NCBG ICP August 2019

Dura-Lar Matte, black and white/value side, black paper underneath.  I used indigo blue and dark brown mixed together to create the dark color and I used white.  You can use whatever dark color you wish. I concentrated on the values, the darks, mediums and lights.  This is still in process.

Dura-Lar Matte, black and white/value side, white paper underneath.  Remember to use your eraser and stik tak/poster putty to create lines and shapes lift and to lighten and smooth as needed.  Also remember that this paper does not take lots of layers and that we will work on both sides.

View from the color side, black paper underneath.

View from the color side, white paper underneath.

NCBG ICP August, 2019

The black and white side, the side we will start working on first.

The black and white side with colored paper behind it (so the white shows up).

View from the color side.

View from the color side with colored paper behind it (so the white shows up).
This post shows the beginning process when working on the Dura-Lar Matte surface.

DAC CP & MMI am continuing July and August, 2019

I am continuing to add colored pencil paying most attention to the values - the lights, mediums and darks.  I am secondarily considering the color.  You must have value in order to have form.  The highlights and shadows are critical. 

Watercolor texture, plastic wrap

Watercolor texture, plastic wrap

Watercolor texture, wax paper

Watercolor texture, salt (2 sizes of salt)

I made the background for this piece by wetting the paper, dropping in phthalo blue and aureolin yellow, and then adding salt when the paper was still wet but not puddled.  After it was dry I transferred the drawing with white transfer paper.  Then I started with a white pencil for my light color (you can also use light colors such as cream, light peach, or 10% gray).  I also started adding the darks with a dark pencil, indigo blue (you could also dark colors such black, black grape, 90% gray, dark brown). The light and dark color you use is determined by you and the color you used to make your background.  With the dark and light pencil start working on your values.  Do this fairly lightly so that other color can go over the top.

DAC cp&mm July and August 2019

I added more color and more white to the white bracts.  I used spanish orange and scarlet lake and a little indigo to add color and value.  Be careful with indigo as it changes quite a bit if white is put over it.

This is how it looked before adding colored pencil.

I have started on the head and ears with colored pencil.  There is none below the the collar.  I have used white first for the highlights and light areas.  I then usually go over the white with color as needed.  Using white is typically my first step.  Do your pencil strokes in the direction of the fur.  I have also used burnt ochre, spanish orange, scarlet lake, cream, black, true blue so far.  The true blue is in the background and a little on the dog.  Will use it on the collar most likely (will do that and the mouth next class among other things).

This is the second demo of the loose watercolor under painting.  I have made 2 passes.  I may make a third pass before starting colored pencil.

DAC CP & MM, July and August 2019

This is what it looked like after class last week.

This is what it looks like after another pass with color and value.  I mixed a purple and added it to the shadow side and to some shadows on the light side.  I then added a mixed a yellow orange brown (similar to a burnt sienna but a little more golden yellow).  I painted this over the cool yellows on the dog and into the lighter areas on the shadow side of the dog.  I painted the dog collar blue.  I then splattered the entire piece with the blue, purple and the mixed brown color.  I used a paper towel to lighten any splatters that were in a bad spot or seemed distracting.  I am happier with the values and textures of this as an under painting.

DAC, CP & MM, July and August 2019

I started adding color to the dogwood.  I will add more next class.  On the branch and bud I used scarlet lake, peacock blue, indigo, spanish orange.  On the white  I used spanish orange very lightly in some areas to warm the white.  On the ends I used spanish orange and scarlet lake and indigo in a few small dark places.  In the center I used yellow chartreuse and chartreuse plus white and indigo so far.

We started by transferring the drawing, wetting the paper and dropping in color for those using watercolor.  For watercolor pencil you have several ways to add color that I demonstrated in class (and will demonstrate again in the next class).  Use the colors that you like for this piece.  I then used the texture technique called sanding (which I will demonstrate again next class).  After the first pass the entire piece looked like the background, the dog did not show yet.  After that was dry, I used a black and brown watercolor pencil to add the darks.  I shaded it on and then wet it with a brush.  I then used a mixed brown watercolor to add some color and bright yellow where the light hit.  I need to add color to the shadow side of the dog still and to the collar as well.  When I do this I'll post to the blog again. 
REMEMBER - this is an under painting, we will add colored pencil to do the details and to finish this piece. 
Also, when you transfer the drawing remember to check that your graphite paper will stay when you put water over it.  Some graphite paper is made to go away as you paint which is helpful for watercolor but not for mixed media.  Check this by running a wet brush over a small area of the drawing a few times.   

DAC CP & MM July and August, 2019

added many layers of white paring attention to the details and the shadows.  I left some undone in case I need to demo the white a bit more in class.

The color wheel finished and labeled.

DAC Colored Pencil & Mixed Media

Color Wheel from another class, colors used were Pomegranate (CR), Scarlet lake (WR), Copenhagen Blue (PB). Peacock Blue (GB), Spanish Orange (WY), Yellow Chartreuse(CY).  Keep in mind that the colors seen here most likely do not look the way the colors look in person.  The applies to all images online and in photos.

An almost finished version of the dogwood.  We will add color in the next class.  This is so you can see where we are headed.

The dogwood in white (from another class).

This is the dogwood after class.  When I get more of the white done I will post it for you.  We will add color in the next class.

The partially completed color wheel from class.  I used Scarlet Lake (WR), Pomegranate (CR), True Blue (PB), Peacock Blue (GB), Canary yellow (CY) and Spanish Orange (WY).  The extra dots are other colors that can be used.  The yellow dot is yellow chartreuse.  The red dots are Crimson red on top and crimson lake on the bottom. The blue dots are Copenhagen blue on top and indigo blue on the bottom.  Keep in mind that the colors seen here most likely do not look the way the colors look in person.  The applies to all images online and in photos.  I need to finish the purples and oranges.  

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.

BCB Art & Ale Watercolor and Gouache, April & May 2019

I added darks to the 3 grapes on the left.  I added light with white gouache to the stem.  Later (after it was dry) I added some green and some warm yellow carefully over the gouache on the stem.  I started adding lights with gouache to the upper left grape.   I also added warm red.  I will continue to detail and refine and adjust the darks and lights as needed. 

I added more shadows to the swan, both cast and form shasows.  I added some wam yellow to the swan as well (it was too white).  I will continue adjusting the lights and darks and adding details as needed.  In the water I added darks and some a warm yellow green glaze.

BCB ART & ALE watercolor class April and May 2019

I worked on the 2 grapes bottom right and the stems attaching them to the branch.  I first added darks.  Then on the front grape I added a glaze of warm red.  Then I added the white gouache.  I also worked on the background.  I wet the bottom part of the background.  I went over the cast shadows with water and my brush to soften them.  I added some yellow and white gouache to the wet part of the background and white gouache to the edges of the cast shadows while it was still wet.

I used white goauche to fix some of my edges and to add a few highlights.  I mixed a gray and added more shadows to the swan.  I also added a warm yellow glaze to parts of the swan.  I intensified the orange on the beak and reflection.  I added some shadows with the gray in the water right under the swan as well.  Have a few more shadows and feather texture to add next class.

NCBG Acrylic April, 2019

I added a few seeds and glazed some warm red on the strawberry.  Have unfinished areas (due to it being used for demonstrations) and it needs more detail and refinement.

I added more highlights and shadows to the flower..  I added some light areas to the background.  The flower needs more values and some color still.  A few leaves are unfinished.

Started adding the glazes of color over a few of the mushrooms.  I added a variety of color in layers.  When I did the white I did that in layers as well.