There has to be something countering acts of destruction with acts of creation. Gates
Back in the Studio!
It is so rewarding to be back in the studio with students.
This little community centered around Picket Fence Art Studio completes the well-roundness of my creative life.
And we need this. We all need time to create and refresh, now more than ever. And I need it.
I wanted to share some step-by-step directions for those of you who cannot attend an in-person class. Send me pics if you complete the project.
Stay well, and stay creative!
Jamie
Working on tinted paper, use charcoal and follow these steps to create a value drawing:
- Use tinted paper and draw big rough shapes. Check accuracy with:
- Negative Space
- Horizontal Lines
- Symmetry
- Diagonals
- Verticals
- Lightly apply vine charcoal to the entire drawing – holding the vine charcoal on its side color over the whole drawing.
- Create a 2-value drawing -squint and erase all large light areas.
- Squint and color in darkest darks.
- Adjust middle values drawing into the image using your kneaded eraser. Readjust the lights and darks as you work on the middle values.
- Pick your focal point and emphasize with higher contrast, sharper edges, and more detail.
- Lastly, apply the highlights (lightest lights) with white Conte crayon. Note that highlights will follow the form of the object.
You can purchase all of the supplies you need for this project on Amazon at the following links:
- Vine Charcoal
- Compressed Charcoal
- Kneaded Eraser
- Conte Crayon – White
- Canson Drawing Pad – I LOVE this paper.
- Workable Fixatif Spray
As our summer trip to Desolation Sound was coming to an end, we made a quick run to Refuge Cove for ice and wine. We then went through the Hole-in-the-Wall towards Octopus Island for one last summer night with the Flotilla. It was so incredibly hot, and the water was so so so cold.
Hunter took Alex and me for a long dingy ride to cool off from the heat and to collect some driftwood. We always enjoy our conversations.
Each boat in the flotilla spent the afternoon decorating pieces of driftwood with memories of summer in Desolation Sound. I painted a picture of our ship on the driftwood, and we all signed it.
Early evening we gathered at the secret cabin to hang our talisman and, of course, have some wine and appetizers. I would tell you where it is, but it is a secret.
As the sun was setting, we all dinged back to our boats for dinner.
The boat lights illuminated the undersea activity as we enjoyed one last night of cocktails and very vivid conversation. And lots of laughter.