Covid #6 Challenge: A new Hue

 It's been fun to see your works and watch the different ways each of you have approached the challenge of creating tonal variations in Red. But now for a more tricky one:

YELLOW (3 ways)

Yellow can be difficult to work with as it is strongly affected by the addition of any other color. If you add too much blue or violet it turns green. If you add red it gets too orange. And then, if you add grey tones you can end up with a muddy olive color. When working with yellow it is important to understand that it is bright, light tone. Just about anything you add (except white) is going to darken and change the tone. So you need to start light, with your lightest yellows and only add darker tones in the final stages to create form and shadow.

To demonstrate I have prepared 3 drawings showing technique for 3 different mediums; Ink or Inktense or watercolor pencils, Prismacolor/waxed pencils, and just for DH, graphite over color.

Covid #6: Red continued...

 From KMcD a delightful observational drawing of red and green leaves observed on her daily walk. Rather than rewrite her details I will quote her:

'I added the green for some contrast but built up both colors with different colors.  For the red leaves, the subject leaves had a high orange color so I used middle chrome and orange chrome as the under colors.  I then used a combination of scarlet lake, crimson lake and rose madder lake, all Derwent pencils.  The shadow on the leaves was dark violet.  The green leaf was yellow and blue combined for base and then grass green and juniper green.  The branch was a combination of light to darker browns but I did wonder if I should have combined red and blue to make a brown.  It was really enjoyable to use the combinations as it really gave depth and tone.'  

This is a very good example of building up your tone and hues with layering different color pencils. Regarding the brown, I always do recommend you start with something other than a brown pencil, perhaps a gold ochre or the like. Most browns have a lot of black in them and can be a dead color to use but starting with yellows or red layers underneath can liven them up. Then some blues or violet over the brown layer in the shadows to make them pop.

'Red and Green Leaves' by KMcD

Covid #6: More Reds

 Great to see a few of you embracing these challenges. I hope more of my VAS and MMAG groups decide to join in - remember, drawing is like any skill; practice is essential. Practice, practice and more practice! I will be posting a new challenge on Wednesday so get your pencils out and start drawing!

JH has used Prismacolor pencils with layered technique to create this effective color pencil drawing of red grapes. She has used:
Prismacolor pencils: red grapes -cream, rosy beige, peach, rose, crimson red, black cherry and black grape
Purple grapes – blue violet lake, indigo blue, crimson red, black grape, black cherry
Stalks – cream, blue violet lake, indigo blue, yellow ochre, white
Shadows – blue violet lake, indigo blue, crimson lake, black cherry.

These combinations work well together creating a deep tonal range with good hue and saturation. Done in her visual diary the paper doesn't hold as much medium as a better paper and would have made layering and burnishing difficult. Its' the burnishing/rubbing with other pencils or a blending pencil that assists in creating a smooth and shiny result and visual diary paper cannot hold up to that treatment.

I fiddled with the white levels for you JH to bring up the white paper better. This helps to show of what a good drawing this is!

'Red Grapes' by JH

JMcG asked for all the worksheets and spent time exploring how to build up color and create depth and tone with layering and the use of complimentary colors for shadows. The homework she has done really shows in this excellent drawing of Red Chillis. JMcG hasn't specified what medium she has used, although she did say she tried using Inktense pencils for a different work she was not happy with. So not sure if this is color pencil or inktense - but either way it is a very successful drawing! I love how she has used the darker hues to create shadows and forms. Well done.

'Red Chilis' by JMcG

Finally, EM has outdone herself this week! Using Inktense pencils she has drawn this lovely rendering of a Royal Gala apple. Good attention to form and details. Plus, EM has taken 'steps' of her progress so you can all see how she created this excellent result!

EM, did you use white paint or gel pen for the highlights on the top of the apple?

'Royal Gala Apple' by EM

Covid #6: More works

 We have our first submission for Red! OLE was quick to take up the challenge and drew this striking,  stylized self portrait. Color pencils in crimson red, red-brown, red, brown, skin tone, white, light orange with tones added in HB pencil have been used to create an interesting and unique work.

'Red - self portrait' by OLE

And EM has drawn a Refraction work for us to view. She has used a medium outside her comfort zone - pastels - and it is good to see her stretching herself! These Lock Downs are a great opportunity to experiment with new things. She has used Mont Mart soft pastels and Eraldo di Paolo pastel paper for this. These are very much 'student' quality mediums,  I find Mont Mart pastels far too crumbly and dusty, but good enough to play around with!

I know EM loves detail work, so using the chunky MM pastels was a challenge for her. Her result is very good! The glass is nicely drawn, with dark shadow and white highlights, good ovals and transparency. The jonquils are outlined in blue creating deceptively simplistic shapes that work really well.

'Jonquils in pastel' by EM

Artist of the Week

One of my best friends and favorite Australian artists is Mignon Parker. Have a look at her beautiful works HERE. You can also follow her Instagram page for the most recent works.

Covid #6 Challenge: Hue

Good morning! Another beautiful day in Lock Down Melbourne - another challenge for you.

This week I would like you to consider HUE, i.e. color. We have looked at this previously but I would like you to review it once more. I have noticed that often some of my students, when looking to create a particular color, will search for the matching pencil/paint rather than consider building up layers to create the hue. This can create a flat, uninteresting subject. It can also then be more difficult to allow for depth in the shadows and lights in the highlights.

It is important to look at how the hues adjacent and complimentary to your desired color will affect your base hue. For example, to create a red tone with the greatest range of depth of hue you can build up from yellows, or orange, peach, rose, pink, magenta before applying the final red. You should also consider how to create shadow areas using purples, violets and blues. The color triangle study above shows how these hues can be blended. (Staedtler Mars Karat pencils washed) 

Some of you will have done the below exercise with me in class. If you have not done something similar with your colors I would encourage you to do so during this lockdown:

Note, this worksheet is available as a PDF,
please use the contact form right or gmail me to obtain a copy.
It was taken from a Pintrest page that I can no longer find so
cannot give correct attribution to the creator.

If you have done this sort of exercise before and understand the concepts of the color spectrum, mixing complimentary colors, color temperature, and blending these, then you can start with this week's challenge which is...

Something RED

That's right, draw anything you like in any medium you like, except it must have a red element to it. As well I expect to see the red tones built up from base hues like yellows, oranges, pinks before application of the final red pencil. To create shadows and dark tones I want to see use of violets, blues, purples, etc. Finally if you wish to use a grey or black for definition consider carefully how to apply it so you don't muddy up the red. Below are some examples to study.

'Rosehips' © Linda Weil

'Rosehips' created this week in my Nature Journal using Inktense pencils washed, with Adele black and green pens for emphasis and a white gel pen to enhance the highlights. The hips and leaves were built up from yellow. Then with the hips, orange, magenta was washed gently into the yellow, when dry reds were added and washed again, finally some darker violet included for depth. Leaves done in same process using progressively darker greens then indigo with final touches in green and black pen. While drawing this I realized one of the hips was the home of a small grub, so I included this resident in my drawing.

'Bing Cherries' © Linda Weil

Bing Cherries was drawn last year or so ago with Prismacolor pencils. Using the same layering techniques starting with light peach/pink through to the reds and finally purples and plum colours. Blending with each successive pencil - no stump or alcohol, but using the pencils to blend in layers. White pencil added to the top selectively to add some extra highlight. On Stonehenge 250gsm cream.

'Color Weil Red' © Linda Weil

Color Weil Red was done about 8-10 years ago using Carbethello Pastel Pencils on Art Spectrum Suede white paper. Similar use of yellow and pink before adding the reds. Note the use of blue to create shadows and depth.

'Blooms for Beth' © Linda Weil

Finally, a very old work, maybe done back around 1998 - 2000 or so. Staedtler Mars Karat color pencils worked dry in layers with graphite pencil for tone. On Fabriano 300gsm Hot press paper.

So, as you see, draw whatever takes your fancy, but it MUST include something red.

Have fun!

Covid #6: more refractions UPDATED

 Good morning all and welcome to day 205 of Melbourne Lockdown!

JMcG has been keeping busy and did not let the difficulty of either the lockdown or the #6 Challenge deter her from producing not one, but two refraction works! This is doubly (see what I did there?) impressive because JMcG is a new student this year and has not had the benefit of earlier in class instructions on perspective glass or color work. She deserves a big thumbs up for both these drawings.

👍

Her first work in graphite shows good observation of tonal variations to the glass and water, with highlights noted. Ovals are pretty good too - this is drawn from an angle looking down on the glass so the mouth of the glass is wide tapering down to a smaller bottom curve. I would suggest that JMcG watch small details like the pointed edge to the bottom curve right side as this should be rounder. But a great work overall, well done!

Refraction 1 in graphite by JMcG

In her second work JMcG has used her Inktense pencils and a fineliner to produce this excellent little color study. I really like how she has handled the tones and subtle hues of the water in the glass. Also the glass with it's unusual shape would have been tricky to draw but she has done this quite well. The top oval of the glass is a touch wonky, but overall it is a good rendering of the shape and tones done in a medium that can be unforgiving. 

The daffodil is lovely  - mine have yet to bloom and I am envious - the shape is well observed. JMcG was concerned that there seemed to be little refraction of the stem into the water. But this would be correct from the angle of view and from observation. Another good drawing!

Refraction 2 with Daffodil by JMcG

Further/later submissions 24/7

A nice color version from JH using Inktense pencils. Good work JH - The base has sharp ends, not quite rounded off enough, but works well. And the refraction is good.

Refraction 2 by JH

And two drawings exploring oval shapes from our previous weeks' challenge. They are nicely done by JMcG and I felt they were both worth showing. The mug is good work- just watch those pointy ends on the oval shapes, remember to keep them rounded. The decoration on the mug works well and I note you put it on after doing all the shapes and tones.

Breakfast Mug by JMcG

...and her second oval drawing is this yummy looking cake - good enough to eat!

Cake by JMcG

Important Note

If you have sent work to me and it has not appeared here make sure you are sending it to the correct gmail address posted to you previously. It is a little tricky and different spelling. If you have lost the address please use the contact form on the right of this page and I will be in touch with you asap.

Covid #6; Refraction drawings

 Well, I admit this challenge is a tricky one. Only two of you have attempted it so far, but I encourage the rest of you to give it a go. It is an interesting exercise in observation. Remember, if the pencil in the glass doesn't motivate you, try something else in the glass - like a spoon or brush or flower stem or the like.

JH has drawn a very good version, paying close attention to the shape of the glass, the perspective of the ovals and the effect of the refraction of the pencil through water. She asked me how to draw circles in perspective when the top of a glass is wider than the narrow center. Basically the same principle apply as outlined on THIS page from a previous blog post. To achieve this as technically correct, you must create a smaller 'box' or square within the outer box. This smaller box will have the same vertical axis and sides will recede to the same perspective vanishing point as the outer box. 

However, I generally find that if I get the outer box shape and largest perspective ovals correct, the narrower ovals can be 'eyeballed' to the right shapes. As JH has said she has done here - to a very good result! The top oval is perhaps a little warped on the front side, being rounder that the rear, but overall this is a good drawing and well observed. Nicely done JH!

Refraction by JH

KM has also drawn a good version of refraction in a glass. The ovals she has drawn are a big improvement over last weeks attempt. The top oval is a touch wonky, the back edge being rounder than the front edge - she has done it exactly opposite to JH above, lol. But the continuation of the oval shapes down the glass is very good. As she was observing the subject from a higher point than JH or my drawing, her pencil refraction is subtly different and angles off through three different planes, the pencil, the water surface and below the surface. Well noted KM!

The use of line, dark and white and minimal tones works very well, giving this glass a strongly graphic design feel. I also like how KM has switched the pencil about to have the point outside the glass, rather than in. An excellent drawing KM.  

Refraction by KM

Flight - Online Exhibition

 Just to let you know that Tacit has curated an online exhibition called FLIGHT to offset at least a small part of the lockdown. It has been posted on Facebook but will also feature on other social media platforms as well their our mailing list early next week.

I am thrilled to be included in this group show, and I hope you will drop in to see the works there: FLIGHT

Covid #6 another challenge

 Refraction

This weeks challenge builds on last week. You will need:
- a tall glass, preferably simple, not cut or beveled crystal. A clear beer glass works well.
- a pencil, brush, or similar long thin object
- water
-your chosen paper and graphite pencils (or charcoal pencils)

There are many different articles you can google about the physics of refractions if you want to study the math of it. But for our purposes we are going to use simple observation and rule of thumb measurements. 

Fill your glass with water about 3/4 way full. Place it on a white sheet of paper. Put your pencil into the water. Closely observe how the water refracts the appearance of the pencil. Look at the surface tension of the water pulling at the sides of the glass and around the pencil. Note any distortion to the pencil as the water and glass curves the appearance of the pencil. Now, remembering last week's exercise on curves and perspective, draw the glass with the pencil in it.

Refractions in a glass #1, ©Linda Weil

Second Refraction Challenge

Once you have done the simple (ha!) challenge above, why not do a more complex observation? Some suggestions:
- Use a cut crystal glass instead of smooth glass and drive yourself nuts with all the bevels
- Pour yourself a cocktail in a martini glass. Draw the olive with toothpick sticking out. Or the little umbrella. Drink the martini after. You deserve it!
- Put a straw into something like a half full bottle of soft drink 
- Use a spoon instead of a pencil 
- Go to the garden, cut a flower, put it in a glass and draw that in color inks.

Refractions in a glass #2, ©Linda Weil

More Covid #6 Challengers

 Good to see a few of you working on this! And if you have sent me examples of other works privately I will get around to answering you shortly, please be patient with me. 😁

KM says she was not in the class where we investigated drawing glass in perspective, so she has found this exercise a bit tricky. My apology KM, trying to work out how to draw ovals in a perspective box can be tricky if I cannot demonstrate and explain in person. If you remind me, when (and if) we ever get back to in-person classes I can go through this technique in more detail with you. But there is also THIS page that has a lot of information on it if you wish to try it on your own first. It gets quite complicated, but just look at the pictures and that will help.

So, KM has made a good attempt at her coffee cup without having had the benefit of my class on perspective. I like the attention paid to the coffee and the reflections inside the cup. As well she has observed the surface design well. However, the basic perspective of the circles is not correct and the result is that we are looking at a cup from two different angles. The top of the mug is almost an overhead view, whereas the bottom and handle are a front on view.

But it still works as a good cup drawing. In fact, I still like it and it is reminiscent of a Picasso sketch of a cup where he does almost the same thing, viewing it from different angles in one work: CUP

Cup by KM

Next time, if KM wanted to draw this cup and correct the viewpoint, the top of the mug oval should be less rounded, something like this (and the spiral lines would also reflect these ovals):

EM has enjoyed this challenge so much that she has made a second attempt! Once again she has chosen something difficult with lots of perspective ovals - her gym drink bottle. Unhappy with the height of her first attempt, she then did another. Both are well done, good observation drawings of a difficult subject. And I think if she had not have told me that the first was too squat, I would never have realized!

Gym Bottle #1 by EM

Gym bottle #2 by EM

Covid Challenge #6 continued

 That first cup always tastes the best...

... and it tastes even better when it is in that 'special' cup. I know I have a favorite, and so do a few of you!

DH's favorite is this mug created by his daughter for him in her pottery class. I want to commend DH for the care and attention he paid to understanding the perspective and ovals when drawing this cup. This particular mug looks simple, but is quite difficult to get right. You can see how exacting he was in his plan drawing:

Favorite Mug Planning drawing by DH

Once he had created the most exact shape he could, DH then concentrated on adding appropriate tone, and finally some of the surface detail. His addition of a personal note on the cup make this a delightful study. Well done DH!

My Coffee Cup by DH

JH also has a favorite mug, something that reminds her of happy memories of skiing in this beautiful resort. She admits her drawing is 'somewhat wonky', but also resisted the temptation to erase. And no rubbing out was one of the instructions, and that is difficult to adhere to! Yes, perhaps the mug has a bit of a lean to it, and the ovals are a little flattened out, but this is an honest attempt and a good drawing. The attention to tone, especially in the handle is quite good. Another well done to you JH.

Aspen Mug by JH

If you don't have a favorite cup, them maybe you have a favorite coffee shop! And this is what EM has drawn, a take away coffee cup from her local barista. So many ovals in this one EM! I can see you had a bit of trouble with the right hand side curve of the ovals. But your attention to detail is great, you have observed all the various ridges and indentations in the cap, even including the air hole piercing and the barista's drawn heart. I also like the recycle logo on the side of the cup as well as the prose you have added. I hope you show this to your barista - he/she will love it right back.

Sanity Coffee by EM

First #6 Challenger

 KB has taken up the new challenge with this delightful graphite drawing of a wobbly stack of tea cups - forlorn and gathering dust while they wait for visitor restrictions to end. Nicely drawn ovals - and it would have been tricky as they are all on different perspective lines. Well done KB!

Covid Cups by KB

 

Lockdown #6 Covid Challenge

 Here we go again! It's a bit of a merry-go-round, eh? But I hope you are all well and isolating and keeping well away from this dreadful disease.

Something that has helped me during these trying isolation periods is to remember to draw! I try and do something every week, a doodle, a page in my nature journal, a complete finished work, or a few sketches here for the blog for you to work on.

I hope some of you take on this challenge this week:

An Oval is just a Circle in Perspective

...Or, my morning cuppa...

I would like you to get back to some basics this time and review something we have done in class previously - ovals. Remember this?

How to draw a circle and ovals

And do your also remember how we drew wine glasses and investigated drawing them in perspective using ovals and perspective boxes?

Drawing the glass in perspective

Well, this week I'd like to see you draw that morning cup of hot drink. It can be a mug, a tea bowl, teacup and saucer or even a traveler sippy cup.  I'd like you to focus on getting the ovals correct and in perspective. Concentrate on the correct proportions and curves. A couple of points:

1. If you haven't done this before choose a simple straight sided cup or mug with no decoration.
2. About the decoration - leave that until last. Concentrate on the shape, form and tones of the cup first, then add any decoration over the top. This can help you avoid getting confused between the detail and the tones.
3. I suggest you lightly sketch the perspective boxes and ovals in blue pencil first before using your final medium.
4. Avoid erasing, use the blue pencil to make your first marks.
5. Make your final marks in what ever medium you wish. I have used graphite pencil, but use color if you wish, or charcoal, or paint or pastel or whatever.
6. Remember this is an exercise, not a test. Your result may look a little wonky but will have made an honest effort to understand the shape and form.

Simple mug sketch. Note how I started it in blue pencil as the one on the right.

Those of you who have had more experience may wish to try doing a more complex item like a teacup and saucer. Remember to put any decoration on last!

One more Souvenir Challenge

 I am a little late posting this one - DH sent it to me earlier in the week - but I have been caught up watching the Olympic Games. Did you see the Skateboarding!?!

But this drawing from DH is apt during these sporting times although this type of boxing is not an Olympic sport - yet. DH has sent me a well rendered i graphite work of two figurines of boy Muay Thai fighters. These cheesy little figures are a treasured gift from a Thai friend. DH has caught the action of the poses well. The shading is nicely done giving the rounded feel of ceramic. I would have liked to have seen a slight cast shadow under the work to 'ground' the boys. Overall a good drawing and not an easy subject to draw.

Muay Thai Fighters by DH

Spoons Reopens Friday, August 20

Tacit will continue the exhibition until August 28, hope to see you there!
More information HERE