A couple of iterations of the pattern I just drew…. Now how do I get them printed off as scarves? Do I have to save them in Cyan colours?
Any info would be helpful. X
Scarf designs
Tag: Art
Ink and glitter
Thinking about making backgrounds, I tried using some green sparkly ink. It’s meant to spray out, but the spray nozzle won’t work, so I unscrewed the top and dragged the ink in lines with the plastic tube that dips into the ink. Then I added some black ink lines. Finally I used a gold, round glitter stamp. Of course I had forgotten to clean it from last time I used it, so it didn’t work as well as I wanted.
I don’t know what I could use this for. It looks a bit like trellis work in a garden so I might try adding images of flowers? Maybe in an analogue way or digitally. It could also be used for a screen print for perhaps a silk scarf?
Online lecture
Just watched a lecture by one of our fellow students. It was fascinating to watch. About watercolour and ink and how to use it. She showed us how to use salt and also cling film to add texture, masking fluid to preserve white areas and glue mixed with paint and ink to created textured backgrounds. I will certainly have a go at using some of them.
She also showed us her sketchbooks, she mainly does abstract work, but also does realistic work, (she showed us a lovely painting of a friends dog). It’s great that students are adding to the teaching experience at college….
Windowsill
Todays #bandofsketchers picture, watercolour sketch of my windowsill…
The cat has her own cat tree because the window sill is covered in glass, geodes, metal sculptural objects and more. I can’t show them all as the cat tree is in the way…. The cat loves sitting there as it’s right over the radiator. I think the diagonals sort of have a flattening, almost japanese woodblock effect? Anyway it was nice to do something in watercolours for a change. I just used a bit of metallic gold and silver marker pen to highlight some of the objects.
Old crow
Its odd what comes into my mind to paint. This again was a few years ago and a tiny painting, acrylic on a small canvas. I think this was a crow. They are such characters, intelligent and cheeky, known to use tools. They are part of the Corvid family, which includes Ravens and Rooks I think? All of them have the same clever characteristics.
This was another one of the small paintings I did to sell at craft fairs and it was sold. I think to a lady who als bought a small painting of a skull…..
Cans, prompt
Today’s challenge was to draw cans for today’s #bandofsketchers challenge. Turns out a lot of things in my store cupboard was mainly coloured red. This was mostly coloured in with a watercolour pen that certainly zings. I’m not sure these are the actual colours, I was trying to take a photo in between bright sunshine and deep shade. The resulting photo was too dark so I had to adjust the exposure a bit to brighten it without making the red overwhelming, too be honest I still think it’s a bit bright.
Foxy painting
This was a tiny painting I did three years ago soon after I got my studio at Spode. I paint small pictures so that if people don’t have wall space for anything large they could still have something, and not expensive. This was about 1″ by 2″, it was sold at a craft fair (remember the heady days when people could go out and cram into a place full of lovely crafts and art?). Maybe, one day, I can do a few more.
Vanishing point exercise
If you are learning to draw have you tried drawing vanishing points yet? If you draw a horizontal line along the middle of a piece of A4 paper you can work out how to do three dimensional objects. Draw a dot somewhere along that line. Use a ruler and draw lines radiating from it. Then draw vertical lines up or down to them. Instant buildings in perspective. You can even use more than one vanishing point. For curved objects like a can or a glass it gives you a clue on how to draw curves and what direction they will be in. Generally upwards if you are looking from below the rim of a can and downwards if from above. It all depends on your eye level. The horizontal line in this exercise represents that. But it’s your choice. The line can be higher or lower (think of the view for a child, closer to the ground, or someone at the top of a bus!)
I used to also have fun drawing boxes with this, or alien buildings, or anything, I tried it with a horse once! You can use soft pencil to draw in the lines so you can erase them later, or use to mark out an object before you start a painting. It helps you sort out all types of things, including portraits or figures. Just play about with it.
I only suggested A4 as that gives you plenty of room…. You can use any size or type of paper.
Cat work in progress
Looking through my photos of small paintings with gold leaf, I found this of my girl cat. I think I was about half way through this painting. I used the gold leaf to emphasise her eyes and the cushion behind her. I know I have a bit left over. I was not very good at attaching the gold leaf, its hard to stop it wrinkling and breaking up, but I would say its fun to use and have a go if you fancy it.
Digital editing
The first picture was drawn in ArtRage oils. The second was edited in Photodirector. Take your pick of which you prefer. I’ve changed the texture and colours in the second one. I’ve also added an overlay of grunge and some extra texture using a couple of the filters. I think although they are both digital, the first looks more painterly, the second more stylised, like a print. I could imagine both of them being used as editorial images as illustrations for a written presentation about horses? All the time I’m trying to improve my drawing and art skills….
Mallaband-Brown 