Burnt Umber (oil paint)

Raw Umber

Working On Toned Paper

One of the most exciting feelings one can experience is trying new art supplies, that is if you are a creative person.  I recently received my order from Jackson's and am very pleased with the results.  I needed several graphite pencils since I enjoy sketching/drawing often.  The Bruynzeel set of 12 pencils ranging from 2H to 9B come in a beautiful tin box designed in collaboration with the Dutch National Museum to inspire artists reminding them of the old Masters.  The 12 scale value allows me to work in various key schemes.  I usually sketch using 3 graphite pencils with very contrasting values, hence I also ordered the Cretacolor (an Austrian manufacturer) graphite pencils in 9B and 4B as part of my most often used values.  They are available in a full range of 20 lead degrees and can be purchased separately each which is always great.  

Like me, if you enjoy working in various mediums, finding the right mixed media surface is a bit challenging.  I often find myself eager to paint in oils but reluctant to spend too much time and effort into surface preparation such as a panel or stretched canvas... For now, Clairefontaine Naturel gummed pad is the solution for me.  It is to be used with acrylic, gouache, pastel, ink, graphite and even a light wash of watercolour.  I of course went ahead and painted in oils. I tried to use thin but dry paint.  I really like the beautiful natural tan colour.  Starting in midtone, one can push the values in both directions (working lighter and darker)!  Overall it is a great surface for sketches and small studies.  No more excuses to postpone painting in oils!  :)

Below are some of my recent work based on vintage photographs and art.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am.  

Cottages

The sun feels warmer finally.  On this beautiful June morning, fresh scents of flowers and newly cut grass permeate the air.  Earlier this morning, while enjoying the stillness with a cup of tea at the open window in my room, I noticed a determined little bird flying back and forth carrying tiny twigs in its beak.  This reminded me of a few projects of my own that I should be working on very soon.

There are a couple of acrylic paintings to do for my client as well as a few personal projects.  Below are photos the client sent me of the painting I completed previously.  A black and white/neutral theme is chosen for this room which acts like a blank canvas to allow experimentation with a variety of colours as accent pieces.

At this point, I will take a break from blogging and YouTube in order to complete these projects, also to enjoy nature when possible and to read a few good books during these summer months.  I will of course read everyone's kind comments and respond.  I wish you all a happy and fun summer!

"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor - such is my idea of happiness."
-Leo Tolstoy

On Location

We had several days of beautiful weather here.  I enjoyed myself taking afternoon walks regularly.  A couple of days ago, I walked to this little spot; a place that warms the soul as well as pleases the eye.

I brought my sketchbook with me to draw this interesting tree trunk I had previously spotted.  I completed the drawing later at home.

The golden grass illuminated by the warmth of the sun made the shadow patterns cast by the trees appear cooler and darker.  This I thought would be a lot of fun to paint.

Fascinated by the shadows, my eyes scanned the ground to the side of a cinnamon-coloured tree trunk and up through the branches and leaves toward the soft blue sky.  With the birds singing sweetly and nothing but the trees for company, I closed my eyes and my attention shifted to the subtle sounds of the leaves telling each other secrets.  A gentle breeze soothed my senses and allowed me to remain lost in the moment a while longer.

Oak Trees

"Oh oak tree, how they have pruned you.  Now you stand odd and strangely shaped!  You were hacked a hundred times until you had nothing left but spite and will!

I am like you, so many insults and humiliations could not shatter my link with life.  and every day I raise my head beyond countless insults towards new light.  What in me was once gentle, sweet and tender this world has ridiculed to death.  But my true self cannot be murdered.  I am at peace and reconciled.  I grow new leaves with patience from branches hacked a hundred times.  In spite of all the pain and sorrow I am still in love with his mad, mad world."

-Hermann Hesse

Trees

At last the trees are budding and blooming here.  There are dandelions everywhere.  Soft green, pale pink and creamy yellow hues whisper spring melodies.  Some of the trees still in their elegant wintry beauty stretch out their branches toward the sky dancing in ecstasy.

For the next while, I will focus on drawing trees; certainly my favourite subject.  For my studies, I will use books of botany as reference from the library.  Also on a warm day, I may take my camera to take pictures of the trees in my neighbourhood to use as reference for my sketches.
It would be great to be able to identify various trees, as well as hopefully learn to better draw them based on their distinguishing characteristics.

my sister's garden in California

"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way.  Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all.  But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself."
-William Blake

Sketches Continued...

 "Birdsong brings relief to my longing.  I am just as ecstatic as they are, but with nothing to say."
-Rumi

Sketches and Scribbles

It is another overcast day; a gloomy sky with various shades of grey.  It is hard to tell what time it is.
It is also a perfect afternoon to add some colour to a grey toned paper, and so transform a dull and dreary day.


Below are a couple of sketches and scribbles as warm ups to enjoy and relax prior to the days of serious painting to come ahead.  I will be working on commissioned paintings; two large acrylic paintings for a bedroom and a living room.  I have accepted one for now.  I will start working on it in a week.  Until then, I will take the opportunity to unwind and reconnect with the creative spirit.

"Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time."

-Albert Camus

Happy Spring!

Wishing you all a wonderful spring season full of love and happiness! :)

A Challenge ... in so many ways!

To test my analytical and interpretation skills, I chose a beautiful oil painting from 1879 by Sir Frederic Leighton (an English painter and sculptor) for my study.

Since I worked with graphite pencils, examining the nuances in value became the priority.  To make it my own, I changed the facial features just slightly. I think it turned out ok.
I now have a better understanding of why Sir Leighton is Sir Leighton. :)

Realizing what could be achieved and what needed improvement, I called this one done.

Anticipating the arrival of spring, I will now take a break from portraits.  

Glasses And The Hat

It looks like I spoke a little too soon.  A regular visit to the optometrist, and a few days later … my very first prescription glasses!

At +0.75, it is very mild.  I will be using them only for reading and drawing.  I now have something to blame all my previous art failures on.  :)

I put them to the test and doing detailed work feels much more comfortable.

An Exchange

"Work in the invisible world at least as hard as you do in the visible."

-Rumi

Contact Information

My beautiful friends, I hope this message finds you well.  I believe there will be some changes due to Google+ shutdown.  Well, you know where to find me!  My YouTube channel and this blog will be here.  Also, my email is polarisbronte@yahoo.ca

Have a lovely day! :)

Strathmore Watercolor Journal - 400 Series

If you are an artist, you know how expensive art supplies can be.  We try to save money when possible.  However, using inferior quality products may lead to disappointing results.  Finding a good product that is also "budget friendly" is not always an easy task.

In this video I share with you my experience of painting and drawing on Strathmore 140 lb watercolor paper.

This journal (affiliate link) has 48 pages (counting both sides).  It measures 8.5 by 5.5 inches.  The slightly textured cold press white surface allows for even washes, as well as fine detail.  This allows me to work not only in watercolors, but use pens and graphite pencils as well.  The paper does not buckle and therefore I can use both sides of the paper.  The binding is strong.  The colors remain vibrant and lifting pigment is possible also.

Below is a mini (5.5 cm by 6 cm) watercolor value study done using burnt sienna.  My method involves mostly wet on dry painting with a minimal amount of wet on wet applications.   I was able to add enough detail to portray my subject as seen below.

I hope this information has been helpful.  Also, thank you for shopping through my affiliate link.

Portrait Drawing

I don't remember the last time I drew a portrait.  It is not my favourite subject to draw.  However, once in a while when I see a photo that I like, I do give it a try.

I saw a vintage photograph online a long time ago and had it on my computer to use as my drawing reference.  What I liked most about the photo was the elegant attire.  In terms of design, there is good contrast in values and variety in lines.

I used the grid method to do the initial contour drawing.  That is drawing a grid over the reference photo, and then one of equal ratio on my work surface (paper). 

Drawing from a reference photo is not difficult at all.  You just need to pay close attention to every detail.  You should not focus on drawing an eye for example, but on the change in value of abstract shapes!  

The border around the image measures 11 cm by 14 cm.  For the shading I used three pencils; 8H, 2H and 6B. 

I think I will continue working on drawing/painting portraits for a while.  

"Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence."

- Ovid