sketching every day things


Lyra skintones set of coloured pencils - swatches

I really like this set of Lyra skintones coloured pencils - if doing a portrait I'd want to add at least a deep dark blue to help with the cool darks and probably other colours - but they are lovely for sketching with in a mono/limited palette way.



This was a quick demo sketch of a jar containing erasers and a pencil sharpener from the art cupboard at college. It's good practice to do observational sketches of every day objects and shows students that almost anything is worth drawing :)



and this was my cup of tea that went cold while I sketched :)

I'm hoping to get on with painting this weekend.


.

Comments

Shirley Anne Sherris said…
Hi
As you have illustrated - everything makes a picture if studied closely. I used to do this with the children I taught - using just pencil and shading. They were always amazed and thrilled at how good their drawings were when they had finished them.
The pencils you have used are lovely - so many fabulous materials out there - it's hard to resist them. My wish list gets longer and longer.
Look forward to the next stage of the seascapes.
Cheers
Shirley
1:43 am
vivien said…
Mmm I know what you mean - my wish list is horrendously long!

the volume of stuff I already have is equally horrendous - as is the need to tidy and organise it better!
1:25 pm
Becky Mairi Farrell said…
Those pencils make a lovely pallette. Drawing everyday objects is one of my favourite things to do, and haven't had much time for recently. Thank you for the nudge, some time for drawing is just what I need.
3:12 pm
vivien said…
Hi Becky

I like the palette too :) I only discovered them through one of the colleges I teach at - I've not seen them in an art shop but did find them online.

(Lyra Skintones for anyone interested)

I had a look at your blog and there's some lovely work - your lizard etching is great
7:39 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

looking at non traditional composition and quiet vs busy areas in paintings

Image
Paul Klee I thought I'd look at non-traditional composition - where the rule of thirds isn't the key but the painting relies on different compositional methods. in response to an excellent series of posts on the various ways of looking at composition by Katherine (link at end). These alternative considerations or breaking of rules - but making it work - appeal to me more than too heavy a reliance on the rule of thirds. The painting above, by Paul Klee is a 'field' painting' - the composition is overall, the eye travels around enjoying the glowing colour that he creates by juxtaposing complementary colours, subtle greyed greens enhancing the oranges/reds/pinks. Most of the image is composed of the various greens, greeny browns and khakis, with accents of the warm colours. When working this way it's important that the balance is unequal and that the accent colours are placed carefully to keep the eye moving in the way the artist wants. A couple of the brighter...
Read more

Hedges silhouetted agains the snow, winter light: watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal pencils in Stillmand and Birn Beta Hardback sketchbook

Image
 Detail  I have always liked the calligraphic tangle of the hedges when they are sihouetted against the sky.   Recent snowfall meant even more opportunities with amazing light and the landscape simplified and hidden by the snow, throwing hedges into relief. Above is a detail of a double page sketch in the lovely Stillman and Birn Beta A4 hardback sketchbook.  This paper is so forgiving and the watercolour works beautifully with it.  It allowed me to work through wet washes with charcoal pencil - something that tears many papers, leaving holes.  Some of the hedge is paint, some tinted charcoal. First snow, more on the way, winter light: silhouetted hedges in watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal in a Stillman and Birn A4 beta hardback sketchbook The earlier warm golden glow of the low sun is covered by clouds, threatening more snow to come.   The spiky calligraphic marks of the hedge and the underlying form of the bank, w...
Read more

The Eye, Urban/Rural exhibition

Image
Vivien Blackburn's work in the Urban/Rural show We've just hung a group show at the The Eye Project, Urban/Rural show.  If you want to come and see it it's on for a month - well worth seeing, 11 lovely artists and some fabulous work. Those large canvasses are 40 inches square. There are rural landscapes, flowerscapes, intriguing textile work including a large knitted building, abstracts .... something for everyone. It's in the gallery below the cafe in the Adult Education Centre at the top of Wellington street, Leicester, opposite Fenwicks.  Meet the Arttists day is Saturday 1st April 10-2.  Come and have a chat with us?
Read more