Fabriano paper

Here's some guidance notes as to how I went about 

this recent painting

I painted this watercolour which measures 12" x 9".  Firstly, let me say that this is on Rough Fabriano Artistico 140lb paper.  It handles the wet-into-wet and is such a lovely technique don't you think!

Wetting the paper firstly with clear water and then, having already mixed my sky wash (French Ultramarine Blue) I dropped the paint into the dampened paper...ahhhh Bliss.  I worked my way down the sheet in a similar fashion, doing only the background ~ waited until it had all COMPLETELY DRIED before I painted William, with a mix of French Ultramarine Blue+Burnt Sienna (for those who are not aware, William is a Lurcher Sighthound)

Having completed the painting, I walked away for an hour or so, then came back to see if anything needed 'tweaking' - Fresh Eyes make it possible to spot adjustments.  Happy Painting everyone.

🎨🎨🎨

Oh my...didn't realise it's been so long since I last added any posts here!!!

So, just in case anyone still stops by

here's something about one of my favourite sketchbooks

the

CONCERTINA

I have bought the last couple of sketchbooks via Amazon, 

although

Seawhite of Brighton
have their own website

(I've actually visited their shop, they have loads of stuff there)

The concertina sketchbooks have good quality paper the take watercolour well.

When you have completed one side,

you simple turn it around and go the other way.

Now, there's an interesting thing.  When you turn the book and go back filling a new side, you aren't painting on the Back of the previous drawings....the pages in the sketchbook are Double sided, which helps prevent any marker pens bleeding through your previous drawing (marker pens tend to do that sometimes, so be aware).

Here's the book opened out

A useful tip, when you start using your book

1.   Mark it on the front with a small symbol

otherwise, each time you go to use it, you will be turning it around and around trying to find the start of it.  By adding a mark, you never have to waste time again and it makes life so much easier.  I'm all about that aren't you?

(I just put a squiggly line on this one)

2. I've added a short video showing when one side of the sketchbook is filled

and then start on the other side.

 ~ Hope you found this a help ~

Using a Khadi Paper sketchbook

The thing with sketchbooks, is you need good paper.  It really does make all the difference to a decent sketch.  So you can image how challenging a Khadi-paper  sketchbook can be.  Not only is the paper roughly textured, but it swallows up watercolour like there is no tomorrow!

However, there is always a Solution 

and for this sketchbook I prepared some pages with gesso.

This will enable me to use acrylics for sketching ideas.

Prep with grey gesso and below

white/burnt sienna mix

As the gesso dries permanent, this makes it an ideal surface for acrylic paints -

of course, you could also prepare the pages with White gesso, I just chose not to.

Not all pages are gessoed though.

I have also painted directly on the white pages with acrylics -

 rough 'blocking in' idea for a future painting.

They remind me where I want to go with a large canvas.

This sketchbook is proving to be worth its weight in gold.

🎨🎨🎨

Starting a sketch

Sketching a subject that may seem complicated,

can actually be split down into simple lines.

As with this painting of William in the sea.

Here's my initial outline, I kept it Simple

then outlined William with ink pen

and then added watercolour

As you see, it is a simple sketch.

With the sea, I put on one layer of watercolour and waited for that to dry,

then added a slightly darker tone - again waited for that to dry 

and finally a few dabs of much darker blue.

~~~~~~~~

Stop and sketch

I had a little time to spare in town the other day, so decided to stop for  coffee.  That gave me a chance to OBSERVE people...and get some quick sketches done.  Certainly focuses the hand eye co-ordination when people constantly move AND move quickly.  You just have to go for it.  If you don't achieve the sketch, then be happy with what you have on paper, but try to REMEMBER  the person, then very often you can complete the sketch.

My sketch below was just the initial outline, enough information on shape and angle.  As the two people I had decided to capture, were still at their table, it gave me time to put in more detail.

However, if they had moved away, my initial sketch was enough for me to go from that and get at least something reasonable.

So with the extra detail - then watercolour added when I got home - here's my completed drawing 

Where I originally put the first figures, is where they remained, I built up the rest of the sketch from them.

🎨 🎨 🎨

Blocking in Shapes

Wow!!!   I took a break from adding Tips and Techniques  - Hadn't realised it was so long...

~~~

It can get rather confusing when you are faced with drawing something busy ~

like this scene

Don't get caught up in DETAIL,

to begin with ONLY LOOK FOR THE BIG SHAPES

When you have the Block shapes in place,
you can THEN go in with the Detail.