Thursday, April 04, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

Tools of the trade ....



I use a number of different tools - mediums, in my sketchbooks and today I thought I'd share them with you.  In the above photo I was celebrating spring and used watercolor for the first page of this sketchbook.  If you don't go too heavy with the water it doesn't wrinkle the pages too much.


On these two pages I used my favorite Pilot pen.  I love this pen because of the shading capabilities when you moisten the ink with water.


Of coarse pencils, all sizes and degrees of hardness, are a favorite.


Here I used a couple of markers.  A black Sharpie and a cool gray Prismacolor marker.  Great for value sketches.


I don't use crayons as often as I'd like ... I seem to forget about them if they aren't sitting out where I can see them instead of tucked away in a drawer.

Also, I have forgotten to include photos of pastel pages.  I haven't use pastels very often, but I do have a few in my sketchbooks that I've sprayed with a fixative... not my favorite.

Don't limit yourself to only pencils ... other mediums make for some fun sketching also.
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On another note I wanted to share with you that I am still working at learning more about painting with oils and hope, before long, to share a few things I've been working on with emphases on values and composition.  I work slow but hopefully before too long I will post some work.


Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

Mug Shots from my sketchbooks ....

Seems like everyone is into Mug Shots lately.  So my way of participating is to share a few sketches of my mugs from my sketchbooks.  Sketching my coffee mugs is something I've always done and I'm sure its because there is always one near me.
Mug #1... a very feminine with dainty flowers on the octagon shaped mug.  
A fine strip of gold on the handle
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Same as mug #1 ... this was just tiny in my sketchbook, about an inch high.
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Mug #3 was a hand made mug.  I used it for years and just
recently passed it along to a friend and neighbor.
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Mug #4 is the same as mug #5.  Odd shaped but it was a favorite for years.
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Mug #5, Red mug.
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Mug #6 ... these are not my mugs / cups.  They were in a 
magazine andI thought they needed to be sketched. 

There you have it ... 6 mug shots from one sketchbook.
There are more in other sketchbooks but this is enough mugs for one day I think.

............
Have a great Easter week-end.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook

Assorted bottles & jars on my desk, 6" x 9" sketchbook, ©2013 Nancy Van Blaricom
These are a few bottles and a jar that were on my desk the morning of August 30th, 2012
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An assortment of my sketchbooks on the left & on the right some of my books on drawing.

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Today while out shopping I picked up a Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine.  It is a delightful issue with a couple of items on drawing.  I thought I'd share this page from the magazine ...

To draw does not mean simply to reproduce contours: drawing does not consist merely of line: drawing is also expression, the inner form, the plane, modeling.  
See what remains after that.
- Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780 - 1867)




Also in this same issue there is a four page article on Juliette Aristides & Sherrie McGraw. 

Both are fabulous artists and I'm thrilled to own both Sherrie McGraw's book The Language of Drawing as well as Juliette Aristrides book titled Lessons in Classical Drawing.



I hope you have a wonderful week-end and get out and do some sketching or drawing.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Studying Composition & Design ....

"In art, the terms design and composition are nearly synonymous.  By definition, design means to invent or conceive. Composition refers to the placement of forms, shapes, values and colors within a picture.  The distinction between the two terms is that design is the act, and composition is the result.  In short, you create a composition through the act of designing." ~ North Light 


Remember me telling you how I thought I should be focusing my attention on becoming a better artist?  Since writing that blog post I have been examining composition and design and I must say I'm really enjoying the research.

Some years ago I had done some reading about composition but I don't think a lot of it stayed with me.  What did stay with me I didn't consciously apply to any of my work ... if it was used it was more than likely not on purpose.  

McLane Cove, 5" x 7" oil on gessoed watercolor paper,
© 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

In my painting above I purposely tried to direct your attention to what I felt was the center of interest.  I have some strong diagonals that draw you into the picture plane. At the same time encompass  your interest by focusing on the significance of the clouds and the sky.

I like this painting much better in real life.   I seem to have trouble getting my whites and blues to photograph well.  And photoshop doesn't seem to help much.
  • Do you consciously apply your design knowledge to your work 
  • Or is it second nature to you now?  
  • What about thumbnails ... do you try out a couple of different scenarios in pencil before you commit to a design?

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday


:: Ellipse Studies ::


An ellipse is so difficult for me to draw and because of that you'll often see ellipse studies in my sketchbooks.  I usually have a cup of coffee around and it seems to call out to me to sketch the cup.



This photo above was a study .... I think I failed at this attempt.  I can't remember what book I was reading that suggested all these angle studies.


I was much more pleased with this study. Even then I'm not sure how much work like this I would be willing to do prior to putting the image of a cup on  my support.

I apologize for the poor quality of these photos.  I found that when sketching ellipses I tend to sketch lightly ... thinking I might be easier to erase I guess, but, I don't erase in my sketchbooks, so I'm not sure why I sketch ellipses so lightly.

Do you use your sketchbook to study how to draw some particular item?  Noses, faces, cups or maybe trees?  

Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday, or maybe Sunday?


Eye, aprox. 2" x 2" sketch on scrap paper, ©2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

I (eye) have been away and neglected to schedule last Friday's The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday.  I'm back now and promise to show up for next Friday's regular sketch blog entry.

Until then keep on sketching.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

Some times I get very brave and sketch something with a pen only.  Each item picked to be the only item (s) on the page of my sketchbook.  If it doesn't turn out I can always cover it with another piece of paper.


Sketchbook, ink & watercolor, Laundry Basket, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

Laundry basket with a touch of watercolor added for a shadow.


Sketchbook, ink & watercolor, Leaves, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

Fallen leaves from imagination.   Drawn bravely,  then some watercolor for a shadow and colors to emphasize the time of year.

Sketchbook, ink & watercolor, Tape Dispenser, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

A tape dispenser sitting on my desk.  

Sketchbook, ink & watercolor, Pears, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

Pears .... from a magazine. Kind of experimenting by not outlining each pear.

Be brave and try something you haven't tried before.  Your sketchbook is a great place to experiment.

                                                       

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

While looking through my sketchbooks I am amazed at how many times I've used them like a scrapbook ...

 Sketchbook scrapbook pages, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom 

On the two pages above I used a glue stick to enter two flier items we picked on a boat outing.  

  Sketchbook scrapbook pages, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom 

Probably from the same outing ... some receipts from a couple places we spent the night.


 Sketchbook scrapbook pages, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

 This is a little card that came with a beautiful gift from my friend ... I think if I wouldn't have put it in my sketchbook I would easily have forgotten it.  Below the card I wrote what was in the box ..., apples, candied cherries, mixed nuts, chocolate truffles...

After a few years the memories dim ... by using my sketchbooks as a scrapbook it helps refresh my memory.

What about you, do you use your sketchbooks as a scrapbook too?

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

From the Shores


While walking along the shore the other day I almost passed by this beautiful arrangement.  A feather, a mussel shell and some stones all gathered on top of a small fragment of  bark on the beach.

Isn't the color combination lovely ... the blues, the green, the browns and whites? To think  they just happened to end up together on the shore.  What a beautiful combination.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recently I've been thinking I need to focus on becoming a better artist. I have a few books I want to read and re-read, that inspire me to work more intently.  Familiar books like Robert Henri's The Art Spirit,  Composition by Arthur Wesley Dow and Oil Painting Techniques and Materials by Harold Speed.  

I find right now there is a lot of time that I spend very discouraged with my work.  I want to focus on one aspect of painting until I feel more comfortable in my work and that I'm growing as an artist.    

So, if I'm not around as much, you'll understand. 
Meanwhile, I will still post my regular Art of a Sketchbook - Fridays and  as I start feeling more skilled with the things I'll be learning I'll share this also.

I'm excited and looking forward to the work this will require.  Wish me luck.


Friday, February 15, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

Sketchbook Chronicle, graphite and watercolor, ©2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

While looking through my sketchbooks for something to share with you today I came upon this one entry that chronicles how I was feeling about losing a few pounds and gaining a few pounds ... adding different watercolors to different circled sentences. I see I only have this one entry of this type, but, looking at it now I like the way it looks.

This type of sketchbook entry isn't any help to something I wanted to paint, but, a lighter type journal entry.

This year I am going to try to focus on using a single sketchbook for one type of sketching I do.  One maybe for journal type sketching (like the above photo) and another for daily sketching, one for thumbnails, etc.  Mostly now I use one for everything until its full.

Saturday, February 09, 2013

❤ The BEET goes on ....

For February I wanted to paint something red for Valentines Day, but, not necessarily something with hearts or flowers. Hmmm, not ketchup, not a tomato or cherry (not in season) ... ahhh, I know, how about beets.  
                                                             The Beet Goes On, 6" x 6" oil on panel, © 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom


I don't paint a lot of still life's but I loved how pretty my beets looked in the yellow bowl.  After cropping the original photo I put it into Photoshop and pixilated it.  I think it might have made it easier for me to see some colors that might not have been as easy for me to see.  Always experimenting.

I love beets.  I love the way they taste and the way they look.  I   ❤ beets.

I think even Sonny and Cher like beets ... 
  the beet goes on, the beet goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain,
La de da de de, la de da de da





Friday, February 08, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

There are times in my sketchbooks when I focus on one subject like a new kayak and accessories.
Back in 2003 when I bought my Kayak and the weather wasn't nice enough for me to go outside it was fun to think about all the things that I had purchased to use when I did get to go kayaking.

This layout, where I drew each item and wrote something about it, is a fun way to tell a story in your sketchbook.  Have you tried this in your sketchbook?

Saturday, February 02, 2013

Summary of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

31 Oil Paintings in 30 Days, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

  • I like the variety of subjects I chose to paint.  Mostly outdoor scenes excepting the tube of paint, my ceramic bird  and a cement crab. I'm pleased with this because I want to focus mainly on land and seascapes.
  • I was pleased that when I painted water that it mostly looked like water and that isn't always easy to do ... especially when working faster than I like to work.
  • I painted more in one month than I have in some years.
  • I posted on my blog more in one month than I do usually in 6 months.
  • I did not like trying to finish one painting a day.  I'm not good at it.  I would prefer to start one painting and give it the attention I think it needs.... Which may be two days or one month.
  • I have always admired the daily painters.  They make it look so easy.  I love painting but I felt there was too much pressure to produce a painting a day.
  • If I were just painting without this challenge I probably wouldn't have posted 1/2 or more of these. Not that they are absolutely horrible, but, that I know I can do better with more planning and time.
  • When I had finished the 30 days and looked back I was surprised that I painted the number of animals I did.  Two cows, a peacock, a rooster, a crab a bear and a ceramic bird ... and mussels, which I'm not sure what category they fall under.  Definitely not a landscape!
  • If I were to do this over again I would go into it better prepared.  I'd have all my supports chosen and toned - supports for you non artists is the canvas, paper, board etc that you choose to put paint on. Usually I chose just before I started painting.
  • Also, I would pre-choose my subjects.  At the most I was one or two days ahead in thinking what I would paint next.
  • I think I've learned how to handle my brushes better and what brushes I enjoy using in most cases.
  • There are a couple of paintings I did that I will continue to work on and possibly come up with a finished painting I'm happy with.   And, there are a few that truly are studies for larger paintings.
  • And I have found some great new artist friends who's work I really admire.

Thanks to all of you who followed along on my 30 day painting journey. I loved hearing from you and appreciate that you took the time to email me or post comments.

Friday, February 01, 2013

The Art of a Sketchbook - Friday


One of the best uses of a sketchbook is to use it for thumbnails prior to a painting.  

Below I used my sketchbook when in a workshop to figure out a few ideas about values, colors etc.  I made sure and write down a few notes where the sun was coming from, where the light was hitting the trees etc.


 © 2012 Nancy Van Blaricom
After finishing the painting I realize I was pretty new at using my notes as well as I should have ... completely ignoring a few of them.  *wide-eyed in surprise ....  (don't think I even looked at a few of them).

 © 2012 Nancy Van Blaricom
The value sketch above was more of a drawing + value sketch.  Also notice I used part of the opposite page to work out some thoughts on colors.

Mountain Brook, 12" x 16" watercolor on Arches 140 lb. © 2012 Nancy Van Blaricom
I was happy to be able to find a few sketchbook pages to share with you where I had actually used the thumbnails to help me in some paintings.

Do you use your sketchbook to help you with a painting?  writing down colors, values, weather, what drew you to the scene to paint?

Thursday, January 31, 2013

#30 - Late Day - Study

Late Day, 8" x 6",Oil on Card Stock, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

If you've been following my blog you know that todays painting is the last one for the 30 day challenge.  I am hoping to write a summary of my experiences during the Challenge in the next day or so.  Until then you can expect my regular Art of a Sketchbook - Friday blog post tomorrow.

Thank you to all of you who were so encouraging during these 30 days.  It means a lot to have such support.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

#29 - Tender - Study

#29 - Tender - Study, Oil on canvas, © 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

Technically #30 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, but, since I was unable to paint one day I am going to call this one #29 and do one last one tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

#27, #28 & #29 - Sky Studies

Yesterday I was away from my studio all day and didn't get a chance to paint.  So this morning when I was wondering what I would paint and could I possibly paint two in one day I thought today might be a good day to attempt a tryptic.

I've always wanted to do a tryptic, but, never gave it enough thought to even decide on a subject.

Definition: A triptych is a series of three paintings intended to be displayed together. Triptychs were often used as an altar-piece in a church. Traditionally two of the panels were attached to the central one by hinges and folded over it, to show two different paintings on the back.

I have wanted to experiment with painting skies and today was a perfect time to 
paint a couple of them. Three in fact.

#27 - Sky Study, 8" x 6" oil on panel, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

The water doesn't look level in my photos but I think it was because I took the original photo where they were all side by side and just turned the camera instead of photogrphing each individually. 

#28 - Sky Study, 8" x 6" oil on panel, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom


All three panels were toned with yellow and allowed to dry I then painted the sky area all white. I wanted my sky to have some blue amongst the the clouds and started softly brushing some ultramarine blue in the middle of my white sky.


#29 - Sky Study, 8" x 6" oil on panel, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

Some areas I painted more blue in and some areas less.  Some areas I went back over with a little  more white to create more definition to my clouds.



#27, #28, #29 - Tryptic Sky Studies, each panel 8" x 6" oil, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

I was pretty happy with my experiment with not only cloudy skies, but with a tryptic. I think I might attempt this again with a more thought out land / seascape.

Since I wasn't able to paint yesterday I labeled these #27, #28, and #29, but, I will finish up the month with a painting a day ... its a challenge ya know.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

#26 - Fir - Study

Fir - Study, 8" x 6" oil on panel, © 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

I have painted this fir before only in watercolor.  I like seeing the reflection of the tree in the water. 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

#25 - The Cove - Study

The Cove - Study, Oil on Panel, © 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

I  see this cove every day on my walk.  There is always a boat anchored there sometimes two.

Friday, January 25, 2013

#24 - Grazing - Study






Grazing - Study, 6" x 8" oil on panel, @ 2013, Nancy Van Blaricom

Another cow painting.  I have a few cow photographs from about 8 years ago.  Now I wish I would have taken some close-up photos.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Art of a Sketchbook - Friday

Did you notice ... I've changed the regular Art of the Sketchbook blog posts to now read the "Art of the Sketchbook - Friday"?  I was just thinking it may make it easier for those of you who regularly read my blog or those who only want to read about my sketching.

Sketchbook '96, waiting room, © 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

 Today I am posting a few pages of a sketch book I started back in 1996 ... I was in a waiting room at a doctors office and happened to have this particular sketchbook with me.  I always liked this sketchbook because it was hardbound and had a dust jacket.  No one around you knew it was a sketchbook.

Sketchbook '96, waiting room #2, © 2013 Nancy Van Blaricom

 It was the holiday time of year 12-14-01 and I can remember it well, the woman with short hair in the left of the sketch had brought  in her mother who was in a wheelchair for X-rays.  She looked exhausted and the string of christmas lights on the wall behind the cubical just didn't match her feelings.

The first photo is the woman's shoes as she was standing beside the wheel chair.


Here are two of my sketchbooks ... the one on top, with the blue dust jacket, is the old one I took the sketches out of this Friday.

Keep a sketchbook with you at all times, you never know when you'll get a spare moment to record something from your day.

Happy sketching ....