Natural symbols

[ChrissyMarie]

Originally Posted by loripo

Hi ChrissyMarie - I very much like the distant trees in your Sunset w/colour and the wind effect across the grass...

Thanks Lori....I have also been experimenting with sponges for tree effects which seem to work quite well if they are not winter trees....
I must go on the look out for some tips
I very much liked your scanned leaves. The light shining through makes them very effective. I like them all but the blue one is striking
Printing them onto acetate sounds like it could lend itself towards all sorts of projects. Some lovely leaves about to play with at the minute too I have only used acetate for greeting cards...but some things could work well along those lines.

[Andestine]

Chrissy

Sorry to keep you.

I have no knowledge of theory in respect of watercolours at all. So, it might be good if I found some. At the minute I have been practicing with some tutorials that I found online.

There's a lot to learn about watercolours, and particularly about colour mixing and the way each colour behaves. It can save a lot of paint and paper to get to know the basics first.

Brands of coloured pencils are strange. The only reason I started to check a few out was because my prismacolors kept breaking and I get through some colours at one heck of a rate normally.

Apart from white and cream I also have my favourites, and it’s not worth ordering them from the States unless it’s a big order, to make it worth the postage. I wish we could buy them over here.

I don't worry too much about spending money on art supplies, they build up over time and I supplement them a little by making greetings cards using my art work and charging a nominal fee. Also just like you, I spend money on supplies rather than buy clothes. I would sooner have nice quality paper than a handbag any day….

What’s a handbag? <g>

Oooh, I am trying all sorts, I seem to get my paper really wet so it has to be strong. Because I often use watercolour paper for my coloured pencils too, I have a whole variety of surfaces right now. I often buy it in big sheets and try different things to see how I get on. I find some are more successful than others.

I’ve got to experiment more with the papers I’ve got. Nothing special, just rough and hot pressed Arches. I haven’t tried watercolour paper for CP’s yet, but I’ve read about it. Have you tried using CP’s over a watercolour wash?

I tried one of those gummed pads on four sides last week and am quite impressed with how it pulled the paper back into shape.

I have an Arches one. It’s brilliant! Very pricey though, compared to stretching your own. At home I use the old gummed tape method. Works just fine, but the waiting for it to dry can be frustrating.

Brush wise, I have some nice ones and some budget ones. I have one nice big wash brush which I paid out for and don't regret it.

A friend bought me a Hake, which works quite well. And an Isabey mop brush holds tons of paint and is also good for washes. I keep wanting a really perfect round sable brush, but they don’t sell the best here, and I’d have to try before buying to test the point. One day

Last week I bought some cheapo sponges and am so impressed with those and I use one of those Cotman watercolour boxes.

Cheapo sponges are fine, but Cotman? Dear child – desist! The problem with learning watercolours is that it’s no real saving to use cheap materials. W&N Artists watercolours are the ones used by most artists. Cotman’s behave differently and are not so lightfast, as I remember. You deserve the best – remember that every time you get your money out <g> Keep the Cotman for sketching plein air.

Of course, well as it is the WAB forum, here are two of my most recent that relate.
This is one of my recent watercolour efforts as a result of an online tutorial. I think this one was on Langton 140lb NOT fine grain.

NOT is a good surface, but I never got on with Langton. I’ve tried other watercolour papers, but always come back to Arches.

I badly need a decent book on watercolour techniques if anyone has any recommendations? Techniques for trees in particular would be a good place for improvement ;-)

For *drawing* trees, nothing beats Trudy Friend’s books,and she probably does something on painting them too. In fact, for pointing out drawing mistakes in general, she’s beyond compare I don’t know of anything specific as far as painting trees is concerned. Perhaps someone else here will know

I learned watercolour techniques from library books, but can’t remember which. If you were here I’d love to show you some, because I teach basic watercolour techniques (for barter only, one-to-one). However, if you would like to ask me anything specific, I’d love to be able to help you (no barter needed online )I know a lot of techniques, but still can’t paint <g>

Once you feel happy with the basic techniques, I would recommend two books for colour theory that helped me a lot:

Jeanne Dobie: ‘Making Color Sing’

Michael Wilcox: ‘Blue and Yellow don’t make Green’

I have lots of other suggestions for books, but it depends on which way you’d like to go – loose or detailed, realism or semi-abstract, for instance.
There are so many good books out there, and Amazon gets most of my spare cash after the online art shops ;-)

This one is coloured pencil (Derwent coloursofts) on Stonehenge paper. Like you, I enjoy crayons
Stonehenge is good paper

I was going to say the same thing as Lori – you’ve done a great job of portraying the distant trees. And I like the misty effect back there too

Beautiful work on the fox. You’ve observed the differing directions of the hair very well. I particularly like the hairs inside the facing ear. And the eyes are also well done. It has a particularly interesting soft yet alert expression
Also, lovely colours against the neutral grey background.

I’ve been going through some things I've collected over the years about trees for you. I'll need about a week to get it into order, and then I'll post it. For a long time I've been collecting a personal folder of common mistakes in drawing. It's been such fun. It's taught me how to see and correct a lot of the mistakes I was making. I'll be happy to share the section on trees with you

Please post more art

Andestine

[Andestine]

Originally Posted by loripo

I had tried leaves before, printed them onto acetate for a window display of autumn leaves (for school). Did a quick one and also tried something more 3 dimensional the seedpods worked quite well, but when I tried shells they werent enough in focus( do scanners vary?) I had to try effects once I had done the scan - I like the blue one better than the original.
Some of those online are beautiful. Wasnt yours the green seedpod?

Good morning Lori

It was great to see your lovely scanned artwork I really like the colour combinations. Once had a green and mauve room - loved it . I can't for a moment work out how you did it though. Once I get the basics sorted out I'll be picking your brains Have you found out yet whether scanners do vary? It's a very good question.

Well, after reading Nightshade's post I rushed upstars to bring down all kinds of beachcombed treasures to experiment with, only to discover than my all in one printer/scanner thingy refuses to scan to computer. I've only ever used it for printing things out so never realised it had a glitch. Keep your fingers crossed for me as I uninstall and reinstall. I've searched all over the web. Can't work out what's wrong

Nice images on that link. Amongst others I liked JennyB's ash keys very much

And I agree with Chrissy about that idea of printing things onto acetate

Have you done any more to share? I've got lots of artwork lying around, but nothing left that counts as wildlife, so I'll have to get my skates on and do some more

It was boiling here yesterday, and now it's gone all chilly. Must get some coal and logs in Is it cooling off up your way?

Cheers,

Andestine

[loripo]

I have an all in one printer/scanner. I'm sure there must be differences - if you google(I always use that to mean 'search', so whatever you use) on scanography some of the effects are much more 3D than I am able to get.
I will investigate! Which effect are you not sure about? If its the four in one - that was done a a slide in powerpoint, which lets you create a jpeg from a slide - quite handy if you want frames and backgrounds. (which reminds me - I'm doing an 'inset' for the teachers on creating digital art for them to do with the children and I'll add the Powerpoint thingy on as another idea. For those children with no confidence in their artistic skills it can be quite interesting to see their reactions when they have created something. I want them to make their own photos and using the scanner too would be good.Wheee)

[Andestine]

Hi All

I was following the tide today and thinking about what I said to Lori about having no more wildlife art to post. It's much easier to talk about art then to do it, and this place has so many temptations So I'm not going to post until I have something to show, artwise. I reckon about a week will do it.

WAB, and the wonderful people I've met here, have inspired me so much. It's got me out of a rut lasting many years (those drawings are quite old). And coming here has effected more widespread changes, and all for the good. I don't know how to thank you.

But you all know how I love to talk, and now I need silence, nature and my artstuffs

Lori, I'll talk with you about effects and scanners just as soon as I get back

Love,

Andestine

[ChrissyMarie]

Originally Posted by Andestine

Chrissy ]
There's a lot to learn about watercolours, and particularly about colour mixing and the way each colour behaves. It can save a lot of paint and paper to get to know the basics first.

I think it is time to do a little research...

I wish we could buy them over here.

I bought mine from a lovely guy from Scotland off the Bay. But, now after a lot of experimentation, I prefer coloursofts and polychromo's for when I want them to be harder and finer. Again I bought several different sorts off the bay at low cost (just packs of 12) and played to see what suits. I am not so keen on the Caran d'ache ones but it is very much a personal thing.

I’ve got to experiment more with the papers I’ve got. Nothing special, just rough and hot pressed Arches. I haven’t tried watercolour paper for CP’s yet, but I’ve read about it. Have you tried using CP’s over a watercolour wash?

This is the closest I have got.

I left a space for the coloured pencil drawing and masked off his horns. Then I just thought Scotland, ice and snow. I used a mix of purples, blues and grey, threw rock salt all over it and let it dry. Then I got some white gouache and spattered it all over. I think it is a bit mad really but I had loads of fun
it was on Arches btw

At home I use the old gummed tape method. Works just fine, but the waiting for it to dry can be frustrating.

I have been playing there too but sometimes with better success than others!
I seem to end up in a bit of a mess sometimes

Cheapo sponges are fine, but Cotman? Dear child – desist!

Haha, this where you will realise I don't have a clue about what is quality and what isn't (apart from CP's). I hadn't created any art for years until last year. I have some materials that I don't even know where they came from although I don't think my Cotman half pan set was cheap (cheap). If I start producing anything that I would consider framing, I may treat myself to a new set. I have only about 3 decent brushes and no really nice ones.

I have lots of other suggestions for books, but it depends on which way you’d like to go – loose or detailed, realism or semi-abstract, for instance.
There are so many good books out there, and Amazon gets most of my spare cash after the online art shops ;-)

Thanks very much for the book recommendations, I have a couple that I will dig back out.
I always appreciate any tips on technque, I am sure others may enjoy them too and am happy to provide some of my own if I think I can help anyone in any way. Unlike some people who seem to be quite shy about showing their work, blogging has almost anaesthetised me into not worrying about it too much. I am my own biggest critic anyway as most of us are. Sometimes by sharing, you can learn such a lot.

Thank you also for the lovely comments. When I was working on the fox, it struck me that she looked more soft like a vixen than a "he" fox and I hope that this shows though.

I’ve been going through some things I've collected over the years about trees for you. I'll need about a week to get it into order, and then I'll post it. For a long time I've been collecting a personal folder of common mistakes in drawing. It's been such fun. It's taught me how to see and correct a lot of the mistakes I was making. I'll be happy to share the section on trees with you

I look forward to it and I see you are going to take a break to have an art session. Well I shall endeavour to undertake little reading and producing too, I think I have run out of material suitable for WAB. Perhaps some others will post up something too

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by Andestine

I completely agree with you about pheasant feathers. Aren't they gorgeous!

I've recently started picking up Grouse feathers when I'm walking across moorland! Not quite as pretty but still lovely patterns and colours!

Originally Posted by Andestine

I hope your dream of living near the sea is going to come true one day. In the meantime I'll be posting a taste of the sea to you on another thread

I saw your photos. They are lovely
I'm determined my dream will come true one day....but for now, I'm enjoying the delights of the Peak District and the huge variety of walks on offer here!

The Autumn colours are beginning to look rather fabulous now but I suspect the coming rains will turn the fallen leaves into a soggy 'ole mess!
Wet leaves are no good for Ikebana!

Have a very good day,

Tracey.x

[Andestine]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

I've recently started picking up Grouse feathers when I'm walking across moorland! Not quite as pretty but still lovely patterns and colours!

I went looking for grouse feathers online because I’ve never seen any. They’re gorgeous! Have you ever thought of making collages with them like this photographer did?

I saw your photos. They are lovely

Thank you. I'm so glad you liked them

I'm determined my dream will come true one day....but for now, I'm enjoying the delights of the Peak District and the huge variety of walks on offer here!

I'm very glad to hear that I worked towards that dream for many years. Finally I’m home again. There’s nothing like having a dream to believe in (shades of South Pacific here, I believe <g>)

Never been to the Peak District so I took a look. Quite stunning! Hope you’re taking lots of photos

The Autumn colours are beginning to look rather fabulous now but I suspect the coming rains will turn the fallen leaves into a soggy 'ole mess!
Wet leaves are no good for Ikebana!

Nonsense child! Try a hairdryer……or even curlers.....…forget the Tao....….make them bend to your will

We'll have you posting here by Christmas or I'll eat my ..........my.........well I'll eat a tin of spaghetti hoops in tomato sauce - one of the only foods in this world that I can't bear. See how much it means this me

(I've been so ill, and have promised myself the chance to post for two whole days while I am forced to convalesce by my daughter (before returning again to seclusion to get my nether regions into gear artwise. But anything I write during this time can be blamed on a combination of five nights without sleep, strong antibiotics, and stupidly high amounts of steroids ).

See you soon

Cheers,

Andestine

P.S. Please excuse my fonts. I can't seem to be able to do anything with them today