NCBG BCP June 2019

I worked on more of the branch and added some Spanish Orange, lightly, to the petals to add warmth.  I then added more white using the darkened photo I sent to you in an email (it shows the lightest lights). 

This is not complete, it needs some areas to be finished and then the whole piece needs more values and refining.  The process of refining/finishing something occurs for me over a few days or a week mostly looking at it and assessing.  I set the piece up and sit and study it.  I make changes as needed. 

I started adding a background using chartreuse and indigo.  You can add more colors or different colors depending on the look you want.

I finished more of the true blue value study.

After finishing the true blue value study I started adding crimson lake to the red, orange, brown, purple and dark areas of the blueberries.  Then I added canary yellow to the green, yellow, orange and brown areas of the blueberries.  Using crimson lake, true blue, canary yellow, scarlet lake and indigo I started refining the top left blueberry and the branches.  The black area was made with all the colors (it still needs some form, light on the left and dark on the ride side as it curves around).  This is of course not complete.

NCBG BCP June 2019

I added some ore darks.  Still more darks and some refining to do, especially in the upper left tip.

I used yellow chartreuse on the middle section lightly over the entire section like a glaze.  i used indigo in the middle to add shadows and white to reestablish highlights.  It needs a bit more contrast which will happen with the same colors in more layers.  I used spanish orange, scarlet lake, and indigo plus white on the branch in layers to make various shades of brown.  I used spanish orange, scarlet lake, and indigo plus white on the bracts and near the ends to start shaping the tips of the bracts.  I will do more next class.  Be careful with indigo.  Use it lightly and often in conjunction with the red or the red and yellow.  Less is more with indigo.

Using true blue I started lightly shading the blueberries making use of the stik tak to smooth pencil strokes.  I shaded with the blue wherever it was blue, green and purple and the black areas.  AVOID the yellow and orange sections.  On the orange brown stem if you add blue make it very light (using the stik tak to lighten)

close up

NCBG BCP June, 2019

I did more on the parts I had not gotten to with the white.  Thought it might be helpful to see.  Keep in mind the colors in the photo are not correct and there is a glare on the right side.

NCBG Beginning Colored Pencil, June 2019

Using white, indigo, crimson red, spanish orange and an added color, yellow chartreuse, I added more layers paying attention to values/lights and darks/light on form.  You can also use the other colors form our palette - canary yellow, peacock blue, grass green if needed for your piece.  This is the refining and detailing part of the process.  I also showed you hoe to cut the brightness of green with a light layer of red, similar to glazing with watercolor.  I showed you how to fix areas and lighten areas using white and then adding color over the top if needed.  I also sharpen the edges using well sharpened pencils and an eraser if needed. Some areas are getting there, but there is still more to do. 

For this first step I have used a white pencil.  I concentrated on the light values and the form.  I basically have done a value study in white.  Remember to build the white in light layers.  I still have a few areas left to complete(the middle and the part of the stem under the bottom petal and the top bud).  

NCBG Beginning Colored Pencil

Step 1 - Using white and true blue I lightly shaded the light and dark values.  I used the side of the sharpened pencil and mostly used a circular stroke, sometimes used a back and forth stroke, to smooth the pencil marks.

This is another photo of step 1.  Note the differences the lighting and camera can make.

This is step 2.  I went over the green areas with canary yellow and the red areas with crimson red, lightly, using similar strokes as before.  I did put a little crimson red into some of the darker green areas.

Here I added peacock blue, then spanish orange to warm the green and red.  I then used indigo blue for the dark areas and some grass green.  I also started adding more crimson red layers.  This is now in the middle stage in some of the sections.  This is a demo piece so not all areas are at the same level.  More layers and blending to come in the next class.  Work lightly and build the layers.