sip n paints
So you think you're not an artist.
Everyone has a need to be creative, and you can have fun doing it. And I can show you how with a sip n paint session.
I work in watercolor.
Translucent means it lets light shine through. The white of the paper is your "white paint".
Your painting should not look like a photo. If you want it to, get out your camera and take a photo. You are an artist interpreting your subject with art. However, you will use photo or live REFERENCE to make sure your pony doesn't look like an armadillo.
Paper should be about 100 lb or more. I use vellum bristol. It has a nice eggshell finish without too much texture or being too shiny-smooth.
Brushes should be nylon or taklon. Natural hair brushes are limp, floppy and the bristles fall out.... unless it's a fifty dollar brush.
You'll need a drawing board: could be one from the arts n crafts store, or a cookie sheet, or go to the hardware store, buy a piece of masonite, have them carve it up into various sizes, and you have a bunch of options. Drawing board has to be stiff, not cardboard or something that bends when wet.
Also: masking tape, sponges, sponge brushes, toothbrushes, water containers, palette. The pallette can be one of those round things with spaces to mix paint or a plastic plate.
For more, check my watercolor page: http://www.swordwhale.com/watercolor-how-to.html
Meanwhile, here are some pieces to start with...
Everyone has a need to be creative, and you can have fun doing it. And I can show you how with a sip n paint session.
I work in watercolor.
- easy
- cheap
- simple
- fast
Translucent means it lets light shine through. The white of the paper is your "white paint".
Your painting should not look like a photo. If you want it to, get out your camera and take a photo. You are an artist interpreting your subject with art. However, you will use photo or live REFERENCE to make sure your pony doesn't look like an armadillo.
Paper should be about 100 lb or more. I use vellum bristol. It has a nice eggshell finish without too much texture or being too shiny-smooth.
Brushes should be nylon or taklon. Natural hair brushes are limp, floppy and the bristles fall out.... unless it's a fifty dollar brush.
You'll need a drawing board: could be one from the arts n crafts store, or a cookie sheet, or go to the hardware store, buy a piece of masonite, have them carve it up into various sizes, and you have a bunch of options. Drawing board has to be stiff, not cardboard or something that bends when wet.
Also: masking tape, sponges, sponge brushes, toothbrushes, water containers, palette. The pallette can be one of those round things with spaces to mix paint or a plastic plate.
For more, check my watercolor page: http://www.swordwhale.com/watercolor-how-to.html
Meanwhile, here are some pieces to start with...
I shot a photo of Thetis on a trail on Assateague Island VA. She's one of the famous Chincoteague ponies.
For a class, I can rough in her head shape, or you can try to draw it (it's basically two triangles). The background is some vertical lines for the trees, and a lot of "splotting" with a chewed up old brush for the leaves, leaving enough white showing through (don't kill your light). Not a watercolor purist: I use some Prismacolor pencil line to define some edges and deepen some shadows. You do NOT use white paint except in tiny amounts at the end to put back in some lights you lost. You do NOT mix white paint with the watercolor, you'll get a chalky mess. You also do NOT mix black with colors, you'll deaden them.
burnt sienna...ultramarine blue... yellow... prussian blue
you can add burnt umber
For a class, I can rough in her head shape, or you can try to draw it (it's basically two triangles). The background is some vertical lines for the trees, and a lot of "splotting" with a chewed up old brush for the leaves, leaving enough white showing through (don't kill your light). Not a watercolor purist: I use some Prismacolor pencil line to define some edges and deepen some shadows. You do NOT use white paint except in tiny amounts at the end to put back in some lights you lost. You do NOT mix white paint with the watercolor, you'll get a chalky mess. You also do NOT mix black with colors, you'll deaden them.
burnt sienna...ultramarine blue... yellow... prussian blue
you can add burnt umber
Assateague Dawn
I got up before the crack of dawn to catch the sun rising out of the sea at Assateague Island.
The sky is basic washes, leaving a hole for the sun, or lifting it with a wet brush.
We sketch roughly where the waves are, then make a lot of blue brushstrokes, leaving the white...and painting a little back in later.
Ultramarine blue... prussian blue... alizarin crimson... scarlet or vermillion...burnt sienna
I got up before the crack of dawn to catch the sun rising out of the sea at Assateague Island.
The sky is basic washes, leaving a hole for the sun, or lifting it with a wet brush.
We sketch roughly where the waves are, then make a lot of blue brushstrokes, leaving the white...and painting a little back in later.
Ultramarine blue... prussian blue... alizarin crimson... scarlet or vermillion...burnt sienna
Not sure where I got this pic of a great egret in a tree, they're a ubiquitous sight kayaking and at Assateague.
The bird is basic shapes, but those who feel sketch impaired can have me rough it out for them.
The background is basic spatter or splotting with a chewed up brush, or a sponge can be used. Or all of them!
Going back in with a tiny brush and some opaque white helps clean up the edges.
ultramarine blue... prussian blue... burnt sienna (or umber)... yellow
The bird is basic shapes, but those who feel sketch impaired can have me rough it out for them.
The background is basic spatter or splotting with a chewed up brush, or a sponge can be used. Or all of them!
Going back in with a tiny brush and some opaque white helps clean up the edges.
ultramarine blue... prussian blue... burnt sienna (or umber)... yellow
Surf
Don't be afraid of the surf, it's a bit of blue wash for the sky, lifting out the clouds with a wet brush, and some spatter for the water.
burnt sienna (or umber)... prussian blue... ultramarine blue.
Don't be afraid of the surf, it's a bit of blue wash for the sky, lifting out the clouds with a wet brush, and some spatter for the water.
burnt sienna (or umber)... prussian blue... ultramarine blue.
I think my Assateague Light may be leaning just a wee bit. I'll help you get yours straighter by use of center lines. No perspective here, just a head on view of this classic eastern shore lighthouse.
Some blue scribbled in with a brush for the sky (leaving the white for the clouds), and splotting with an old brush for the leaves. And just a little shadow on the left side of the buildings.
ultramarine blue... prussian blue... burnt sienna...vermillion or scarlet... alizarin crimson... yellow
Some blue scribbled in with a brush for the sky (leaving the white for the clouds), and splotting with an old brush for the leaves. And just a little shadow on the left side of the buildings.
ultramarine blue... prussian blue... burnt sienna...vermillion or scarlet... alizarin crimson... yellow
The Moon Pine was shot from my yard.
This is a simple blue wash, with the leaf shapes scribbled over it with a brush. Little pointy brush or pencil for vines and twigs.
Ultramarine blue...yellow...burnt umber or sienna... you can also create these dark greens with burnt sienna and prussian blue.
This is a simple blue wash, with the leaf shapes scribbled over it with a brush. Little pointy brush or pencil for vines and twigs.
Ultramarine blue...yellow...burnt umber or sienna... you can also create these dark greens with burnt sienna and prussian blue.
Some other photos that would make good practice...
Remember, the trick is to simplify what you're looking at, break it down into sections and basic shapes.
Hopefully you can come to one of my classes. Follow my facebook to find out when and where.
https://www.facebook.com/swordwhale
Hopefully you can come to one of my classes. Follow my facebook to find out when and where.
https://www.facebook.com/swordwhale
