Tag: sketchbook
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Mixing Blacks
When I am painting I really try to focus on value, and I have mentioned before different ways of analysing values as I am working. My favourite way is using my small rectangle of red perspex to view my painting as I am working. It’s simple, and instant. Once I started focusing on values, and…
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Painting Tools and Collage Fodder
I ended up with only a short amount of time for art today, and I decided I wanted to give my portrait a rest, and have some space from it, before going in to hopefully finish. Instead I did some simple play in my old sketchbook, not really trying to create anything, just moving paint…
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Art Journal Progress
I have this A5 journal that I have been playing with for months. The project started with sessions of random mark-making, stencilling, stamping, scribbling, and whatever came to hand, until every page was no longer blank. In the meantime I have also used up excess paint, written in phrases, and occasionally worked a spread to…
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Sketching Ideas
Today I had another not-good day. It seems the festive season has gifted me with a sharp lurch into the next phase of perimenopause, and by fuck is it a complete and utter bastard. I did manage to spend some hot sweaty time in my sketchbook marvelling at how hot and sweaty I am as…
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Odd Day Old Sketchbook New Paper
I am still looking at this sketchbook absolutely willing it to be finished, it’s been a looooong time. Another page filled, tho. This was a non-dominant hand contour drawing with no reference, painted using my colour mix. I hated the whole thing, then dry-brushed a bit of white gesso over the top, redid some of…
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Look Up
I used my jumbo retractable pencil with the 5B lead for this one, and played with the reference a little. After the art, I went for a 5 mile walk, and while we were out, felt the weather change and get colder, which it hasn’t been this week, it has been far too warm for…
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Pondering
Contemplating the idea of a daily sketch as I have a tendency to forget about the joys of dry media. Pondering the new year, which comes after Hogmanay, and the Word of the Year, which is going to be a phrase it seems. I have definitely entered the end of year twilight zone where I…
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Xmas Sketch
Hope you have had a good day if you are celebrating, and if you aren’t celebrating, I hope the same. I got a sketchbook among my gifts, so what better way to keep the streak going than to test it out with a quick wee portrait. I also got a guillotine, so let’s herald a…
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Live Sitter
Oil painting again today, this time a bit of fun with a live sitter. Forty-five minutes, and if you turn it upside down, there’s even a likeness. It’s a long time since I’ve done any figure drawing or portraiture with a live sitter, and you can’t tape them to the drawing board in the usual…
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Painting Saves the Mood
I had all sorts of plans for today, and a meticulous To Do List, and I was fired up and ready to conquer life, the universe and everything. The first item on my list was try, again, to contact the retailer who sent me two canvases with rips in the middle of them, which I…
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One Hour Portrait
Lots of painting and pottering in the studio room today, a very satisfying day. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and set a timer for one hour with the challenge of doing a portrait study in oils. This is not something I have any practise in, but I figure if I can enjoy…
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Sponge Brush Portrait
I’m still playing with this reference from Unsplash that I like, and today I was playing with one of the paint colours I mixed the other day and a sponge brush. I’m really enjoying the sponge brushes just now. I also spent a lot of time trying to organise collage fodder, gel prints, and all…