.  We studied examples.  I felt better.  I began to see a way.  I had a plan.  I was good to go.  Definitely starting to enjoy the ride.  

I started painting.  

This was a bit of bumpy patch on that roller coaster ride.  I haven't much experience with acrylics and they didn't always want to do what my watercolours did.  I asked questions and moved along.  I expected trouble in this area.  I wasn't totally confident but I moved on.  

At first we started small and slow

Day 2, Thank heavens there is a DAY 2. . . .

When I got home after the first day I felt overwhelmed.  I could think of 100 better things I could have done with my painting.  I couldn't remember half of what she had told us.  I was tired.  

As I entered the classroom I could feel the surge of power in the room.  New energy.  New resolve.  Lots of Questions. The need to attack the problems was intense. 

Head down and focused - We were on the winning path

We all painted on.  Some new and some over the old.  We all seemed empowered.  Linda demoed a few more examples and ideas and we toiled on.  

By noon, I knew the Ride was nearly over.  

I felt confidence creeping in to my every stroke.  I knew I was ready for the BIGGEST Bumps at the end of ride.  Life was good again. 

My Flower Pot - Did you find mine in the Throwdown? 

Takeaways:

1. I don't know a thing about colour!!  When you paint from your imagination, there are no colours there.  I normally paint from life, so colours are suggested.  I can push and pull them but there is at lease a starting point. 

2. I can understand more how pattern, value and shape controls the movement. Even as you work with flat shapes, your mind tells you when more is needed and where.    

3.  I certainly understand more how My students feel, as they start new things in their art.  I need to be more conscience of not overwhelming, what is straight forward to me is not always to others.  

4. 2 Day workshops are Great.  Having that second day to go back and pull things together made a big difference to me and from my observations, to others as well.  Several years ago, I switched to 3 class packs for my lessons.  As the teacher, I found it more rewarding to teach something and then have time to practice and review with my students. 

5. It was like a holiday, spending a few days focused only on my art. Everything else slipped by the wayside.  Despite the challenges, when I was finished I was tired but somehow refreshed. 

My next Rollercoaster ride will be in April. I am off to Italy to study with Karen Stamper for a week.  We will be doing Urban Sketching but in an Abstracted Way.  Another big Challenge, I expect there will be a few big bumps on this ride as well.  

Coming Up:
Online Drawing Classes -  February 15, 22 & 29, 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.” Debbie

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, 

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 Tried Blenders with Your Pencil Drawings? - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you like the smooth sleek look of polished stone?  

It glows. It calls to be touched. It has a sense of rich, elegance. It's grace will dominate, over a bed of coarse gravel.  

It will POP!

YOUNG BALD EAGLE: ALERT & READY - Graphite $700
Can you feel the softness of his feathers and the rough surface of the stump?

At this point your are probably wondering how to get that STRONG Contrast of Textures in a Pencil Drawing. 

The Answer.  Blenders.  

*** NOTE: There is additional information on working with blenders with my YouTube video: 

Secrets of Blenders in Drawing

What are blenders?

There are lots of different types of blenders that are used in drawing.  The usual thing that comes to mind is a rolled wad of paper, compacted into a pencil shape - blending stumps.  They come in various widths.  And yes, they are very handy but there are many other kinds of blenders.   

Many things are Blenders!!

 My favourite Blenders: A Chamois, a soft #4 Round Paintbrush, a pointed rubber tipped colour shaper (size 0) , Q-tip, kneaded eraser and even a Kleenex can also work as blenders in your graphite drawing. 

To work with Blenders you need to think layers. . . . patience . . . 

How to use a blender?

Blenders are used in two different ways:

1.  Graphite is put on the drawing and then the blender is used to blend it.  This can be done in several layers to get a good dark blend.  Don't forget blending the graphite means some is lifted off so your first pass may not be dark enough.

Blending Graphite on Paper

Here I have put a dark line of Graphite (4B pencil) along the stem of the poppy.  Using the blender I will blend the graphite along the stem and brush it over to the right side of the stem to give it a lighter layer of graphite.  

2. Graphite is 'loaded' onto the blender and then applied to the paper.  In this case a layer of graphite is put on a separate piece of paper and then the blender is rubbed across it to pick up graphite.  This is then applied to the subject on the paper.  

Loading the blender with graphite

As you can see above, I am loading the graphite onto the blender and then work on the petals of the poppy. This will take more than one layer of blending depending on how dark the petal needs to be.  Here I need it dark closer to the center so more layers will be added there.  

Using a Brush to 'Finish Up'

Once I the petals are nearly done.   I use my paintbrush to add the final touches or to smooth the edges.  These changes will of course be more subtle, as the brush does not pick up as much graphite as the blending stumps nor can I press as hard on them to put graphite down.  

The Finished Poppy

Note the contrast between the petals and the dark band

I have finished the poppy with petals, stem, and leaves blended.  But the dark band at the left is not blended.  You can see the difference in texture.  The petals appear smooth and delicate. The band, not so much.  I feel that mixing the two textures makes for a good contrast that helps to enhance both of them.  What do you think?  

Any of the blenders can be used in this fashion.  It depends on how big an area to blend and how dark/light you want to make the area you are shading.  Once you start I am sure you will find a few more things to use as blenders.  I would love to hear about your favourite ones.  

*** NOTE: There is additional information on working with blenders with my YouTube video: 

Secrets of Blenders in Drawing

 Awesome Opportunity - 2 Artist Retreats in the Shuswap
June 23-26 or September 15-18, 2023

Join me for 4 DAYS of Outdoor Sketching, nature walks, deck and beach time, creative conversations, gourmet meals and simply relaxing 

Your Hosts, Joanne Denis and Myself
Cost: $450 single room or $300 shared room
Art instruction, transportation, meals and lodging included (Bring your own art supplies.  

Space is limited to 6-8 attendees, Register Early 

  Contact Wendy for More info

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

Getting the Proportions Right in Your Drawing - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you Struggle with the Proportion of things in your Drawings?

 Aren't you jealous of those Artists that just seem to draw things so quickly?  I sure was. 

 I hated using grid lines but I really struggled with getting the proportions right.  

California Poppies - Sketchbook Practise

I worked on my drawing skills at home.  Practicing everything the books said but things did not always work out.  In those days I worked from small photographs and so I was making my picture larger than the reference.  I tried grid lines once.  I must admit they turned out not too bad but erasing all those lines was a awful job.  The surface of my paper was in terrible shape for blending with my pencils.  I guess it is ok for painting but with pencil, not so good.  After lots of drawing practice, I found out what the secret was.  . . .

Getting the Proportions right in your Drawing is really all about TRAINING YOUR EYE, brain and hand to work together. 

This little California Poppy has a great upside down cone shape for its starting point

Let me show you some of things I learned as I draw this Poppy. 
***Special Note: There is a video version of this blog on my Youtube channel - Getting the Line Drawing Right and a FREE Downloadable Reference Picture of the Poppies so you can draw along with me.   

1. Gestural Lines:  Drawing a circle will help you place the flower on your page and set the size.  But now you need some solid direction.  

Strong lines can set the drawing up

2. Strong Lines: I look for strong lines within my subject to give me a starting point.  I can see that the outside shape of the poppy is like my salad bowl - angled sides with a base.  I use gestural lines to get that shape then go back and refined them.  It is important to have the angle right for the sides.  

3.  Tighten the rendering: For many things you can fix as you move through the drawing but getting your bowl shape correct is important at this point.  Once I am happy with the angles I look at the base of the bowl shape - how big should it be?  Comparing it with the left side of the bowl, I would say approx. 2.5 times the width of the bowl base gives me the length of the left side of the bowl.  The right side of the bowl is 'a bit more'.  Using this kind of vocabulary as you draw, makes you aware of the size of things.  Compare them to the parts that are already drawn.  

Use your Reference Points to add to the drawing

4.  First Petal: Now that you have your 'bowl' drawn everything relates to it.  The first petal is drawn using the site lines I have indicated above

Each petal builds from the last one

5.  Continue draw the petals: As you move away from the starting lines they are always providing guidance.  Use site lines to determine the placement and size of each new petal.  

Use Negative Space to Refine some lines

6.  Negative Space: As you move along you will find you need to refine a line or shape.  For the front petal the overlap can be easier to draw when you look at the negative shape (the overlap) rather than the positive shape of the petals.

  

Remember that starting shape was a strong line, not the exact shape

 7.  Editing the Starting Shape: When drawing the petal on the right it is time to go outside of the starting shape.  Remember the starting shape represented a strong line, but now it is time to tighten up the rending.  Part of it goes outside the line and part of it bends around the front petal.  

Adding stems, leaves and other flowers

8.  Adding other Elements: How big is the stem? the leaves? surrounding flowers?  These decisions are based on your first flower.  When you look at the stem of your reference picture, what is a similar size?  The Stem looks to be narrower than the overlap of the two petals above.  The leaves can now be drawn basing its size on the width of the stem.  The second flower will be smaller if behind the first or larger if in front.  Start with your initial circle and shape to set up the story you want to tell.  The further back the second flower is the smaller it will be and vice versa for being in front. 

 

Adding Some shadows to bring it to life 

9. Add Values and Colour:  You can leave your drawing as a line drawing or add values and colour to it.  I like to play around so I did both.  

I have found having little conversations with myself as I draw has heighten my awareness of the relationship of each element in my drawing.  This in turn makes for a more accurate drawing, one with good proportion.  Working this way you can make your drawing bigger or smaller than your original reference and of course it really helps you draw from life.  

***Special Note: There is a video version of this blog on my Youtube channel - Getting the Line Drawing Right and a FREE Downloadable Reference Picture of the Poppies so you can draw along with me.   

Special News: 

Show and Classes coming this November to
Landmark Pop-UP Gallery, 15140 North Bluff Rd, White Rock.  

Show: Nov 3-28, Wednesday - Sunday, 11-5pm 
Reception: Nov. 10, 6:30-8:30

Classes: Thursday, November 24 - 10-12:30pm.   Drawing with Wendy - $50 each, max 5.  

Values, Light & Shadows Bring Your Subject to Life – Thursday, Nov 24   Are your Values, Lights and Shadows making your subject full and vibrant?  Join Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM as she breaths life into a flat, outline drawing.

 Beginners to Advanced Welcome.  Contact Wendy to Register 

 Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)  North Langley, BC (Walnut Grove) 

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.  Contact Wendy for More info

2.  Online: Teaching, Mentoring or Critiquing Your Work - Don't live in the Fraser Valley,  I would be happy to tailor a program just for you online.  Drawing and Painting Lessons, Mentoring you on your Art Journey or Critiquing Your Work with an Eye to Move It Forward.  Drawing & Painting Lessons: 2-30 sessions $75.  Mentoring or Critiquing 30 minutes sessions $25.  Flexible schedule and sessions can be longer or shorter depending on your goals. 

3.  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, 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

4 Tips for Painting Mossy Rocks (Logs, trees, stumps . . .) - Painting and Drawing Tips

Green, fluffy, soft moss.  

Here on the West Coast of BC, moss is a very common element in any nature setting.  

Trees, stumps, rocks - everything eventually ends up with a mossy covering.  

It is a magical place in a moss covered forest.  All the sounds seem muted, the greens glow, whether there's sunlight or not.  And everything has a feeling of softness.  The lumps and bumps of branches and rocks are puffy and round.  A magical place.   

Very pleasing to the EYE. . .

However, very challenging to paint!! 

The problem is two fold.  Everything is green. And everything has a puffy, soft feel to it.  Those can be very challenging to paint.  

You definitely need to love to paint and draw the mossy covered trees, stumps, fences and logs in our forest. You need to enjoy playing with the greens and love the challenge of getting that puffy, thick look.  

Mossy Tree - You must admit, this looks like a fun thing to sketch

I love playing with 'Mossy Look" . . . .

I have found several secrets that give me success.  Give them a try and see if they can work for you.

4 Tips for Painting Mossy Rocks ( Logs, trees, stumps, well actually anything moss covered.)

My reference picture and my outline drawing of a mossy rock in the creek bed

Note: I have a video on this topic which is available here.  You can also download the Reference Picture and draw along with me.  The Mossy Rock Reference Picture is available here.  

1.  Edges

I always find that the Edges tell the story of the object. The Edges are your way of telling the eye that things are not all the same.

 As you can see on the drawing below, Areas 1 & 3 denote where the smooth rock changes into a lumpy surface.  Note there is a slight raised area where the two surfaces meet. This is key in telling the eye there is a change.  

Area 2 tells the eye that the edge is fringed and uneven, more evidence that the rock has something coating it.  

Mossy Rock with drawing points noted.

Area 4 and the other marks on the rock give a sense of depth to the surface.  Because Area 1 & 3 already told the eye it is not smooth, the eye is ready to accept that there is something on the rock. 

Area 5 provides contrast.  Here there are several rocks that are smooth, further suggesting that the big rock is different.  

2. Colour

Some of the Greens that I like to use

Creating great moss is more than just painting with green.  Above is my most common green mixes when in the field.  However, it is important to note that other colours are found in moss: yellows, rusts, oranges, browns are the most common. I like to use purples in my shadows and bits of red as well. 

Adding colour to my moss - it is more than just green

3. Texture

Creating different textures within your painting helps to suggest depth to your moss.  The slick smooth surface of the rocks suggest that my moss covered rock has a some kind of coating on it.  Using glazes to add layers of different colours to the moss also suggests depth.  The more layers there are the more puffy the moss appears.  

A Mossy Rock in the Creek Bed 

4. Shadows

The final touch is the shadows in the moss.  

Not the edges of the shadows - there is a hard edge and a soft edge

In the cross section above, note the shadows. To emphasis the puffy feeling the shadows need a hard edge and a soft edge.  This is an extension of No. 3 - Texture.  As you make those different layers look for that hard edge and blended soft edge. The more layers you have the more thick and fluffy it becomes.  

Have fun with your sketch - making that moss fluffy and thick is half the fun of painting our forests.  I found these tips have helped me deal with other types of drawings as well. ie. hair, fur, trees. . . .   Anything that I want to seem thick and fluffly.  

Note: I have a video on this topic which is available here.  You can also download the Reference Picture and draw along with me.  The Mossy Rock Reference Picture is available here.  

Next time you see a mossy covered rock, tree, . . .  grab your sketchbook, and give it a go.    

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 Quickly Disappearing !!

Next Sessions:  Wednesday, August 11  & Saturday, August 21

10am - 12:30pm 

Upcoming Dates: Wednesday  August 25 & Sept 1
Saturday, August 28 & Sept 4

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