sketchbook exchange another update


Vivien's Time and Tide series in the FPP sketchbook exchange - Nina's book,
theme: Local Colour

Nina's book is now with Ronell so I can show the pages I did - Nina's pages were bathed in golden sunlight and Glen had continued with large red poppies.

My first thought was to do some extreme close ups of poppies but I decided to cool things down instead and do the English coast in changing weathers and times. These were done in a variety of media including watercolour, Inktense, Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, watercolour pencils and mix of them all.

I've now received the next 2 moleskine exchanges from Gesa - no pressure there then! and am off to enjoy browsing them and have a think about what to do next before sending them on their way.

Gesa has done some lovely sketches of wild island landscape - I'm hoping she'll do some in my book!

Comments

Jeanette Jobson said…
These are lovely Vivien. I really like those long pieces that capture air, water and earth. Very nice.
11:10 am
Gesa said…
Vivien, these sketches are so beautiful. I do like the format you use for these, ever since I saw some of your first paintings done that way. Has my mail arrived already? I had to leave it with a friend to post on Tue as Mon as a Bank Holiday in Glasgow and no post offices were open.
2:06 pm
Robyn Sinclair said…
Lucky, lucky Nina, is all I can say :)
3:57 pm
vivien said…
Hi Jeanette, Gesa and Robyn

thanks :>)

yes they arrived safely and fast Gesa :>) I'm loving the sketches you've done in the Scottish islands - which is somewhere I've always wanted to visit. I lived in Scotland for a while and went to school in Forres - I lived at Findhorn on the Moray Firth. We'd often holiday on the west coast and I longed to go to the isles. My parents never 'got' the appeal of islands with their special light and beautiful beaches.

Robyn I'll try to remember to do a couple in your book :>) and I so envy you your beautiful garden.

Jeanette I hope you are enjoying your exchange as much as we are - it's so much fun! I've really liked the portraits you've been doing.
7:06 pm
Lindsay said…
This is really shows the range of weather and water conditions! Lovely addition to Nina's book and I'm with Robyn...lucky Nina!
11:04 pm
vivien said…
thanks Lindsay :>)
12:12 pm
Gesa said…
Ah... I hadn't read your wish on this post before... It's noted... maybe the work-up from sketch to painting via your Moley?

Actually, I already had an idea for yours. Well, it's not island but wild Scottish West Coast nonetheless, it would probably qualify...
8:07 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

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, with some of the taller dried grasses showing
Read more

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