Sunday 10 August 2014

Experiments with Scraping

Between the Rocks
Watercolour on Paper
27cm x 17cm (10.5" x 6.75)

I am continuing to explore the different mediums and techniques from Ann Blockley's  “Experimental Landscapes in Watercolour” (see Experiments with Acrylic Ink and Experiments with Gouache). I tend to use these investigations as a warmup at the start of a painting session.

Scraping involves applying a layer of watercolour and partially scraping it off before it dries. It is a good technique for creating texture in things like tree bark, rocks and walls. You can use different tools to create different textures.

I've written about scraping before (see Scratching and Scraping), but it is a technique I've never mastered.

The picture at the top of this post is my third attempt at this scene. The first two were dreadful. Part of my problem is that Ann and other authors recommend using a creamy mix of paint. When I try this, the paint usually dries before I have achieved the desired effect, especially if I am working on a large area like the cliffs in this view.

In this version I painted an initial pale yellow and pink wash and after this was dry a thicker, but still relatively watery green wash.

I moved this wash around with the edge of an old plastic loyalty card to create the appearance of cracks and other textures in the rock. I was conscious of the need to keep my focus moving round the whole painting and not to focus on one area at the expense of the rest. As the wash started to dry it became easier to scrape it off completely to create highlights. The experience was more like sculpting than painting.

Sunday 3 August 2014

Sketching Challenge – Final Sketches

July Challenge Day 27
27 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
21.0cm x 29.7cm (8.25" x 11.75")

These are the last few sketches from the July sketching challenge - my task was to sketch from life for exactly 30 minutes on each day in July.

July Challenge Day 28 - Sketch 1
28 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
21.0cm x 29.7cm (8.25" x 11.75")

July Challenge Day 28 - Sketch 2
28 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
21.0cm x 29.7cm (8.25" x 11.75")

July Challenge Day 28 - Sketch 3
28 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
21.0cm x 29.7cm (8.25" x 11.75")

It’s been an interesting experiment. Drawing every day was bound to have a benefit, but the 30 minute time limit was unexpectedly important.

July Challenge Day 29
29 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
21.0cm x 29.7cm (8.25" x 11.75")

The first advantage is that it’s not very long.  It is easy for the “it’s only half an hour” argument to win in the internal dialogue about what to do today.

July Challenge Day 30
30 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
21.0cm x 29.7cm (8.25" x 11.75")

The other benefit is it forced me to put more trust in my eyes to estimate size and alignments. I tend to spend time trying to measure relative proportions and angles by holding a pencil at arm’s length. Thirty minutes doesn't allow much time for this, so on many of the drawings I put my faith in my instincts and just winged it – this has been liberating and nerve wracking in equal measures.

Where's the Biscuit?
July Challenge Day 31
31 July 2014
Graphite Pencil
Winsor & Newton A4 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
29.7cm x 21.0cm (11.75" x 8.25")

I aim to continue drawing every day, but I am relaxing the 30 minute rule - 5 minutes is good enough and so is 5 hours.