Showing posts with label ink drawing flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ink drawing flowers. Show all posts

May 7, 2023

Do You have a Breakfast Studio? Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you have a breakfast studio?

Actually this is my Anytime Studio- Great for catching a Creative Moment 

A place where you can just sit back after you’ve had your morning coffee.  And just create for a few minutes before you start your day.  Or maybe a spot for a quiet coffee break.  A spot where you can just draw for a few minutes. 
(**See my Youtube video  Do You have an Anytime Sketchbook?  to see the whole book and more tips on using an Anytime Sketchbook) 

Black-eyed Susie's with some grass flowers. 

I do have a beautiful studio and I do go there and work for hours on end and forget about things but other times I want to just play around after breakfast. I’m not ready to get my day started.  When the sun shines, I like to enjoy working for a few minutes outside.   I guess really, instead of a calling it a breakfast studio I should call it my Anytime Studio.  Actually it is just a small sketchbook and pencil case. 

It doesn't take much to create - small pencil case, sketchbook & of course a coffee 

It’s here where I explore themes and ideas.  Fun sketches, different drawing styles, future projects and more.  I have several little books on the go. Sometimes I get a bit carried away, with too many different ones.  I think a few are beginning to think they are orphan books.   

Who knew Buttercup Leaves could be so interesting

Right now, I’m celebrating a special moment.  I finished my Flower Power Book.  (I think it was starting to feel like an orphan).   I started this book last spring to explore flowers using my pen.  I’d look for different ones everywhere I went.  I became obsessed with flowers.   Picking some flowers and weeds too,  to take home and draw.  I decided I wanted to have different flowers on each page.   

A Collection from my walk - Buttercups and grasses

Then I got all carried away and decided I should try different things with them in terms of shading, borders, patterns. As I said, carried away. 

Blackberry Flowers are not just for making Berries

It turned out to be an awesome experience.  I found out I knew nothing about flowers.  Not even my favourite ones.  I had no idea how many petals they had, what their leaves looked like, even the ration of petal size to the centers.  My observation skills are the pits. 

Blackberry Flowers can make a Fun Arrangement

I discovered how many could be broken down to a center with petals.  Once I understood the size ratio. I began to look at the flowers at different angles, and understand how to make the folds, curls, and bends in the petals.  It was exhilarating.  I was on a flow.   

Dandelions take on a whole New Life in a drawing

I  found my pen work improved.  My confidence in my mark making soared.  Sure I did some pretty detailed sketches in pencil at times but I did find that once I jumped to my pen I could relax and add a lot of embellishments.  The lines were just a guide. They weren’t something that I had to trace. I found I loved looking back at my work.  I started looking at my book as a reference and used the flowers in other parts of my life as sparkles on a notepaper or sketchbook.  

Ballet Girl Fuchsias - Every flower has its own Secrets!!

It’s been a very awesome experience.  I put together a video on Youtube video to share my book with you: Do You have an Anytime Sketchbook?  It has more tips on using an Anytime Sketchbook to keep your practice going. 

I hope it inspires you to jump in and start your own Anytime Sketchbook. 

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 (from Lower Mainland), meals and lodging included (Bring your own art supplies.  Space is limited to 8-10 attendees, Register Early 

Outdoor Sketching Classes - Dates are HERE!!

Outdoor Sketching Classes

Thursday, June 29, 10-12:30pm;  July 6 & 27, 10-12:30pm
  August 3 & 10, 10-12:30pm 

Experience the Joy of Sketching in Nature with Wendy . 
2.5 hr classes; located in Surrey Parks;  Beginner to Advanced Welcome. 
Class Size: Max 3  $55 per session 
 

Available for booking special outings for you and 1-2 of your friends. 
Gift Certificates Available.


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

Jun 22, 2022

Artist, do you Look without Seeing ANYTHING??? Painting & Drawing Tips

I love the flowers in our Neighbourhood.  
Many of my neighbours have lovely flowers, from Spring to Fall.  They really add a special sparkle to my walks.  

Some times it is just nice to Draw Flowers - Wild Roses 

But I realize now, I didn't really SEE THEM!! . . . 

As my regular reader are aware, one of my more recent blogs was "Why Collage Fodder is good for Watercolour Painters".  I talked about making collage fodder out of mushrooms.  It was a wonderful time for me.  I really enjoyed drawing and painting all different kinds of mushrooms. 

Which then led me to look at other fodder . . . .

Which led me to flowers. . .

You know what it is like when you start traveling down a trail on the internet.  But the flowers really excited me and I decided I wanted to make my own library of flowers. 

That's when I found out how blind I was  . . .

Lilies in a Garden 

Don't get me wrong.  I know my nature.  Well trees anyway.  Bark. Shrubs. Berry bushes. Ferns.  Moss. Even Mushrooms.  

(BTW you are welcome to join me for an Outdoor Sketching Class to sharpen your drawing and visual skills.  I take small groups out throughout the summer.  See more information at bottom of this post. ↓↓↓↓) 

But when it came to flowers I didn't know anything.  Even my favourite ones.  What, you wonder, do I mean.  I didn't know the number of petals. Petal Shapes. The centers, were they flat, large, small, sunken, did they have stamens.  Nothing.  

Picking a few flowers to draw has way more information than a photo 

Things are different now. . . .

Poor Max thinks I am a slacker, as I pause on our walks to check out flowers to add to my book.  Take a sample.  Snap a picture.  There seems to be a whole world out there I was missing.  

It is nice to see them from different angles

My focus is the drawing.  For most a basic circle starts me off.  Then focus on the ratio of center size to the whole flower.  Next fit the correct number of petals inside the circle.  

The Flowers come alive with shading and details


After that, I try to make the flower face different ways.  Moving the center around inside the circle helps.  
Started to play with little designs - Chamomile 

Once the shapes are good it times to add a few shadows and other details.  

These Poppies invited me to play with a bit of design. 

Before you know it - You're playing with design. Mixing flowers together.  Adding little extras.  Feeling pretty good. 
I bought a little book, 5.5 x 8, with thinner paper than I usually use so wouldn't be tempted to paint.  I just wanted to enjoy my ink work. And I am.  

My eyes are open now.  I am really seeing those flowers. . . .  
Walks are still little slow, as there are sooooooo many to see.  

Who knows, maybe you will get into 'the flower' mode too.  If you need some help, check out my classes below.  
  

Outdoor Sketching Classes - On Now!!

Outdoor Sketching Classes are 2.5 hr sessions and located in parks in North Surrey and North Langley.  Beginners to Advanced are Welcome.  Mediums supported: watercolour, pen, pencil, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils.  You can sign up to as many sessions as you like.  Class Size: Max 3.  $50 per session.  

Class Dates: 
July 7 & 28: 10-12:30pm
Aug 4 & 25: 10-12:30pm
Sept 1: 10-12:30pm 

Arrangements made for inclement weather.  
You are welcome to contact me for help in organizing your supplies for an Outing.  

 I am available for booking special outings for you and 1-2 of your friends. 

Gift Certificates are Available

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